nostalgia

Don’t Touch That Dial!

As a baby boomer who grew up in the analog era, there are certain phrases like “you sound like a broken record” and “hang up the phone, that I still use in everyday conversation, even though they mark me as an oblivious old-timer.

My favorite antiquated phrase is “don’t touch that dial.” Its authoritative tone is perfect for addressing disrespectful youngsters. I have your “Okay, Boomer” right here.

Its possessive tone resonates with me: it is my TV dial, and I’ll decide what we watch.

Before remote controls and streaming menus, changing the channel meant leaving the sofa to turn a dial on the black-and-white TV or radio. Few things were more satisfying than the click of the dial as you found your favorite program.

I wish TVs with physical dials were still an option, even if my creaky bones make getting up to change the channel count as exercise.

You can keep your voice-activated remotes and touch-screen laptops; I fondly remember how happy I was when I adjusted the rabbit ears on the TV and clicked the dial to watch my favorite program, Batman.

Most Boomers Can’t Afford a New Car

Since I turned eighteen, I have always had a car—even if my early ones were old, run-down hoopties.

Upon securing an entry-level position at a major corporation, I considered purchasing a new sports car. But with my meager salary I could only afford a brand-new red Chevrolet Chevette.

The Chevette is often regarded as one of the worst cars ever. It was a basic, no-frills vehicle built primarily for fuel efficiency during the 1970s oil crisis, with little emphasis on comfort or performance.

A chick magnet it was not, but I felt like a pimp cruising down the highway, breathing in that new-car smell.

The new basic trim for 1980 did not come with an AM radio, but its price tag was under $4,000. In the ensuing years I upgraded a few times, purchasing new cars with more horsepower and sex appeal than my Chevette.

As a senior citizen on a fixed income, I currently drive a 2003 Ford Focus. Given my financial circumstances, it is unlikely that I will be able to purchase a new vehicle (average price 50K) unless I experience a financial windfall, such as winning the lottery.

How I miss cruising down the highway in my bright red Chevette, with Madonna’s “Holiday” blaring from my after-market radio.