Boomers Then and Now — Quarantine Edition

Inspired by the Monkees song That Was Then, This Is Now, from 1986, Mister Boomer takes a look back to the way we were for a glimpse at the times of your lives (do you remember?), ever cognizant that was yesterday, and yesterday’s gone. Maybe he’s been sheltering in place a little too long? You be the judge.

THEN:
Revved the car’s engine and peeled out in the street to impress a girl.
NOW:
Peeled grapes so the skins wouldn’t get stuck in your bridgework.

THEN:
Saved nickels and dimes to buy 45 RPM records.
NOW:
Wish you’d saved more than nickels and dimes, and wish you were 45 again.

THEN:
Snuck out of your parents’ house to go to a rock concert.
NOW:
Snuck an extra glass of schnapps before calling it a night.

THEN:
Toilet papered a classmate’s car from bumper to bumper — including the tires — as a graduation prank.
NOW:
With not a square to spare, who knew toilet paper would be like gold?

THEN:
A burger, fries and a Coke (or Pepsi) was a quick, on-the-go meal.
NOW:
Have to decide if it’s worth it to get dressed and take the car to the drive-thru for lunch.

THEN:
Kept an eye out for the latest groovy fashions.
NOW:
Keep an eye out for elastic waistbands.

THEN:
Participated in a dozen protest marches in a single month.
NOW:
Protested to the supermarket manager a dozen times in the past month that the check out register wasn’t ringing up the sale price.

THEN:
Had a make-out session at a drive-in movie.
NOW:
Fell asleep watching an on-demand movie.

THEN:
Watched The Jetsons and wished you had some of those space-age gadgets.
NOW:
Had just about enough technology and video calls for awhile.

THEN:
Strived to stop and smell the roses.
NOW:
Never want to hear Slow down, you move too fast/you got to make the morning last … again.

THEN:
You helped your grandparents to get rid of the flashing 12:00 on their VCR.
NOW:
Your grandkids are helping you navigate Zoom.

What Then and Now comparisons are blowing through the jasmine in your mind these days, boomers?