There was a trend going on called “I’m So” where people share memories of people, places or things familiar to their city, neighborhood or school. I must say, I was tickled pink reading and reminiscing on memories of old. It reminded me of this post originally posted some time ago. Today, in honor of #TBT and to go with my #bloglikecrazy theme of Making Memories I’ve remixed this post again. What are your favorite memories?

*******************************************************************

Riding into work recently I took a mental trip down memory lane compliments of Pandora. The music of old made me think of people, places and things I’d enjoyed in the past. It made me realize just how much our past really shapes who we become.

I Miss…

• Quincy’s Yeast Rolls from the Midfield Quincy’s down from the Cobb Midfield Six Theater and across from Wendy’s
• Baskin Robbins in Birmingham
• The Alabama State Fair at Fairpark
• Practicing for my Easter speech at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (where we also listed to Shirley Murdock’s “As We Lay” on the church van just before going to visit the elderly)
• Palmetto Jeans from Parisian and ribbons from Hancock Fabric in Five Points West
• Sundays in my overalls with one strap down at George Ward Park (before the fights and killings, of course)
• Giggling (and being scared at the same time) because I knew what B.A.Q. meant
• Pulling the cardboard box out of the middle of the street when cars came by interrupting a serious breakdance street session
• Learning how to drive in Arrington Middle School’s parking lot
• Waiting on “Batman” to ride down the street in his car
• Ice Cream from the Ice Cream man that only costs $.50, and rode by just before the mosquito spray man
• Gas that was under $1
• Three-piece, plastic, birthstone jewelry sets from Woolworth in Western Hills Mall
• Size 2 (and her cousin Size 0)
• MTV when the “M” actually stood for music and Duran Duran was in heavy rotation
• Having friends in West End (where I lived) and Homewood (where I went to school)
• Having a serious crush on Cosmo Flex
• Going to the teen dance at Showbiz
• Going to Piggly Wiggly off of Jefferson Ave (just down from the African American golf course)
• ANYTHING from Marsh Bakery
• First day of school outfits from Parisian, JC Penney’s, New Ideal, The Pants Store or Yielding matched with Bass, Mootsie Tootsie or Sam & Libby shoes
• Parties at the LR Hall, Highlands Racket Club, Masonic Temple, Rime Garden Inn or anywhere else people would let wild teenagers go
• GIORGIOcotillions
• Free movies at the Cobb Midfield Six Theater (minus the people fighting, or the occasional boyfriend drama)
• Walking to get my hair straightened from 19th Street to 18th Place with Royal Crown, enjoying a “burnt” bologna sandwich or biscuits with Alaga Syrup when I arrived
• Riding in the back of my family’s green station wagon, passing women on Birmingham’s 4th Avenue and getting a valuable lesson in life on how not to end up a “woman of the night”
• Magic City Classics when everyone wore leather, pleather and fur and my bestie and I walked the entire game
• The Flintstones and The Jetsons in heavy rotation
• Cassette Tapes and answering machines with my “sultry voice” and music from the Quiet Storm in the background
• Saturdays at the Five Points or Bessemer Flea Market, Sundays at Fair Park and summers at City Stages or The Southern Heritage Festival
• Having a “boyfriend” in KTU (for all of one month mind you) and thinking I was something
• Sick days out of school when I wasn’t actually sick
• Soap Operas when Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless and All My Children were about as bad as television would get
• Shelly the Playboy, Tall Paul and anybody from WENN, and hearing “Go to Churrrrccchhhh” on Sundays on WATV
• Skipping school to go to Magnolia’s for a brownie or Subway on Southside for a meatball sub then coming back to eat in Ramsay’s courtyard
• Boys who actually dressed up to impress girls because the girls demanded it

Not at all ungrateful for the present or lacking in hope for the future, sometimes a gentle reminder of good things from the past proves to be just the boost needed. One thing I’ve learned is when you’re on your way somewhere, it’s good to remember the great places you’ve already been knowing that even better days are always on the horizon. Here’s to many more amazing memories!

@AngelaMMoore316