Hey Yesteryear: Come Back. Please!

As a crazy young kid growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania, I had what I thought to be a perfect (well, almost perfect) America upbringing; I remember it like it was only yesterday.

My America, the one filled with cherished dreams of Philadelphia sports and mom-and-pop shops, was the land of milk and honey — I loved every minute of it! Now cut to today, and I have to admit: I am somewhat (read: very) disappointed. The roads I am forced to drive on are now lined as far as the eye could see with signs for fast food chains, corporate-run hotels and commercial gas companies. Where has my perfect America gone off to? Seriously, where has she gone? Had she disappeared because we no longer care for her?

I hope I’m not the only one who deeply feels this way (if so, that is an extremely depressing picture). Where is the America that I fell in love with as a youth; the family-focused lifestyle that is predominately featured in so many of yesteryear’s favorite TV shows? There is only one way to find out: we need to rediscover it by visiting only those family-owned establishments that we saw in those old episodes. We really need to stop patronizing the evil corporate giants! If that kinder, more charming America really ever did exist (and I’m not dreaming the whole thing up) I’m almost positive that there’s a way to bring her back!

Remember that pleasant mechanic who made custom mufflers while you waited, or the motels with themed rooms like Little Hawaii or the Love Shack (those places had both character and a sense of belonging to something bigger than us all)? One great diner I used to frequent had been in business for over 70 years, until the Denny’s ran it out of business (damn you, Denny’s). History used to be filled with these places, and they were rich with fond memories. Too bad we can’t turn back the clock!

Every time we make a decision to give our patronage to a Target or to a Wal-Mart, instead of a family-owned grocery store, we may be saving a little money, but we should really be asking ourselves, “What are we losing in the process?” When we fill up at a Shell or a BP, we’re missing out on the family-owned gas stations that still pump the gas, check the oil, clean our windows and check the air in our tires. When we stay at a Best Western or a HoJos, we’re missing out on the kindness and genuine good will of the smaller, more independent motels.

During these difficult financial times, it’s kind of hard to think of anything other than the bottom line (I get it) but we must change this thought process if we don’t want to lose the good life we grew up with. “Yes” we have to save money, and “Yes” we have the ability to put more food on our table for less money at the bigger places. As a concerned citizen who loved the way he grew up, however, I truly don’t want to see the magic of the family-owned America disappear. I don’t want to see highway after highway of nothing but Taco Bells, Burger Kings, Shell Stations and Home Depots.

Don’t, even if it feels comfortable to you now, kill the last of this lifestyle we used to cherish so much. Always buy local, deal locally and please, please, please: let your kids have something to cherish when they get older! The time to do something differently is now!