The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."
I'm a hope'n ya all had a good time last Monday, July 4th, celebrate'n the 240th birthday of our great nation.
Fireworks, a great tractor/truck pull'n contest by the FFA, meals, parades-all and more added ta the pride of our communities. We have a lot ta be thankful for.
The Good Ole Days
The Henderson County Museum open house reminded me of a number of things from the "good ole days".
How many folks remember fender skirts' for cars years ago, or "curb feelers' or "steering knobs' (AKA) "suicide knob', "neckers knobs?
Do ya remember "continental kits'? They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed ta make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.
And by the way, when did we change the term "emergency brake' ta "parking brake' as the proper term? The drama that went with "emergency brake' is some how lost.
Many of the old folks are gone that would call the accelerator the "foot feed'.
In fact many younger folk in town do not even know what a clutch is or that the dimmer switch used to be on the floor.
Some old cars even had automatic dimmer switches. Speak'n of that, how many remember when the starter was down there also?
How about highways referred ta primarily as "Hard roads'?
Do ya remember steal'n a ride on the running board of a car?
Years ago, there was a phrase "store bought'.
These days, just about ever thing is store bought. But once it was bragg'n material ta have a store bought dress or a store bought bag of candy.
"Coast ta coast' is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement. Now it almost means nothing and we take the term "worldwide' for granted.
"Wall-ta-wall was once a magical term in many homes. In the "50s, many folk covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow, wall-ta-wall carpeting! Today, the fashion is ta replace wall-ta-wall carpeting with hardwood floors. Can ya figure that one out?
When was the last time ya heard the quaint phrase "in a family way'?
It's hard ta imagine that the word "pregnant' was once considered a little too graphic and a little too clinical fer use in polite company.
Maternity clothes, per say, have changed quite dramatically.
Years ago we had all that talk about stork visits and "being in a family way' or simply "expecting'.
Apparently, "brassiere' is a word no longer in usage. It was said the other day ta a granddaughter and she about cracked up. I guess it's just "bra' now. "Unmentionables' probably wouldn't be understood at all and when was the last time ya saw a girdle worn?
Many folk went ta the "picture show' but some older folk considered "movie' an affectation.
Many of these recollections go back ta the 50's but how many remember the pure "60s word "rat fink'. Yes, that would have been a nasty put-down!
Do ya remember the word "percolator'? It seems that was just a fun word ta say. It was replaced by the dull words "coffee maker'.
I guess some would blame this on Mr. Coffee.
Missed fer the most part now are those made-up words that were meant ta sound so modern and now sound so retro. Words like "Dynaflow' and "Electrolux' and "frigidaire'. The 1963 Admiral T.V., is now called "Spectra vision'!
Was there a telethon that wiped out Lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore.
Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening kids gullet with castor oil anymore.
Some words aren't gone but are definitely on the endangered list. Why is supper now called "dinner' and noon dinner called "lunch'?
Why not try ta save a great word? Invite some one of your friends or relatives ta supper and discuss "fender skirts' and curb feelers'.
Well, there ya have it then, all brought on by a nice visit up North ta Henderson County Museum in Raritan.
Have a good rest of the week. Enjoy family and friends.
Hope'n ta see ya in church this week, again.
Remember, wherever ya are, whatever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke