As I age and reflect on the changes that have occurred, the Midland Mall, later renamed the Rhode Island Mall, comes to mind. I attended its grand opening as a child, fascinated by the layout of indoor stores spread across two levels, with Sears at one end and Shepards at the other. From my teenage years to my early twenties, I worked as a waitress at Newport Creamery on the top level, where I met Hubby who was a cook there. On Friday nights, after our shifts, we’d unwind at the Barnsider Restaurant, enjoying drinks and the simple pleasure of cracking open peanuts and tossing the shells on the floor. Sadly, the mall closed its doors in 2011, a fate shared by many malls across the country.

 Television usage has changed a great deal.  As a child, I would sit in front of the TV, tuning into channels 6 (ABC), 10 (NBC), and 12 (CBS), tweaking the bunny ears on top of the television to achieve the best reception. Nowadays, there is an abundance of options: cable, satellite, subscription services like Netflix and Hulu, as well as premium channels such as HBO and Showtime. There’s also the option of pay-per-view. We have Roku televisions, considered “smart TVs,” which can stream channels with Wi-Fi availability. The irony is that I now have access to most of the old television shows I used to watch, such as the Golden Girls, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Twilight Zone.

 A welcomed change is the fact that I no longer have to write checks, a chore I abhorred. Trying to squeeze the dollar amount, “one hundred seventy-three and 53/100 dollars”, onto that tiny line inevitably caused problems. It seemed that the more important the check, the worse I was affected, often spelling my name wrong or getting the date wrong. Fortunately, now paying bills is computerized, and it is like a fun game, filling in the names and amounts. My computer repeatedly alerts me to upcoming bills, ensuring that I pay them on time, and I didn’t even have to put a stamp on it!

I do miss getting all the catalogues that used to come in the mail, with the slender, smiling models so perfectly shaped and coiffed, wearing an outfit I would never fit into. Flipping through the pages used to be a favorite bathtime activity. Getting that annual telephone book was also handy, especially if I needed a booster seat for a grandchild. My assumption is they were done away with because only landlines were listed, while nowadays, most people and businesses predominantly use cell phones.  Speaking of landlines, I remember our party line, which was shared with our neighbor, Betty. Sometimes, I would pick up the phone to call someone and someone else would be on the line.  Of course, at the time, it was fine to share a line with someone else because making telephone calls wasn’t as frequent as they are currently.

Years ago, my large purse was filled with a variety of personal items: a brush, rarely-used makeup, ChapStick, an assortment of coins, sunglasses, reading glasses, a checkbook, pens, paper clips, mail to be followed up on or bills to be paid, a small sewing kit, wallet, keys, small snacks like crackers and peanut butter, a small can or bottle of Diet Coke, and plenty of Tylenol and Naproxen. Today, I’ve streamlined my routine and brush my hair before leaving for the day, so there’s no need for a brush. I put my glasses on my head and carry my phone and keys. My phone’s wallet pouch contains my driver’s license, medical insurance card, and credit cards. I choose my daily clothing based on whether it has 2 pockets large enough for my phone and keys. I’ve adopted a free and easy lifestyle with no purse, a cell phone as my constant companion, not having to write checks, and watching a multitude of my favorite old shows on our Roku television. Life is good!