October 10, 2023

Mummified ‘Member Berries

By Wyrd Smythe

I was going through old files I’ve kept around for too long and found a collection of images a friend sent me years ago. We met in college and have been friends since. She ended up working in advertising, plus her husband had a graphic design business, so she was pretty attuned to and interested in the world of visual arts and advertising.

And she had a great sense of humor. The images in the post are all (as far as we know) actual ads from a bygone era. An era that had its features, but which I think most are pretty glad is bygone.

Caveat lector: In my case, these led to tears of laughter, but for some they could lead to gnashing of the teeth. Try to see it as a sign of how much we’ve grown.

I have no comment on these (other than shaking my head and LMAO at our youthful ignorance and innocence), so without further ado:

Afterword

‘Member when X was Y? “The good old days!” The days of wine and roses. (Or was it whine and neurosis?) Some have a serious nostalgia jones, but I’ve never had much interest in looking in the rear-view mirror. I’ve got my hands full dealing with the present. Whatever’s left goes to trying to second-guess the future.

South Park did a whole season about ‘member berries, our attraction to the security blanket of our recent past. Some long for a past more passed, the world of these ads. That did seem a simpler time, but things generally are simpler when you manage to ignore important aspects. It wasn’t a better time for everyone by any stretch. (Class privilege is the ability to ignore or forget that. A lot of folks can’t.)

At the same time, I can’t get myself lathered about the sins of the past. The past has passed, and I prefer to learn from it and move forward. What we can build is more important. I can’t undo my own major mistakes, let alone making a dent in the collective past. I think the best we can do is laugh at it. Per an old Star Trek episode, I’ve long agreed that a good way to deal with evil is to laugh it off the stage.

And finding a way to laugh at your pain is a good way to not lose your mind.

Stay laughin’, my friends! Go forth and spread beauty and light.

∇

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About Wyrd Smythe

The canonical fool on the hill watching the sunset and the rotation of the planet and thinking what he imagines are large thoughts. View all posts by Wyrd Smythe

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 at 2:28 pm and tagged with funny images, humor, laugh and posted in From My Collection, Life, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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13 responses to “Mummified ‘Member Berries”

• Wyrd Smythe
  October 10th, 2023 at 2:32 pm

  And now I can delete all those image files! They’ve moved from PC to PC for many years. (Now they’re forever in the interweb cloud.)

  Reply
• diotimasladder
  October 10th, 2023 at 4:09 pm

  These are fabulous! I have to admit, I did once ask for a new vacuum for Christmas (or birthday? I can’t remember). My husband was not pleased with me for putting him in that position. “Wouldn’t you rather have some jewelry?”

  Reply
  • Wyrd Smythe
    October 10th, 2023 at 4:14 pm

    Ha! I quite agree with him. A new vacuum is an everyday purchase for the house. Birthdays and Christmas are special! How often do you get to ask for something from the luxury category? 😁

    Reply
    • diotimasladder
      October 10th, 2023 at 4:18 pm

      I guess I’m too practical. My thinking is, I already have jewelry. Why waste the money on something we don’t need when there’s something we do need? Maybe that’s just the Asian in me.
    • Wyrd Smythe
      October 10th, 2023 at 4:24 pm

      I’m from farm folk, so I totally get practical. Doesn’t have to be jewelry unless there was a particular bauble you craved. I do lean more towards practical for Christmas, but Birthdays should be about something you don’t need but would really enjoy. (For Christmas I lean more towards a bottle of something or other tasty consumable. Works for low-key Birthdays, too.)

      But that’s just me. Your outlook is all yours!
    • diotimasladder
      October 11th, 2023 at 2:40 pm

      I think a bottle of something is a good safe bet for most people. I don’t drink much, but a nice bottle of scotch would certainly get me to change my mind!
    • Wyrd Smythe
      October 11th, 2023 at 5:29 pm

      And there are lots of options: French champagnes, California wines, lots of different liqueurs, and a vast array of interesting beers for beer drinkers. That’s just the alcoholic possibilities. I’ve also given fine chocolates and other consumables. Adds to the festiveness of the holiday season!
    • diotimasladder
      October 12th, 2023 at 11:49 am

      Chocolate is always a good idea!
    • Wyrd Smythe
      October 12th, 2023 at 4:31 pm

      Yeah, it’s hard to go wrong with chocolate. I leave a little package of those Lindt bon-bons for my mail carrier.
• Matti Meikäläinen
  October 10th, 2023 at 7:49 pm

  Your post reminded me of “Geritol.” That questionable alcohol-based tonic from the 1950’s that cured ‘iron poor tired blood’! I hate to reveal I’m old enough to remember watching black and white TV commercials.

  Reply
  • Wyrd Smythe
    October 10th, 2023 at 8:09 pm

    I ‘member Geritol, too. And TV when it was black and white. I remember when the shows I watched changed from B&W to color. The first appearance of the NBC peacock… in “Living Color!”

    Reply
• Anonymole
  October 10th, 2023 at 9:04 pm

  How can we return to those good ol’ days?

  Reply
  • Wyrd Smythe
    October 10th, 2023 at 9:05 pm

    Well, first you need a Delorean and a Flux Capacitor…

    Reply