Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Weekly Scribblings #27: Things Were Different Back Then

If you’ve ever been in the presence of a vintage soul (AKA someone who has lived more than a few decades and who stays in a constant state of bewilderment in the face of their perception of change), then it is very likely that you’ve heard a version of “Things were different back then.” The words are often accompanied by looks and sighs that are pure longing… unless the change in question refers to something nasty or hurtful or worse, in which case the pronouncement is probably coated with relief or shrouded with inherited rage.

Since I have heard and read the phrase a lot lately, when the time for a new Weekly Scribblings topic arrived, I thought that it might be interesting to see what our muses would birth out of the phrase. So, for today’s prompt, I invite everyone to write new poetry or prose inspired by the phrase, “Things were different back then”. Use the words literally or metaphorically. Write a short piece or a long one (if you go for prose, the word count should be 369 words or fewer).

Please, add the direct link to your contribution to Mr. Linky. This prompt will stay open for a week. So, we have lots of time to share our words and to read the words of others.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. And don’t feel bad if you feel that the Lois in the comic strip is undeniably nuts.

via

15 comments:

  1. Great prompt! It inspired me to a bit of memoir – going further back than my own memory, to those articulated by my elders when I was little and they forgot I was listening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh! I can't wait to read about those often unintentional/unavoidable bits of eavesdropping. People say some things when they think no one of consequence is listening.

      Delete
  2. LOL, back in college I started many days with a muffin and a large coffee grabbed on the way to class. Thankfully I never picked up a cigarette.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! Is a bit mad, isn't it? While I was searching for this image, I also saw a picture of a baby being used as the face for a soda ad.

      Delete
    2. I was always fascinated by the "doctors say" ads, and them holding a cigarette, telling readers how GOOD they were for you...

      Delete
  3. Good Wednesday to all listed. Thank you Magaly for prompting us today

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are most welcome, Gillena. Thank you for joining!

      Delete
  4. Came out pretty gloomy, but that's the nature of getting old, I guess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Unknown, first of all, welcome! Secondly, are you Jedediah? Hope you will come back again to play with us here. Please find a way to identify your comments so we know who's talking to us. Even if you do something a little bit weird like putting 'Jedediah Smith (Unknown)' in your Mister Linky link, LOL. Thanks!

      Delete
    2. These days, gloomy makes a whole lot of sense (for the old and young alike).

      Delete
  5. Cigarettes at 25 cents a pack, I could hardly afford smoking on my allowance. Nice prompt theme, Magaly, thank you for hosting
    ..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I had not been able to afford them back then! I certainly couldn't now – have you SEEN the prices they charge nowadays??

      Delete

Please be respectful of all the people on this site, as each individual writer is entitled to their own opinion, style, and path to creativity.