Saw a group of teens just the other day

Made me think of when I was one

Times were different then

Better I’d dare to say

Although it’s from a time not long ago

Before cell phones

            When we still had phone booths one every other corner

Before bootleg dvd’s or dvd vending machines

            But you were charged for not rewinding your Blockbuster rental

Before cable television in every room of the house

            When the floor model in the living room had the smaller set sitting on top

That’s when times were good

When guys walked around with cardboards and boomboxes

            And battles were between dance groups; not rival gangs

When we rode our 5 speed bikes from corner to corner

            But when the street lights came on we knew to be in the porch

When the neighbors still looked out for each other

            And you could get a whupping from anyone on the block

That’s when times were good

The times of ‘after school specials’ & School House Rock

Saturday morning cartoons & Friday Night Videos

Garbage Pail Kid trading cards & music posters on bedroom walls

That’s when times were good

The times of 8Ball leather jackets & shell-toed Addidas

Midnite bowling & weekend roller skate parties

Sock hops & school talent shows

That’s when times were good

The times before mortgage & utilities

Before life insurance & retirement plans

Before adult realities & adult responsibilities

That’s when times were good