Nostalgia

When I was a child, many of the necessities of life were delivered directly to my house. . . first in horse-drawn wagons and later in motorized vehicles. Most homes were heated by COAL, and had basements with a coal bin, a small room accessed by a small metal outside door. At regular intervals, a chute was inserted, and a man deposited some coal. Before home refrigeration, the iceman would bring 50-100 pounds of ICE, and put it in the icebox. He and the milkman had free access to kitchens, because there was little reason to lock doors. It was a kinder, gentler time. We had a President about whom no one told lies, we were engaged in a war that everyone wanted to win, and people only asked for government assistance when they were truly in need.

The milkman sold various DAIRY products plus eggs, and came either on a predetermined schedule or when called. Also regularly scheduled was the LAUNDRY man, who picked up and delivered clothes for washing or dry cleaning. My uncle made an entire career of that. Other people did not deliver to the door, but they made their presence known on the street. Similar to the children's ice cream man who is still around today, they would appear in the neighborhood on most weekdays. Some sold BAKERY products, bread and treats made by Hostess, Nabisco, etc. (For special "homemade" baked goods there was a nice bake shop not too far away.) Costermongers brought fresh FRUITS and VEGETABLES to the neighborhood. It was very convenient for mothers who stayed home, kept their houses spotless, and raised the children.

Before the advent of the supermarket, the only comestibles housewives had to leave home to obtain were meat (our meat market [butcher shop] was a couple of blocks away), and groceries --- canned, bottled and packaged goods (cereal, sugar, beverages, etc.). The grocery store was usually adjacent to the bakery and the meat market, and every established neighborhood had them all. In our neighborhood, we even had a pie shop where a man made a living baking only extremely tasty pies (similar to Pushing Daisies, but without the sit-down). During the time of sugar rationing, however, part of the retail price was a cup or two of the precious crystals. So far, I have been unable to verify that Cheetos were invented in our neighborhood, but a shop sold "Corn Curls" before something similar appeared in grocery stores in cellophane bags.

Since I now live 20 miles from the nearest reasonably priced supermarket, I really long for those earlier times, especially when I suddenly run out of some foodstuff.