- Melt Me -

– The past is a nice place to visit but you can’t live there –

Mobile Food Trucks Parked in front of Brick & Mortar establishments – Currently a trending roadside dining experience - Once Dubbed 'Roach Coaches' along with 'Sterile' non-taxable sidewalk vendors. If you don't remember the sweet sound of the 'Good Humor' truck, along with the excitement it brought, even for those few moments then that's not a memory we share and you are clearly out of the senior demographic required reading department, and probably won't relate to this article – I get that.

In our small mountain town we also had the Helms bakery custom-built coaches with fresh pastries; tooting a very loud train whistle-type tweet approaching with their treats. Glaze donuts were a nickel and cream puffs were .20 cents; could never afford that as a weekly allowance was all that.

"Mom, there's a BUG on my ice cream" – "Don't worry Son, it won't eat much." I scream for Ice cream - Bench Splinter Treats: Double Scoop me minus the Lick~Drips

We all had our favorites - which would YOU choose? Are you an Ice Cream Sandwich - or anything with chocolate chips in-um. Me, I liked the Orange Sherbet Push-Ups or the Twin Schtick Popsicles; always had to eat those in the shade before the sun ate them. Remember those – or were you a Fudgesicle kid? When standing in line the trucks' open Fridge-doors pushed out a cool fresh breeze~white fog coming from the dry ice wafting in our faces on a hot day; this was a 'Treat' in of itself – No need for pushy line cutting here! Kids would stand in line {Ear-Bud-Less} and actually 'shoot-that-cool-breeze' – talking to one another – an oddity of late.

'Good-Humor Trucks' Slowly cruised down our street with our ears tuned into the Music's shortened version repeating staccato good vibrations. With the 1st sound we would anxiously rush to the curb with our dogs leading the way; no silent dog whistles needed here. The 'Theme' music may differ from each State – but it always sounded like a revolving amplified child's music box.

Take a minute to 'Kibitz' — Current day interactions:

With so many Gadgets to distract attention 'Shooting-the-Breeze' has become an anomaly. What do you really mean when you say This or That? Is it just an 'Instant Gratification' momentary blurt-out to say they will follow-up but never do so: A brief answer to satisfy the conversation then they simply move on! Don't say you will if you won't – "Sure let's Do Lunch – Give you a call." But it never happens; people have expectations. 'Let's do lunch' is a perfect example of saying something totally gratuitous – this can be hurtful. Some may just push-off because they don't know what's ok to say or not these days—so NO dialogue is the safest way to stand off meaningless chatter.

Cell phones have taken an obsessive hold on our culture. Just recently a woman came over to visit, and even when asked not to, she kept checking it: I mean who's that important or is it that she just couldn't stop herself; an addiction? Not unlike a smoker's-habit of constantly reaching for that 'Fix!'

Although I try to be subtle, I have been outspoken about people who are right in front of me constantly going to their 'Habit' within our Non-Smoking ~ Cell Phone Booth-Less House. When they are in my home the rules are that they either leave the phone in the car or mute it. I’m convinced those phone calls are not messages from GOD, so why waste my time with the full expectation that I’m willing to wait on their important conversation? Indeed..!

— No Big Shots Here —

Never could figure out how 'Priority' attention is applied? Maybe there are those who really DO blame 'Brain-Freeze' on their behavior? Is this the new 'Etiquette' – I'm probably the only one that's noticed?

Say it like you mean it! Many examples of Dismissive Remarks, such as salutatory clichés' –"Have a Good Day or Buh-Bye"– not a lot of 'shooting-the-cool-breeze' there. We're all guilty of this; some more off-putting than others in which the 'receiver' surely would feel un-important! Anything sound familiar with this? Of course, you can be a little more sensitive about this issue than others; I am.

— Kindness never goes Unnoticed ~

Kindness never goes out of Style, either —

Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, California

Senior Vocal Author - Vocal Village Community -