We had a lot going for us back in the day before television and DVD's. One was the City Briefs page in the newspaper. Mother read it religiously and never missed an opportunity to insert a family happening tidbit.

Let me tell you about that page. Happenings of the previous day found their way there. There was the police blotter listing all the crimes of the previous day. It told whose house was broken into and who was arrested for being drunk and disorderly. If there had been a series of break-ins in your neighborhood, you would be forewarned. That made good reading.

Marriages, births and deaths found their place on that page as well. But Mother's favorite spot was that of social happenings. As you can see from the enclosed notice, I had had my appendix removed at an area hospital and was back at home doing well. You will also notice that Mother was proud of my job as a telephone operator. That had nothing to do with having my appendix removed.

This was a common feature of all the social happenings column. It might read: “Miss Agnes Drinkwater, daughter of Mr and Mrs. Homer Drinkwater, spent the weekend at her cousin Miss Petula Osborne's home in Tazewell. Her father, Samuel Osborne is the former Mayor of New Tazewell. Also there were Miss Irene Sampson and Miss Nancy Baker. A good time was had by all.”

Notice was also given of families going out of town: “Mr. and Mrs. Homer Drinkwater and their lovely daughter, Agnes, will be spending the week in Crossville visiting the Clyde Summers family. They will be returning on the 7th.

Can you imagine that? What an opportunity for thieves to break in while they are gone? They probably didn't even lock the door when they left. My oh my, how times have changed.

Now we have the six o'clock news to listen to every day. But it is not as personal as the City Briefs page of the newspaper. I could care less whether the Drinkwaters visited the Summers, but I would like a listing of the crimes committed in my neighborhood. Unless it is something outrageous, that isn't going to happen.

Back in the day, simple pleasures were just that. We enjoyed each other's company. To sit together around the kitchen table and reminisce about times past as well as discuss local issues brought families together. Now, everyone is off doing their own thing. Texting is the norm, not face to face conversation. The continuity of family is becoming lost. What will happen when your young people reach middle age and become interested in their genealogy? What stories of family get-togethers will they remember from their youth? Those stories will be lost, that is, if they were ever told.