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As I grew up in the 1950’s and early 1960’s almost all of the drug stores and many department stores had soda fountains where you could get a sandwich, burger, coffee, soda, or a milk shake among other things. It was a lot more relaxed atmosphere where people would get something to eat and drink and sit there and talk with friends or many times even with someone you didn’t know. It was enjoyable, friendly, pleasant and slow paced.

In the 1960’s the fast food places started and by the late 1970’s they were in full force. As more and more fast food restaurants opened the soda fountains started to close down. The slow paced soda fountains were now being replaced by hurry up, get your food and go atmosphere. It seems now that there is a fast food place on every corner. We don’t even have to get out of our car anymore to order or get our food and drink.

When I grew up and we went shopping in downtown Stroudsburg, PA it was a sure thing that we would go into the J.J. Newberry store and sit at the soda fountain and have a sandwich and a milk shake. It was kind of a tradition and peaceful. There was no rush, gobble down your food and let’s get going. Why are people in today’s society in such a hurry? It is so different now from the days of 50 years ago when people seemed to enjoy life so much more.

I know that a lot of people call it progress. That isn’t the word I would use, I lean more toward sadness. The world changes and we all have to change with it, however the older citizens look back with a twinkle in their eye and reflect on the days gone by.