Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The past is passed

A former colleague of mine and I got in touch recently and have been exchanging some photos from our past. These two, that I received today, are of a going away party when my friend went across town to become my competitor. In the first photo, I have surprised him with a small gift of some kind. In the second photo he is being gracious and saying goodbye.
Two things stand out to me. #1, look how skinny we are! I've put on close to a hundred pounds since those days. #2, notice I am not without a cigarette in either photo. And that was inside of our studio, on the second floor. Nearly everyone smoked in those days and there were no laws about it. "Those days" - this was in 1968, some 41 years ago! (Incidentally, I stopped smoking, finally, 18 years ago but I still had to have a pacemaker installed a few years ago.)

13 comments:

Judy said...

The pictures remind me of scenes from the movie, "Goodbye And Goodluck".

Catalyst said...

Judy - LOL! That's about how it was!

Tess Kincaid said...

Yes, it does look like the set of Goodbye and Goodluck. You look like Dick Van Dyke!

Catalyst said...

Willow - Heavens to Murgatroyd! I wish I had some of his money.

Malicious Intent said...

I always love going through old photos like that. Amazing how much things change and how quickly they do.

Catalyst said...

M.I. - As you get older, you'll be amazed at how that quickness becomes more and more quick.

Granny J said...

Hey, we were both journalistas & to be a journo back then, a cigarette in one hand at all times was part of one's persona. I still feel naked, though I quit over 25 years ago.

Catalyst said...

I never miss it anymore and am surprised to see one in my hand in old photos.

joan said...

What a treat to get a little slice of time like this! it looks like as Mad men set.

Catalyst said...

Joan - You may (not) be surprised that you're not the first one to say that!

Meggie said...

Joan stole my comment. I love the series Mad Men, but oh how I cringe now when I see the smoking that went on... to say nothing of the drinking!
Wonderful photos, wonderful memories!

Kitty said...

Middle age does unkind things to the body. Mine is expanding, and it never asked my permission!

Catalyst said...

Meggie - Yes, the smoking is something I am happy to have left behind.

Kitty - Isn't that the darndest thing?