Disturbing Confession ...

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Brent G.

I grew up in a great college town — Bloomington, Indiana. My parents spent the first 55 years of their life there, but now hate it because it just isn’t like it used to be in those good old days. I’ll bet the people before them in horse-and-buggies thought the same thing. Nostalgia is nice, but it can blind you to the fact that right now is the greatest time ever for those in younger age groups. I guess we’re all a little guilty of thinking OUR time was the best. Personally, right now I’m having more fun collecting than I did at ages 7-16.

I'm 79, and I can tell you about many things in my youth that WERE better--more pure fun and joy, simpler and more gratifying, less stressful, etc., but what's the use? Those days are never coming back. If I don't like the music today, I don't listen to it, that's all, same with movies, TV shows, etc. But I love the choices of restaurants, fashions and clothes, services of all kinds, terrific cars, wonderful bourbons and beers, and many other things that ARE better today than they were. As for collecting, what difference does it make if you're a kid collecting in homage to our favorite players and teams, as we did, or because of the thrill of pulling something rare and unique? The kick is the same, and it's great to see the newer generations taking over with their own style. If it was just old guys with money fighting each other for the same musty stuff over and over, that wouldn't be much of a hobby would it, and how long could it last? We can't even imagine what this hobby will look like in a hundred years, but as long as they're having fun with it, what else matters?