“Let’s reminisce more. Let’s slow down more.”

Ironically, of course, during the same years of my grandmother’s youth, the big cities would have been reveling in the age of the soda fountain and the diner, American relics from the glory days of consumption. The 1950s was red awnings, paperwrapped delicacies, novel, goldenage consumerism. Is it right to feel nostalgic for something out of the grasp of reality? Maybe it’s not the fifteen-cent burger that we miss. It certainly wouldn’t be the other end of the spectrum – bleak poverty and a lack of technological amenities.

I think it’s fair to think we miss the old times. Before our times. When people were supposed to take their lunch break, whether that be a home-cooked meal or not, instead of forgetting to eat something in the grind of the day. Or worse, eat in the company of a laptop alone.

Let’s reminisce more. Let’s slow down more. I certainly won’t advocate for lard on popcorn or marshmallows in salad, but there are some things you should just do right. Sharing food with people you care about is one of those things.

By Maddie Schlehuber