These are the good old days.

When Carly Simon sang these words back in early 1975, we were in a similar situation as we are today. We were coming to the end of a war, the economy was in a challenging spot, and America had been through a rough patch----so what happened? We made it. Today I look upon those days as times I enjoyed. I entered college, voted for the first time, and saw, and felt, the impact of what was learned through the tumultuous years that had just ended.

Today we look at high unemployment, a fragile economy, one that I do believe is on its way back, and a very radical change in our government----whether it's a health care bill, the first African-American President, or whatever is yet to come. Some will look at these times as being horrible, and rightly so in some respects, but 30 years from now, unless time ends today, we will likely say, "those were the good old days."

The best example I can give is when I occasionally listen to the Oldies station here in Chicago---you hear songs from the Police, Rolling Stones, and Genesis. Back in the 1970s and 80s, these were the bands burning up the airways, today they are heard on elevators, ipods, and the oldies station. Why? Because in our minds they represent the good old days; the days when things were easier, were more care free, and include the memories of the good things that happened to us. (Sure there are bad memories associated with music, but unless it's a song that crushed your heart when you broke up with your boyfriend/girl friend--they seem to push the bad aside and bring forward the "good old days." They do for me at least.)

Today is Veteran's Day. A day where we honor those who went to war for the millions of American's who are back home and hoping and praying for their safe to U.S. soil. Unfortunately some don't make it home---and in some cases when they do come home they are not the same person we knew when they left. But no matter what, these are the men and women who represent America; they are brave, loyal, and when it is all said and done, our heroes.

The photo above was taken in California on the way to Lake Tahoe. It was a small town, a real throw back, and I saw this car with a photo of James Dean in the back seat window. That caught my eye, but it was the old post office in back of it that made the snap shot a photo; it was not one of the modern post offices, it was from the good old days. The days when we listened to songs that made us smile, cry and wonder what lies ahead. As Carly Simon sang, "These are the good old days."

Thanks for stopping by.