Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Every day when I visit my Facebook, I get a chance to turn back the clock.  Back to a more simpler time, when downtown was somewhere you looked forward to going.  I have fond memories of growing up in Easton, Pennsylvania, and going downtown with my Mom, whether to go shopping at Woolworth's, Orr's, or Pomeroy's, catch a movie at the State Theatre, have my picture taken at Jack and Jill studios, get new shoes at Siedels... the memories go on and on and are too numerous to list.  Those kinder, gentler days are brought back to life through a group I belong to on Facebook - "You Know You're from Easton...".  There, former residents, and those who still reside in Easton, post their favorite memories, photographs, and postcards.  It really is a virtual community, where those of us who share so many memories get together and reminisce about the past, and wonder where it went, and why it had to go.  We all have our memories of Bushkill Park, it's skating rink, the carousel, and picnics there each summer.  And it is sad to know that what once was, will never be again.  Years of decay and several floods have destroyed the park.  How sad that our children and grandchildren will never get to experience these things.  

Sadly, downtown will never be the same either, it's fate long ago determined by the invention of the shopping mall, and further deteriorated by the emergence of superstores such as Walmart.  Everything you could possibly need under 1 roof - a bank,  a barber, a nail salon, photography studio, bakery, delicatessen, clothing, shoes...  But shopping at Walmart is depressing.  America seriously needs what those of us who grew up in Easton wax nostalgic about - genuine customer service, from people who know their customers by name.  A friendly smile.  A handshake.  A feeling that their business is welcome and appreciated.  The lyrics to the theme song from "Cheers" come to mind: 

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

You wanna go where people know, people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

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