Moving pictures may not move the Old Men anymore
For once, the Old Men of the Mountain found that Tuesday, June 13, was a sunny, rain-free, and warm morning to travel to the Middleburgh Diner in Middleburgh. Even coming over the mountain was pleasant.
In the Times Union, and the Times Journal, a paper from Cobleskill for the valley, the papers reported on the movies held many years ago in the street in the town of Schoharie. Schoharie has the honor of having the first “drive-in movie” in the country 100 years ago in the month of June. The OMOTM in their 80s and 90s remember these movies.
On June 8, there was a free showing of the movie “The Awakening of Helena Richie” in front of the courthouse in Schoharie and it was shown again on June 10 to celebrate the event of 100 years ago. Some of the OFs attended and for them it was fun
One OF mentioned that going to the picture show (yes, picture show) is no fun for him and his wife anymore. It could be an age thing because of his hearing, or just that he is old, but the movies today are so loud and are just noise, he has trouble picking up on the dialogue with all the banging and clanging going on in the background, or else it is some dumb music
“That’s OK,” one OF said. “There are no stories anymore so if you miss the dialogue you haven’t missed much.”
Dressing etiquette
The OFs had an unusual conversation Tuesday morning on what they considered “dressing up” to go out. Some of the OFs considered getting dressed meant putting on clean jeans, shirt and tie, with leather shoes to be high fashion. This is as dressed up as they get.
One OF wondered what people get dressed up for now anyway. The only men “dressing up” are politicians.
Another OF added that “to never trust a guy in a suit” was good advice.
Still another OF noticed that many big shots now show up in jeans and a T-shirt, or just a shirt and casual pants, and some do not even wear socks.
Another OF added that he thinks people are getting too sloppy and should show respect and dress up more.
Yet another OF joined in with: “Have you noticed how much it costs now to get dressed up?” The average Joe is being priced out unless he shops at the Salvation Army thrift store.
“It used to be,” one OG said, “that when we attended a funeral everyone showed up in black.”
The OF said he even had a suit just for that. Now anything goes, from shorts to tank tops.
“Who cares?” an OF added. “The center of attraction is dead; the dressing up is just a show for the family. The one in the casket could care less.”
Travel routes and timetables
To arrive at the restaurants the OMOTM frequent (at one time or another), all the OFs travel some distance to gather together, eat, and do nothing. Over the years, the OFs have determined the shortest, or the best way to reach their destination at each eating establishment.
The OFs have also determined there is a spring, summer, fall, and winter way to get there. The winter way may not be the same as the other three. Every now and then, the Department of Transportation tosses a little monkey wrench into the OFs travel plans.
For the OFs on the southeast side of the mountain to travel to the restaurants on the west side, the typical ride for these OFs is over Bradt Hollow Road. Starting this month until fall, these OFs will have to find an alternate route because a bridge on the road will be closed for repair.
As one OF stated, “I guess we have to put up with these kinds of delays because nothing really lasts forever. No matter where we travel, there is something under repair, or just having routine maintenance done.”
One OF said his wife always comments, “Why are you leaving so early — it only takes 30 minutes to get there!” The OF said she never counts on accidents, road work, red lights, school buses, garbage trucks, OFs going 25 miles per hour, finding a place to park, or anything like that. The OF said she does not realize hauling all the junk she brings that sometimes it takes 10 minutes just to get in and out of the car.
“Mine is just the opposite,” one OF added. “She pushes to go, go, and go. We are always the first ones there, or 30 minutes early for an appointment; she does not want to be late and have everyone look at her when we do get there.”
Another OF jumped into the conversation with his Army training, which taught him not to be late. This OF said that most of the time the one at the end of the line was handed all the crappy details.
Old-school doctoring
Medicine (what else) was part of the conversation, too.
The OFs thought that doctors now not only have to receive a degree in the doctor business, but also need a degree in medical engineering, or at least computer science to go along with it. The OFs remembered our doctors that had all they needed in a black bag; along with a stethoscope, the doctor was all set.
Some doctors even had a mortar and pestle and strange powders in the back room of their offices where they made their own concoctions. The doctor wrote down a few instructions and the OFs dutifully took the mixture, which was included in the price of the office call, and what do you know — the OFs got better.
Tain’t like that anymore, Magee!
Those OFs who made it to the Middleburgh Diner in Middleburgh and were able to get there (maybe just because of the doctors with the mortar and pestle) were: Miner Stevens, Roger Chapman, Roger Shafer, George Washburn, Bill Lichliter, Robie Osterman, John Rossmann, Harold Guest, Chuck Aelesio, Richard Frank, Bill Bartholomew, Dave Williams, Pete Whitbeck, Otis Lawyer, Jim Heiser, Marty Herzog, Mark Traver, Glenn Patterson, Wayne Gaul, Ted Feurer, Ted Leherman, Don Wood, Art Frament, Lou Schenck, Herb Bahrmann, Mace Porter, Jack Norray, Ted Willsey, Bob Lassome, Duncan Bellinger, Bob Benninger, Bob Fink, Mike Willsey, Gerry Chartier, Elwood Vanderbilt, Harold Grippen, and me.