The Good Old Days

This storm named Fern is sparking childhood memories, recalling how a spate of severe winter weather while traveling forced us into the nearest roadside diner where it was warmer.

Where cigarette smoking was the fav habit of just about everyone, except hapless children.

Children forced to breathe secondhand smoke, with nowhere to flee to avoid the foul space.

Yeah, those were the good old days before laws were passed banning such thoughtlessness.

I don't miss breathing bad air, but I miss the kitschy roadside diners, drive-ins and motels.

And I do admit missing how nicely smoke from all those cigarettes curled and coiled upward.

Before lodging in the bronchi, bronchioles, and aveoli, destroying tissue and causing cancer.