Best of Yesterday

We think Sparkler rebel_of_nowhere should consider changing her username to rebel_of_now. :) —SparkNotes editors

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that things aren’t quite what they used to be? Pluto’s not a planet, Tinkerbell has her own movie, Michael Jackson is dead, and Harry Potter is being challenged by sparkling vampires. Is nothing sacred anymore? Here are five things I think are better off as they were wayyyy back in the old days:

Actors: Zombieland is great, but the golden age of actors is over. Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, and Jimmy Dean are the epitome of the classic actors. Their old-time elegance, grace, and charming wit are painfully lacking in movies these days.

When it comes to great acting in the not-so-distant past, I think Michael J. Fox is the best. He's as earnest and funny as old time-y actors, without seeming mean or completely foolish. Now, everyone gets their thrills by obsessing over the latest monster craze, but I think Doc, Fox and the DeLorean trump the undead any day.

Musicals: Ah, musicals. They're not just torture devices used by drama teachers to embarrass you in front of everybody you know. While modern hits like Wicked and Spring Awakening are great, nothing matches the kind of brilliance Grease, Singing in the Rain, or Hello Dolly! brought to the world.

Music: Lady Gaga is a major phenomenon, but you can’t beat the good old music of the age our parents grew up in: The Who, Warrant, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Whitesnake, and who could forget The Beatles? I think music today doesn’t have that irreplaceable rock 'n roll vibe that the Rolling Stones or Van Halen made seem as effortless as sticking a dime in a jukebox.

Diners: Believe me, I was all for the creation of Cheeseburger in Paradise. And don’t even think about keeping me from Panera. But don’t you wish that places nowadays had that super cool diner feel, red checkers and Formica tops and all? Recently I went with my dad to a restored classic diner, complete with soda fountains and glass coke bottles. I was pretty much in awe of how freaking cool it was, and my dad casually said that there was one of those in his neighborhood that he and his friends went to almost every day after school. Seriously? It beats Dairy Queen and a Blizzard by a mile.

Slang: I know, it’s a little embarrassing when your dad calls you "sport." Still, in the glorious days of yesteryear, every other word on TV wasn't four letters of foulness. It seems that our parents' slang was less cruel and more goofy. You know you love it when Shaggy says "groovy."

Favorite old phrases of mine are, "Houston, we have a problem," "I love it when a plan comes together," and, "What we have here is a failure to communicate." Plus, I relish the bonus points I get with grownups when I actually understand their wonky one-liners.

Do you love anything from your parents' youth?

Related Post: Your Parents vs. Your Music

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By: Contributor

Topics: Life

Tags: sparkler posts, old stuff, nostalgia

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