The beginning of a new year is always a time for not only looking forward but also looking back. News accounts this week helped us do that. For example, the demolition of the building in Manhattan that housed the first automat restaurant was announced. A piece of history lost to the wrecking ball.

Remember the automat? It was the precursor of fast food restaurants, where pieces of pie, sandwiches and hot meals were kept in glassed-in cubicles, and customers put in their dimes and quarters to retrieve the food. The food was generally fresh because a staff of cooks and servers continuously refilled the glassed-in slots. Going to the automat was a must for those who came to New York.

And, does anyone remember how, before movie schedules were printed in the newspapers, moviegoers would simply walk into the theater at any time of the day or evening. If the movie was almost over, you’d just wait, but more often than not you’d simply find a seat and watch the movie from middle to end, and then stay to see the beginning. Why did it take us so long to figure out that publishing the movie schedules was the way to go? Sometimes the simple things elude us in face of the more complicated.

My granddaughter reminded me of something else from our past this holiday weekend, the old plastic shower caps. Somewhere between the invention of the blow drier and the popularity of softer hair styles, they simply went the way of typewriters.

I was opening a box of the elasticized plastic food covers that have become popular recently for storing food. They look exactly like the shower caps of yesteryear and cover dishes and bowls easier and neater than plain plastic wrap. What a great new use for for an old product, I thought.

My granddaughter was helping me and agreed the covers were convenient. Then she added that she discovered that they also make great shower caps! We had come full circle.

I am sure there are many other things that point to the good and bad ideas of yesteryear. If you have any, send them along to us and we will share them with our readers.

In the meantime, look back with humor and appreciation, and look forward with hope and a determination to make life better for yourself and those you love. Happy New Year!

Carolyn James