By: SodakArtist

**OHHHH boy oh boy oh boy do I.** Life without the internet was downright amazing. People had pretty darn good memories and could remember a lot of phone numbers before they had to look them up in their own contact book or flip through folders. I still remember how impressive it was when someone could rattle off ten different numbers from memory. If they didn’t know the number, we would have to go get a thick phone book. That hefty yellow pages directory was a staple in every household. Flipping through its pages, you could find anyone’s number and even discover local businesses you never knew existed. I still remember the satisfying thump it made when you dropped it on the kitchen table.

**Not everyone was attached to their phones.** Well, one person might be on the phone for hours, and that would block other phone calls from coming in or going out. Remember those days when households had only one landline? If someone was talking to a friend, no one else could use the phone. Sometimes, you’d hear the infamous “Get off the phone, I need to make a call!” shouted through the house. And don’t even get me started on party lines, where multiple households shared the same line! Imagine picking up the phone and overhearing your neighbor’s conversation. It was like a soap opera unfolding in real-time.

**We had tin foil wrapped around the antennas from our TV to get channels.** Or we would be holding the tin foil or antennas to help reach farther or in weird angles. Sometimes we had to stay there for a long while. Ah, the memories of twisting and turning those “rabbit ears” just to catch a glimpse of your favorite show. It was a family effort: one person would stand by the TV, another would yell from the couch, “A little to the left! No, now it’s worse. Go back!” And when you finally got it just right, nobody dared move. I remember my dad strategically placing aluminum foil in all the right spots, turning our living room into a science experiment.

**We also had imagination because we didn’t have screens attached to us or put in front of us all the time.** We got to get bloodied, bruised, and scraped up, and still wouldn’t come home until the streetlights went on or for dinner, whichever one came first. Our days were filled with outdoor adventures. We built forts out of sticks, climbed trees, and rode our bikes everywhere. It wasn’t unusual to see a group of kids playing a game of tag or hide and seek until dusk. I remember the thrill of exploring the woods behind our house, convinced we’d discover some long-lost treasure. Our imaginations were our entertainment.

**We knew how to read Roman numerals on the clocks and watches.** This was more common than you might think, especially since many grandfather clocks and older watches used Roman numerals. It was like a secret code we all understood. I remember the pride of deciphering the time on my grandfather’s old pocket watch, feeling like I had unlocked an ancient mystery.

**And don’t forget those moments when you had to let the water run for a few extra seconds before drinking it.** We did this for two reasons: one, to let all the hot water come out that could sometimes be extremely hot, and two, to let those pesky air bubbles out so we could drink the water and not get it shot up our nose. This was a common practice, especially with older plumbing systems. I can still hear my mother’s voice reminding me, “Let it run for a bit, just to be safe.”

Life before the internet was a tapestry of simple yet rich experiences. We relied on each other more, made do with what we had, and found joy in the little things. It’s a time I remember fondly, filled with the kind of nostalgia that makes you appreciate how far we’ve come while also cherishing where we’ve been. It was a world where face-to-face conversations were the norm, where patience was a virtue, and where every day held a new adventure waiting to unfold.