Patsy Andrew Bland, a high school classmate and friend, recently sent me an e-mail entitled “The Year was 1955.” The text contained several things that were common thoughts in the mid-1950s, about 55 years ago. See if any of them sound familiar.

“I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $10.”

“Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won’t be long before $1,000 will only buy a used one.”

“If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit. Twenty cents a pack is ridiculous.”

“Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter.”

“If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help.”

“When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.”

“I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Every since they let Clark Gable get by with saying ‘Damn’ in ‘Gone With the Wind,’ it seems every new movie has a curse word in it.”

“I read the other day where some scientists think it’s possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.”

“Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn’t surprise me if someday they’ll be making more than the president.”

“I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.”

“It’s too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.”

“It won’t be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.”

“I’m afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.”

“Thank goodness I won’t live to see the day when the government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to government.”

“The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.”

“There is no sense going on short trips anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $2 a night to stay in a hotel.”

“No one can afford to be sick anymore at $15 a day in the hospital. It’s too rich for my blood.”

“If they think I’ll pay 30 cents for a haircut, forget it.”

I cannot imagine why Patsy thinks I should remember 1955. I didn’t say I wasn’t around — in fact that year was not only the middle of the decade, it was the middle of our high school career as well. However, just because I was around does not mean I remember, and I am sure there are some readers who know exactly what I am saying.

John O. Hawkins is a native of Caldwell County who resides in Buffalo Cove.