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I've been reading these posts since this thread started. I must say this is the most nostalgic and enjoyable thread I've ever read. Born in '62. I remember turning on the TV and killing time while it warmed up. Once the picture came on and was clear I remember cigarette commercials. "You can take Salem out of the country but...you can't take the country out of Salem." Winston, that one 100mm brand where the end always broke and of course, the Marlboro man in motion, riding high. I remember a doctor coming over to examine my little brother. Friendly arguments about who made the best cars (it was usually the one YOUR dad drove.) On the east side of St Paul, 3M dominated the landscape. There were factories all over the place and there was at least one building in every neighborhood that was used by The Mining for something. The tape plant made the whole region smell like the Elmer's glue. They lavished surplus goods on all the local schools, including the Catholic one I attended - wonder if they'd still do that today. Trucks drove by our school all day everyday servicing the various plants. White smoke billowed out from neatly aligned stacks. That effect was multiplied 10 times during the winter. People walked from their lap-sided homes to go to work. Railroads were still a major deal around town too. My older brother was in a band and they practiced in our basement, which was so cool because music was becoming more influential. He also had 2 '57 Chevy's in the backyard that he and the band stripped and rebuilt for fun. Most pop was sold in glass bottles. As far as I knew there was one McDonalds anywhere close and it only had 4 tables in it. The neighborhood store was owned by a family who lived next to it. They knew us and stocked their shelves accordingly. We played war, rode wagons down the street, and it was okay to cut through most people's yards. We never thought to question our safety back then.