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Today on the way to work, I have one of them reflective moments - you know the one where you take a step back and say "wow, times have changed!" Ok, maybe just me, but see if you can relate. Allow me to share my PHAT revelations...

(that's my new word now until I stop laughing while writing or using it...ok, that might be a while...) I guess I'm evolving too.

Remember when TV was flooded with game shows: Scrabble. The Price is Right. Hollywood Squares. $25K Pyramid. Tic Tac Toe. Family Feud. Wheel of Fortune. Jeapordy. Let's Make a Deal. The Newlywed Game. Name that Tune. From the tube to the table, these were, for many folks, reality.

Today, ok, so the stakes have been risen, and now we have tons of "Reality" shows. But the old school game shows were my reality...uh uh, time to go more risk-ay. Today's shows tap into the super pyscho-emotional side of our beings: Fear Factor. The BACHELOR/BACHELORETTE. The Contender. SURVIVOR [name your exotic place]. American Idol. The Apprentice. American Inventor. Oprah. (ha ha...man she came out of no where!!!) Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Wife Swap. The Ultimate Fighter.

Remember when, not too long ago, remember when one nationally known product was pitted against "X" Leading Brand:

Detergent: Tide w/ Bleach vs. Leading Brand
Beer: Bud Light vs. Leading Brand
Cleaners: Windex vs. Leading Brand
Food: Jif Peanut Butter vs. Leading Brand
Under Arm: Secret vs. Leading Brand

What the heck is the "Leading Brand"?!!!! Anyone ever wonder that?

Now, forget nice product pleasantries!! Companies have gotten BOLD with their commercials. One product's commercial are like the neo-retro wild wild west gun duels: Name and Logo and all! I think the change in trend comes from the fact that companies began to realize that they have always spent tons of $$ on advertisements, only to leave a passive impression of their product in the consumer eye; why not put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is and go head to head with your competitor brand. Finally, Coke vs. Pepsi....Pepsi I bet was that "Leading Brand! Those sissies!!!! j/k. I like them both. I just think company product commercials are more creative and bold now than just 5 years ago.

Remember when shampoo commericials were just, well, shampoo.

Now, Herbal Essence comes along, and washing your hair has become (or can be) and "orgasmic" experience! C'mon it's just shampoo!! When these Herbal Essence commercials came out, boy I thought they pushed the envelope. Never thought shampoo could go Rated R.

Remember when gas was $1 - something, and for Premium!

Now, well look at your wallet, and you know. Boo!! (My critique of those oil companies still stands: how can you justify a record $36+ Billion in profit and still sleep at night!...yes profit; not Gross Revenues...that's just NUTS!!!).

Remember when cars had just a seat belt and the CLUB was deterrent of choice?

Now we have cars with airbags EVERYWHERE in the cabin, Lo-Jack, GPS Navigation, On-Star assistance; satellite radio options and seat warmers. Can I put some 22's on that Civic?!!! Ha ha, shoot, that just might happen.

Remember when as kids, we dreamed of being adult and having a home, thinking life would be better after college, hoping to have all the time in the world to do things.

Now we wish were kids again! Where has the time gone?! Wedding after wedding to attend; long work hours; sitting in traffic. This get together, that. Getting little sleep. (Unless, you partied hard in college...if this is you...quit your whining!!! ha ha). Know what I mean?

Ok, this probably applies to me...it's still hard for me to accept fully:

I Remember when I used to drink milk like it was water, and eat cereal by the multiple bowl fulls, without a hitch, without hesitation.

Now I am lactose intolerant. Shoot, more than a glass of milk or a few slices of pizza..and I will blow the roof off the place to kingdom come with category 5-like "winds". Lactaid pills help a lot, and granted I am not as bad as I know some folks are with just a fraction of the dairy...[sigh], the glory days....

I know I could go on and on of the "then-and-now" things that have evolved. It is funny how our expectations change with the times also. I ask myself if we are better off now, or our we setting ourselves up for more frustrations. Where is the constant in life? Not the constant that stagnates, but the one that helps us grow and move forward.

Relationships/Friendships.

It is the constant in life that sticks around, and yet still grows over time. As I look at my friends then, and my friends now, a lot has changed...we grew up!!. Though I've lost touch with many childhood friends over time (not because of tension, thankfully), I've made many new ones also. I guess I better not go off on a tangent, as I know I can. But for final thought: with everything around me constantly changing, I am challenged and encouraged about how I can do relationships better. And not because I want them, nope. It's because I NEED them. I think we all do. I think any purpose driven life is not absent without relationships. I remember when I took friendships for granted. Then I lost them. Loss has a funny way of teaching a person great value. Now, God-willing, I hope I get it right...and all the time!