Missing the old times

Several posts over the last few days got me thinking. Many of us are very involved with family yet it seems many of the simple traditions and pleasures of life have gone to the wayside. I miss going out late at night with friends or family to gaze at the stars. I miss sitting in the porch late at night with a cup of coffee talking about old times, experiences, and events with family long gone. I miss hearing the stories elders shared of very different times. I miss the smile and nod of a stranger as we pass by. Or the gathering of neighbors and strangers to help someone in need. What makes me sad the most is the knowledge and experiences most of us have that will not be passed on to the next generation. Years of skill, traditions, recipes, and wisdom. Things that cannot be captured in a book and must be communicated in person. I hope somehow, someway these old activities and traditions can become commonplace again.