The Slice: When you climb into the way-back machine

We’ve all seen them.

But how do they make you feel? What do they make you think?

In other words, how do you react when you see 1950s photos of downtown Spokane taken near Christmas?

I’ll give you a few choices.

A) I’m elated by the nostalgic scenes of holiday bustle and illuminated streetscapes festooned with seasonal decorations. B) It sort of bums me out to see how vibrant downtown used to be compared to now. C) I, for one, do not mourn the passing of downtown’s unquestioned primacy. D) Makes me want to buy an electric train set.

E) Were the 1950s right after Lewis and Clark claimed the Northwest for white people? F) Why didn’t the shoppers in these photos go to the malls? G) I like the clothes and the cars of that era. H) Peace and goodwill to all anti-Communists.

I) I wonder what those people would think of 2017? J) I wish I could go back there for a day. K) I see a lot of likely newspaper subscribers in that photo. L) I’ll bet downtown Spokane near Christmas was pretty mind-blowing for a little kid back then.

M) I take it this was before the debate about “Merry Christmas.” N) The streets downtown look to be in pretty good shape. O) Spokane looks like Bedford Falls in its heyday. P) Imagine the prices of everything back then.

Q) I don’t suppose any of those people could have imagined online retail. R) So people here got dressed up before they went out in public? S) I don’t see the panhandlers. T) What gives? Nobody is looking at their phones.

U) This must be what Bing Crosby was dreaming of. V) I had an aunt who worked in that store. W) Did Ozzie and Harriet live here? I know his band played at Nat Park.

X) Man, Spokane looks like Whoville. Y) Look at those lights! Was Washington Water Power giving away electricity? Z) Check out those crowds. See, I told you Spokane was a happening place.

Sandy Emerson’s bird feeder policy: “We try to limit our customers. We feed the quail, pheasants, and sometimes ducks, but not the deer, turkeys or most squirrels.”

The animals, of course, do not pay attention to the rules.

Today’s Slice question: At what point do you begin to feel like a leftover yourself?

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. It can be amusing to say “Santa Claus” and insert your own middle name.