There’s something funny about memory.
You’ll forget where you left your glasses, but you can still hum every word of a jingle from 1964.
You might draw a blank on someone’s name at church, but remember the exact color of your mother’s kitchen curtains from childhood.
As someone who’s crossed into his seventies, I’ll tell you this: memory doesn’t always fade with age—it just gets selective. And if you can still recall some of these little moments from decades ago, chances are your mind is holding up better than you think.
Here are 10 moments that say your memory’s still firing on all cylinders.
1. When the milkman actually delivered to your door
Back when the clink of glass bottles on the porch was part of the morning soundtrack, and the cream rose to the top whether you wanted it to or not.
If you can still picture the delivery truck, remember the man’s name, or recall putting those empty bottles out in the metal carrier—your mind’s sharper than most.
These weren’t just chores—they were part of the rhythm of the day.
2. The first time you saw color TV
It might’ve been Bonanza or The Wonderful World of Disney.
Maybe you stood in someone else’s living room, or watched it through a store window downtown.
That moment—when the screen went from gray to color—felt like stepping into the future.
If you can still remember which show it was, or who was in the room with you, that’s a sign your long-term memory’s alive and well.
3. When phones had rotary dials and cords that never reached quite far enough
We didn’t text. We didn’t tap. We dialed—and if you messed up one digit, you had to start all over again.
If you can still feel the weight of the receiver, remember the sound of the dial spinning back, or recall your childhood phone number, you’ve got a solid hold on the past.
Bonus points if you remember what a busy signal sounded like.
4. Waiting for film to be developed
Before selfies and filters, you took 24 photos, hoped for the best, and waited a week to find out if anyone blinked.
If you remember the anticipation of picking up that little envelope from the photo counter—and flipping through each picture right there in the store—your brain is storing vivid detail.
It takes more mental effort to recall the process than it does to swipe through a phone gallery. And that effort shows your memory’s still in working order.
5. Your first record player—and the first album you bought
I still remember saving up for mine. Worn turntable. Wood casing. Felt like holding magic.
Whether your first LP was The Beatles, Elvis, or something you’d never admit out loud, the fact that you still know what it was says something.
Music locks into memory in a way few other things do. And recalling it decades later? That’s a good sign your brain’s keeping strong connections.
6. Watching the moon landing in real time
Maybe you were at home with your family. Maybe in a classroom, or gathered around a TV in a neighbor’s living room.
But chances are, if you were alive in 1969, you remember where you were when Neil Armstrong took that first step.
It wasn’t just a historical moment. It was a collective memory. And remembering it isn’t just trivia—it’s a marker of clear, vivid long-term recall.
7. When gas cost less than a dollar a gallon
You didn’t need a credit card or a digital screen. Just rolled down the window, handed a few bucks to the attendant, and maybe even got your windshield cleaned.
If you remember the exact price you used to pay—or the feeling of your dad groaning when it hit 75 cents—you’re holding onto memories most people under 50 can’t even imagine.
And remembering price points from decades ago? That’s a mental sharpness many cognitive tests don’t even measure.
8. Handwritten report cards and chalkboard erasers
Long before digital gradebooks, there was the handwritten report card.
Neatly folded. Often signed by a parent. Maybe even sealed in a brown envelope.
If you remember that feeling of dread—or pride—when you brought yours home, you’re tapping into emotional memory, not just factual recall.
Same goes for chalkboard erasers, spelling bees, or the sting of that old wooden ruler. The little classroom details stick with you for a reason.
9. Collecting S&H Green Stamps
Saving stamps. Licking them into the booklets. Dreaming about what you’d get once you saved enough.
If you remember flipping through the catalog, picking out that toaster or lamp or blender—you’re not just remembering the item.
You’re remembering a whole system of behavior. And remembering systems, steps, and rituals from decades ago? That’s cognitive gold.
10. Lining up at the ticket booth for a Saturday matinee
No online reservations. No app notifications. Just a line down the block, a dollar in your pocket, and the hope your movie wasn’t sold out.
If you remember the posters, the smell of popcorn, or the feel of the paper ticket stub in your hand, you’re not just sharp—you’re a walking time capsule.
Something I’ve carried with me
A few months ago, I came across an old photo of me and my buddies standing outside the local ice cream parlor, probably around ’66. I could still name every single one of them.
Still remember who was cracking jokes. Who had just gotten his license. Who spilled root beer on his shirt and tried to blame the waitress.
My wife looked at me and said, “How do you remember all that?”
And I told her the truth: I don’t try to. It’s just there. Like the song you didn’t mean to memorize, but can sing start to finish.
It reminded me that while my knees might ache and I sometimes forget what I walked into the kitchen for—I haven’t forgotten who I am, or where I came from.
And that, to me, is a sign of a memory worth trusting.
Final thought
Memory isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
If you can still recall the little things—the prices, the smells, the sounds of a world that’s long gone—you’re doing better than you think.
Your memory isn’t slipping. It’s just storing what matters.
And if you find yourself getting nostalgic more often these days? That’s not a flaw. That’s your mind taking inventory of a life well lived.
So the next time you catch yourself humming an old commercial jingle, or remembering the name of your fifth-grade teacher out of nowhere, take it as a good sign.
You’re still sharp. Still connected. Still you.
