As summer nears its end, a time to reflect

I really wish we’d have less political divisiveness. I wish the war in Ukraine would end. I’d be happy to never hear the term COVID again and now, even hearing “China” on the news makes me a bit nervous. So, pardon me for a little frivolous thinking in this column.

Summer is coming to an end and I’m not happy about it. I love summer. Playing golf, riding my motorcycle, the sweet smell of freshly mowed lawns, ice cream stands, the sun shining when you wake up, dining outside, delicious food from the grill, and the “everything is good” sound of pounding waves and chirping seagulls down the shore.

Everything seems all right in the summer. Since I was a little kid, it was playgrounds, Cedar Beach Pool and old-school charcoal family cookouts at some local park. By the way, the propane grill will never top the smell of good, old, burning charcoal.

On Saturdays we’d watch Summertime on the Pier, a great early ’60s music show from the iconic Steel Pier. The same Atlantic City pier that featured a daily live show with a horse diving into the ocean from a high platform. Obviously no longer today’s idea of entertainment.

When I was a kid my mom would take our huge clan to Atlantic City most summers for a few days. My dad couldn’t come because he was “working” at the family business. I kind of think he was too OK with not being with seven maniacs for five days in a couple of hotel rooms. To me, he was missing life’s best moments.

The noises of a busy boardwalk, the chirping of the seagulls, the smell of roasting peanuts at the Planters store and the gorgeous, bustling lobby of the “they don’t make ‘em like that anymore” Hotel Chalfonte-Haddon Hall.

I always got a kick out of summer commercial jingles. It was “Tan, don’t burn get a Coppertone tan!” The Phillies had “Baseball and Ballantine,” and now we have “Be cool eat a Rita’s,” all great jingles that drive sales and remind us that it’s good times ahead. Back in the day you’d hear those commercials over and over while listening to your favorite station and DJ on a tiny transistor radio.

I always loved clever ad campaigns. They can have such an impact on our culture and on a product’s success. So, let me give you some examples that I recall.

Brylcreem: “A little dab’ll do ya. Brylcreem the gals will all pursue ya,” and it went from there. All this to make men’s crazy slick hair of the ’50s look even greasier.

Burger King: I loved the catchphrase “The bigger the burger, the better the burger, the burgers are bigger at Burger King.”

Just hearing that made me hungry when I was younger and could eat that food without risking my life.

Tastykake: “So much fun to put in your tummy.” I used to love Tuesdays because that was the day the fresh Kreamies were delivered to my hangout, the Campus Shop. Ten cents later and I was one happy camper.

Almond Joy: Who can argue with “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.” Plus, they taste pretty darn good, too.

Winston: Hard to believe but cigarette commercials were all over back then. The one that killed me (well, not literally) was, “Winston tastes good, like a cigarette should!” Nothing can hit those taste buds like the delicious taste of tobacco smoke.

I’m sure you have your favorites and I’d love to hear them. I stayed away from the classics like Clara Peller’s “Where’s the Beef,” or Brooke Shields’ controversial yet hugely effective “Nothing comes between me and my Calvin Klein’s,” or “Hey Mikey! He likes it” for Life cereal.

Products come and go, as do the way we promote them, but heck, if they make us smile and don’t repeat them what seems like every minute as some commercials today, I’m all for them. Because in the wonderful world of capitalism, competition is constant. And where there is competition, only the best products survive and thrive. And who doesn’t want to taste, drive or use what the best can offer? It’s a challenging world and I’m all for anything that makes us smile.

Soon we’ll be raking leaves and shoveling snow. The skiers can ski and the skaters can skate. Our fields will be covered in beautiful white snow, and my exercise will go mostly indoors. Once again, I’ll be counting the days until a time when I’m warmer, healthier and happier.

Hmm . . . now I know why my little granddaughter’s name is Summer. She’s filled with sunshine, makes life better and the world a happier place.