As I drove down the highway the other day, a Bucky Covington song that I've heard 100 times came blaring out of my speakers.

"We were born to mothers who smoked and drank. Our cribs were covered in lead based paint. No child proof lids no seat belts in cars. Rode bikes with no helmets and still here we are, still here we are."

And although I've sung along every time, I don't know that I've ever really listened to the words.

For some reason last week, however, I did.

"We got daddy's belt when we misbehaved. Had three TV channels you got up to change. No video games and no satellite. All we had were friends and they were outside, playin' outside."

Perhaps it was the tofu I had to fish out of my soup the day before at lunch. Tofu -- who in their right mind would come up with such a dish?

Yes, there may be no calories, no cholesterol, no fat, no salt and no sugar, but there is one other important thing missing. The X!?! has no flavor!

We put butter -- shhh ... don't tell anyone I used the "B" word, the cholesterol police may chase me down -- in our soup when I was growing up.

Funny enough all my ancestors used the product for decades before me -- in fact, they all used lard -- and they all lived to ripe old ages of 95.

"It was a different life, when we were boys and girls ..."

Or could it have been the argument I got into with my 11 year old when -- for the 1,000th time -- I told him to get his helmet on while he was out riding his bike.

We still don't make motorcyclists wear them, but little Johnny and Betty Sue can't ride around the cul-de-sac without them.

"... Not just a different time. It was a different world."

Then again, maybe it was the answer I got when I asked him what "opening ceremonies" were at school.

"Good morning everybody, get out your math books," didn't seem much like an opening ceremony to me.

I pledge allegiance to the flag ... was how we started school every day, but schools seem to forget that respect these days.

"School always started the same every day. The pledge of allegiance then someone would pray. Not every kid made the team when they tried. We got disappointed and that was all right, we turned out all right."

No! I remember now what it was that got me started on this trip down memory lane.

I need to say thank you to the new Mayor John Vázquez for reinstituting the Pledge of Allegiance before every Town Board meeting. Maybe I'm off base, but standing to say the pledge before a Town Board meeting seems to be at the heart of what government is supposed to be about to begin with.

Although what else Covington says in his song, "No bottled water, we drank from a garden hose. And every Sunday, all the stores were closed" may be true, Vázquez has reminded us that everything about today doesn't have to be different.

Thanks, mayor.

Sherrie Peif is a writer for Windsor Now who says the Pledge of Allegiance every morning before her work day begins. Her passion has always been sports, Windsor and not hee-hawing around about anything. Look for her every Wednesday in Windsor Now to tell you how she really feels. If you have a topic you like her to look into, contact her at 970-392-5632 or by e-mail at speif@mywindsornow.com.