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Points? Let’s Go All Out…A WABAC Machine

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Home Stager

Points? Let’s Go All Out…A WABAC Machine

 

What should I buy with my ActiveRain points? So far, I’ve added some chef-quality appliances to my kitchen to help me achieve my goal of adding variety to the meals I prepare. Next, I donated points to encourage literacy in our youth and adults. 

 

 

My next purchase is an investment in a WABAC machine. (Not to be confused with the Wayback Machine shared by Liz and Bill Spear ) If you’re of a certain age, you may remember The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle and Friends. Mr. Peabody and his friend, Sherman, took us back in time each week using the WABAC Machine.

I’m not sure if Amazon has them, but perhaps Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD  knows where I can get one.

 

I’d use the WABAC MACHINE to take me or anyone else back to a place called A Simpler Time.    (There was an old print ad with a young girl swinging from a tree. The caption was “Remember how simple life used to be?”)

 

                           

 

This machine could be used for those times when you are fed up with what’s happening around you…at work, your home life, the world. All you want is an hour or two (or more) when you are transported to a time when the hassles of life were lifted.

 

Remember when we were children, we played outside with toys or rode our bikes. There were just 3 channels on TV, and on Saturday mornings they were filled with cartoons and westerns. 

Now we’re figuring out how to cut the cable cord and then, which of the ever-growing streaming services we want. 

In A Simpler Time we could walk into the store and purchase a carton of milk. Now we have to decide if we want whole, lactose-free, reduced fat, 2%, grass-fed, organic, goat, fat-free, lactose-free calcium calcium-enriched, unsweetened dairy-free pea milk, coconut milk, or rice dream rice drink.

 

Hopefully, this time away from time would be enough to rejuvenate us. Maybe we’ll come away with an appreciation for what we have now, or at least a perspective of why things are as they are. 

 

It’s hard to say how many points this would take, but if we found the machine, I would gladly donate money to any members who felt the need to spend some time at A Simpler Time. 



As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.
Henry David Thoreau




This has been my 3rd entry in the ActiveRain June Challenge - ActiveRain Point Store - Open! Open! Open! Hosted by Anna “Banana” Kructhen and Debe Maxwell. 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
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Comments(16)

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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Kathy. Sign me up as a passenger and may I book several individual travels since "The WABAC' would become a favorite way to spend time. Enjoy your day.

Jun 17, 2025 04:39 AM
Kathy Streib

Same here Wayne Martin I'm thankful we had a simpler childhood and got to play outside and in our neighborhoods. 

Jun 17, 2025 10:28 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Kathy... I often do long for the simpler and more innocent times of my youth. Clearly that ages me a lot. As for WABAC, we were not permitted to watch cartoons when I was growing up... so I have no reference to it whatsoever.

Jun 17, 2025 05:05 AM
Kathy Streib

Nina Hollander, Broker I remember watching this one because I wanted a machine like that or the Dick Tracy watch!!!  And look what we have...the Apple watch. 

Jun 17, 2025 10:29 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Kathy Streib hi Kathy, I don't have any kind of smart watch. My watches are jewelry and I never want to talk into my arm! :)

Jun 17, 2025 11:48 AM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Simpler times, yes Kathy, but I also recognize the strength and wisdom that came from navigating the changes along the way. But I like the creative way you are spending your well-deserved points!

Jun 17, 2025 05:11 AM
Kathy Streib

Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400 Who we became is a result of where we were and what we experienced. I wouldn't change that but it's fun to remember the simpler time. 

Jun 17, 2025 10:30 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

All kind of tradeoffs with today's tech.   Yesterday I saw a flower I'd never seen in our garden, certainly not something we'd planted.  I took a picture of the bloom, photo image searched on Google and moth mullein came right up as the answer.  Beats going to the library and searching book after book :)
On the other hand, I've got all these streaming services and often can't find anything I really want to watch.  Maybe no time for a 2+ hour movie, and no desire to start a new series.
Now if I could just get Liz to do like my parents did in the summer, and send me out in the morning with a "be back home in time for dinner!".  Off we'd go on our bikes roaming the neighborhoods and woods...

Jun 17, 2025 05:11 AM
Kathy Streib

Liz and Bill Spear you know how much I love technology and devices but there are some simple things I miss. I love using Google lens or whatever it's called. 

The thing about streaming is that there are so many sources!   I remember spending all day Saturday outside and after dinner as well. We didn't have to come in until dinner or when it was time for bed. 

Jun 17, 2025 10:32 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten

Oh I so remember that Bill  - be home before dinner my Mom would say!

Jun 17, 2025 10:41 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Oh my gosh, yes. I think if we turn off our phones and get outdoors to do something, anything, it's almost as good as a WABAC machine! Not quite, but almost.

Jun 17, 2025 05:32 AM
Kathy Streib

Kat Palmiotti I think that's why I love seeing young kids outdoors playing instead of inside on their devices.

Jun 17, 2025 12:07 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

I think you should use your points to help invent Pizza that has no calories (but tastes like real NYC pizza). You would get rich and I would be in heaven. 

Jun 17, 2025 06:17 AM
Kathy Streib

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty how funny!!!  I would if I could!!!  I'm not a big pizza eater but Larry loves it. 

Jun 17, 2025 12:08 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

The topic of milk is something I find interesting since I have found out that raw milk is actually what we should be drinking.  It makes me really sad that the truly healthy stuff is not allowed to be sold in stores, but the poisonous stuff is.  Rather than going back in time, I pray that there will be a time in the near future that our health can be seen as more important than the dollar bills being put into the pockets of politicians, haha.

Jun 17, 2025 06:34 AM
Kathy Streib

Brian England one year it's don't eat eggs, later it's ok to eat them. Same thing with coffee, meat, etc. I agree. I would love to trust what talking heads say about our health. 

Jun 17, 2025 12:09 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Kathy - Mr Peabody, his boy Sherman plus the other related characters of the Bullwinkle cartoon series were favorites in the day.  As for a return to those times, so much has changed that once was fondly remembered.   However, I don't think going back is the answer.  Maybe a clue from Fractured Fairy Tales might lend some insight.  

Jun 17, 2025 06:54 AM
Kathy Streib

Michael Jacobs I am tempted to get on Youtube for more of Robky and Bullwinkle. Remember Natasha and Boris??

Jun 17, 2025 12:11 PM
Michael Jacobs

Kathy Streib - yes, indeed - Natasha reminded me of Morticia Addams in some ways.  Both were geared towards an adult audience as I reflect on each now.

Jun 17, 2025 12:21 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Kathy,
I love this idea. If we all pool our points, I bet we could buy a corporate WABAC machine for AR members. It would be fun to compare stories after our various adventures back to a simpler time. 

Jun 17, 2025 08:11 AM
Kathy Streib

Carol Williams  That would be fun and even better if we could take a few others on each trip. We could see what they experienced. 

Jun 17, 2025 12:12 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Ahhh the joys of a simpler life!  Count me in Kathy!  It's so good to just tune it all out and simply be in the moment.  I feel better all ready.  Like you reminding me of the long summer days at the lake skiing - that was fun to recall!  Those were totally in the moment days!

Jun 17, 2025 10:44 AM
Kathy Streib

Anna "Banana" Kruchten I remember growing up, Saturdays seemed like the longest day of the week. I loved it.  We were outside playing all day. Some Sundays we took a caravan of cars to the beach property too. 

Jun 17, 2025 12:14 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Dolores and I will plan to visit you when you get the machine working.

Jun 17, 2025 11:47 AM
Kathy Streib

Roy Kelley I'm going to have to get started working on it!!!

Jun 17, 2025 12:15 PM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks so much for sharing this delightful post, Kathy Streib. I really enjoyed your nostalgic look back and appreciate the creativity behind imagining a WABAC machine to escape life’s chaos. It’s a wonderful reminder to cherish simpler times and find small moments of peace in today’s busy world 😊.

Jun 17, 2025 12:49 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy if you are able to get your hands on a WABAC machine, I have this week's winning lottery numbers that I want you to play for me.  🤪

Jun 17, 2025 02:52 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Kathy, have no idea what a WABAC machine is, but do wish for those days that were so much more simpler!

Jun 17, 2025 05:28 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy:

I certainly remember watching Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends but I seem to have forgotten the WABAC machine with Mr. Sherman and Sherman. But I love your idea of enjoying a simpler time when we choose to do so.

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 08:29 PM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Kathy Streib - What a great way to spend your points! Although I do recall watching Rocky & Bullwinkle, I would score a big fat "F" if my memory was tested from watching the shows. The video you provided was very helpful. There were a few characters that gave me a flashback moment. But the biggest Aha for me was remembering all those conversations I had with my oldest sister who always brought up grade school. Whenever we talk by phone, if I bring up some historical event, she always says to me, "I hated learning history in school!"

Next time I talk to her, I'll have to reminder her about the WABAC machine with Sherman and Sherman. As the oldest kid in the family, my sister decided which cartoons we had to watch. Perhaps I slept through episodes with the WABAC machine. 

Now, if we could get the WABAC machine to bring back the past, I will definitely be interested and awake! 

What I really liked the best, was the little girl swinging on the swing! Now that was a favorite memory of mine! Being outdoors, going to the park around the block without parents, or going on Sunday picnics with my family during the summer months are the most memorable. Playing outdoors and not going back home to check in until it was time for dinner was always a neat adventure. 

You used your points wisely! This was a fun blog post. Thank you!

Jun 17, 2025 09:47 PM