"1. Soda and beer cans that came with pull tabs:"
"2. Kids riding in the back of station wagons, usually facing backward, with zero seatbelts and seats, and with a vague understanding that "holding on" counted as safety:"
"3. Getting the Montgomery Ward or Sears catalog in the mail and immediately sitting down to "just take a look," which somehow turned into an hour:"
Pull-tab soda and beer cans provided a simple opening method that predated stay-tabs and influenced disposal practices. Children commonly rode in the open rear of station wagons, often facing backward with no seatbelts or proper seats, relying on a casual notion that holding on was sufficient safety. Receiving a Montgomery Ward or Sears catalog frequently prompted immediate, prolonged browsing that turned brief curiosity into an hour-long activity. These everyday elements reflect a period of convenience, permissive safety norms, and a strong role for mail-order retail in shaping family routines and leisure time.
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