There are so many things that you’ve done for the last time without you ever being aware of it. Think about it—from the time you were born to whatever age you are now, there are dozens of ‘lasts’ that have probably never crossed your mind since they happened. Well—we’re here to refresh your memory.
Here 21 things people did one final time without even being aware of it.
Really, though—do you remember the last CD you burned?
1. Browsed the selection of movies at Blockbuster for one last rental
If you’re over the age of 30, then you probably remember going to Blockbuster video all the time to rent movies and pick up snacks. What was the last rental you took home?
2. Snapped one last photo with a digital camera
Digital cameras were incredible when they first came out. We no longer had to drop off our film to be developed and now we could actually preview the photo right then and there! Now? Everyone’s camera is on their phone.
3. Unfolding the insert to a CD or cassette tape to read the lyrics
It was always so much fun cranking up your favorite song and unfolding the CD or cassette lyrics to sing along and learn all the words. Such tiny print.
4. Downloaded one last song from a ‘not-so-legal’ music sharing platform
Before Spotify and Apple Music, we had to go to extreme measures to download our favorite Limp Bizkit or Destiny’s Child albums, okay? In fact, it turned out to be super illegal but none of us knew it at the time.
5. Learning about school being canceled one last time
Before people had smartphones or the internet at our fingertips, we all had to watch the news to find out if school was closed for the day during a snowstorm or bad weather. It was always so disappointing if it wasn’t.
6. Cleaned the mouse ball one last time
Technology has come a long way when it comes to computer accessories. The rolling ball on old mouses would always get dirty and grimey and then have problems working. Cleaning it was a must.
7. Checked in on your fantasy Sims family
When the Sims games first came out, they were all the rage (and it’s still popular today with the younger folk). However, most of us grew up and simply…left our families to perish.
8. Watched an orange VHS tape
If you were born in the 80s, then you probably remember watching kids shows on orange VHS tapes in the early 90s. If you know, you know.
9. Visited a Scholastic Book Fair
I don’t know about you, but going to the Scholastic Book Fair at school was one of the best weeks ever. You could place your order ahead of time on those little ordering forms and it was simply the best.
10. The pain of rewinding movies on VHS
Kids today will never know the struggle and pain of rewinding movies. For some reason, it always felt like it took FOREVER. Some of us even had separate machines specifically for rewinding faster!
11. Burned one last CD
So many of us burned a CD at one point not knowing that it was going to be the last one ever. Do you know or still have that awesome mix CD?
12. Looking up movie showtimes in the paper
One day we were looking up movie times in the paper, then there were movie phone hotlines, and then there was just “Google it.” It all happened so fast.
13. Logged into AOL Instant Messenger
Oh, AIM. The beloved AOL Instant Messenger. One of the first “app-like” products that allowed us to chit chat with friends or total strangers across the world. A/S/L?
14. Printed out directions from MapQuest
It really wasn’t that long ago that we were printing out directions from MapQuest when we needed them. Smartphones just weren’t a thing yet.
15. Used T9 texting one last time
We’ve been texting since the early 2000s but it wasn’t as easy then as it is now. With T9 texting, you had to press the numerical button a certain amount of times to get to the specific letter you wanted. No such thing as autocorrect.
16. Sprinting to the couch when commercials were over
Back in the day, we didn’t have a ‘pause’ option on our TVs or the ability to record our favorite shows and fast forward through commercials. Nope. If you wanted to watch something, you had to be at home and on the couch.
17. Changed the batteries in your Walkman
Not only are our cameras on our phones now, but so is our music. There was a point you put batteries into your CD Walkman and had no idea it would be the last time.
18. Sitting on the corner with all your friends
Whatever type of public utility box this was, we all had one on the corner and we all sat there with our friends and just hung out. Then one day…we stopped.
19. When you wrote your name in a textbook
In high school, they’d loan you the textbooks and you’d have to sign your name on the inside. It was always crazy when you saw someone you knew who had it previously.
20. Ate school pizza
Everyone knows the type of pizza you had at school. It was in the shape of a rectangle for some reason and it most definitely had its own taste. And there was a time that you had your very last slice.
21. Played outside without a care in the world
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At some point, we all grow up and sometimes forget how to be a kid. And although we’ll never play as carefree as we once did, it’s nice to be reminded that you still have time to have some fun.
