Yesterday's word of the day at dictionary.com was imago: "An idealized concept of a loved one, formed in childhood and retained unaltered in adult life." Those of us who have lived in Lincoln most or all of our lives have many imagos associated with this town. What are yours?
I probably have dozens if I really sat down to think about it. Many are associated with food. Take Taco Inn, for instance. If I were to visit Taco Inn for the first time today I would probably never return. Yet I have a very fond impression of Taco Inn, no doubt initially formed when I was a kid. Even Lina's, which used to be located in a former Taco Inn, got a subconscious boost from the imago.
And let's be honest. Given all the great food available out there these days, would Valentino's be so popular around here if it weren't for the collective impact of many thousands of childhood memories etched into our brains? I think not.
The folks at Runza know how to play the imago game. Miller & Paine cinnamon rolls, anyone?
But now I've just gone and made myself hungry. What kinds of Lincoln-related imago color your lives?
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The bubbles at Woods. I spent a whole lot of time on those courts. Didn’t notice until I was older that it’s either freezing or a rain forest in there.
Every school I attended in Lincoln.
We used to go to Pizza Hut when it was in the little building that Enterprise now occupies on O Street. I still remember with great fondness the crispy crust, the jukebox, and it just being special. We rarely had Valentinos because there were very few things my dad would wait in line for, and Valentinos was not one of them. Hate to say it, but the Omaha Pizza Huts have our local franchise all beat to heck. Even on takeout, my crisp crust pizza from the store at 72nd and Pacific is always crisp and the toppings are generous. I can’t say that about the Lincoln stores.
Another is the Taco Bell that has been across the street practically forever. My mother and grandmother used to take us kids there for a taco. I still recall that with fondness.
I’ve got to say, I now work in downtown Lincoln, and even now I have to pinch myself every time I look at the old Miller & Paine building, now occupied by Nelnet. If you are ever in the vicinity of 13th and O on foot, stop in the building and look at the pictures over the elevators in the lobby. And those escalators! How special they were! By George, I can still remember the location of the departments in the store! I know I am dating myself, but I have fond memories of the escalators in the old Penneys building - they were so skinny! And Hovlands - and Ben Simons - and Magees - that was in the hey day of downtown Lincoln. There were actually shops and a food court in the atrium building, now Energy Square! A trip downtown used to be so special. How did we lose all of that? I know, I know…PARKING. The city has never been able to get that right.
Thanks for the opportunity to stroll down memory lane with my imagos!
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