Several readers have written, called and e-mailed me to tell me they are now writing memories of their lives.

I especially thank the lady from Standish who wrote a great letter that brought back memories to me – in particular, the experience of having a bathroom outdoors! I’m sure many of us native Mainers remember those days and the quick trips across winter’s frozen grounds.

This is a good time to start writing, if you haven’t. And save all those memories in a folder so you can share them with relatives and friends. Most of the things I’ve written during the past dozen years, I have taken copies to the local historical society. After all, yesterday is history.

Speaking of history, do you remember what we used to call “the dime store?” Sometimes they were called “the 5 and dime.”

During World War II, while my father was gone, my mother took us children to Bridgton to live with my grandmother. It was such a treat to take a walk to the dime store downtown, as we used to say. Sometimes we’d have a nickel or dime we’d earned (or gram had given us) and we’d have the exciting freedom of spending it on whatever we wanted.

Later, after my father had returned and we moved back to Windham, we would go school shopping at the dime store in Westbrook. Actually, it was probably Woolworth’s, but here in the country we seldom bothered with the long name. Most of the clothing my mom couldn’t make would be purchased here; along with our pencil boxes and other school supplies.

After I got out of high school and moved to Portland to work, on Saturdays my roommate and I would always go to the dime store, where we’d sit at the counter and have a hot fudge sundae. Of course, we wandered through the aisles, too, checking out the items that were still, in those days, priced mostly less than a dollar.

When I returned to Windham in 1970, North Windham was just beginning to be something other than an intersection to drive through. The big boxes hadn’t arrived yet, but the famous Boody’s store was gone and other stores were moving in at the corner. McCrory’s, which was located near the post office, seemed just like the dime stores of days gone by. Here one could buy at least several things for only a couple of dollars. After they closed, there were other stores, but none could be categorized as a good old dime store.

This is a perfect example of how things change. What used to be dime stores are now dollar stores. Under several different names (most of which include the reference to dollar) these new ventures offer much of what the old dime stores did: cosmetics, small household items, toys and figurines, school supplies, greeting cards, racks of packaged candy and snacks. Some include canned goods, as well as auto supplies. A store near where one of my sisters lives has a frozen food section.

Today’s dollar stores are a blessing for many of us seniors and those younger who like to be thrifty. I notice that many of the major stores are now featuring a section where marked-down items are displayed. This is a good thing. No matter how the headlines and economic experts rave about the improved economy, it apparently hasn’t filtered down to my level yet.

If your town has a dollar store, be sure to check it out. Some of them can bring a lot of bargains, as well as a chance to recall those good old days of the five and dime.