2Trenton, NJ – Growing up in New Jersey in the 1980s and 90s meant living by a set of unwritten rules that would seem bizarre, even reckless, to anyone raised in today’s tightly regulated, constantly connected world. It was a time before smartphones, viral videos, and social media outrage—when kids were more independent, neighborhoods felt smaller, and the boundaries of what was “acceptable” were very different.

Photo by Mike Meyers

One of the biggest differences was the telephone. Back then, calling a friend meant dialing just seven numbers—no area code needed unless you were calling out of town. Without caller ID, every ring was a mystery, and the race to answer first was real.

You also had to memorize everyone’s number or keep them in a “little black book.” Moving to a new house m

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