bodypilot90 0 #1 May 10, 2003 NOT SO LONG AGO One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The Grandma replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon. Your Grandfather and I got married first- and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir'- and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir.' We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey. If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' or 'China' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5 & 10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600 but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon. In my day, "grass" was mowed, "coke" was a cold drink, "pot" was something your mother cooked in, and "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby. " "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office, "chip" meant a piece of wood, "hardware" was found in a hardware store, and "software" wasn't even a word. And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap..... and how old do you think I am ???..... Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time. THIS WOMAN IS ONLY 58 YEARS OLD. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #2 May 10, 2003 Good morning reading...thanks.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,593 #3 May 10, 2003 My grandparents were older. One was born in the 1880's and the others all in the 1890's. My grandmother (who went to college) possibly married my 8-years-younger grandfather to keep him out of the army in WW1. She died a little under 20 years ago (she was 99), so I don't know for sure. The others came over from Sweden. My grandmother's first husband left, and she had to farm her kids out so she could work to support them. She saw them on weekends until she married again. My grandfather went to the Antarctic with the Amundsen expedition (mega-cool) -- my grandmother met him because she interviewed him. He also almost died from a bone infection in his 20's, and was a very rough father. My mother was very poor during the depression, although my dad's family had enough. There were 4 African-American students in my dad's graduating senior class, including the class president. But he was killed in WW2, so who knows how he would have ended up. He dated a white girl all through high school. Things weren't all the same for everyone. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerry81 10 #4 May 10, 2003 Changes are the only constant in this world. Some can accept this and some can't. And btw, penicillin was 'invented' in 1928 and has been used as a medicine since the 1940s. Either grandma is a bit older than 58 today or she likes to exaggerate things a bit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot90 0 #5 May 10, 2003 Quote Changes are the only constant in this world. Some can accept this and some can't. Some things change and some things don't. Quote And btw, penicillin was 'invented' in 1928 and has been used as a medicine since the 1940s. Either grandma is a bit older than 58 today or she likes to exaggerate things a bit. skydivers, fisherman and used car salesmen do too Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MC208B 0 #6 May 10, 2003 I thought I was "old school" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #7 May 10, 2003 oh yeah everything was always better than it is now amazing how nostalgia only focuses on the "good" things that are “worse” now and never on all the bad things that are better what was the average number of jumps per year made when this hypothetical woman was born? anyone wanna wager that there are dropzones that do that in a week now? right & wrong are just as subjective as better & worse. No two-sided system is ever completely accurate. All things change. You can never step in the same river twice. ____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #8 May 10, 2003 QuoteMan had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon. I grew up in Florida without an air conditioner. It sucked. It would be 3am and the bed would be soaked from sweat. You hadn't gone to sleep yet because it was so hot. Most schools didn't have a/c either. After lunch, it was a struggle just to stay awake. I also hung clothes out to dry. A terrific waste of time. I am glad that we have a/c and dryers now. My new Saturn has a transmission that my go 150K miles, not 60K like my dads Oldsmobile. QuoteYour Grandfather and I got married first- and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Being married forever doesn't mean happily. People get divorced today if they are unhappy. Quote We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. I love the quality of digital sound. QuoteThe term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Sex is hereditary. If your parents didn't have it, you won't. Quoteyou could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. But no one ever had the time to write, now I email my friends 2 or 3 times a week. Things are better now. (edited for spelling) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydyvr 0 #9 May 11, 2003 Granny forgot to point out some of the bad stuff from back then . . . more institutionalized racism, and sexism, wife beaters getting a wink and nod from the cops, less developed medical technology, less fair labor laws, etc. etc. etc. . . =(_8^(1) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
