[From the Internet with a bit of modification by me}
One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.
The grandfather replied……
Well, let me think a minute. I was born before television, Penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees, Hula Hoops, and the pill. There were no credit cards, laser beams or ball point pens. Man had not invented panty hose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and space travel was only in Flash Gordon books.
Almost every family had a father and a mother. I called every woman older than me, “Mam” and every man, “Sir”. Still do for that matter, even though I am older than most.
We were before gay-rights, transgender anything, computer dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.
Our lives were governed by the Christian principles, 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 eating half a biscuit while running to catch the school bus…. If there even was one to catch. Mostly, we either walked or rode our bikes to school.
Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins and other family members.
Draft dodgers were those who closed front doors (and even locked them) as the evening breeze started. Front doors were commonly not locked and keys were left in cars.
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 Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President’s speeches on our radios. We rushed home from school to listen to Hop Along Cassidy, the Green Hornet, Inner Sanctum, Captain Marvel, and Tennessee Jed on the radio.
We loved Comic books and Yo-Yos. We loved Saturday movies of Roy Rodgers, Buck Rogers, and Tarzan. Those were 25 cents.
It you saw anything with “Made in Japan” on it, it was junk. Chinese stuff did not exist. The term ‘making out’ referred to how you did on your school exam… or necking.
Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Starbucks, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5 & 10 cent stores, Woolworths and Kresge’s, where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice cream cones, phone calls, rides on the city bus, and Pepsi were all a nickel or at most a dime. And if you didn’t want to splurge, you could spend your nickle on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.
You could buy a new Ford Coupe fo $600, …. But who could afford one? Too bad, because gasoline was 11 cents a gallon.
In MY day:
“Grass” was mowed.
“Coke” was a Coca Cola drink.
“Pot” was something your mother cooked in.
“Rock Music” was your mother’s lullaby.
“Aids” were helpers in the Principal’s office.
“Chip” meant a piece of wood.
“Hardware” was found in a hardware store.
“Software” was not even a word.
And we were the last generation to actually believe that a woman needed a husband to have a baby…. or even a woman was the only gender that could have a baby. No wonder people call us “old and confused” and say there is a generation gap.
How old do you think I am? I bet you have this old man in mind…. You are in for a shock!
Read on to see — pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad. This old man would be 72 years old today. Gives you something to think about. Oh, and one more thing: our phone number was 4339.
ADDENDUM: Auto tires had inner tubes, most cars had manual (not automatic) transmissions, no power brakes or power steering. Necker’s knobs were the thing on steering wheels. And about everyone had a Victory Garden and/or ate food grown by local farmers without pesticides. There were slide rules, not desk or handheld calculators. No Internet and even no computers, really….. let alone cell phones and before them, beepers. This from an 84 year old man.
