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, just things
in general.
The granddad 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 grandmother and I got married first and then lived together. Every
family had a father and a mother, and every boy over 14 had a rifle
that his dad taught him how to shoot and respect. And they went hunting
and fishing together.
Until I was 25, I called every man older that I ‘Sir’- after
I turned 25, I still called a policeman and every man with a title ‘Sir’.
Sundays were set aside for going to church as a family, helping those
in need, and visiting with family or neighbours.
We were before gay-rights, computer dating, dual careers, daycare centres,
and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments,
good judgement 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 priviledge; 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 as the evening
breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in
the evenings and weekends – not purchasing condominiums.
We’d never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, Electric typewriters,
yoghurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the big bands; Jack
Benny, and the President’s speeches on our radios. And I don’t
remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.
If you saw anything with ‘Made in Japan’
on it, it was junk. The term ‘making out’ referred to how
you did in your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and instant
coffee were unheard of. We had 5 and 10 - Cent stores where you could
actually buy something for 5 and 10 Cents. Ice cream cones, phone calls,
rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a Nickle. 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 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.
We were also the last generation to believe that a lady needed a husband
to have a baby. No wonder people call us “old and confused”
and say that there is a generation gap…and how old do you think
I am- ???
Careful now…think before you guess and don’t look!
