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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, and
' the pill didn't exist.
There were
no:
' transistor radios
' credit
cards
' laser beams or
' ball-point pens
No one had 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.
Until I was 25, I called
every man older than me,
'Sir' and after I turned 25,
I still called policemen and
every man with a title,
'Sir.' We were before
special rights for everyone
who wanted them, 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 take responsibility for our
actions.
Serving your country was a
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.
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 ' 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 and 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?
-------------------------------------------
This man
would be (in 2013) 62 years
old :-) |
