How Old Am I? – An Introspective on Society in Our Lifetimes
One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. He 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.
There were NO credit cards, laser beams, or, ball-point pens.
Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, microwave ovens, cell phones, or fax machines.
The clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air, and space travel was only in Flash Gordon books.
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 woman older than me, “ma’am”. 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 Bible, 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.
Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.
Draft dodgers were those who closed front doors as 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 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 & 10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Or there was penny candy that actually cost a penny. 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 Ford 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
- “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.
How old do you think I am?
I bet you have a very old man in mind…well, you are in for a shock!
Read on to see — pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the
same time. Are you ready?????
This man would be 72 years old today.
72 years ago was 1947.
THINK ABOUT HOW FAR OFF CENTER WE HAVE BECOME – MORALLY AT LEAST.
