Understand the world of the biggest procrastinator - Jake
Grandpa
Posted 04-19-2007 at 01:47 AM by Jake
Hello All
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
There were no:
' 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.
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 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 ' 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?
*I say in my next blog entry!*
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
There were no:
' 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.
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 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 ' 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?
*I say in my next blog entry!*
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Re: Grandpa
that is so profound.....i miss the days of our childhoods were things were so much more fun and carefree.....
quality of life was much better then.....Posted 04-19-2007 at 01:59 AM by Death
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Re: Grandpa
I agree with Death on that...
Though I do appreciate the progress we have made beyond some of the not so nice things of that time... Prejudice against others of colors... against gays (who were so far in the closet I would wager the suicide rate probably was high). There's a balancing act now though... I would say there IS more tolerance but at the same time there's still...hatred, evil and prejudice and plain nastiness.. (Imus anyone?
)
I think we all should stay children....Posted 04-19-2007 at 02:23 AM by Ducky 
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Re: Grandpa
There was a reason it was referred to as the GOOD OLD DAYS.
If I mis-behaved I got a clip over the ears - home or school.
You respected those older than you (same result as above if you didn't)
Lawyers were used with criminals not children
The words "I'll sue" were used when Sue would ask who's getting drinks.
Psycologists were used by people who were genuinly ill. Maybe because if there was a problem you had family and friends to talk to.
You could walk down the street at night.
Food, drinks and most things enjoyable weren't bad for you.
There wasn't 100 different diets - you wanted to lose weight - you didn't eat as much.
Stairs were climbed to get to the next floor not placed in a Gym for people to pay to use.
Girls were treated with respect - and appriciated it.
People took responsability for they're actions, instead of trying to blame governments, society, parents and everyone else excep the person who did it.
OMG - I'm only 37.........
As Fuzz said, We have made some huge progress but unfortunately lost so much as well.Posted 04-19-2007 at 02:50 AM by Nitehawk -
Re: Grandpa
At least 60... McDonalds was formed in the 1950's so they had to be from before then!
I agree with everything else that has been said here, thank you for the interesting read!Posted 04-19-2007 at 01:37 PM by rbmagic
