EI
  • EI
  • Herf-A-Holic Topic Starter
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 6:54:00 AM
Stay with this -- the answer is at the end. It will blow you away.

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events.

The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.

The Grandma 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 Grandfather 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 bet you have this old lady in mind...you are in for a shock!

Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time.

This Woman would be only 58 years old!

RICKAMAVEN
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 7:02:00 AM
well said.
THL
  • THL
  • Herf-A-Holic
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 8:08:00 AM
And I did her.
wznnhv
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 8:31:00 AM
And wrong. TV was available long befor 1947 as well as some of the other thing mentioned.
Buckwheat
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:02:00 AM
GILF?
SteveS
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:04:00 AM
while TV existed prior to '47, it was not in general use by any means and there was no regular programming for the few TVs that DID exist ...
Buckwheat
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:19:00 AM
...and Darky sat at the back of the bus and knew his place. Yesum, Sir!
Buckwheat
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:22:00 AM
...and "Radar was actually invented just over a hundred years ago, in 1904, by a German, Christian Hülsmeyer"...
MACS
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:25:00 AM
She's younger than my mom. My mom just turned 65 and i'm sure she told me all of those things at least a thousand times.
billyjackson
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:26:00 AM
Hard call for me as to whether I'd want to go back to that (though I'm too young to have experienced it). I like my computer and AC. I'm ok with gay people wanting to be equal citizens.

Of course, I could have done without credit cards (trouble for me).

But that's just me. I am fascinated at the main point...how fast things have changed in the last 50 years.

RICKAMAVEN
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:26:00 AM
Buckwheat

i don't want to to anything to affect EI's lovely story.

dolphins use radar, bats use radar. we just got around to learning how the other species used it about 100 years ago.

chipslave
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:27:00 AM
"And I did her. "

Bahahahaha! I was thinking the same thing...

RICKAMAVEN
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:27:00 AM
Buckwheat

your other reference to the back of the bus was terrible.

chipslave
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:30:00 AM
Rick...

I think it was tongue in cheek humor...

Buckwheat
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:31:00 AM
Ahhhh. The good old days that never were.
Buckwheat
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:33:00 AM
sar·casm (noun) - remarks that mean the opposite of what they seem to say and are intended to mock or deride.

MACS
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:35:00 AM
See what I mean Julian? It's just no fun when you have to EXPLAIN the joke.
Buckwheat
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 9:37:00 AM
Which one?
RICKAMAVEN
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 3:41:00 PM
chipslave

what happenned to people and the way they were treated does not demonstrate humor, unless your mind set thinks of that part of our past as funny.

it isn't, it's insulting.

rugrunner
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 5:18:00 PM
Your right Rick it was insulting and worse. But I'm getting tired of being hit over the head with it too. MY grandparents came here in the early twenties. They got off the boat and went straight to N Minnesota where they homesteaded their 200 acres from uncle sugar (not sure if a mule was included). I don't think they saw more then a dozen black people in their lives. I am quiet sure the ones they saw they didn't do or say anything to offend. I was born in sixty five. I really don't remember anything before 1970 or so that would be of interest to anyone but me. I grew up in an integrated world. I had black and white friends and teachers. I attended an almost all black church and was a member of the sons of Norway (all white) I almost lost my virginity to a black girl (her damn older brother *#&@%..)And have sisters married to men from 4 different ethic groups (only 3 sisters too). I have been a prick to black people and to even more white people. I am tired of people painting every white person as retired clansmen. If that's all thats you have to bitch about why don't you find someone who really gets discriminated agianst in this counrty, today, and fight for them. You don't have a clue who they are do you?