The other day, one of my twin 47 year old single playboy sons,
asked my thoughts on current events like the war, politics, the
computer age and just the difference in things in general over the
past sixty years.
The other day, one of my twin 47 year old single playboy sons, asked my thoughts on current events like the war, politics, the computer age and just the difference in things in general over the past sixty years.
For me, the current events of the day are most shocking to be sure. For his amusement, however, I began to recall the sanguine times of my youth in the 1930s and 1940s in Enid, Okla.
We were born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen food, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the Pill.
There weren’t things like credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Scientists had not invented pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners and man had walked on the moon only in Saturday matinee serials at the local picture shows. (Oh. Sorry! Movie Theater.)
Yet, milk was delivered right to the front porch in glass bottles.
Serving our country was a privilege, living here was a bigger privilege. We were proud to salute the flag and we would never disrespect it. We were proud to join the service and defend our country, not slander it. We thought this was the greatest country on earth; not the root of all evil in modern times.
United we stood; not diversified and divided.
My wife and I got married first–then lived together.
Every family had a father and a mother, even close grandparents, aunts and uncles. Every boy over 14 had a .22 rifle or BB gun that his dad taught him how to use. At an earlier age, he even might play cowboys and Indians with play guns; or “Rubberguns” and shoot his playmate with big rubber bands, cut from automobile tire inner tubes. We didn’t use real guns to kill our classmates.
Until I joined the Marines, I called every man older than me, “sir.” And, after the Marines, I still called policemen and every man with a title, “sir.” It was a matter of respect for authority.
We never wore our hats or caps in the house and certainly not while eating. It was a matter of respect for our mother.
We never wore our caps backwards, because obviously, the bill of the cap shielded our eyes from the sun. Wearing a cap backwards would have been stupid.
In our time, closets were for clothes, not for “coming out of.” Sundays were set aside for going to church as a family in the morning and spending time together in the afternoon reading the Sunday paper.
Or, who can forget the Sunday afternoon family ride out into the countryside in the ’36 Ford.
We experienced life 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 the difference between right and wrong, and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. You bet, we were judgmental!
We never heard of FM radio, tape decks, CD’s, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt or guys wearing ear rings, much less in the nose, tongue or eyebrows.
On the radio, we listened to the “big bands” as well as Jack Benny and “One Man’s Family.” Unlike the kids today, who blow their brains out listening to Metallica; indeed, back then, kids slow-danced to Tommy Dorsey, Harry James or Frank Sinatra.
Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and instant coffee were unheard of.
We shopped at Woolworth’s and Kresses, both 5 and 10 cent stores, where we could actually buy things for 5 or 10 cents.
Ice cream cones, rides on a street car, a picture show and a “Coke” were each a nickel. In fact, we could spend a nickel on a stamp to mail a letter.
In my day, “grass” was mowed; “coke” was a cold drink; “pot” was something your mother cooked in.
Although the difference between the sexes had been discovered way before our time, we never imagined the future would bring – sex changes, “Heather” has two Mommy’s, or pornography in the family home computer and on the newsstands.
Furthermore, we were the last generation to believe a woman needed a husband to have a baby.
No matter, can you believe young people today call us old and confused?
