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A very self-important college freshman attending a recent football game,
took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen sitting next
to him why it was impossible for the older generation to understand his
generation.
"You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one," the
student said, loud enough for many of those nearby to hear.
"The young people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space
travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed processing and,"...... pausing to take another drink of beer.
The Senior took advantage of the break in the student's litany and said,
"You're right, son. We didn't have those things when we were young
........so we invented them. Now, you arrogant little prick, what are
you doing for the next generation?"
The applause was resounding.. I love senior citizens!!! 8)
It sure says a lot. I was talking to my students today about the way it was when I was there age. They said poor me, because we didn't have things. I told them we had cardboard boxes, and with those we could be anyone, and go anywhere that our minds could take us. They were not convinced. So sad, that they will never know what it is like to entertain themselves.
No clue as to why, but this morning I was thinking of the toys I played with, oh so many years ago. Jacks, pick-up-sticks, a jump rope (sometimes homemade), homemade kites. I think I was happy.
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We made things, or repaired things, or took things apart, then reassembled them to see if we could. I truly believe that much of what I do today, I learned by those childhood experiences, and from my dear old dad, taking the time to explain what he was doing when he repaired the family car himself, or the plumbing in the house, or the electrical, or whatever. We had no money, so we had to learn to take care of our own stuff. WOW, how did we get along without a 2-way phone, or text messages, or for that matter T.V.? Amazing isn't it?
They complain about the students today being fat. The government spends millions of dollars to come up with an answer. Shoot, give me the money, because the reason they are fat is they don't do anything to burn the calories off. We were on the go from sun up to sun down. Did anyone here have to be home, when the street lights came on? It's funny how memories like that come back to you.
Luanne,
Our mom always told us we had to be home BEFORE the street lights came on! That was always a little tricky but we did it. We weren't allowed to watch tv after school....we had to go outside and run around and then do our homework after dinner, before bath and bedtime. TV wasn't the all the time thing it is now.
I guess my son thought I was a bad mom but we never bought him one of those infernal game boys or other games as I see them being electronic heroin. He's 17 now and really enjoys a good book in his down time! YAY! (Of course there's the requisite IM'ing with friends but the boy knows how to hold a conversation)
Angela Z.
All the posts are so true, and the one from skymaster is priceless.
I taught my boys how to build, repair, take things apart and put them back together (sometimes I wish I hadn't taught my oldest one how to take things apart).
In talking with my grandson a few years ago, he couldn't imagine my making a slingshot from a tree branch or a scooter from a couple of boards and old roller skate wheels. He thought you only bought them already made. Guess my son didn't understand the part about "making it yourself" and teaching his son.
I had to be home before or as the "night birds" came out. They are the ones that go, "squeak, squeak, squeak" just before sunset. I still think of that when I hear them.
I should probably go back to my "Pre-Computer" days because I would most likely get more things done, like write REAL letters to people, read a book, etc. But, then, I wouldn know all of you. Trevor and I used to go out walking after supper and go through the new homes in our development as they were being built, etc.
I remember jump roping after supper--double dutch, making up little ditties as we jumped in and out of the ropes, bouncing a ball up the side of the brick wall that supported the apts (flats) next to us.
I had to be home before dark, too. What was different was that there were four houses in a row (we were the second one) who all "shared" a back yard. All of the kids could be outside until bedtime since the adults were always sitting on one of the patios watching us. It was great! We played "red light, green light", "spotlight", Simon Says" and just generally ran around! The last time I drove by everyone had put up fences between the yards .
On Halloween we went all over the neighborhood within about 4 blocks. The only rule was that we shouldn't go to a house without a light on. There were always adults around, but they didn't interfere with our fun. It never occurred to us to do any damage. We just wanted the candy, taffy apples and caramel popcorn.
I'm so sad that the children today can't enjoy the freedom that we had .
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In Maine we had a great ice skating rink with a spotlight. We loved that and Luanne, you hit a memory with the cardboard boxes; we got them at the corner store and our favorite was making stagecoaches with them. With Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and the Lone Ranger we had many happy times. Also the great comic books and collecting marbles. I, too, feel sorry for today's kids (and we sure didn't have a therapist to talk to).
Does anyone remember using the old metal trash can lids to slid down the hill in the snow. We lived i Atlanta, and didn't have snow stuff.
I still have not told my kids about the time, I used a unbrella to jump off the house. Hey, Mary Poppins did it. It stayed open for the first floor I passed, but that bottom floor was a dosy.
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Senior Moment!
It's funny how memories like that come back to you.
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