by Ken Jorgustin
One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the computer age, and just things in general.
The Grandmother 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 yet invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, or clothes dryers.
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 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.
Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.
Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends -not purchasing condominiums.
We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CD's, smartphones, or video games.
We listened to Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios.
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 one letter and two postcards.
You could buy a new Ford Coupe for around $700, 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. "Hardware" was found in a hardware store and "software" wasn't even a word.
No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there's a generation gap.
My, how the world has changed…
Grandparents and the elderly have a very different view of our world than today's young. Many valuable and common sensible things can be learned from them. Your grandparents may also have good advice of their experiences and lessons learned from the Great Depression.
What are some of your memories of lessons learned or stories told?