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Thursday, May 07, 2009

How Old Is Grandma?

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
' the pill

There were no:
' credit cards
' laser beams
' ball-point pens

Man had not invented:
' pantyhose
' air conditioners
' dishwashers
' clothes dryers, clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air
' man hadn't yet walked on the moon

Your Grandfather and I got married first, . . . and then lived together.

Families 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
' "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
' "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? You may be shocked.

This Woman could be only 59 years old!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm 53, and as I was reading I thought....Yes, these apply to me as well. I was really feeling ancient until I saw the last sentence.
We've come a long way, haven't we?
Mostly good stuff, which have improved our quality of life, as well as added years to life expectancy.

Anonymous said...

Gas was 30 cents a gallon in 1950. Youd have to go as far back as the 1930s which would make her closer to 80.

Anonymous said...

If Grandma was born before Penicillin was invented,she is in her 80's.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it bad how lazy we are getting as people. Letting machines work and think for us. Like I told my girl, soon there will be cars where you don't even drive you just sit in them and say where you want to go. Then whats next "Oh I'm tired of talking, blinking, and breathing, let's make machines that do this for us". SLOTH

Anonymous said...

I remember gas being below 10 cents a gallon during a "gas war", but we had a television set in 1948. Penicillin had been invented.