> One evening a son was talking to his father about current events. He > asked what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, > and just things in general. > > The dad 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 ballpoint pens. > > Man had not invented pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, (clothes were > > hung out to dry in the fresh air) electric blankets, air conditioners, and > > he hadn't walked on the moon. > > Your Mom and I got married first-and then lived together. Every family > had > a father and a mother, and every boy over 14 had a rifle that his dad > taught > him how to use and respect. And they went hunting and fishing together. > > Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir' - and after I > turned > 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, 'Sir.' > > Sundays were set aside for going to church as a family, helping those in > need, and visiting with family or neighbors. (I miss that most). We were > before, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. > > > The Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense governed our lives. > 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 here 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 radio. 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. An ice cream cone, 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 I am only 62 years old. > __________ > >

Wonderful!!! How I wish it was still like that!! [email protected] wrote: > > One evening a son was talking to his father about current events. He > > asked what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, > > and just things in general. > > > > The dad 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 ballpoint pens. > > > > Man had not invented pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, (clothes were > > > > hung out to dry in the fresh air) electric blankets, air conditioners, and > > > > he hadn't walked on the moon. > > > > Your Mom and I got married first-and then lived together. Every family > > had > > a father and a mother, and every boy over 14 had a rifle that his dad > > taught > > him how to use and respect. And they went hunting and fishing together. > > > > Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir' - and after I > > turned > > 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, 'Sir.' > > > > Sundays were set aside for going to church as a family, helping those in > > need, and visiting with family or neighbors. (I miss that most). We were > > before, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. > > > > > > The Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense governed our lives. > > 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 here 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 radio. 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. An ice cream cone, 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 I am only 62 years old. > > __________ > > > >