We received this in an email from a friend the other day and I thought it was cute, especially in light of my recent post about why I am writing a blog. It was called "How old is Grandma?" I took out all the annoying >>> marks and put in some punctuation. Maybe it compromised the integrity of the original manuscript but I like it better this way. And I have not checked out the dates of everything mentioned here, but most seem correct.
"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 and the pill.
There were no: credit cards, laser beams, or ball-point pens. Man had not invented: pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers
And the 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 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 20 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 how old do you think this woman is?
"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 and the pill.
There were no: credit cards, laser beams, or ball-point pens. Man had not invented: pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers
And the 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 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 20 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 how old do you think this woman is?
***********************************************************************************
We may think that for these things to be true, this person would have passed away in old age decades ago. But this woman is alive and well. She's only in her 70s today (born during the 1930s)!
4 comments
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Renee on October 12, 2006 at 10:10 am
I thought this was great! Where did you find this? Who wrote it? Isn't it sad how so many things have changed.
Blessings,
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Purewater on October 12, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Thanks for dropping by. This was one of those emails that get passed around and a friend forwarded it to us. There was no author given or any information about where it originated. I thought it was pretty good, too.
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mc2rwe on October 16, 2006 at 3:44 pm
I really loved this post as I do all of your posts… keep up the good work…
Kat
4 comments
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Renee on October 12, 2006 at 10:10 am
I thought this was great! Where did you find this? Who wrote it? Isn't it sad how so many things have changed.
Blessings,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purewater on October 12, 2006 at 11:06 pm
Thanks for dropping by. This was one of those emails that get passed around and a friend forwarded it to us. There was no author given or any information about where it originated. I thought it was pretty good, too.
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mc2rwe on October 16, 2006 at 3:44 pm
I really loved this post as I do all of your posts… keep up the good work…
Kat
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