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, polio shots,
frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the
Pill.
There was no radar, 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 I, 'Sir' - and after I
turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a
title, "Sir.' This was 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.
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 we never
heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric
typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.
Long hair meant classical music. 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. n 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, 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 woman 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 ?
This Woman would be only 58 years old !
~Author Unknown~
