58?

Comment: I read this and laughed, but much of it is true. I'll be 57 this year, and I remember many of these things. I didn't listen to Tommy Dorcey; I listened to Peter Paul and Mary. I didn't have a TV until I was 6. We did have penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, my mother invested in the pill and made money; we had frozen foods, a dishwasher, and a dryer, and we had the pens, but weren't allowed to use them at school. We still did 7th century manuscript with dip pens. My first air conditioner was made in 1936 in an experimental house we lived in. The rest of it's pretty true, although I still say "Sir" to anyone out there.

I think the big difference is the freedom we had vs the freedom children don't have today. I had the run of my island and miles beyond as early as four years old. I wasn't watched because only the very very wealthy watched their kids and they had butlers and maids to do it. I can't tell you how many times my life was in serious danger as early as 5-6. I was once honked at by a coast guard vessel because my raft was too close to Alcatraz Island. I took rides from tourists because I knew they couldn't go faster than five miles an hour on the island, and I could always jump out. And how many times did we sit on the open tailgates of station wagons going down the highway? If you got stuck in a crevice under the boardwalk, would anyone ever find you? If that tree you climbed to the top of that overhung the 200 foot cliff, and the branch cracked???? And what about dodging the man-o-war that often floated into the bay? Swimming too long distances was our little way of life. If you suddenly didn't have any steam, you just turned over and tried to float for a minute until you caught your breath, that or go under. Unfortunately, I discovered early that Miss Judy can't float. Life was dangerous because we made it that way. We camped out in the center of big sequoia trees, and sometimes there were bears... but the only time I was really hurt was when I fell down the convent steps and broke my finger. The nurse wrapped it in a kotex. Go figure.

It's still interesting to go back. My husband and Edith are a few years older, they probably remember a lot more fun stuff. But here it is:

How old is Grandma???

Stay with this -- the answer is at the end. It will blow you away.

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:

' radars

' credit cards

' laser beams

' 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 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.

' "Aides" 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 I am?

I bet you have this old lady in mind ... you are in for a shock!

Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the
same time.

This Woman would be only 58 years old!
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