By Frank Benjamin
A little boy was talking to his grandmother about current events and he asked her what she thought about the shootings in schools, computer age, and things in general.
She said let me think a minute. I was born before penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees, and the pill. There were no credit cards, laser beams, or ball point pens, panty hose was not invented, and neither were air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers and clothes were hung out on a line in the yard, space travel was only in Flash Gordon comic books.
Your grandpa and I got married first and then lived together. Until I was 21 I called every man older than me Sir. We were before gay rights, computer dating, dual careers, day care centers, and group therapy.
Our lives were governed by the Bible, 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 our country was a privilege, living in our country a bigger privilege.
Draft dodgers were those who closed the screen door as the evening breeze started. Time sharing meant spending time with the family– not buying a condo.
We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, cd’s, electric typewriters, yogurt or guys wearing earrings.
We listened to Jack Benny and the P resident’s speeches on the radio.
If you saw anything that had ‘Made in Japan’ on it, it was junk. Pizza Hut and Mc Donald’s were unheard of and 5 and 10 cent store meant you could buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice cream cones telephone calls and rides on a bus and Pepsi were all a nickel. Instant coffee was not invented.
Gas was 11 cents a gallon, grass was mowed and coke was a drink, pot was something your mother cooked in, rock music was your Mom’s lullaby, aids were helpers in the principal’s office.
No wonder people call us old and confused and say there is a generation gap between us.
What’s this grandma’s age? Would you believe 59 years old?
