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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 15, 2004 Life has changed in less time than one might think One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at school, the computer age, and just things in general. The Grandma replied as such: 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 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 mother and father. 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." 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 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 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 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 one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe of $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? I bet you have this old lady in mind...you are in for a shock! This woman would be only 58 years old! anon. Al Bodin Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams