WARNING: Biased Opinion Ahead!

[SamNVa]

The following story has been making the rounds on the Internet email, so to those of you who have been bombarded with it already, Iapolgize, but it did seem appropriate for the direction this thread is taking. Anyway, here it is one more time.

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One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. He asked what grandpa thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. His final question was: "How old are you, Gramps?"

The granddad 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 was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon."

"Your grandmother and I got married first-and then lived together. Most families 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.'"

"Sundays were set aside for going to church as a family, helping those in need, and visiting with family or neighbors."

"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 here 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."

"'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 I am - ????"

...... This man would be only 59 years old.

[whiskers_ump]

QUOTING SamNVa

On Getting Old
The following story has been making the rounds on the Internet email, so to those of you who have been bombarded with it already, I apolgize, but it did seem appropriate for the direction this thread is taking. Anyway, here it is one more time.

I left the story off to shorten my reply. glen[64]


Thanks Sam, I had not heard it, but did enjoy it.

glen

[Dakota]

Of course, the kid asked...

What's an electric typewriter?
What's a streetcar?

[Steve M]

One of the ways my father passes some time is in tutoring college physics students at Pitt & Carnegie-Mellon. A few years ago, my daughter and I wee going through an old desk he wanted to get rid of. We came across a leather case that held one of his slide rules. She had no idea why anyone would want to use one of those.

[SamNVa]

I still have 2 old sliderules that I used in high school. I took 3rd place in the regional math contest with one.

SamC

[Gulf Coast Blue]

I graduated HS in 1978 (Yes.....that makes me 42 now).........my Sophmore Chemistry class was the last that was taught "Slide Rule".......a good calculator (non-scientific......a few functions) cost around $100........by the time I was a senior.......you could get a good Scientific Calculator for around $35.........


When I was in Junior-High........one of my friends dad's had a "Pocket Slide Rule"......it cost so much that he locked it in a safe at home..............

My brother had a programable HP in College in the early 70's.........it cost over $1000............by the time I got to UT (University of Texas)..........a comparable one cost around $65........

I am hoping to buy the latest computer for around $10-$15 bucks soon.............but.........this one has gotten me by for the last 4-5 years..........but is archaic by todays standards...............lol

Joel

BTW........my brother (an MD) was a Research Fellow and was involved in much of the early research on the CAT Scan and MRI after he graduated from Medical School..........

1 Megabyte of RAM in those days cost $10,000.........

Now.......we can buy 128MB cards for under $50........

In his world......that 128MB card would cost close to 1.3 million dollars...........

[whiskers_ump]

Originally posted by Gulf Coast Blue
I graduated HS in 1978 (Yes.....that makes me 42 now).........


BTW........my brother (an MD) was a Research Fellow and was involved in much of the early research on the CAT Scan and MRI after he graduated from Medical School..........

Joel,

1978, the year I retired from the USAF.

Reckon [east Texas word}, he being your brother, has any
old MRI tubes lying around that work. I am scheduled to
have an MRI next week and understand they are just a little
expensive, as well as the procedure being painful what with
having the dye injected in spine. ouch...

glen

[Gulf Coast Blue]

My brother got most of the brains in my family.........

He never umpired or refereed a game in his life.......but he can run a 26 mile Marathon........Hmmmmmmm.......he might not be so smart afterall........

As an MD..........My Brother was in some of the early research stages of the MRI and CAT Scan.........

He is now a computer graphics programer in California................go figure..........

Joel

[oppool]

Boy you are old Joel, I also finish high school in 78 but wont hit that 42 till August anyway you brought back some ole memories. My 1st computer I bought in 79 I believe it was TI99 which was kinda like a big keyboard that cost several hundred $$$'s back then for a moniter it was hooked to a 12" B/W tv and your storage went onto a cassette tape. The big thing you could do was type in a 70 line program that would make a ball bounce on the screen. Also paid a lot of money for ATARI and spent way to much time playing PONG maybe that explains too much about me.


Anyway just some old thoughts

Don

[IRISHMAFIA]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Steve M

Not that old, Joel. I started when I was 14.

Same here.

[Elaine "Lady Blue"]

Yes I'm damn old, and proud of it. I started playing organized softball in 1960!!! I thought it was really stupid after playing baseball in my neighborhood with the boys! I played off and on until 1985 when a. I got hurt and b. found out I was pregant with twins! Started umpiring in 1986 at the age of 36. Have called 5 Nationals, slow and fast, and went into semi retirement at the age of 51. If I can start umpiring as late as I did and move on to some Nationals, then you young whipersnappers can do even better!
Oh, on a personal note, I have 4 children, 31 (girl) 22 (girl) 16 (boy and girl twins), 1 grandson 10.
I'll love softball forever! In about 20 years, you'll see me in my Hover round chair motoring down the sidewalk to the field to see more grandchildren and greatgrandchildren play.
Back to the ASA, I bleed blue blood. I wouldn't dream of calling ISA, NSA, USSSA. Course I did call high school NFHS, but even they wear BLUE shirts.
Love y'all!! My .04 :>)

[Steve M]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Maybe we should start calling you "Granny Blue", Elaine.