For all those born before 1945 . . .
by: Gord Hazlett
we are survivors
We were born before television, before penicillin, before polio shots, frozen foods, Zerox, plastic, contact lens, frisbees and the pill.
We were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beam and ballpoint pens: before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes, and before man walked on the moon.We got married first and then lived together , How quaint can you be!
In our time closets were for clothes,not for "coming out of." Business's were small and rabbits were not Volkswagons. Designer jeans were scheming girls named Jean or Jeanne, and having a meaningful relationship meant getting along well with our cousins.
We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent.
We were before house-husbands, gay rights computer dating, dual careers and computer marriages. We were before day - care centers, group therapy and nursing homes. We never heard of FM radio, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors yogurt, and guys wearing earrings. For us time -sharing meant togetherness - not computers or condominiums. A "chip" meant a piece of wood; hardware meant hardware: and software wasn’t even a word.
In 1940 " made in Japan" meant junk, and the term "making out" referred to how you did on your exam. Pizzas, MacDonalds and instant coffee were unheard of ..
We hit the scene when there were 5 and 10 cent stores where you bought things for five and ten cents.
For one nickel you could ride a streetcar, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi or enough stamps too mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600 but who could afford one! A pity too, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.
In our day, cigarettes smoking was fashionable, grass was mowed, coke was a colddrink and pot was something you cooked in. Rock music was Grandma’s lullaby and aids were helpers in the Principal’s office.
We were certainly not before the difference between the sexes was discovered, but we were surely before the sex change; we made do with what we had. And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a husband to have a baby.
No wonder we are so confused and there is such a generation gap today!
But we survived!!! What better reason to celebrate!
Email: clemieux3@cogeco.ca
