Before TV and Computers

[azsnowman]

I knew a LOT of kids back in my day who would WAIT at the mailbox for the new National Geographic to come, I can just see Ed, sitting, waiting "LOL!"

[Pburgh]

In the summertime we were outside most of the time. No air conditioning so while we kids played, my parents would sit on the porch, talk with neighbors and garden. Iced tea and fresh lemonade were the drinks of choice. My parents drank a lot of coffee too. In the winter, we read a lot and played games as a family. Steve, you are so right - dinnertime was one of the most important times. Attendance WAS manditory.

[coriolis]

[Janice]

Me too... I remember before we got our first tv. We just played outside during the day or school and at night, played with our paper dolls, colored and games.

Mom and dad would read the paper or magazines or mom was always on the phone, haha.

These were good times to can foods and do some sewing.

[Cookiely]

Sitting on the porch and talking to neighbors as they went for a stroll. My grandparents would drive to Bayshore Blvd and walk the entire length of the side walk, and this was after working all day. We played outside until dark and soon after it was time for bed. I remember our first TV but it was only on a couple of hours at first.

[azskyman]

I can remember listening to the radio before TV arrived on the scene. And Saturday morning movies at our town's one screen theater were the rage!

And don't forget, home cooked meals were still the rule. Visits to restaurants, fast food or otherwise, were VERY few and far between.

Sunday drives, sitting in the car.

Walking to the neighbors house and sitting on their porch. Conversations actually took place among neighbors.

So, in a nutshell, instead of parking in a La-Z-Boy with a bowl of popcorn and a remote, we SAT in a car, SAT by the radio, SAT on the porch, SAT at the theater, or SAT at the dinner table.

And we were eating food cooked in Crisco, fried to a crisp, and using real butter on our bread.

Finally...we played card games, board games, and dice games.

All the while SITTING at a table with some munchies nearby.

Not all that different in my lifetime.