To those of you who survived the 40's, 50's, and 60's:

[cottoncloud]

not my work something i found on the internet enjoy!


First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, bread and butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendos, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no internet or internet chat
rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms. And although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live in us forever.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little league had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

[Skywatch_NC]

I was born in 1963...but in that decade remember mostly the years of '68 and '69. I was held back an extra year from Kindergarten which looking back now I believe really helped me during that early nurturing period.

Was fun riding around on my red tricycle in the driveway of our house and also on the sidewalk...playing a game called Swinging Statues with my younger sister Retha and next door neighbor Mary Ann. Also, one time we played a game in the backyard where we took turns blindfolding each other and then spinning each other around to get us further disoriented let alone dizzy!! One time I was too near our vegetable garden and while walking (staggering) after being spun...fell head first into the garden and I still remember the feel of that cool soil from the garden! And it was fun too just being alone every now and then and playing in the back yard sand box with it's shade roof and having my pail, shovel, Tonka trucks and Matchbox cars to make a pretend Sand City.

Next door also was a family and their kids took turns babysitting my sister and I from time to time...and we honestly were always angels...in our PJ's, small snack and bedtime story and then off to slumberland. We even invited our sitters to our birthday parties.

Eric

[O Town]

I got this email a while back and it was to those kids who survived the 60's and 70's.
I love it! Is is so true. Those were the good ol' days.

[Miss Mary]

My brothers and I all say it's wonder we did survive. We're the generation that never wore seatbelts, now we do. We didn't lock doors, now we do. Our mothers smoked, drank coffee/tea all day long, popping diet pills (actually Ritalin!)....telling us to play outside, get some fresh air, constantly. Shoo, I have work to do, shaking out rugs, washing curtains each month (I ask who does this now?), ironing your dad's undershirts (again, who does this now?), ironing sheets even! We packed lunches, we'd be gone so long, all day, never calling friends first, just showing up. And never ringing the doorbell, just standing out in their front yard, near the front door and calling out their name.....Oh Johnny, Oh Susie. You'd check windows and sure enough, usually your friend's face would appear - "I'll be right down".....unless they were grounded for something. Another difference, when we were punished, we were punished!

Funny list, I've read it before.

Mary

[alicia-w]

I iron my sheets and pillowcases, still iron cloth napkins and tablecloths.

but back then, dads could work an 8 hour day and make a suitable living for an entire family. Remember the old McDonald's commericals where you could feed a family of four for under $5?????

People went for Sunday drives and picnics. We were in such a HURRY to do everything all the time. There werent horrific traffic jams 24/7 either.

And cars were made of metal and could withstand a fender bender much better than the crap they make today.

[Aslkahuna]

In the 1950's there was a place in SJC called the Burger Bar (an early version of Mickey D's) where they had Saturday Burgers 12 for a Dollar with 50 cent fries. Needless to say we ate a lot of Burgers on Saturday. When I was going to College, I could get a steak sandwich plus Fries and a Coke for under $3.00. The Fries were also fresh from the Potatoes as they would peel them and cut them right there.

Steve