Parky60
Loc: People's Republic of Illinois
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Thanks for the memories. Sounds exactly like childhood in South Mississippi. Wish we could go back to the happiness of normal life with routines so you weren’t left wondering “What’s next?”.
Parky60
Loc: People's Republic of Illinois
Carol Kelly wrote:
Thanks for the memories. Sounds exactly like childhood in South Mississippi. Wish we could go back to the happiness of normal life with routines so you weren’t left wondering “What’s next?”.
We aren't in Kansas anymore.
Parky60 wrote:
We aren't in Kansas anymore.
I guess not. More is the pity.
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Great read.
I think I'll read it again.
Thanks.
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Pretty much how I grew up. Now that I'm older I think of those times often. It was hard but it was good. Dirt under your fingernails, blisters on your palms and back aching from hoeing or pickin all day. Man, I miss those days. Thanks
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Sounds like the late 40's to 50's and pretty much a mirror image of my growing up in Bayonne, N.J.
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Wow! You even had TV!! As the rest is very familiar.
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Sweet memories! Roasting potatoes over an open fire and having to explain why your clothes smelled the way they did. Please and Thank You were common statements. Spending a winter working & learning about a car engine in coal stove heated garage.
Snoopy
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Or the lessons, they have obviously stood you well thru the years!
Sounds very similar to my childhood in Texas! When it got too hot to sleep in the house, we slept under the stars on pallets & loved it, that is how I learned about the constellations! Fort Worth was a middle-size town even then, yet I was allowed to ride a city bus alone or with a girl friend when I was 13 and nobody worried about us being molested! I held my 1st part-time job at 14, worked every Saturday and all summer till I graduated from HS! Wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Or the lessons, they have obviously stood you well thru the years!
Sounds very similar to my childhood in Texas! When it got too hot to sleep in the house, we slept under the stars on pallets & loved it, that is how I learned about the constellations! Fort Worth was a middle-size town even then, yet I was allowed to ride a city bus alone or with a girl friend when I was 13 and nobody worried about us being molested! I held my 1st part-time job at 14, worked every Saturday and all summer till I graduated from HS! Wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
show quote)
Strange it sounds very much like my childhood in Brooklyn, NY. Then when I did move to Ohio, friends were telling me that ther was culture shock. Uh, I'd been halfway around the world, I think I can handle it. Culture shock. The phone man telling me, "Ah have ta go to my truck and get mo' wahr." That was 22 years ago,I never forgot that. I liked it, it was the first guy who spoke so differently than me. "I seen" yeah but I had heard that when I lived in Michigan. Thanks fr a great post.
Parky60 wrote:
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a child, eating out at a restaurant was a big deal. Fast food restaurants were just a rare happening. A hot dog or hamburger with fries from outside the home was the best. This world does not exist anymore.
When we got home from school we did our homework and our chores before going out to play. We did not have air conditioning. If you were hot, you turned on the fan. Outside if it was hot we ran through our sprinklers which were the same that were used to water the lawn. If you were too sick to go to school or church you were also too sick to see your friends, play ball or go outside.
We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day. There was no taking or picking you up in the car, you walked! If it rained we still walked.
Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord attached to it, there were no private conversations or cell phones! Everyone in the household shared the same phone number. We played Cowboys and Indians, and Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, Tag, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Freeze Tag, Baseball, Football, Army, Whiffle Ball, Basketball, Spud, Red Rover, Man Hunt, jump rope, hopscotch and rode our bikes EVERYWHERE!! We climbed trees high as we could and sat there for hours. We didn’t go to summer camp; the local schools were our playground. Staying in the house was a punishment and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"
We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. And if you asked mom what she was making the only answer you got was "food". There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the garden hose that always had warm water first before it ran cold.
We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, rode our bikes for hours around the neighborhood. We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. All of the neighborhood kids were friends. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played 'til dark, sunset was our curfew and we didn't dare make our parents come looking for us.
School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and RESPECT. We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parent's best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD SMACK YOU) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved. And if you DID misbehave, your parents knew about it before YOU even got home! We learned to RESPECT others and their things.
I loved my childhood. I wouldn’t trade those memories or those friendships for anything.
I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I was a c... (
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We might have been neighbors. Maybe I was your paperboy. I grew up in a small town in Ohio too.
Yep, we were hard working responsible children. Wasn't any other way.
Lt. Rob Polans ret. wrote:
Strange it sounds very much like my childhood in Brooklyn, NY. Then when I did move to Ohio, friends were telling me that ther was culture shock. Uh, I'd been halfway around the world, I think I can handle it. Culture shock. The phone man telling me, "Ah have ta go to my truck and get mo' wahr." That was 22 years ago,I never forgot that. I liked it, it was the first guy who spoke so differently than me. "I seen" yeah but I had heard that when I lived in Michigan. Thanks fr a great post.
Strange it sounds very much like my childhood in B... (
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Not so strange when you think about it. That was America! How far we have gone in the wrong direction. Tragic for our children. We all had so much in common.
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