Once you have passed your 50th birthday, thinking back to your childhood becomes an attractive pastime.
With my 40th class reunion this weekend, I realized how fast time has slipped by and how things have changed since 1970. If you grew up in the 60s and 70s you will remember most of these.
Obviously we didn’t have computers in our homes or laptops or iPods. When you were researching a school project it was a bit more time consuming. The encyclopedias and the card catalog at the library were our only source of information. Most all our reports were done by hand with pen and paper. Most didn’t even have the luxury of a typewriter. An eraser and white out were used instead of a “delete” key.
Although we listened to a lot of music, it was not on an MP3 player or even a Walkman. We had transistor radios and eight-track tapes.
All of our cameras used film, and you had to wait a week to get your pictures back from the store.
Gas was 38 cents a gallon, and the average family income was about $9,000 per year. The average three-bedroom home cost around $27,000.
We had to wear glasses. There was no Lasek surgery. We got our water from the garden hose not at the store for a buck-fifty a bottle.
There was no Facebook, YouTube or e-mail. We sent letters using stamps that cost about 6 cents. We had dial phones. Cell phones weren’t around. If we wanted to call home we had to find a pay phone. (Try to find one now!)
Teachers could whack you with a ruler on the back of the head for not listening, and not get in trouble.
Boys grew their hair longer and girls skirts got shorter. Boys all wore “tighty whities” and old men wore boxers.
Cars were made of steel and chrome — not plastic and aluminum.
We may not have had all the conveniences and gadgets 40 years ago, but we did have the love, the laughter, the experience and the journey.
Some things are still good to remember.
Quote of the week
“I always have trouble remembering three things — faces, names and … uh … I can't remember what the third thing is.”
