Growing up without a cell phone - do you remember when?
When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways...yadda, yadda, yadda
And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of guilt like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!
But now that I'm over the ripe old age of forty (ahem), I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. Kids today don't know how good they've got it!
1) I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!! (Remember those? I used to work at the library (media center) in the school system for awhile.)
2) There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!
3).
Or you had to wait around all day to tape songs off the radio, and the DJ would
usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up! There were no CD players! We
had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when
finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. (Remember tapes?)
4)
We didn't have fancy things like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and
somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it! (I don't like call waiting.)
5) There weren't any cell phones either. If you left the house, you actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". And then there's TEXTING.(And with your thumbs only!)
5) There weren't any cell phones either. If you left the house, you actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". And then there's TEXTING.(And with your thumbs only!)
6) And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances! (How did we live back then when we didn't know who was calling?)
7) You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You had to get up walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!!
8)
And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use
the stove!
9) And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. No electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!
9) And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. No electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!
10) And no car seats. Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place! (I remember those days!)
I think I remember all of these! lol Do you remember some of these? And do you think these were the good old days or do you like the days now. I do miss the good old days with some things - but I love blogging and my cell phone!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
DON'T MISS LIVING BY LETTING LIFE PASS YOU BY - STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES!
56 comments:
Oh yes, I remember them all. My kids and I always laugh and wonder how we ever found each other at the mall without cell phones. In those days when the kids just bounced around in the back of the van or station wagon I had the reputation of being able to get from the front to the back in record time if they started acting up.
I remember all those things and given the opportunity I would go right back there.
Life was good even without all the new things kids have today. I often think my grandchildren are missing out on some of the best things in life, but time changes everything and I've changed too. I love my cell phone and my computer. I do know life as it was and as it is and it's all good. I think it was Grandma Moses that said... Life is what we make it. Always has been always will be. Hope your Thursday is a great one!
I remember it all. I am so glad that I have lived long enough to see (and enjoy) the modern day miracles. :-)
"Happy Thursday to you Sugar" loved that opening....
Those were the days my friend and we LIVED. When ever they came out with something awesome like color TV, we didn't think it could get any better and look at all the tech things there are now. Daughter is trying to show granddaughter things outside like fire flies, Green Light/Red Light, Tag, etc: so she isn't glued to all this tech stuff, she knows more than me at almost 5!
I miss some of the old things - all seemed so simple back then. The kids were actually outside playing while today they spend a lot of time either playing games or being on the computer...
Nice post. Have a great day!
I tell my kids about this and they cannot even imagine!! really, they cannot imagine. But I am getting like them...if I leave the house without my cell phone, I panic!
remember all of this, but we did not have a radio and no way to tape it if we did, i had no TV until i was 16, no record player either. no AC until i was 40. i hated writing letters so did not do that unless mother forced me to write a thank you note. and i still dont have a cell phone. but I love my internet, my DVR, my 50 inch flat screen TV, blogging, emailing, AC Micorwave, digital coffee pot, and do not miss any of this at all. i like now.
i did like the pace of living in the 50;s and the family values of the 50;s
i remember all those things...aah, i also miss some of the old things, i'd say, but i can't live without my cell phone, just for safety reasons.
:)
Ha ha ha ha ha I definitely remember all of the things in your post, Sandie. The funniest was having your parent's arm protect you if the car stopped quickly. No car seats, no seat belts. Somehow, we survived , didn't we?
I think I miss some aspects of simplicity in living but oh, my, I LOVE blogging. Wouldn't want to go back to a time without it. I love meeting people from all over the world and sharing the mundane details of life.
So onward and upward in the modern world! woo hoo (But I still don't have a Nook or Kindle. ha ha ha) Susan
I miss a lot from my childhood. I wanted to be outside all the time! When I did reports I had my nose in books! My son is a social young man, but he spends a lot of money when hanging out with friends. :) His laptops cost a lot more than books. :) If he's not out and about he's on Xbox with friends all over the country or facebook with all the drama...LOL I would be a wreck without our cell phones! I like keeping tabs on our son. :)
Time marches on, doesn't it? Of course, I remember all of those things. I even remember when there weren't any malls! Just shopping centers. Oh, and no fast food. Gasp. I never had pizza until high school. Yep, I'm old for sure.
It is amazing how life can pass you by, if you don't enjoy it. Putting off things until tomorrow never works. I was impressed by a Bar on Stock island, just north of Key West. A permanent sign painted ont he side of the Bar, :FREE BEER TOMORROW!.
Good entry, i guess my age shows when stamps were 3 cents I wrote my first letter. Airmail was seven cents.
Love from here!!! "Great entry! Loved it.
Oh...your post is wonderful!!!! I remember all of these things. I laughed and could remember it all.
What gets me is that the kids today know nothing about sliding down hill or taking a hike... or skating on a pond..things to get them together and do things outside. I think they are missing out on a lot of things.
Again, I love this post....so fun!
Oh yes I remember and I am so old I worked the old fashioned switchboard for twenty five cents an hour. One of the few teens in our small town who had a job. Nice entry!
I remember every. single. one. of those things, Sandie... but, I like my cell phone and blogging, too. ;) blessings ~ tanna
Hi Sandie ~~ Nice memories aren't they!!! Mom used to tell us about those days. She didn't even have an inside bathroom for the first seven years of their marriage!
So I feel sorry for you having your days of hardships.
..
Moments to remember ... that our kid-lings & gr-kid-lings will never share.
Have a fabulous day ~
TTFN ~
Huggers,
Marydon
Yes, yes, and yes! I find myself going through these with my own kids...
LOL LOL LOL I do remember those days...and if you wanted to talk on the phone, it had a cord and you could only walk so far before you pulled the phone onto the floor. I used to pace back and forth by the phone attached to the wall. We had a super advantage a new, 15 foot cored, Heavely. Then I could pace clear to the window to look out, then pace back. I came from a whole family of pacers. My brother still paces with his cell phone. LOL
My Mom still does the arm thing whenever she's driving and has to stop suddenly.
Oh yes, I do this all the time with my kids! I remember when you wanted to see if someone was home and you would call and hang up! Nowadays you can't get away with silly things like that. I prefer our generation though. I only wish I could take my kids back in time for one day to show them what life was like in my home growing up. Blessings to you dear, your friend, Catherine xo
When I was a manager at BellSouth in the early 90s, we had no email. Later we wondered how we ever communicated without it.
Yes - I'm quite attached to my cellphone, blogging and email. But I well remember being a child without electronics and mom didn't allow much TV watching during the day in the summer, so we PLAYED outside. :)
I remember them all! Some I miss...others not so much! I am grateful there are still libraries around. Hope they are here forever!
I too remember them all! Haven't been to a library in forever!
I try to focus on the hear and now and not look back. There were both and bad things about the past, just as there are now and I'm sure in the future. I try to focus on today because we aren't promised tomorrow. Cliched I know, but so true.
Btw I don't have a mobile phone at all. :D
i remember all of these, this made me laugh out loud, especially #10!!
and we all survived drinking water from the hose, how is that possible??
#9 and #10 were the best! :)
YEAH---let's stop and smell the ROSES!!!!!!!
I remember not having ANY of those things you mentioned... How did we make it back then???? Actually I MISS those days... I hate to see people on those darn cellphones 24/7....
We had lunch last Tuesday with G's sister... She was on her cell (said it was work????) off and on the entire time. To me, that is just RUDE.
Call me old-fashioned.. I miss the good-ole-days.
Hugs,
Betsy
I miss the library...I was quite the bookworm when in college. I don't use the "net" as much as I did in VA...I think it was a "filler." I love my cell as much as #10!!!...:)JP
I say it all the time, what's so important that folks need to be on the cell phone at the supermarket? Can't decided between low fat and no fat cheese?:@)
ah the good old days :)
I relate to all of them too. Sometimes we just forget don't we? I think that being away from a phone now and then is probably a very GOOD thing for us. I'm trying to learn to leave mine home when I'm just bipping about in town.
I do love the immediate access to information.
And of course, blogging.
We've become an instant society who can no longer wait for anything. Sad, really.
You made me laugh when you said Mom made you stay outside...I can vividly remember the nice days of summer break where after breakfast Mom would walk us to the porch door and remind us not to fight with each other and not to come back before she yelled for lunch! lol
I do remember these days, Sandie. It is interesting how far we have come in just a few short years. I like the convenience of a cell phone for emergencies and carry one when I'm walking Koda by myself, driving by myself, but I don't like people who seem ruled by their cell phone, the minute it rings they got to get it, no matter where they are etc (hope I didn't offend you if you are one of these types of people :) I like going to a movie and not having to worry about my cell phone going on during it (so I don't bring it LOL). I figured in the good old days we did things like movies and church without cell phones and we managed just fine. I got a bit "tiffed" with hubby the other day. We were out grabbing a bite to eat to celebrate Father's Day and his cell phone goes off. He takes the call when we were eating and talks away for about 5 or so minutes. It was one of his students, I later figured out, but I kind of resented just a bit that he didn't let the phone go to voice mail and pick up a message later or call back. So that is what I mean about being owned by the cell phone, make sense?
betty
I kinda miss the days of snail mail.
Great post. I remember all of those things. I don't think we were any worse off without the internet, email, facebook, smart phones and the rest. Thanks for the memories.
This was fun to read, Sandie! Someone sent me similar thoughts in an e-mail forward once and i remember marveling then, as now, on how we all survived without all the gizmos kids have today. I'm not too sure it has helped them be better, kinder or smarter people.
Sandie, these were GREAT! Our house phone was in the hallway. Any phone conversation could be heard by everyone in the house. Especially by my father who usually sat on the couch right near the hallway. Hope you had a nice day!
Thanks for the memories Chatty. We actually had a party line. It was fun listening in.
Stop and Smell the Roses....I thought last night of how things do move so fast. Hubbs and I turned into our forest driveway after dark, and I asked him to turn off the car's headlamps, and to drive very slowly up our lane. He thought I was crazy at first, but as we started moving, the fireflies came out and it was like watching the Christmas "chaser lights" flashing on and off and on and off - all the way up to our house! It was simply amazing! How many people slow down long enough to enjoy this type of scene? Very refreshing!
Oh yes I remember all of that...lol...I'm OLD! I like the new inventions as long as they don't 'rule' your life! Hugs, Linda
Oh my goodness! You had me laughing myself to tears. I remember each and every one of your points. I am saving this and going to share it at our next family gathering. I will enjoy lecturing the kids. Cell Phones are the most annoying. I can't understand why a phone call can't wait. I hope you have a wonderful evening.
Oh this post was wonderful.... yes the good old days:)
Oh yes brings back lots of good memories!! Thanks!!
You've reminded me of all the things I can live without. Thank you for refreshing my memory.
Excellent! I remember all those things in detail and yet can't remember my sister's cell phone number if my life depended on it, cuz it's on speed dial on my smartphone, that I can't live without. lol
I was born in the late 60's but I definitely remember all those things you've mentioned.
Growing up in the 70's was the best. Life was much more simple back then.
In this digital age the two things I do like having is a computer with internet access and my camera.
I HATE (and I use that strongly) my mobile/cell phone!!!
Computer games bore me to death!!!
I don't download music, I buy cd's. I buy books, or borrow them from the library.
I love being outside, the more room the better, wide open spaces, ahh heaven right there.
What next in this digital era, digital grass and flowers?
I keep thinking of the song by Cher, "If I could turn back time."
and from the Bible, Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
I remember those days with fondness. That feeling of something being around the next bend, but not knowing what it was???
LOL, I totally remember waiting around to tape songs off the radio! So funny!
Ferris Bueller had it right, we have to stop and look around once in awhile.
I remember lots of those things, most of them in fact. Do you remember party lines? No privacy on those calls.
Those are some great photos from your grandson's last day of school.
Catching up after being gone for a few days.
I love this and I do remember it all! Life has changed hasn't it? Ha Ha! I remember owning one of the first cell phones. It was the size of Lebron James' shoe! LOL! I hate call waiting and texting is so dangerous. Most folks think it will nevr happen to them and than bam...car accident! I see the crazy folks driving next to me each and every day!
Anne
Yep, I enjoy blogging from my cell phone too! LOL Don't you just love Ferris....I do. Love,Debby
These are a scream.. the TV remote. I remember when we got our first. The thing was so loud when you clicked it and the buttons stuck almost 1/2 up off the little control box. It was heaven, I no longer was yelled at to go change the station.
I ejoyed my times back then. I did not enjoy partyline gosip back then.This Mrs Jones would go on and on.We knew it was her. We knew that horrid nasty voice. Mom would lift the receiver. Hello are you almost done? None of your business she cranked back. I will get off when I ready.
The T.v box my dad used to call it. That changer back the. Up and dad would go he was the changer. Drove you bungers. What a miracle for the romote today if you can get it away from Happy husband. From chanel to chanel.
I can laugh at this post.
Thanks for sharing.
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