Do You Remember? (for those older than the hills)
Did You Realize there was a time? (for those younger than ….)
When people drove the speed limit and paid attention to driving.
When we talked on phones that stayed in one place.
When we ate our meals at the table three times a day.
When we cooked our own food and learned by helping.
When families all had chores to do and everyone helped.
When one person washed and the other one dried the dishes.
When we raked leaves and helped our elderly neighbors.
When we knew everyone on the block and watched out for one another.
When washing the car was a fun event for the whole family.
When families would go on picnics or for drives in the country.
When families played games, told jokes, read to each other and enjoyed being together.
When we wore hand me downs because it was sensible and saved money.
When we listen to music together on records and danced together.
When we children played outside on their own until dinner time.
When we played with other families without our parents checking.
When women were homemakers and enjoyed that responsibility.
When someone was home for the children and prepared meals for everyone.
When coming home was a welcome event for everyone.
When homes were quiet except for the conversations going on.
When we sewed much of our clothing and polished our shoes.
When we had gardens and grew food which we shared and sold.
When kids had paper routes and lemonade stands and baby sat.
When saving money was popular and made us happy and proud.
When all desserts were baked at home and not bought at the store.
When we liked cleaning our own house and making our yard beautiful.
When we had savings accounts and no credit cards.
When candy was a special treat and a luxury.
When please and thank you were as natural as breathing.
When we held open doors for women and elders.
When we helped people put on their coats and shook hands routinely.
When we never said “bad words” for fear that we would offend.
When we really took the time to listen to one another.
When there were no fences, except to keep little children or animals safe.
When life seemed simple and enjoyable and there was free time.
When Dads were treated like kings because they provided for the family.
When Moms were needed and valued for their nurturing and nourishing.
When the elderly were respected and honored for their wisdom.
When children were viewed as precious and carefully taught.
When people enjoyed staying home and relaxing with their families.
When being inebriated was embarrassing and people called them “drunks”.
When children (people) were sick, they stayed home until well.
When we used common sense rather than the internet or paying an expert for advice.
When we had the library and encyclopedias for information.
When we relied on our neighbors and families for help and support.
When we could borrow a cup of sugar or a lawnmower and know it would be returned.
When we talked to strangers and smiled at everyone we met.
When kids could be hugged and teased without someone getting suspicious.
When we wore the same clothes more than one day and didn’t worry what others would think.
When we took a bath once a week and took sponge baths if needed.
When we didn’t think of shopping as entertainment but as a necessity only when necessary.
When we were thrilled to get a bargain instead of sharing how much something cost.
When we seemed to know things would be OK because everyone cared for each other.
If you don’t remember or if this wasn’t your experience, I know you know how the world has changed.
We have what we have and we can choose to conform or forgive and choose again.
Loving us all as one,
Betty Lue