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View Full Version : Love this for the old timers Well Put



Luneyburg
10-19-2011, 08:02 AM
In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.

Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana.

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.

We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?


Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smartass young person.

The Green Thing

red maples
10-19-2011, 08:51 AM
I love this!!! you know when we didn't have power during the ice storm and wind storm back a few years ago. I was talking with the wife and thought what the hell would we do now a days with all the crap we have!!! so much work with out it!!! If your life is simpler then it wouldn't be so much work!!! talk about a small carbon foot print.

NH/Pete
10-19-2011, 08:54 AM
I don't really consider myself an old timer at 50 years old but remember many of these things.

Thank you for posting this.

highlandcattle
10-19-2011, 06:51 PM
I say stuff like this all the time! I grew up in the 50's. will be 60 in January, can't believe it. Life was simpler, everyone knew each other and helped, I remember growing up and going to school with family and friends from kindergarten through graduation, the same people, now all of us scattered around the world or moved on to the next... the crossing guard knew all of us and oh, boy if someone got out of line, your parents knew before you made it home! NO one thought it cool to be sent to the principals office, you would just die of the humiliation and what would await you at home... you were pretty safe, walking, taking the bus or wandering around town any time. We had a tv, yes, a little balck and white and my frineds who didn't came over and we all watched in total awe the 3 channels that were on. One new outift for the beginning of school would be what most could afford and no big deal. everyone brought a lunch, if you had kids, YOU took care of them, NOT the "STATE"(taxpayers) Welfare was an embarrassment and the last resort until you got a job, any job. We had simple toys or went outside and played all day in any weather. and yes walked to school in the city, a good long way for most. My mom and all the women in our family canned, because everyone had a garden! Eating out was a huge treat and you had better behave! No nonsense was tolerated. unlike now, when parents think nothing of letting their little darlings act like monsters in public, so they can "express themselves." Seat belts? cars were made to hold up, who had money for repairs? I could go on for pages, but check out Countryside magazine and Mother Earth News, Grit, etc, for more of the good ole days. I like me now as I have gotten older. still learning and growing each day...

GramaCindy
10-19-2011, 07:14 PM
i say stuff like this all the time! I grew up in the 50's. Will be 60 in january, can't believe it. Life was simpler, everyone knew each other and helped, i remember growing up and going to school with family and friends from kindergarten through graduation, the same people, now all of us scattered around the world or moved on to the next... The crossing guard knew all of us and oh, boy if someone got out of line, your parents knew before you made it home! No one thought it cool to be sent to the principals office, you would just die of the humiliation and what would await you at home... You were pretty safe, walking, taking the bus or wandering around town any time. We had a tv, yes, a little balck and white and my frineds who didn't came over and we all watched in total awe the 3 channels that were on. One new outift for the beginning of school would be what most could afford and no big deal. Everyone brought a lunch, if you had kids, you took care of them, not the "state"(taxpayers) welfare was an embarrassment and the last resort until you got a job, any job. We had simple toys or went outside and played all day in any weather. And yes walked to school in the city, a good long way for most. My mom and all the women in our family canned, because everyone had a garden! Eating out was a huge treat and you had better behave! No nonsense was tolerated. Unlike now, when parents think nothing of letting their little darlings act like monsters in public, so they can "express themselves." seat belts? Cars were made to hold up, who had money for repairs? I could go on for pages, but check out countryside magazine and mother earth news, grit, etc, for more of the good ole days. I like me now as i have gotten older. Still learning and growing each day...

love, love, love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luneyburg
10-20-2011, 07:33 PM
I don't really consider myself an old timer at 50 years old but remember many of these things.

Thank you for posting this.

Im 50 as well and feel like an old timer, some times anyways :) I too remember most of this and found it exciting and yet sad for the current or future "entitled generation" . Always like to remain positive though and thought this was a fantastic read .

maple flats
10-21-2011, 07:58 PM
You're just kids. I remember those things too but I'm remembering from farther away. Just turned 65 the beginning of the month. The biggest thing I notice (as does my wife too) is that I (we) still feel much younger than our years might indicate, at least until I need to climb 45-60 degree inclines on snowshoes in 4' of snow all day to tap. My grandson sure takes those hills better, but he doesn't use what I try to teach him about layering and keeping warm.

highlandcattle
10-23-2011, 05:41 PM
We got to meet the "Maple Flats" family last weekend! They drove out here to our place in Montgomery county and the visit was too short! What terrifi,c people! This is what it's all about folks, meeting others and sharing and making new friends! Until we meet up again... oh yeah, happy birthday, you and Ron are the same age, which means nothing, it's what you do with the time you have!

tapper
10-23-2011, 07:12 PM
The ONLY thing green in all this green movement is the money.