Donspoliticalblog's Blog

I received an email from a friend today that set me to thinking. It was basically a reflection on what it was like to be raised in the 40’s and 50’s. I wish with all my heart that I could send my grandchildren back to that time for just one week so that they could understand why I am the way I am. Neither my bride nor I were raised in a wealthy family. Things were not always easy, everything we obtained over the years we got by working for it. People back then worked together to make things easier. Neighbors were close and often knew each other for over thirty years. Families were important then, I remember dinner time was a time for daily reflection and Saturday night was bath night. We didn’t have a shower to stand under each morning but we seemed to get by and I really don’t remember anyone being stinky. We all had to be bright and shiney for church Sunday morning. My folks were always involved in what ever us kids were up to and were there for all of our sports and school activities. Aunts and Uncles were like second parents and were there for you if you need them. We didn’t always have a TV so we played board games if it was raining or we just played outside till dark when we could. Imaginations ran wild in our play, from Cowboys and Indians to soldiers against the Germans and cops and robbers, we could make up more games than Parker brothers in a single night. A real treat was to go to the drugstore soda fountain for a milkshake or malted. Our parents didn’t have to worry about drugs in our day oh maybe we would steel a cigarette or two from dads pack just to try them out but it usually ended up with getting caught in the act and sitting through a lecture on how it would stunt our growth. I remember the movies on Saturday afternoon at the old Beacon Theatre. It would be a serial with either Roy Rogers and Dale Evans or Hop A Long Cassidy. Of course the good guys always won in the end and we would go home acting out the great adventure we had just seen. Did I mention that movies were just a dime? I remember Gabby Hayes and Jingles and all the great sidekicks of the time. Our friends were like those sidekicks, they were always there for you when you needed help. Man do I wish I could let my grandkids see what those days were like, I don’t think they would want to come back to today if they did. When we did get a TV the raciest thing on it was Annette Funichello from the Mickey Mouse club. Everyone I knew had the hots for her. In those days girls were usually Tomboys until they were at least thirteen. Most of them were as tough as the boys especially my cousin Barbara. We walked to school from the time we were in first grade and in our case it was at least a mile and a half. Parents didn’t have to worry about child molesters bothering us, I guess there weren’t any back then or maybe it was the fact that moms all along the way looked out for us. Yes I could go on for ever but it’s not going to bring those days back. We just have to do our best to make these days a lot better instead.

And that’s my opinion,
Don