Re: Fw: The Truth!

[Michael Borden <mborden@moscow.com>]

Travis,

A nostalgia trip? Think about the other things your grandfather had, like polio;
pnuemonia without antibiotics; diseases for which the only treatment was a
prayer; only half of his children expected to live to adult hood; oppresion of
miniorities; Jim Crow laws; more people in the military dying of disease than in
battle; high numbers of ship wrecks with crews and passengers lost because the
technology did not exist to find the reef or iceberg. These are but a few. Is
that what you really want?

Michael Borden

Travis & Julie Tonn wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
>
> > >Return-Path: <tip55@magiclink.com>
> > >From: "T.L. Tipton" <tip55@magiclink.com>
> > >To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
> > >Subject: The Truth!
> > >Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2001 12:50:14 -0700
> > >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
> > >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200
> > >
> > >
> > >One evening a boy was talking to his grandfather about current events.
> He
> > >asked what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age,
> and
> > >just things in general.
> > >
> > >The granddad replied, "Well, let me think a minute...I was born before
> > >television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses,
> > >Frisbees and the pill. There weren't things like radar, credit cards,
> laser
> > >beams or ball-point pens. Man had not invented pantyhose, dishwashers,
> > >clothes dryers, electric blankets, air
> > >conditioners, and he hadn't walked on the moon.
> > >
> > >Your Mom and I got married first -- then lived together.  Every family
> had a
> > >father and a mother, and every boy over 14 had a rifle that his dad
> taught
> > >him how to use and
> > >respect.
> > >
> > >Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir' -- and after I
> turned
> > >25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, 'Sir.'  In our
> > >time, closets were for clothes -- not for 'coming out of.'  Sundays were
> set
> > >aside for going to church as a family, helping those in need, and just
> > >visiting with family or neighbors.
> > >
> > >We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare
> centers,
> > >and group therapy.  Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good
> > >judgment, and common sense.
> > >
> > >We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to
> stand
> > >up and take responsibility for our actions.  Serving your country was a
> > >privilege; living here was a bigger privilege.
> > >
> > >We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent.  Having a
> meaningful
> > >relationship meant getting along with your cousins.  Draft dodgers were
> > >people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started.
> > >Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and
> > >weekends -- not condominiums.
> > >
> > >We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters,
> yogurt,
> > >or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and
> the
> > >President's speeches on radio. I don't ever remember any kid blowing his
> > >brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.
> > >
> > >If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' on it, it was junk. The term
> > >'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut,
> > >McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.  We had 5 & 10-cent
> stores
> > >where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice cream cones,
> > >phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a
> > >Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could
> spend
> > >your
> > >nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy a
> > >new Chevy Coupe for $600, but who could afford one?  Too bad, because gas
> > >was 11 cents a gallon.
> > >
> > >In my day, 'grass' was mowed, 'coke' was a cold drink, 'pot' was
> something
> > >your mother cooked in, and 'rock music' was your grandmother's lullaby.
> > >'Aids' were helpers in the Principal's office, 'chip' meant a piece of
> wood,
> > >'hardware' was found in a hardware store, and 'software' wasn't even a
> word.
> > >
> > >And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think a lady
> needed a
> > >husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us old and confused -- and
> say
> > >there is such a generation gap. And I'm only 60 years old.
> > >
> > >
> All I can say is, Amen!!
> >
> Travis Tonn>
> >