We Were Born in the 50's and 60's

We Were Born in the 50’s and 60’s

We were born to mothers who smoked and drank and we slept in cribs that were probably covered in lead based paint.

We didn’t have Playstations or Xboxes or personal video game systems. We played – outside. Often, in the dirt, and, frequently with sticks. And, although we were told it would happen, we did not poke out very many eyes.

We played army and war, capture the flag and Cowboys and Indians – not “bovine control officers” and “Native Americans”

If we wanted to go somewhere, we rode our bikes; everywhere. We rode from one end of town to the other. Without silly looking helmets or spandex clothing, and, occasionally, with a buddy riding on the handle bars.

Not every kid made the team when they tried; there were no participation ribbons or trophies for 12^th place. If you won you it was great, if you lost, you went home. We got disappointed but that was alright. We learned to deal with losing and tried real hard to win the next time.

There wasn’t mineral water or bottled water or energy drinks. There was Coke and Pepsi. And when we were outside and got thirsty, we’d drink water from a garden hose.

A group of us kids would share a bottle of soda and a bag of chips. We ate bread and bitter and Ring-Dings and HoHos. We didn’t worry about childhood obesity because the next thing we did was run all over the neighborhood playing.

When we misbehaved we got swatted on the backside. The neighbors were always Mr. and Mrs. And, if you knew what was good for you, you minded them just like they were your own parents.

Being sent to your room WAS punishment...there was no TV, telephone, or loads of electronics in there, just you and the four walls. And the worst words you could hear were “just wait `til your father gets home”.

We didn’t have cell phones and pagers. We had street lights, and we damned well better be home before they came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K

There was no cable TV, no satellite. There was only one TV in the house and it was located in the living room – and YOU were often the remote. If we were lucky and did all of our chores and our home work, we’d get to watch cartoons on Saturday morning. We watched The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Bugs Bunny, Magilla Gorilla, Road Runner and Wiley Coyote. Not surprisingly, none of us ever got hit in the head with a falling anvil or fell victim to a faulty Acme rocket.

 

We fell out of trees, got cut and broken bones and chipped teeth, and there were no lawsuits. They were accidents. We learned not to do the same thing again

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up or "way back" in the station wagon was always a treat.

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

And if you're one of them. Congratulations!