Do you remember a time when you could ride your bike all over town and leave it on the grass while you played catch with a friend or prop it up against the outside wall of the drug store while you went in for an Eskimo Pie and you didn't have to lock up the bike because you knew nobody would steal it?
Do you remember conversations where you voiced your opinion and your friend voiced his opinion and you could agree to disagree and nobody was called a racist or a Nazi?
Do you remember Sunday mornings in church where the minister didn't care about your 'feelings' or about being politically correct but actually preached from the Word of God and let you know in no uncertain terms that if you didn't repent of your sinful ways that you would spend eternity in the fiery depths of Hell?
Do you remember a time when right was actually right and wrong was wrong and the difference was clearly spelled out by our parents and was clearly spelled out in the Bible and if we chose wrong over right, there were consequences?
Do you remember a time when the worst name a person could be called was 'Liar' and the person who lied to you was never again trusted and a person was respected whose word was his bond?
Do you remember a time when people could look at a monument in the shape of a cross or at a Christmas Nativity scene or at a Civil War statue or at the name of one of our founding fathers on a building and not be so offended and so vocal about it that these things had to be removed?
And do you remember when families gathered to celebrate a holiday or Grandma's birthday or Junior's graduation and everybody got along and nobody checked their cell phones every 5 minutes and when there were disagreements, we kept quiet out of respect for the holiday and out of love and respect for Grandma and out of a desire not to ruin Junior's party?
And do you remember a time when you had more rights than someone who broke the law by sneaking across our borders and when those laws were enforced and when we weren't expected to pay for all the services for those law breakers?
And do you especially remember when men were expected to be the head of the household and earned a living to provide for their families and weren't considered 'toxic' and when women weren't shamed and disrespected for raising their children and being the heart of the home and when children said 'Yes, Ma'am' and 'No, Sir' and got their mouths washed out with soap when they dared use a vulgar word within the hearing of their parents?
Not everything in times past was sunshine and unicorns. But I just don't remember those times as being so mean and nasty and scary as they are now. I don't remember having to double check to make sure my door is locked all the time. I don't remember being afraid to walk outside after dark. And I don't remember living with the knowledge that we are, beyond the shadow of a doubt, headed into truly dark times.
I know I can't go back and live in the past and I know that I can not change the horrible realities of today where those who wish to be in power believe killing babies is OK and where killing police officers has become a sport and where the Antifas of the country are tolerated rather than jailed.
I can only hope that when the time comes, enough folks will remember what life was once like here in our beautiful country and will find the courage to do whatever can be done to find those times again.
And because I am also a realist - keep on prepping.
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All we can do is vote, Vicki, and pray. Sometimes Memory seems like a curse, yet I don't want to lose mine!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Gorges...I kind of hope my memory stays pretty much intact, too, for so many of the memories are good ones. I wonder if the youngest generation will be able to say the same.
DeleteHi, Vicki. Thank you for your thoughtful words.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child I went to a Catholic school. On occasion we would have a religious holiday that the kids in public school didn't. My mother would allow me to walk to the local park to run, play, scream, you know, be a kid. This was in intercity Dallas. Not that I was doing anything wrong, besides being a kid. Our neighborhood was a mixture of Italian, Polish, Mexican and White.
A young boy walking the streets during daylight on a non-public school holiday. My mother would get a half a dozen phone calls from people. Why is he not in school? This is the way it used to be.
I know the past is gone, but I too, will choose to keep preparing. Thank you for your trip down memory lane.
Frank
That's the way it was for me, too, Frank. The town wasn't big enough to be a real city and it was in the North, but the memories are similar. The kids in the neighborhood could play like kids should without worry because all the Moms were checking up on us to see that we were alright and not getting into too much trouble. My grands scheduled 'play dates.' Sigh.
DeleteWe were nicer to each other then and I think that is what I miss the most. My Republican Dad could talk politics with his Democrat neighbor and nobody wound up with a black eye or bloody nose. If a neighbor needed help, everyone in the neighborhood just showed up without being asked. We were more kind.
I would like to see those attitudes again, but I really don't expect that to happen. I am fortunate to have found this little blogging community where, except for an occasional troll, those who read and comment still seem to have the kindness, respect and faith of times past, and for that I am most grateful.
When we lived in Long Beach, Ca I could ride my 10 speed down to the airport by myself to see the newly built airliners on the flight line. Of course I was a teenage. We didn't have to worry about same jack wagon trying to take us. When we got in trouble we had a backend warmed up, and not by hand, hair brush, etc. What was a cell phone back then?? Now days everyone has a cell phone of some kind. Computers was more like a coloring book, or blank paper. You had a directory to look up phone numbers. Our home phone was PArkway2-6084
ReplyDeleteI would write letters to friends and family. Even made up cassette tapes talking and music just goofing around and mail back and forth. Now those where the fun days
Rob...Sometimes it is good to remember happy days. I take a stroll down memory lane every once in a while just to remind myself that there was a time when people were kind. Although I have to say, I have been blessed to find a group of good folks who read and comment here. You all restore my faith in people. :)
DeleteIt is amazing, the things we did when we were young - long before everyone was buried in electronics. It took some imagination to think about sending tapes back and forth. I don't remember my number as a kid, but I still remember Dad's number. :)
I went to the drainage ditch and caught polliwogs and little frogs. Watched the dragonflies hover on the water. Played ball and tag until Mom called us in to get cleaned up for dinner. Church on Sunday morning. We did chores and learned how to do things. Red
ReplyDeleteRed...Your comment took me back many years. We had the freedom to play and explore and we learned to work. I think it was the best of times and we are better for it.
DeleteOh Vicki, I do remember and love to think about all the very good times I enjoyed while growing up. I was truly blessed with parents and family who knew right from wrong, had great work ethics, and encouraged us to do our best. We were allowed to be kids but knew the limits too. We felt safe and loved. They were the best of times...
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm in the same boat as you regarding prescription meds. Most doctors want to solve health issues with pills but I do see the day coming when pills won't be available. So many meds are manufactured overseas which is scary too. You are right! We need to find alternatives.
I find it delightful that a group of strangers can get together and support one another's efforts toward self-sufficiency on your blog. I look forward to each of your postings and all of the comments. It is so helpful to know there are others with similar thoughts and concerns. Take care and prepare, CWfromIowa
CW...Sometimes I just need a trip down memory lane after looking at the headlines of the day. Life was so much more simple then. We had the kind of freedom that no longer exists. I can't say I was thrilled then with the chores, but I learned to work and I was and still am grateful for those morals we were taught and the work ethic of our parents that we were shown.
DeleteI'm pretty sure I would survive just fine without most of the meds I now take. I swear doctors and drug companies are in cahoots and there have to be kickbacks or else doctors have become too lazy to do anything but prescribe. I have to wonder if they just don't bother to try to fix a problem when we become of a certain age. I noticed things changed as soon as I was on Medicare. I am getting serious about finding alternatives. I think it will be necessary.
It is nice to know there are others out there who are like minded. In my real world, there are several who think my food storage efforts are just wonderful, but then don't lift a finger to help themselves. Sigh.
I just love the comments here. I have learned so much from all of you. And it seems that many have senses of humor that are alive and well. I don't look on any of us as strangers. More like friends who haven't met in person.
I do remember the freedom we had as kids to explore the neighborhood without fear. Sometimes in my new little town (600 folks) I'll see kids riding their bikes to the little grocery store and leaving them outside to go in and get some candy or whatever. It reminds me there are still a few places left like the old days.
ReplyDeleteOne Family...I think the important words here are "without fear." The little town in northern Minnesota where my parents grew up (population also about 600) is virtually unchanged in the last 100 years. So are the small towns in the farming community where I was raised. The suburb where I live now, however, has changed considerably in the 22 years I have lived here. The small town atmosphere is gone and some of us are fearful about venturing out alone or at night. I pray that the small towns of America can remain as they are, with good people who look out for one another and who are still able to go on with their lives without fear.
DeleteFriends who just haven't met yet. My feelings exactly.
ReplyDeleteI remember Mom sending me off after breakfast on Saturday and reminding me to be home for dinner and to not eat too much junk. Armed with my 25cent allowance, I'd be off on my bike. First stop was my best friend's house where I'd help her get her chores done so we could play. Favorite things were to go exploring on our bikes - I'm still convinced my mom never knew how far we ventured. We'd hit the candy store = a store front that only sold candy. By the piece as I remember. I'd blow my allowance and have a pocket full. Some Saturdays we'd go to the elementary school and play kick the can - no adults in sight and some how we all managed to play by the rules and have fun. Or roller skate on the sidewalks there at the school.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Cheers, SJ
SJ...That's just how I feel about those who comment here. We can have conversations and share ideas and experiences and even disagree sometimes without getting all bent out of shape. And we can joke and laugh now and then, too. That's what friends do. The fact that we haven't met in person and likely never will, makes no difference at all.
DeleteYour memories remind me so much of my childhood. Part of it was spent living in town where I did many of the same things you did. Exploring the town on our bikes (Mother never knew how far afield we went, either.), roller skating on the sidewalks, playing unsupervised in the school yard.
Part of my childhood was spent in the country, working in the garden, following the farm roads out across the fields, playing in the drainage ditches and catching frogs or picking the wild raspberries that grew along the ditches, or picking chokecherries to make jelly.
Memory lane is a good place to visit and I do, more often than I would care to admit. :)
So here's no surprise - I was quite the tomboy growing up. A mix of barbie dolls and a tonka truck fleet. And I loved all things western - my Dad got so tired of buying me toy plastic guns that he went down to army surplus and bought a real surplus gun and had the trigger removed. And I hauled that around the neighborhood as we kids built forts and played. Can you imagine that today?? And then Dad resold it when I stopped playing with it. Smart guy...
DeleteOn a related topic, I ordered my pressure canner today. It should get here Friday. I decided part of my reluctance to purchases one was the 22Qt seemed too big to handle. So I went with the smaller size.
And, BTW, I do believe we'll meet in heaven some day.
Cheers, SJ
SJ...Yeah, I can see a little tomboy running around the neighborhood, sporting a gun. :) Of course if that were today, Human Services and police and probably a judge would be involved. Just another part of what made our childhoods free and fun without all the political correctness.
DeleteI wasn't much into dolls. That was more my sister's thing with the playhouse Dad made for us that she used and I didn't. You were more likely to find me up a tree with a book or out in the woods looking for treasure or some other adventure. When I was about 12, Dad taught me to use his little .22 rifle and then turned me loose out around our house in the country with it. Many fence posts, tin cans and old glass bottles gave up their lives while I practiced my shooting skills. :)
Good for you on ordering your pressure canner!! I have a 22 quart that I use when I am doing one of those canning marathons because I can stack jars, but I also use my smaller one for water bath canning as well as canning smaller batches. I just know you will like the results, especially if you decide to can meat. Let me know how it goes.
I once told our friend Gorges that if I get to Heaven before he does, I expect him to bring the Mrs. and the Mighty Dachshund to meet me. I won't be in one of the mansions we read about. Look for me in the small log cabin on the lake shore. And remember that I want to personally give Mr. Dog a good petting and ear scratch. :)
WE remember, Vicki. Trouble is, our kids and grandkids don't, and they're the biggest voting bloc now. That's what the current crop of freedom-snatchers in 'DC is banking on... Therefore I prep as well.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Pete...It was a more simple time where family mattered and honesty mattered and kindness mattered. Our grands will never know the kind of freedom we had. Nor will they understand what prepping is all about for they tend to believe what is now being taught in schools and what they see on television and increasingly, the Internet. The way I see it, we maybe will have a reprieve of four years after the election, but within a year of the following election, we may badly need what we are stashing away now. If those on the left do what they say they will do, we are in big trouble.
Delete