When my grandson found out that Truman was still president when I was born, he freaked. “Papaw, you’re THAT old?” I told him of riding a Super Connie propeller-driven airliner, riding in the first good jetliner (the Boeing 707), of being able to bring cap guns to school to play cop and robbers or Cowboys and Indians, and of having rifle marksmanship in high school. I also told him of the shameful time of watching Black kids have to go to school through the back door and eating in the kitchen. not the cafeteria.
I remember a remark – I think in NEWSWEEK – some years ago that in today’s popular music, 20 years is like a millennium. From the viewpoint of music history, that is very nearly true. Likewise with the rest of human activity: we are living in exponentiating times, when knowledge is being multiplied and historical change with it.
When I mention ’Daktari: or “Our Man Flint” or “Clarence, the Cross-eyed Lion” or “Laugh In”, most of the people in the restaurant just look as if I were speaking Swahili.
I keep hearing “50 is the new 30” but things “get old” so fast these days it feels more like the other way around! I get annoyed that music I grew up with (80s/90s) is already considered “oldies” or “easy listening”.
What bothers me the most is when I read my Grandkids history books (and it used to be my KIDS books in the 80’s!) abd see how much the PC and Revisionist crowds have revamped it. I always used to think the the “victors” wrote history. Maybe they do, but then later on, anyone re-wties it to fit their vision. As an example; the riots in Detroit in 67 were not “race” riots, but were economic riots and just plain out-of-control riots. But, not if you read the kids history books. BTW, I was on the streets of Detroit as a cop back then.
I was born in 1939, but never rode a steam-powered train until 1964 in Turkey. As for bringing cap pistols to school, my first three years were at a one-room school. Several kids walked a mile, and to make spending money ran a trap line to and from school. There probably would have been nothing said if they’d brought rifles to school. One kid was sent home one morning, though. It seems he had a skunk in one of his traps. He tried to turn him loose (no money in skunk pelts) but – you can guess the rest!
I felt this way listening to a professor on CSPAN3 lecturing on the Cold War to a bunch of college kids, telling them things about the Berlin Wall Crisis I didn’t know when I was their age in Germany at that time assembling nuclear warheads in preparation for a possible Soviet invasion. Ah, good times, good times.
Several times recently I have thought of the Lloyd Thaxton Show.I just looked it up and am sorry to hear Mr. Thaxton passed away at age 81 in 2008.When I was in the 7th and 8th grades we used to watch his show on a Norfolk, VA television station..I still think of his dressing up as an old Jewish lady and when someone did a prattfall, he would say “Give him some chicken soup.”Someone would say “Madame, that would not help.”He would say “It couldn’t hoit.”
When i talked to my grandfather in the late 60’s .. he told me he saw the first car, the start of air-planes and later man walking on the moon. That is a lot to see in one’s life time.
“Phony Red Scare”? Look around you- does it LOOK like the Reds were run out of this country? The tragic failure to eliminate, or at least minimize, the influence of the Left in this country is due to the number of people back then who didn’t realize that, if anything, the McCarthyites were understating the extent of the problem.
wilb44 almost 13 years ago
I talk about the 70’s people look at me like that is ancient history.
pouncingtiger almost 13 years ago
You know you are getting old when . . . .
Plods with ...™ almost 13 years ago
I’m just glad I’m around to counter some of the revisionist PC BS my grandson comes home with.
Happy, happy, happy!!! Premium Member almost 13 years ago
i was listening to videos of C.S.N.&Y. on youtube the other day. it lead me to a recent interview with Judy Collins. i feel old,,,
hawgowar almost 13 years ago
When my grandson found out that Truman was still president when I was born, he freaked. “Papaw, you’re THAT old?” I told him of riding a Super Connie propeller-driven airliner, riding in the first good jetliner (the Boeing 707), of being able to bring cap guns to school to play cop and robbers or Cowboys and Indians, and of having rifle marksmanship in high school. I also told him of the shameful time of watching Black kids have to go to school through the back door and eating in the kitchen. not the cafeteria.
Rakkav almost 13 years ago
I remember a remark – I think in NEWSWEEK – some years ago that in today’s popular music, 20 years is like a millennium. From the viewpoint of music history, that is very nearly true. Likewise with the rest of human activity: we are living in exponentiating times, when knowledge is being multiplied and historical change with it.
hawgowar almost 13 years ago
When I mention ’Daktari: or “Our Man Flint” or “Clarence, the Cross-eyed Lion” or “Laugh In”, most of the people in the restaurant just look as if I were speaking Swahili.
Xane_T almost 13 years ago
I keep hearing “50 is the new 30” but things “get old” so fast these days it feels more like the other way around! I get annoyed that music I grew up with (80s/90s) is already considered “oldies” or “easy listening”.
Tsali-Queyi almost 13 years ago
I still remember how my family cried when they captured Geronimo.
nanellen almost 13 years ago
lookinsideYou are three years younger than I am. Let the others figure it out.
yuggib almost 13 years ago
What bothers me the most is when I read my Grandkids history books (and it used to be my KIDS books in the 80’s!) abd see how much the PC and Revisionist crowds have revamped it. I always used to think the the “victors” wrote history. Maybe they do, but then later on, anyone re-wties it to fit their vision. As an example; the riots in Detroit in 67 were not “race” riots, but were economic riots and just plain out-of-control riots. But, not if you read the kids history books. BTW, I was on the streets of Detroit as a cop back then.
Zaristerex almost 13 years ago
I’m in my late 20s and I love reading comments on GoComics from older folks! They help me fill in the gaps of my historical knowledge.
tuslog64 almost 13 years ago
I was born in 1939, but never rode a steam-powered train until 1964 in Turkey. As for bringing cap pistols to school, my first three years were at a one-room school. Several kids walked a mile, and to make spending money ran a trap line to and from school. There probably would have been nothing said if they’d brought rifles to school. One kid was sent home one morning, though. It seems he had a skunk in one of his traps. He tried to turn him loose (no money in skunk pelts) but – you can guess the rest!
bluskies almost 13 years ago
Nine years younger than me.
pschearer Premium Member almost 13 years ago
I felt this way listening to a professor on CSPAN3 lecturing on the Cold War to a bunch of college kids, telling them things about the Berlin Wall Crisis I didn’t know when I was their age in Germany at that time assembling nuclear warheads in preparation for a possible Soviet invasion. Ah, good times, good times.
rockngolfer almost 13 years ago
Several times recently I have thought of the Lloyd Thaxton Show.I just looked it up and am sorry to hear Mr. Thaxton passed away at age 81 in 2008.When I was in the 7th and 8th grades we used to watch his show on a Norfolk, VA television station..I still think of his dressing up as an old Jewish lady and when someone did a prattfall, he would say “Give him some chicken soup.”Someone would say “Madame, that would not help.”He would say “It couldn’t hoit.”
iced tea almost 13 years ago
I grew up in the 70’s and all I remember was Watergate. But there were some good times too.
Dachielover almost 13 years ago
When i talked to my grandfather in the late 60’s .. he told me he saw the first car, the start of air-planes and later man walking on the moon. That is a lot to see in one’s life time.
Pygar almost 13 years ago
“Phony Red Scare”? Look around you- does it LOOK like the Reds were run out of this country? The tragic failure to eliminate, or at least minimize, the influence of the Left in this country is due to the number of people back then who didn’t realize that, if anything, the McCarthyites were understating the extent of the problem.