When I was a kid...what do you remember?

We have all hear the stories that our parents

told us, of when they were a kid.. You know

“walked 5 miles in the 6 feet of snow to get

to school”….brag, right?   And then there is

the I worked for a nickel a day when I was a

kid.. etc..  Of course there were some true

stories of gas being 10 cents a gallon, and

stamps being 3 cents and only getting a

75 cents  an hour for wages with no bennies.

And etc… all true..

I can say.. gas was 15 cents a gallon, and

we got free stuff with fill ups. Free pitcher

with 8 fill ups with free glasses as you got

those fill ups. And then of course, there

was green stamps and blue chip stamps

they gave and when you filled up the books

with them .. you got free merchandise you

sent away for. Some cities actually had

a store in their area.  I never was near

one.  Also there were cigarettes that gave

coupons on their packs as well as their

cartons, the you redeemed for free stuff.

And my first job was paying $1 an hour.

We did have to walk to school or

to the bus stop but it was only about

a mile. And yes it was in the snow..but

if it was over 6 inches.. they cancelled

school.  Yes, we did have party lines

for phones. And you had to count the

rings to know if it was for you. And

yes, there were whistles in town to

let you know there was a fire some

where.. You looked at your chart on

the wall next to the phone to see

where it was by the number of times

the whistle went off.. Two shorts, one

long and etc.. 

Chicken was 21 cents a pound with hamburger

being about the same..  Can goods were about 10

cents a can for the standard 15 oz.   Yes, we all

at least everyone we knew, had respect for the

President of the United States.. and you probably

knew your guy in Washington DC.  Not that we

all agreed with them, but respected them.

That kids respected adults. That you were glad to

get a job.  That most went from high school to jobs

or the service. Only the ones with well off parents

went to college.   Rarely was any credit given. Only

thing you had on payments was your house if you

were lucky enough to buy one… and maybe a car.

But stores were cash only…

People pretty much had respect for each other.

Stealing? You went to jail. No plead bargains.

And you got in worse trouble when you got home.

It truly was a different world then…. I remember

It all well…

My question is.. what is it my kids remember?

And most of all.. in 30 years what is the hardships

that the generation that is in school now going to

remember?