Monday, June 27, 2011

Growing Up in the 60's

Growing up in today's society seems so much different than it did 40+ years ago. The main difference between yesterday and today is definitely technology. There were no home computers in the 60's, no satellite television, no Wii, no cell phones, no Facebook, no email, no Twitter, no 24-hour news, etc. I can remember the days when TV went off the air at midnight and the station played "The Star Spangled Banner" at the end of the viewing day. Guess what? We actually had to interact with each other, instead of our video games and electronic gadgets.

I am the one in the middle, 1968.
It was a different world, a simpler world.

Remember hearing the Ice Cream truck come down the street and running outside just in the nick of time?

Remember those Toni home permanents and pink curlers that your Mom used to put in your hair? My hair was straight as straw and the home perms never lasted more than a few weeks.

Remember watching Saturday morning cartoons and eating Captain Crunch cereal? I loved watching the Flintstones and the Jetsons. And don't forget Captain Kangaroo.

Remember Moon Pies and ice cold bottles of Coca Cola that you bought at the corner grocery store, straight out of the cooler? We would return the glass bottles for a refund.

Remember having to share a room with a younger sister?

Remember watching The Ed Sullivan Show, Wonderful World of Disney and Mutual of Omaha's, Wild Kingdom? And of course, all the classic comedies, such as Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, The Beverly Hillbillies, etc.

Remember the plain, black rotary telephone? We didn't even have a phone until the late 60's. I remember when the Princess phone became popular, in pastel colors. It was all the rage at the time.

Remember road trips and stopping at Stuckey's for souvenirs and a bite to eat, before the fast food chains and the Interstate highways took over?

Remember playing jacks and marbles in the dirt outside and drinking gallons of Kool-Aid in the summertime?

Remember shopping for new school clothes in August, which meant dresses for the girls, and a brand new pair of saddle shoes?

Remember the boxes of laundry detergent that came with a towel inside? And Mama hanging out the clothes to dry? And S&H green stamps that could be redeemed for all kinds of cool stuff?

Remember actually playing outside with the neighborhood kids?

4 comments:

Barbara said...

Oh yes Anita, I remember those days well, with such great memories too, such times, I wish the world would slow down and stop and see all the beauty we have now too, but everyone is moving so fast they just pass it all by. I live in the Country, just a few cars a day pass down my dirt road,it seems like life is so different out here than just 20 miles away,the craziness starts.

lil red hen said...

I do remember most of these; the only thing is, I was already married before we had a lot of this, because I was born in the
40s. Sometimes I feel like TV has been a real hindrance to family life. I thought a while back, I'd like for my husband to know I'm sitting at the table with him instead of being in the TV cabinet. :) And I hate it when the grandchildren "text" while we're having a good time with a board game. I guess I just don't fit in with a lot of technology.

Rita said...

Oh thank you for all the memories! I so enjoyed reading them and remenising! This world is going too fast for me these days. I'd love to slow down.

Janet, said...

Those were the days. I have many of the same memories. I loved playing jacks and walking up and down our country dirt road with my friends.