A Walk Down Memory Lane....enjoy!
 

HEY, WASN'T THIS US ?

A little house with three bedrooms,
one bathroom and one car on the street.
A mower that you had to push
to make the grass look neat.


In the kitchen on the wall
we only had one phone,
And no need for recording things,
someone was always home.


We only had a living room
where we would congregate,
unless it was at mealtime
in the kitchen where we ate.


We had no need for family rooms
or extra rooms to dine.
When meeting as a family
those two rooms would work out fine.


We only had one TV set
and channels maybe two,
But always there was one of them
with something worth the view.

For snacks we had potato chips
that tasted like a chip.
And if you wanted flavor
there was Lipton's onion dip.


Store-bought snacks were rare because
our mother's liked to cook
and nothing can compare to snacks
in Betty Crocker's book.


Weekends were for family trips
or staying home to play.
We all did things together --
even go to church to pray.


When we did our weekend trips
depending on the weather,
no one stayed at home because
we liked to be together.


Sometimes we would separate
to do things on our own,
but we knew where the others were
without our own cell phone.

Then there were the movies
with your favorite movie star,
and nothing can compare
to watching movies in your car.


Then there were the picnics
at the peak of summer season,
pack a lunch and find some trees
and never need a reason.


Get a baseball game together
with all the friends you know,
have real action playing ball --
and no game video.


Remember when the doctor
used to be the family friend,
and didn't need insurance
or a lawyer to defend?


The way that he took care of you
or what he had to do,
because he took an oath and strived
to do the best for you.

Remember going to the store
and shopping casually,
and when you went to pay for it
you used your own money?


Nothing that you had to swipe
or punch in some amount,
and remember when the cashier person
had to really count?


The milkman used to go
from door to door,
And it was just a few cents more
than going to the store.


There was a time when mailed letters
came right to your door,
without a lot of junk mail ads
sent out by every store.

The mailman knew each house by name
and knew where it was sent;
there were not loads of mail addressed
to "present occupant."


There was a time when just one glance
was all that it would take,
and you would know the kind of car,
the model and the make.


They didn't look like turtles
trying to squeeze out every mile;
they were streamlined, white walls, fins
and really had some style.



One time the music that you played
whenever you would jive,
was from a vinyl, big-holed record
called a forty-five.


The record player had a post
to keep them all in line
and then the records would drop down
and play one at a time.


Oh sure, we had our problems then,
just like we do today
and always we were striving,
trying for a better way.

Oh, the simple life we lived
still seems like so much fun,
how can you explain a game,
just kick the can and run?


And why would boys put baseball cards
between bicycle spokes
and for a nickel, red machines
had little bottled Cokes?



This life seemed so much easier
and slower in some ways.
I love the new technology
but I sure do miss those days.

So time moves on and so do we
and nothing stays the same,
but I sure love to reminisce
and walk down memory lane.
With all today's technology
we grant that it's a plus!
But it's fun to look way back and say,
Hey look,guys, THAT WAS US!

Thanks for posting this, Ditter. It's all so true and fun to remember!

Thank you for that - brought back lots of memories....I DO miss the old days in many ways. But I also appreciate some of the new things --- DVD's, rotary cutters, cutting mats, my Bernina & Husqvarna, pellet stoves...... : )

I can remember going out for a "Sunday drive." No place special, just driving. And when someone got a new car, of course you wanted to go for a ride in it.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

Yep, that was our family! Four kids jumped in the back seat (no seat belts in that car) and off we went. There was no telling where we would end up. I learned a lot about the areas surrounding our home and history. It was fun.

We played "down in the woods" all day - 9 hours - walking in the creek, eating our sandwich sitting on a big rock, and nobody worried about us or fussed that we'd been "out of touch" for that long.

How I longed for my kids to know a life like that which I had. Now I want it for my grandson. Sigh.

Jan in VA

Yes we could play outside for hours and no one worried about us because we were together. Wish it were so today. Not so easy for young parents. Glad to have grown up in the 50's but sure am glad for a lot of the changes.

Yep, it was.
But I still don't know what kick the can was. I think that was even before me!

Those were the days of 1/2 a tank to get there the other 1/2 to get back leave after fridays dinner - load the back of the wagon with hampers and blankets and all 7 of us kids singing to the radio laughing -telling silly jokes - falling asleep under the stars curled up side by side - waking up to Ma cooking bacon and eggs in an iron skillet on a fire, while Dad made toasted bread. My son and me did the same thing we sang to the radio - told the same old jokes - fished for our dinners - curled up in our blankets side by side by a fire talking til sleep over took us..I sure do miss those good ol days

Oh how I remember! Sunday drives just to enjoy. Fishing in some farmers creek then going home to clean the catch and fry it up.The family and friends enjoying time together in the eat in kitchen. Watching a little square tv in a big cabinet stting on the floor. And before that evenings with all of us sitting on the floor listening to radio programs like The Shadow. As a kid hanging May baskets on neighbors door handles on May Day. Entertaining yourself riding a bike or hitting tennis balls. I too like a lot of the newer technologies. But I do miss life in the SLOWER LANE.
margaret
Ditter thanks for helping me to remember so many good times in my life.

Another good one. Brought great memories and some not so great. Thank you, Ditter.

Oh thank you for a sweet memory moment... I know things must change, but I'm not so certain it is always for the better... You know... we should all take a few moments every day and write down these memories... just a thought...

I love your stories & jokes. Please keep them coming. And yes I'm old enough to remember all those things. Life was a lot less hetic then. Thanks, Alice

That was us growing up and even when I was a young mother. We did not pay for babysitters because if you were going somewhere the kids could not go you did not need to go either. lol

Walking down memory lane was nice, and felt more family orientated than the way things are today Those were the days !!

memories Barb

Thanks Ditter, I really miss those days !!!!

I remember the yellow Helm's Bakery truck that delivered fresh baked goods to your house. I grew up in the 60s and remember walking to our Aunt's house in the summer barefoot and staying out until the street lights came on. All 5 of us would go, there were 5 cousins. I miss those days. Thanks, Ditter!

During the hot summer days (in Illinois), we would pop the little tar bubbles in the street with our toes. (well it beats what i heard that my aunt and her cousin put their toes in, walking thru the pastures!trying to find the warmest one!)At night when the street lights came on we would tie a rock in a white rag and throw it way up. Then watch the bats swoop down. Or catch lightning bugs. Lots of memories..good ones for me.

Thaks for the memories! Can you imaine todays kids (or adults for that matter) only having one phone and it being attached to the kitchen wall? It would be such a culture shock to them!.....Judi