50 Years Ago

50 years ago I was a freshman in High School:

There were computers, no PCs or laptops. According to the dictionary of that day, a computer was: “someone who calculates numbers or amounts”.

There was no GPS or map quest. Directions were received from a fold up map, an atlas or from a gas station attendant

There were no “walkmans” no DVDs no CDs no VCRs, no iPods, iPhones, or Imax and no digital cameras. The only pictures that were “instant” were made with a “Polaroid” camera, which took at least one minute to develop.

“Electronics” consisted of phonographs, AM radios, and black and white TVs.

There were no cell phones, no wireless phones, no touch-tone phones (spin dial only), no fax machines and no answering machines. There was no text messaging. Messages were written down with pen on paper.  Phone companies still had real people for “operators”, and there were these structures called phone “booths”, where one could make a call for a dime. There was no hotmail, gmail, voicemail or email. Correspondence was either in person, by telephone or by posted mail. All letters were either hand written or typed on a device called a typewriter.

“Internet” was not even a word, much less a thing.  A “web” was something spun by a spider. A “world wide web” was incomprehensible.

The only time we ever saw doors open automatically was on some Sci-fi show we watched on one of the three or four available TV stations.

Neighbors knew each other’s names, because they were usually all born and raised in the same town. We knew our friend’s parent’s first names but never dared speak them aloud.  It was always Mr. or Mrs.

“Yes Ma’am” or “No Ma’am”, and “Yes Sir” or “No Sir” was required when answering any adult.

Mommas and Daddys were the parents of their children and not their best friends.

There were no R-rated movies. There was no need for ratings, because movies were made for entertainment, not for sexual pleasure or to satisfy a thirst for blood.

None of our vehicles had air conditioning. Very few of the homes did. A heater in a car was listed as an option. Car windows were rolled down, not let down. A clutch was that third pedal on the floorboard. The “dash” was where most paperwork was kept and the “boot” was where the spare tire was stored.

We first began to hear of a little country called Viet Nam! No one had any idea where it was on the map!

Everyone lived on streets, avenues or roads. There were no Lanes, Courts, Circles or Ways.

Most schoolteachers were religious, some even spiritual. No one ever heard the word “secular”, much less knew what it meant. Teaching was more of a calling, than a career.

Teachers never conducted themselves improperly, whether in class or in public. Students respected the teachers and vice versa. Teachers cared more for the well being of their students than the size of their paycheck.

Girls were not allowed to wear slacks or pants to school. Skirts and blouses or dresses were the proper attire.

Boys were required to wear their shirttails “in”. The waists of their pants were actually worn around their waists and not their knees.

Girls did not pierce their bodies anywhere. Earrings were of the clip on style. Tattoos could only be found on the arms of some the old WWII Navy veterans.

And it NEVER entered into the mind of a red blooded American boy to wear an earring or any other kind of woman’s jewelry. This was not seen…ever!

Boys asked girls out and not the other way around. Boys actually treated girls with respect. A “descent” boy did not curse in front of girls. A “descent” girl would never be caught using profanity at any time. Her reputation was on the line.

Any boy who could not afford slacks, and had only jeans to wear (which then were cheaper) was considered as being poor. Any jeans, when they began to fade or have holes, and could hold no more patches, were thrown away or cut off and used for dipping in the swimming hole.

In town, stores closed at six each day, on Wednesday afternoon after twelve, and all day every Sunday. Any needed items were bought before six p.m. on Saturday.

There were no malls, or superstores. Groceries were bought at one of the grocery stores. Clothing was bought at one of the clothing stores. And hardware…Yep…that’s right! It was bought at the hardware store. Local people actually owned most of these stores, so “plastic” money was not needed. If someone hit on hard times the storeowners would usually let them have what was needed “on credit”. Going from store to store to shop was not so terrible; one could usually meet a friend or two and catch up on the current events of the town.

There were no convenience stores; only gas or service stations, and hardly anyone pumped their own gas; most didn’t know how to work the pump. 

There were no “fast food chains” in town except for the Dairy Queen, which really wasn’t all that fast.

There was no “drive thru” anything. One either had to go to the window or go into the restaurant to order and receive food.

There was no bulimia, anorexia, or any of the other designer diseases. Girls were considered for their beauty and not their size.

There was no hurry or sense of urgency to always be somewhere else. Most were contented where they were.

  “What then did we have?” one may ask!

We had the promise of God’s hand of protection over us: a sense of calm around us, and a deep peace within us.

We had care for our friends and friends that cared. We had parents that would be quick to correct us, but would never harm or forsake us.

We had neighbors and not just the “people next door”.  We all had parents that didn’t mind correcting everyone else’s children in the neighborhood.

No one went hungry as long as at least one home in the neighborhood had food.

Children could play outside or walk down to a friend’s house without the worry of being abducted, raped or murdered.

Children were made to stay in the house for punishment.

Even though we wore hand-me-downs, and had beans and bread most nights for “supper”, we had wealth and riches that most, even those with huge bank accounts, cannot find today.

Not to sound like an old cliché, but we had love. Not only love among family, but also love among neighbors, love among friends and even love for strangers. Oh! And children were taught to treat strangers with utmost respect and not as potential enemies as must be done today.

We had contentment and appreciation for those things with which we were blessed. We really didn’t want for much and our needs were very simple, because most of the things that people “need” or just “can’t live without” today, had yet to be invented. 

50 years ago…Life was simple and so were we. Naivety was the norm among almost all children and most adults.

50 years ago…I was there and am thankful for the blessed memories. My heart goes out to those who will never be able to truly know the simplicity of life and the blessings of God that we were privileged to experience. 

Sam Everett