Posted on 09/06/2023 9:11:54 AM PDT by jcon40
Exactly.
Skateboard made of 2X4, one rolled skate, a broom handle and nails. Raiding the melon patch and get rock salt shot at you. Collecting the hay cut on the sides of the rural roads. Storing it the barn then climbing up to the loaf and jumping into the hay pile. Darn near broke my neck form hit the pile wrong.
Clipping a playing card to the front and back bike tires for the sound of a motor as you peddled down the road.
Eating glue that was used to paste wallpaper to the wall. Loved the smell of airplane dope (banana oil). Made stick model airplanes that flew using rubber bands. then up graded to the OK Cub gas engine.
Camping out in the back yard. Building a bond fire, cooking potatoes in the embers. Cut wood for the wood stove in the kitchen and potbelly stove in the living room. Running out to the outhouse in all kinds of weather.
Playing mumble peg during breaks and lunch period at school. Ever boy had his favorite folding knife. Not lock down. The finger gun was a must too see who the quick draw was. Making gunpowder with the chem set you got at Christmas Cap guns wars. Sitting in the front row of the theater watch cowboy and Indians movies. Shooting your mothers hair pins at the bad gays. Using a rubber band and your fingers for a sling shot. Making bows and arrow out of willows sticks and string.
Fishing not with a rod and real but a stick, a string, and a bent safety pin. Got some nice bass that way. Setting a trap line in the winter. Once got a skunk, did not want to go to school. So broke the sent gland and rubbed it on me. Had to spend couple of day in the barn.
In the hot summer days would walk bare footed down the road. Coating the bottom of your feet with the tar. Then spending hour cleaning it off with a tub of lard. Dad driving the car down a freshly tarred road. Saying “ Under coating the bottom of the car. Having to drive backwards up the hill as the model T just did not have the power to do it in forward gear. Helping dad make bears for the motor using a leather belt soaked in oil. Could go to the junk yard buy a car that ran for $50. Then rebuild it into a stock car. Inner tube for swimming.
We made it through the years, thoughts were the golden days of yesterday. America was great and gave it Thanks every Sunday at Mass. We said the Pledge of Allegiance and a pray every day at the beginning of the class. We bought war stamps with money earned doing chores. Being an altar boy to get out of classes. Saving some of the wine for after mass. But the priest was wise to that and would give you the sternest look until you emptied the vestal nor push the chalice up and down until the vestal was dry.
We played sand lot baseball. All had gloves that was a Christmases present or a baseball, or a bat. Jackets used for bases. you worked your way up to bat. Starting in the outfield and moving up until you were at bat. Catch a fly ball and you got to be the batter. And the batter who lost took your place in the field.
Played tackle sand lot football no helmets nor padding. Lots of cuts and brushes but no broken bones.
Riding a bike off a sky jump. Playing hopscotch and jacks. The cubs where not girls were allowed only boys. We did not know what racial slurs were. There was a Nickname for everyone. And we laughed about it. Taking it with a grain of salt. But sticking up for one another should trouble arise.
We even played with girls and dolls. The mommy and dad thing. As you grow older you became the baby setter, learning how to care for infants and part of the growing curve for later in life. Writing letter for service men who were fighting the wars. Spending Saturday morning testing the vacuum tubes for the Radio and TV. Buying batter pack for the portable radio. Disassembling a batter to get the graphite rod, don' t remembers what we used it for.
Those are some awesome memories of days gone by. We were blessed to grow up in this country. Blessed!
They're all dead.........
To All the Kids Who Survived the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s
Prime example oh how each modern generation gets weaker dumber wimpier and woke.
No wonder the military is having a hard time of finding enlistments.
The “kids” mentioned in this post were also drafted. Big difference.
One of things I always remember from Band of Brothers, was one of the real-life members of Easy Company talking about a young man from his hometown, who committed suicide because the Army wouldn’t take him, as he said at the end, “A different time!”
But didn’t go to Canada like the wimps did they maned up.
Big difference
Collected empty soda bottles for the deposit
Delivered newspapers at 5:00 am for maybe $5-$10 week
Carried a folding scout knife, never stabbed anyone.
Built tree houses out of scrap lumber used a rope swing to get in and out.
Camped out under bedspread tents, built campfires and baked potatoes
Walked or rode bikes everywhere.
Much more but some of those warrants are still active.
“That’s none of your business.”
You are the one that brought your ass into the conversation.
“Much more but some of those warrants are still active.”
No worry. Statutes of Limitations have you covered.
“Building a bond fire, cooking potatoes in the embers. “
A bonfire is a large and controlled outdoor fire, used either for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration.
I remember buying codeine cough syrup over the counter.
“Skateboard made of 2X4, one rolled skate, a broom handle and nails.”
Scooter?
“We bought war stamps with money earned doing chores.”
Your age is showing!
Make no mistake. I had to learn my math. I got my first whipping in the 3rd grade from my female teacher (from Germany). My second whipping was in the 7th grade from our PE teacher. My third was in the 8th grade from the principal for fighting.
Back then I remember some of the older teenagers being killed or maimed playing chicken in their cars.
*Two cars driving head-on and the first avoid a crash was “Chicken”.
Asked my older cousin and others, just what movie did y’all watch to try/play that stunt?
They did not recall or fess up.
Everybody thinks the olden days were better.
They weren’t. They were just different.
Who do you think the kids of the 40s and 50s were? They were absolutely the kids running to Canada, or gettin g deferments for flat feet.
The Vietnam War military was overwhelmingly volunteers.
Well said # 82
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