To All the Kids Who Survived the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s

First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank-While they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs Covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps, not helmets, on our heads.

As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs Covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps, not helmets, on our heads.

As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.’

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren't overweight. WHY? Because we were always outside playing...that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, Only to find out that we forgot about brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not Have Play Stations, Nintendo and X-boxes. There were No video games, No 150 channels on cable, No video movies Or DVDs, No surround-sound or CDs, No cell phones, No personal computers, No Internet and No chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS And we went Outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, Broke bones and Lost teeth, And there were No lawsuits From those accidents.

We would get Spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand, And no one would call child services to report abuse.

We ate worms, And mud pies Made from dirt, And The worms did Not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, 22 rifles for our 12th, rode horses, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and although we were told it would happen - we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts And not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever.

The past 60 to 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

"With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of Coronavirus and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Doors were not locked and if they were, a skeleton key was used to unlock it. One key for all the locks.
When out playing you minded your ‘P's & Ques". As the neighborhood had your parents’ permission to disciple you. No cops were called, and no one sued anyone over it.

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.

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