"And we LIKED it that way!"
-PJ
Posted on 07/27/2011 7:01:13 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952
Sent with nostalgia...
The Green Thing
In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."
The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."
He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana .
In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.
When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.
We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.
We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smartass young person.
I didn't see it bash SUV's. Are you sensitive?
As for disposable razors, they are a waste and meant for lazy people.
"And we LIKED it that way!"
-PJ
Like all viruses, this will spread. If I understand correctly, they’re going to decide next week if the Keepin’ Austin Weirdos will be able to vote on it. Walmart and HEB said they were on board. Coming soon to a neighborhood store near you.
Guess we know what to do with all our old jeans now - sew them into grocery bags. I bought a bunch of canvas fabric from the church rummage sale so that just got earmarked.
I didn’t see a reference to SUVs either.
So “progressive”.
Thanks for the address. I just made note and put it in my wallet.
:)
Hubby’s mower does not act up!!! It has been babied into submission, and he keeps it in great shape all the time. I think he has more spare parts for it than for all the cars combined (an ‘05 Ford F150, 2 ‘96 Chevy Impala SS’s, an ‘84 Trans Am, and a ‘73 Pinto).
Yes, we have every car we ever bought, and the Pinto is pre-marriage too.
i’m 74 and had most of the things that are being complained about except for the power mower.
Even in 1945 I had a Wizzer on my bicycle doing my paper route when I was 8.
Had electric outlets on every wall , electric mixers, parents had 2 cars since I was born, in fact my parents both drove to school in the pre 1920s.
I did walk to school until I was 8 and bought a Wizzer for my bike.
“And no one evev mentioned the special recycling of the Sears and Roebuck catalog.”
What recycling, we threw them in the trash!
They are open Mon - Sat from 8 AM - 6 PM, unless the longhorns are playing football.
It's way cheaper (in the neighborhood of 78% less depending); and sometimes, I even wash my hands before I make it!!!!! :)
LOL!!!
Much, much cheaper, and often much more nutritious. Also, it doesn’t require driving somewhere to get it, and it saves time!
Those tickets are $$$. They must be doing good business.
Thanks, again. Noted times, too.
“The ethanol in fuel is also a killer for fuel systems.”
Ethanol is really great in marine applications, like outboards. Some older fuel tanks are fiberglass, and the alcohol eats the fiberglass. The alcohol destroys fuel lines, corrodes aluminum (lots of engine parts) and absorbs water better than a sponge. And the ethanol gas goes sour quick.
Cost me a grand last year, and I’ve had to do more work (myself, good thing I’m mechanically inclined) this year.
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