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.
Beans are better the next day”
To be honest, a lot of food is better the next day. I think the spices/flavors romance or something. For example, when I make chicken or beef stew, it always tastes better the next day. More flavorful. I think soups taste better as well. I especially like the idea that I know when I pack something, the meat isn’t old, my hands are clean and the ingredients aren’t moldy. Plus, I don’t sneeze into my food. LOL!
It's not easy raising children, and none of us is perfect.
That is no way to address a lady, especially one who has been working tirelessly to keep the lights on here.
Go ahead and disagree, but stop the personal attacks and be polite, if you will.
She is neither a liberal nor a Luddite, nor is she in the least bit stupid.
I’ve had people ask me why I always bring my lunch. I tell them it’s because I’m lazy. I don’t have the time nor the inclination to leave work, get in my car, give up my (maybe) decent parking spot, fight traffic and other crazy people out looking for food, spend too much $$$ on food of questionable quality, fight more traffic, hope to find another decent parking spot, race back to my office, all to keep from spending 10 minutes each morning packing a lunch and a few extra minutes in the grocery store, picking up lunch stuff. Nope, I’m much too lazy to go through that hassle every day.
We made Christmas wreathes from the IBM punch cards (remember those?). My dad was military and brought home stacks of them. We'd curl them in half, staple them, make them into a wreath, then spray paint gold or silver. I'd forgotten all about that, until you mentioned the phone book Christmas trees. Thanks for bringing back a pleasant memory!
BINGO...and absolutely spot on!!
Then she needs to act like a lady and stop calling people “sensitive” and “lazy”.
There is a cafeteria about 1/2 mile from us, but it is too crowded at noon.I also have a small fridge in my office and keep mustard and mayonnaise, some sliced lunch meat, cheese slices and loaf of bread at work if I want sandwiches.
I'm sitting here laughing! How can you not? :-D
Awwwww, thanks!
She does act like a lady, but your behaviour is cloddish. Instead of whining, you might consider offering her an apology.
:)
Seriously, being old is no excuse for throwing invectives then complaining when they are returned. “Greatest generation”, my behind.
You may want to study 20th century history. Just a suggestion.
You DO realize that generational warfare is part of the left's plan, right? If they can get enough groups to hate one another, it'll destroy the country. United we stand, divided we fall.
insulting or abusive language : vituperation
Asking Are you sensitive? Is abusive?
You have a chip on your shoulder that I did not put there.
I hope the rest of your day is lovely.
Guy's not enjoying the thread like most of us, so I can't understand why he keeps torturing himself, either. Oh well.
I don't remember his being this cranky before, and I always thought he was a smart one. Shows ya the extent of deterioration in my people sense, huh. Sigh... Gettin' old, I guess.
Insulting the “greatest generation” is more than tacky, as well. Particularly since he doesn’t appear to know which generation they are.
Can you imagine if the youngons had to live like that?
Yes, our 25 yr old daughter is amazed how much stuff I can fix, instead of buying something new.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.