I'm So Old That...
Mar 25th, 2005 | 09:02 AM
#261
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,124
Likes: 0
Now that I've caught up again, some of the more recent postings have brought back more memories of various subjects:
-Medical: I remember when the doctor would actually come to your house with his little black bag to treat you. And the mention of merthiolate & mercurochrome & iodine made me think back to an old household remedy we used for cuts on the farm: it was honest, right-out-of-the-tree pine oil -- a thick syrupy liquid with a wonderful aroma that we applied to every injury. We would usually soak a clean rag (couldn't afford real gauze) and then tie it around the injury. And it really seemed to work.
-Didn't have a TV back then. Didn't have electricity back then. We kept up with the news via a battery powered radio that used tubes. Because the tubes consume a lot of power, the standard battery for the radio was about a foot long, maybe 8 inches high, and 2 or 3 inches thick. Even then, you had to turn on the radio just for the important things, like another FDR fireside chat. When they finally wired us for electricity, we were in heaven. But we had to keep using the icebox for a while because refrigerators (the kind with the cooling mechanism on top) were too expensive. Besides, the iceman had us on his regular route and had become a good friend.
-Movies: The naughtiest movie ever made was "Gone with the Wind." When Clark Gable uttered his parting words to Scarlett, people would faint. The idea of such profanity !!!! Our minister told us we shouldn't see it. I always wondered how he knew.
-Walking to school; Sometimes I'd ride my horse and tie him to a tree. Had to go out at recess and get him some water.
-Really modern times: When TV's, window air conditioners, and electric kitchen appliances came out in the 40's, we all thought that was as far as technology could go.
-Travel: Except for one unusual opportunity to go to Germany during the Nazi days, a big trip was 20 miles away to a "big city" that had a population of about 8,000 people.
'Nuff of my reminiscing.
-Medical: I remember when the doctor would actually come to your house with his little black bag to treat you. And the mention of merthiolate & mercurochrome & iodine made me think back to an old household remedy we used for cuts on the farm: it was honest, right-out-of-the-tree pine oil -- a thick syrupy liquid with a wonderful aroma that we applied to every injury. We would usually soak a clean rag (couldn't afford real gauze) and then tie it around the injury. And it really seemed to work.
-Didn't have a TV back then. Didn't have electricity back then. We kept up with the news via a battery powered radio that used tubes. Because the tubes consume a lot of power, the standard battery for the radio was about a foot long, maybe 8 inches high, and 2 or 3 inches thick. Even then, you had to turn on the radio just for the important things, like another FDR fireside chat. When they finally wired us for electricity, we were in heaven. But we had to keep using the icebox for a while because refrigerators (the kind with the cooling mechanism on top) were too expensive. Besides, the iceman had us on his regular route and had become a good friend.
-Movies: The naughtiest movie ever made was "Gone with the Wind." When Clark Gable uttered his parting words to Scarlett, people would faint. The idea of such profanity !!!! Our minister told us we shouldn't see it. I always wondered how he knew.
-Walking to school; Sometimes I'd ride my horse and tie him to a tree. Had to go out at recess and get him some water.
-Really modern times: When TV's, window air conditioners, and electric kitchen appliances came out in the 40's, we all thought that was as far as technology could go.
-Travel: Except for one unusual opportunity to go to Germany during the Nazi days, a big trip was 20 miles away to a "big city" that had a population of about 8,000 people.
'Nuff of my reminiscing.
Apr 1st, 2005 | 06:11 AM
#262
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Hi! Well, I was having a "I remember" conversation with my husband last night and I just had to share it...
We went to the Eagles Farewell I tour (which was absolutely fantastic btw -- they still sound great) but the actual ticket cost was $177... I remember when tickets to Eagles, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Bruce, Styx, Lynrd Skynrd, etc were $12 - $20 and scalping a ticket for $50 was considered outrageous. I remember when the cost of a concert program was $5 & $7 rather than $20. And the cost of a concert t-shirt was $10 - $15 and not $50 - $60!
(although the fact that they have Guiness & Harp on tap at the Meadowlands in Jersey is pretty cool).
All in all, the sad observation I had last night was that when I was in middle school, high school, and college I had the time to get to concerts but I didn't have the money. Now 20 years down the road I have the money to get to the concerts I wanted to see, but now I don't have the time!!!
We went to the Eagles Farewell I tour (which was absolutely fantastic btw -- they still sound great) but the actual ticket cost was $177... I remember when tickets to Eagles, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Bruce, Styx, Lynrd Skynrd, etc were $12 - $20 and scalping a ticket for $50 was considered outrageous. I remember when the cost of a concert program was $5 & $7 rather than $20. And the cost of a concert t-shirt was $10 - $15 and not $50 - $60!
(although the fact that they have Guiness & Harp on tap at the Meadowlands in Jersey is pretty cool).
All in all, the sad observation I had last night was that when I was in middle school, high school, and college I had the time to get to concerts but I didn't have the money. Now 20 years down the road I have the money to get to the concerts I wanted to see, but now I don't have the time!!!
Oct 29th, 2013 | 05:49 AM
#265
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 0
Great thread, but PalenQ, you continue learning & adapting, are so 'right on' and helping hundreds if not thousands of us with our current travel planning! Lots of people are just living in the past 'remembering when.' Not me and definitely not you!
Oh, and the 3-day Woodstock tix -- $18.
But we're not old.....
Oh, and the 3-day Woodstock tix -- $18.
But we're not old.....
Feb 12th, 2014 | 07:02 AM
#267
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 26,146
Likes: 0
I just re-read my post from 2005 and time has proven me wrong on one thing I said. I will delete irrelevant parts of that post.
<i>"...the Pope walked through the crowds to touch hands just before the blessing. .... I doubt any pope will ever greet people again as JP did before he was shot."</I>
I've seen the new Pope walking up to people and touching them. I'm glad to be wrong about that.
<i>"...the Pope walked through the crowds to touch hands just before the blessing. .... I doubt any pope will ever greet people again as JP did before he was shot."</I>
I've seen the new Pope walking up to people and touching them. I'm glad to be wrong about that.
Feb 12th, 2014 | 02:15 PM
#269
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
I'm so old that I forgot all about this post and its many interesting I;m so old that remembrances of others that are so neat!
I'm so old that I rode an SNCF regular service steam train on my first trip across the pond in 1969 - Perpignon to the Spanish border - I probably said this 8 years ago but of course can't remember!
Tower you seem so young in feelings and things you post!
I'm so old that I rode an SNCF regular service steam train on my first trip across the pond in 1969 - Perpignon to the Spanish border - I probably said this 8 years ago but of course can't remember!
Tower you seem so young in feelings and things you post!
Nov 12th, 2014 | 10:47 AM
#270
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
I'm so old that I forgot all about saying a year ago I was so old that I forgot all about this post!
I'm so old I flew a prop plane (Icelandair) the first time I went to Europe.
And I rode a steam train - regular SNCF one - probably said that high above here - between Montpellier and the Spanish border!
I'm so old I flew a prop plane (Icelandair) the first time I went to Europe.
And I rode a steam train - regular SNCF one - probably said that high above here - between Montpellier and the Spanish border!
Nov 12th, 2014 | 01:21 PM
#271
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
I will confine my comments to travel (for the most part.)
In Madrid the used to have serenos in Madrid. You would clap your hands in front of your hotel after 10 PM and they would open the front door.
Backpackers actually backpacked.
We spent 6 months in Europe for $3,000.
We walked among the stones at Stonehenge.
We saw the original cave drawings at Altamira.
We would pick up our mail at the American Express office.
Room keys weighed about 12 pounds each.
The Guardia Civil would walk up and down the aisles of trains with machine guns in Spain.
I knew Tower when he was young.
Ryan Air was just some old Irishman passing gas.
In Madrid the used to have serenos in Madrid. You would clap your hands in front of your hotel after 10 PM and they would open the front door.
Backpackers actually backpacked.
We spent 6 months in Europe for $3,000.
We walked among the stones at Stonehenge.
We saw the original cave drawings at Altamira.
We would pick up our mail at the American Express office.
Room keys weighed about 12 pounds each.
The Guardia Civil would walk up and down the aisles of trains with machine guns in Spain.
I knew Tower when he was young.
Ryan Air was just some old Irishman passing gas.
Nov 12th, 2014 | 01:43 PM
#272
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
At the entry to Spain customs officials would not admit long hairs
Great ones IMD!
under the Franco regime and you either had to shed it quickly at the Customs barbers or be turned away - not all but the very long haired buys that is.
Spanish youth hostels were run by dictator wardens obviously some political appointee.
Asbolute poverty reigned all over Spain - along train tracks outside of Madrid and Barcelona were cardboard shacks galore - Spain was a real eye opener back them - on my first trips in 1969 and 71.
Great ones IMD!
under the Franco regime and you either had to shed it quickly at the Customs barbers or be turned away - not all but the very long haired buys that is.
Spanish youth hostels were run by dictator wardens obviously some political appointee.
Asbolute poverty reigned all over Spain - along train tracks outside of Madrid and Barcelona were cardboard shacks galore - Spain was a real eye opener back them - on my first trips in 1969 and 71.
Nov 12th, 2014 | 01:49 PM
#273
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
I shaved my beard and cut my hair short to visit Spain.
There was an aspect then that was embarrassing back then. I was 22 years old, but because we were from America, people called my wife and I Don and Doña, that made me most uncomfortable. After Franco died, during the Felipe Gonzalez tenure, everyone but the King and Queen were known as tu. Now, Spain has reverted to the traditional use of pronouns.
There was an aspect then that was embarrassing back then. I was 22 years old, but because we were from America, people called my wife and I Don and Doña, that made me most uncomfortable. After Franco died, during the Felipe Gonzalez tenure, everyone but the King and Queen were known as tu. Now, Spain has reverted to the traditional use of pronouns.
Jan 8th, 2018 | 03:41 PM
#277
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,849
Likes: 0
I'm so old I recall when the Spanish Customs looked for raunchy literature in your luggage. A perfect way to smuggle something past them was to place a copy of Playboy on top of your clothes. The Custom guys would get so excited confiscating that filth they would not bother to look further. I'm sure they all read the purloined magazine and passed it on.
Jan 8th, 2018 | 05:55 PM
#278
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,415
Likes: 1
I couldn't stop reading this old topped thread.
I remember my first trip to Europe, a grand tour as the prize in an American history exam. It was a small group tour and as I had taken two years of Latin and one year of French in high school, I was the linguist of the group. I did get tripped up by not distinguishing between cent and cinq when spoken. I discovered the truth about steak tartare. Few spoke English. When I was lost in Rome I got directions from a priest. In Latin.
I remember much further back in childhood. Our car was a pre-war Ford, with a shift in the floor and two flat pieces of glass with a bar between them for a windshield. A nickel candy bar cost 5 cents. And 4 and five year olds played outside without supervision.
I remember Junket dessert, and mixing the color into the bag of white margarine, and the frozen expanded milk column if the milk stood on the back porch too long after a winter delivery. Spaghetti and meatballs at the Spaghetti Palace was 99 cents, plus a 10 cent tip. I remember when pizza pie came to our city, an exotic but delicious food. I remember on a high school trip to NYC that pizza was sold BY THE SLICE! And a steak at Tad's was 99 cents.
I remember the only murder shown on live television. I remember that when the other editor of our high school newspaper and I went to the printer on Sunday, November 25, 1963, to rip apart the front page for an emergency rewrite, the linotype change fees were comped.
I remember my first trip to Europe, a grand tour as the prize in an American history exam. It was a small group tour and as I had taken two years of Latin and one year of French in high school, I was the linguist of the group. I did get tripped up by not distinguishing between cent and cinq when spoken. I discovered the truth about steak tartare. Few spoke English. When I was lost in Rome I got directions from a priest. In Latin.
I remember much further back in childhood. Our car was a pre-war Ford, with a shift in the floor and two flat pieces of glass with a bar between them for a windshield. A nickel candy bar cost 5 cents. And 4 and five year olds played outside without supervision.
I remember Junket dessert, and mixing the color into the bag of white margarine, and the frozen expanded milk column if the milk stood on the back porch too long after a winter delivery. Spaghetti and meatballs at the Spaghetti Palace was 99 cents, plus a 10 cent tip. I remember when pizza pie came to our city, an exotic but delicious food. I remember on a high school trip to NYC that pizza was sold BY THE SLICE! And a steak at Tad's was 99 cents.
I remember the only murder shown on live television. I remember that when the other editor of our high school newspaper and I went to the printer on Sunday, November 25, 1963, to rip apart the front page for an emergency rewrite, the linotype change fees were comped.
