(cartoon)

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Quote of the Week….. “You can tell your getting older when you spend a lot of time thinking about the thermostat.”

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A new year brings new changes . . . always has, always will. Here are a few of the changes we have noticed between our earlier years and our present years . . .

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEN AND NOW

Then, the time you took to get ready for a special occasion showed you really cared . . . mow you’re just slow getting dressed. Then, you were praised for standing up for your principles . . . now you’re too stubborn to listen to reason. Then, when you bent the rules a bit, you were thinking creatively . . . now you’re not thinking straight. Then, when you did something nice because you wanted to, people thanked you for being so thoughtful . . . now you’re advised be careful that you don’t overexert yourself. Then, when you hung on to all that stuff, you were reusing and recycling . . . now you’re hoarding. Then, when you spent the afternoon loafi ng, you were enjoying your down-time . . . now they start suggesting a dozen activities you should get involved in. Then, if you fell asleep in front of the TV, it was because you had a rough day . . . now it’s proof that you’re getting older. Then, when you made a mistake, it was a sign that you’re only human . . . now it’s even more proof that you’re getting older. Then, an evening with nothing to do but watch TV was a dud of an evening . . . now it’s a taste of heaven. Then, you walked with your head held high because you had self-confidence . . . now it’s because you’re having a hard time getting used to your bifocals. Then, you had a pen for writing, a book for reading, a camera for picture-taking, a newspaper for news . . . now you just have your phone, which you’ve misplaced (again).

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Speaking of the “generation gap”, I really enjoyed the following stories by one of our readers awhile back . . .

One evening a boy was talking to his grandfather about current events. He asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The granddad replied, “Well, let me think a minute. I was born before television, photocopiers, contact lenses, Frisbees, and the pill. “We didn’t have radar, credit cards, laser beans, or ball-point pens. “Man had not invented panty hose, air conditioners, dishwashers, or clothes dryers. Man hadn’t orbited the earth, let alone walked on the moon. “Your grandmother and I got married fi rst and then lived together. Most every family had a father and a mother. “Until I was 25, I called every man older than me ‘sir,’ and after I turned 25, I still called police offi cers and every man with a title ‘sir.’ I was born before gay rights, computer dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. “Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. “Serving our country was a privilege, and living here was an even bigger privilege. “We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. “Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. “’Time-sharing’ meant spending time with the family in the evenings and weekends, not purchasing condominiums. “We never heard of FM radios, CDs or DVDs, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. “We listened to big bands, Jack Benny, and the president’s speeches on our radios. “The term ‘making out’ referred to how you did on your school exam. “Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Chick-fi l-A, and instant coffee were unheard of. “We had five and dime stores, where we could actually buy things for five and ten cents. “Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and Pepsi were all a nickel. And if we didn’t want to splurge, we could spend that nickel on enough stamps to mail a letter or two postcards. “We could buy a new Chevy coupe for $600, but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was only 11 cents a gallon.

“In my day, grass was mowed, Coke was a cold drink, pot was something your mother cooked in, and rock music was your grandmother’s lullaby. Aids were helpers in the principal’s office, a chip was a piece of wood, hardware was found in a hardware store, and ‘software’ wasn’t even a word.

“No wonder people call us old and confused. You might even say we have a generation gap.”