Looking back : Before the internet

Nowadays, life is fine until your computer stops working, or you can't get on the internet. When that happens, life is a nightmare until you get the problem fixed.

My brother nags me to get a cell phone. I don't even have an answering machine.

I remember when phoning meant listening for a click on the line that told you someone on your party line was listening in. If you had a phone hog on your party line, heaven help you for you had to wait until that person was through talking before you could call. You had a special ring that was just yours, ours was two shorts and a long, but everyone on the line heard that ring, too, so anyone who wanted to snoop on you could know when to listen in.

What about going to the Fair or the carnival. Candy apples, cotton candy, you could be poor and and have a great time with family and friends. Those were the good ole days!

We had our own line, but I think some people had party lines when I was growing up. Our number was 5, I think. My aunt's number was 4. My Dad's office was 15. It was a small city.

Still can! I got a prize for a painting I did, even. One year they had a huge crane to carry you to the top and then drop you. People were afraid to go up, so I told them they could announce my age if they would take me up for free. They announced it over the fair's loud speaker and I had a crowd for my jump. It is as good as the old Judy Garland movie, the State Fair.

Cotton candy was neat until you discovered it was getting all over your face.

Judy Garland .

you were blessed to have owned a bike, my parents could not afford one for me, I had a friend who sold me his bike for R1 (I think) then he took it back!. I did not have toys, my favorite pastime was breaking off that purple bulb thingy what grows on a banana bunch and peeling the "petals" to use as a boat, toss it into the stream and watch it fight it's way through the tiny rapids into the sea where the waves would swamp it...great fun.

Did you guys play something similar to our "boksen går"? (lit The can goes).

Everyone would hide and one person would look for them. For each person he found, he would have to run back to what was normally a tin can, and say , i.e. "Jack on the can". The goal was for him to find everyone without any of them reaching the can first. If the searcher succeeded, he'd say "all are canned". If one of the ones who had been hiding go there first, that person would say "the can is free". ... and people would hide again.

Before 1900 (and the telephone) there was mail delivery several times a day, and you could order your evening supper groceries for delivery by mail in the morning. Before 1940 (and the income and inheritance taxes, then radio), people lived in extended families and had paid servants. Groceries were sold from horse-drawn carts that went up and down each street, one for meat, one for fish, one for produce, etc. All those big houses in your town used to be for that; now they are apartments. Until 1970, stores were smaller, and closer to the homes. Churches, schools, libraries, police stations even were a block away, and you could walk everywhere. There were tons of clubs and community activities, like drama groups, flea markets, bowling alleys, etc. Public transportation actually worked, and people kept a job and a spouse for life. You could walk on ice in those days, because cobblers could put little "hob nails" in your shoes. And people actually smiled at you while you walked down the street. Bottom line is, everyone knew the people close to them instead of the people around the world. But like RedTent said, any serious desire for knowledge was apt to take you on a six month voyage via ship to another continent, and you might not come back.

we played a similar game, almost the same..we called it "hide and seek"

Well, you were blessed to have a sea, so you didn't have it all bad. I lived in the middle of the USA.

You guys have really brought back some great memorie for me, thanks guys. But here's another one that you like. Do you remember mama's home cookin, oh.....my....God! Everyday, you hear me, everyday I had a home-cooked meal, and I mean top of the line. My dad cooked just as good as my mom. It was such a joy to come home on an Autumn evening to see the windows steamed and walk into the house and see mom cooking in the kitchen, playing 45 records on the record player ( you could stack 10 records on the center piece. After one finished playing, the next one would drop down and play ) . Mom would be humming out of tune but cookin life a chef. I miss that woman. I carry on the tradition with my so when he comes over. I cook food for him. It makes me feel good to watch him eat and enjoy his food. It also makes me think about mom. * I cheat on the desserts on don't make them from scratch, too much work and too much mess. Lol* those pre-made toll house cookies that you warm up in the ove are deliscous. I used to watch mom make those things from scratgh. If you tasted one of hers you would throw your pack in the trash can. Omg those things could cause a fight. Lol

Mother made some good stuff. Strawberry-cream cheese-pineapple jello was one of them.