We were born before
television. before penicillin. polio shots, frozen foods.
Xerox. plastic and the pill.
We were born before
radar. credit cards. split atoms. laser beam and ball
point pens. Before dishwashers. tumble dryers, electric
blankets, air conditioners, drip dry clothes
and before man walked on the moon.
We got married first and then lived together, (how quaint can you be?). We thought 'fast food' was what you ate in Lent, a 'Big Mac' was an oversized raincoat and crumpet we had for tea! We existed before house husbands, computer dating, dual careers and when a 'meaningful relationship' meant getting along with your cousins, and 'sheltered accommodation' was where you waited for a 'bus'!
We were born before Day Care Centres, group homes and disposable nappies. We never heard of FM Radio, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yoghurt and young men wearing ear-rings. For us 'time sharing' meant togetherness, a 'chip' was a piece of wood or fried potato, 'hardware' meant nuts and bolts and 'software wasn't a word!
Before 1940 'Made in Japan' meant junk. the term 'making out' referred to how you did in your exams, a 'stud' was something that fastened a collar to a shirt and 'going all the way' meant staying on the bus to the bus depot! Pizzas, 'MacDonalds' and instant coffee were unheard of. In our day cigarette smoking was fashionable, 'grass' was grown, 'coke' was kept in the coal-house and a 'Joint' was a piece of meat you ate on Sundays and 'pot' was something you cooked in. 'Rock music' was a grandmothers lullaby. 'Eldorado' was an ice-cream, a 'gay' person was the life and soul of the party and nothing more. While 'aids' just meant beauty treatments. or help for someone in trouble.
We who were born before 1940 must be a hardy bunch. when you think of the ways in which the world has changed. and the adjustments we have had to make. No wonder we are so confused end that there is a generation gap today.