Friday, August 14, 2009

What a difference 54 years makes!

In 1955 they said....

"I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20."

"Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $2000 will only buy a used one."

"If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous."

"Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?"

"If they raise the minimum wage to $1, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store."

"When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage."

"Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls."

"I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying 'damn' in 'Gone With The Wind,' it seems every new movie has either "hell" or "damn" in it.

"I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas."

"Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the president."

"I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now."

"It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet."

"It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work."

"Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more; those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat."

"I'm just afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business."

"Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress."

"The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on."

"There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $15 a night to stay in a hotel."

"No one can afford to be sick any more; $35 a day in the hospital is too rich for my blood."

"If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it."


16 comments:

me said...

what about the next 54 years?? hehehe

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie - I have been lurking at your site for quite awhile now. You often crack me up, and I appreciate your "tell it like it is-ness". Also, yours is one blog that I can actually relate to amongst the mommy blogs, etc.

So, this isn't a Friday funnies response but actually a life question I've been pondering. If this is not something you want discussed in your blog, please just delete me. I promise to not be offended!!!

Here goes...

Is it possible to still have that "happily ever after"?

I am just 50 and have been in serious/not so serious relationships since my divorce [almost] ten years ago. I am (in my own mind and have also been told) attractive, financially stable, sweet, decent, sexy, etc. A good catch perhaps? Truthfully, I suppose that is true. I am not the helpless "I need a man" whining type. Nor, do I depend on a man to fulfill me or to "make" me happy. I have good relationships with family and friends. I like my life. Perhaps the best way of summing up my relationship potential is to state that the men I have had serious relationships are still good friends.

So ------- I hear this a lot. Do you?

- don't settle
- you deserve a man who treats you like a queen
- someone is out there who is just for you

Truly I am a realist. I am not counting on having a relationship. I am not counting on someone to grow old with. I am not counting on anything. I am merely wondering if it's even possible. I am incredibly curious about this.

At age 50 we have lived life. The men I know have lived their lives. We have scars. We have had experiences; good and bad. We have raised our children. We've lived independently for a while. With all of this:

- is it realistic to think that we can put past experience behind us and choose to love again?
- is it realistic that a man of my age would even have the desire to put me and our relationship as the focus of their life?
- are there even any men like that out there?
- do marriages happen at this age?
- is it realistic to think that good late-in-life relationships occur? work? last?

I wonder if at this time in my life I should just share sex/companionship/conversation with a man and leave it at that? Have no further expectations?

I'd really like to figure this out. I'd like to hear it - to read it. As I said before, I am happy now with life as it is but smart enough to realize that a good relationship would enhance my life. I just want to know the reality of later in life relationships; if they even exist. And if they do, what they are like.

Any thoughts? Or, should I just find a good therapist? ha!

~ becali9 at yahoo dot com

me said...

@anonymous------ having some bad luck???

Anonymous said...

Nope, no bad luck here... just a realistic woman with an honest question.

My Aimless Infatuation said...

WOW,I forgot who I am suppose to comment to.Julie:It's funny that you chose this topic today because I have been feeling really nostalgic this morning. Anonymous: I will decline commenting as I'm sure you don't want to hear the negative. Sorry Jules,I got a little confused there for a minute. Have a great weekend.

The Peach Tart said...

I can remember Mama saying some of these things almost verbatim.

SSP said...

ahhh the good old days. I remember when i turned 16 back in the late 70s and dollar hit $1.00 and I was SO pissed...i was only making $1 an hour to babysit and it just seemed SO unfair!! LOL....i wonder what $1 would be in 2009 dollars?

and a movie here in NYC is $12.00! now granted, NYC is its own world, and you can still get into the dollar theatre in Tucson for $3, but still...

Violet said...

Julie, it's almost scary to read some of those things! I feel old whenever I say "I remember when I could fill my gas tank for $10." LOL

@anonymous - I am 44, divorced 6 years, frustrated with romantic relationships (just take a peek at my blog LOL)...but I believe it can happen. And, despite my moments of doubt, I believe it will happen for me. Just because we are of a certain age doesn't mean anything is beyond our reach. I think it seems more difficult or harder to attain now because:

- we are not only older, we are wiser - we make better choices
- the pool of available men (people) is smaller because many are married and many others don't want to be in serious relationships

A while ago, when I was going through some relationship trauma, my mother said, "You just need to find a normal man." I said, "Mom, there's no such thing. I'm in my 40s - by this time, everyone has issues and baggage." If we've been married, we have fears and concerns and children; if we haven't, that's a whole different set of issues.

I don't know how it happens, but we meet the right people at the right time. I'm more than anxious to get to my right time! LOL

chocolatecovereddaydreams.blogspot.com said...

Bring back the good ol days!!! Where a single scoop of ice cream was a dime. And happy meals were 1.50 or less.

Those were the days!

Unknown said...

Happy Friday, Julie!
Times, they are a changin'...
~AM

Anonymous said...

Happy friday!

Anonymous said...

oh how i wish I was around 54 years ago lol...scary to imagine the next 54 years...such a shame we can't live a simplified life!

Stephanie said...

LOL Oh I love that drive thrus would never catch on!

Wonder where we will be in 50 years!

Anonymous said...

Crazy post. Happy Friday to you! Have a great weekend!

STILLMAGNOLIA said...

Wow things sure have changed. It is amazing how stuff has skyrocketed.

Entrepreneur Chick said...

You did your research perfectly! Why use my own brain when I can use yours? LUV it!