For my Blog #2 I decided to interview my very spiritual great aunt. Brenda was born September 5, 1947. Brenda decided to talk about a few childhood memories and a few from her early adult years compared to times today. Brenda was born and raised in Osseo, WI, and there house was right in between her parents corner store and bar. Her dad ran the bar, and her mother ran the corner store. Growing up there are many differences noted from todays era and technology.
At five years old, Brenda would play in the store, outside the store, and bounce over to the bar. There was no concern with her being at either place running free. Brenda states the best part of having the store was getting suckers whenever she wanted. Brenda doesn't remember what they were called but they were like a huge sweet tart or comparable to the smarties candies. Brenda states the bar always had older men in it. Brenda states that it was full of "grandpas" as she thought back to those days. They would by her peanuts and pickles eggs. School was a block away where she would walk with no problems. No stories about walking through the snow. School was basic and point blank. Now days kids have so many electronics that it is completely different. Brenda expresses how she wouldn't want to be in school now days. She feels a lot of the learning of fundamentals have vanished and shocked they may stop teaching cursive writing in the schools. Not being able to say the pledge of allegiance due to cultural diversity strikes a cord. Religion was a huge part of school back then and the whole town was involved. Brenda states every family had a church and usually attended most sundays. Brenda stated how surprised she is that many couples get married by strangers due to not having a pastor of their own. That marriage, religion, and family values are not taken as seriously today than few decades ago.
Some things have improved according to Brenda. Cell phones and email are highly used and prevent a lot of heartache and waiting. Some phones have gotten out of control for her, a small flip phone is great. Smoking used to be everywhere back in the day. Brenda said flights were horrible, even riding the bus. People smoked in physicians office, the mall, and while grocery shopping. Brenda feels today's society has improved on health related topics. Banning smoking, exercising more, eating healthy, and the importance of all of them with drinking a lot of water. On the other had, Brenda is para at the school and notices more obesity. Back when she was a child you ate meat, potatoes, fruits and vegetables. There was no going to McDonald's or anything of the sort. Hearing people blame school lunches on obesity upsets her. Brenda feels parents are too busy now days to monitor what their children are putting in their bodies including Mt. Dew.
Brenda states so much has changed, some for the good, some for the not so good. Brenda states that it was so much easier to live back then than now. The cost of living was lower, the value of a dollar was higher, and everyone was more creative with their spare time. Not that today is horrible to live in but it is a lot different, higher paced, and high maintenance.
Except for the secondhand smoke, her childhood sounds like the utopia of childhoods. Not having to fear what an older gentleman might do to your young daughter and not having to worry when she walks to school alone sound heavenly. I, too, would agree with Brenda's thoughts on the school lunch program and everyone's blame that school lunch is the problem and attempt to change school lunch to become the remedy. What about the multiple inactive hours the children have with their electronics or the fast food they are eating (with or without their parents knowledge or supervision)? I could believe that it was so much easier to live back then. We, today, have created such dependent and technological children that they will always need to be entertained, either with upgraded technology or us as parents.
ReplyDeleteJust reading your post made me reminisce of a time when I felt as carefree as your great aunt and I realize I was a child who was naive and although I always "felt" safe, there were hidden attempts at protecting my safety including talking about strangers, locking doors and not walking outside at night alone. I would love to have a childhood much like your great aunt had. Although I know a lot has changed I am proud of a lot of the changes that have happened. I cannot simply say change that I view as positive, such as being culturally sensitive or having more options, is linked to the negative things that now occur such as the inability to trust strangers or leave doors unlocked; even though that's what I often hear the older generation blame. Nevertheless your great aunt was very blessed to have such a great childhood and I'm thankful you chose her story to share.
ReplyDeleteWhat glory to have a sucker when ever she wanted!! Back-in-the-day there where so many less worries. Internet and email have made life a little easier in terms of obtaining news, however, electronics may be the culprit to our national obesity epidemic! I am only 30 years old, but I can remember watching very little TV! I ran around playing football with the boys, not wanting to come in to the house when told to! Life was simpler back then, no huge worries people just lived life and where mostly healthy (besides lots of smoking) I work at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, mn and have been told stories about doctors smoking right during surgeries! I it was not too long ago that they finally banned smoking in the lunch rooms and break rooms!
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