Friday, August 8, 2008

The Past in Review

I now wonder if there was ever the good old day's, probably for the young, but grown ups had to face the reality of the day. Hard times come in every era, they are faced and the country moves on with life. We have had our share of wars, famines, floods, earth quakes, financial failures and let us not forget the great depression. This was an awful time, people out of work and on welfare, we made it through and then headed into a war. I was born during this time and my mom told us many times of the hardships they went through, how sometimes they had to steal their meals and did get caught a few times and my Dad had to serve jail time.

The population was not as large then, we had more breathing room. The roads and the automobiles that traveled them were being improved upon. Us that were born in the 1920s -30s-40s know how the cars were being made better each year. My first car a 1949 Ford had real chrome for the front bumpers and the rear bumpers and there was a lot more room inside. Not like the cars of today, small compact and the shift is in between the driver and passenger, I have to admit I did like it when they went to automatic shifting, there is so many styles to choose from now days. People did enjoy buying cars, and they found out that going places was fun and as cars improved so did the speed of the car. In the beginning people bought more Ford cars because they were cheaper.

Movie prices were a lot cheaper, you could go sometimes for a nickel and most often it was a dime. I fell in love with the movies when I was a kid and still like them (most times I rent movies now days). In those early days you could stay and see the movie over and over, you could stay all afternoon if you liked. I did this on Saturdays and to my mothers woe ended up with a bad headache, but this did not stop me, foolish girl. To me movie stars in those days were stars, not like today when they demand millions for making a movie. Movies then made you laugh and cry forgetting your troubles for awhile, the last silent film was made in 1931, the end of an era, but not forgotten, who could forget Clara Bow the "It Girl". Technology that would lead to technicolor pictures was being explored.

Radio in the beginning was called "wireless telegraphy", improvement was on its way and I think it is still going on. It has always disputed who was the one to invent it because many men staked claim they did. When I was a kid we had many favorite programs and when our favorite one was on, if we were outside we headed in. Some of the old ones were I Love A Mystery, Amos and Andy and Fibber Mgee & Molly, for kids there was The Shadow, Green Hornet and a few more, I can't remember them. I can see that old radio set today, I think it was between 3 feet and 4 feet tall, brown color the front had some kind of cloth over the speaker and knobs in front just below where you tuned in you station.

Actually the telephone was being used in the later part of the 1880s, then they were one style. When phones became popular they there were many styles. I remember our phone stood up and the receiver hung on the side of the phone. As the telephone was to become more used, people saw it as a quick way of communication, more people started to use them in office buildings and the rush was on to have a phone in your home. People liked the new styles that were being manufactured, our phone number was just three numbers and we had to go through an telephone operator. We used ours too much when we first got it, so my mother laid down the rules for its use, I have to say when she was not home we called every one of our friends, this did not last long, we had a younger sister that told on us, maybe we should of shared with her. Who could of looked into the future and saw cell phones, the rage of today.

Some of the things that happened along the way to 2008, seems like a life time ago to the "Roaring Twenties" that we grew up in. 1930--saw nylons made, in those days women would kill for them, just a phrase, but the war years saw them not being made 1940s saw the appearance of microwaves and nuclear weapons, which we could of done with out, the proof of this during the second world war when we dropped the atom on Japans two cities, this was an inhuman act. 1950s saw video cassette recorders, pacemakers, digital clocks and computers. 1960s saw laser, computer mouse and video game consoles. 1970s-there was email, mobile phones, personal computers, pocket calculators and DNA thank goodness they can catch more criminals. 1980s-was compact disk, the artificial heart, the internet and DNA finger printing. 1990s-the world wide web, Harry Potter books, the tragedy oh the Oklahoma City bombing, Beanie Babies and fashions were changing. 2000s-mobile phones, cell phones, flat screen TVs and credit cards which have put millions of people in debt up to their eyebrows.

We have come a long way baby and we haven't got there yet. Just think from model A cars to SUVs and vans, different from phones to cell phones, from early vacuum cleaners to robot vacuum cleaners, from Orville Wrights glider to jets breaking the sound barrier, from phonographs to CDs, from Radio to Flat Screen TVs, from horse drawn fire carriers to highly sophisticated fire trucks. I have lived to see all this and I am still amazed at it all, and to think there is more to come, look at us flying all over space and building space labs and satellites that bring in all kinds of communications back to earth. I only touched on the inventions of all the years there is so much invented it wouldfill several books and then some.

46 comments:

Margaret Cloud said...

I hope everyone enjoys the trip down memory lane, so enjoy yourself.

Doug Cloud said...

Great post, Mom. I was just thinking the other day about how I used to listen to vinyl LPs, 8-track tapes, and cassettes. In my lifetime I have seen the invention of CDs, DVDs, MP3s, and digital media. Makes you feel old, lol.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for dropping into my blog. I enjoyed reading your reflections on time as it passes.

P.s, My girls tidied their room today ( my blog post shamed them into it;))

Margaret Cloud said...

Thank you Mary for comming by and sharing.

molly said...

Thanks for coming by my blog to visit! Have been reading about all the changes you've seen in your life---amazing. My in-laws are well into their eighties and both grew up in Europe. They, too, have fascinating stories to tell. Makes growing up today sound bland!

Margaret Cloud said...

Molly thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.

meggie said...

Thanks for visiting my blog, & leaving a comment.
I have enjoyed reading your memories of all the changes.
I am so sad my 86 year old Aunt has died, as I loved hearing all her recollections, & she had such a wonderful memory. My 91 year old Uncle, her brother has an equally good memory, but he lives in New Zealand, & my chances to listen to him are seldom now.

Margaret Cloud said...

Hi meggie, I wish I would of ask a lot more questions about things my mom, aunts and uncles knew of life. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

Kathleen said...

Time keeps turning more quickly. Too quickly for many of us. You are right on target when you talk about the population density. Urban sprawl is a MAJOR problem. People more to new "country" developments to leave the city then complain that they don't have a nearby grocery store. Of course, the grocery store comes, followed by Walmart - all in the name of people buying mostly stuff they don't really need. Wow! Sorry I got so reflective. Thanks for a thought provoking post.

Margaret Cloud said...

kathleen thanks for your comments, and you are right about time moving on, I think most country stores are now called party stores, I like it when you come by and post a lot, thanks again.

Margaret Cloud said...

thank you doug for commenting

Alice I. said...

Margaret,

First off, thank you for dropping in on my blog and for posting the lovely comment about our butterfly wallhanging.

I read your blog posts with much admiration. I found your recollections of times gone by to be fascinating. I sometimes wonder what life would have been like had I grown up in a different era. Your posts have given me a better idea. Thank you for sharing your wonderful stories.

Alice I.
Maryland

Alice I. said...

P.S.

Love the ferrets! They are adorable! My daughter always wanted one but I too had a misconception about their temperament and never allowed her to have one.

Hugs,

Alice I.
Maryland

Kathleen said...

I remember my mom talking about the Model T and the Model A cars they had during the depression, eating beans for a week, and breakfast of bacon grease and flour fried up in the skillet. I'm a child of the very late 1950's and never had her hard times, but have a lot of her tales of revenuers and stills hidden under playhouses, inside haystacks, and buried in the pigpen. Sounded like wild times to me, but dirt poor and very hard times too.

Things really HAVE changed...for the better? Hmmm...it makes you wonder...

Crystal said...

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog today. I've enjoyed catching up on your posts. You do lots of reflecting and your memories remind me of stories that my parents have shared. I too wish that I had more stories from my grandparents, especially about their lives before they emigrated to Canada from Poland.

Have a lovely weekend! I hope it's not too hot where you live - we are expecting 93 degrees F tomorrow!

Sandcastle Momma said...

Times may have been hard but I still have to wonder if they weren't better back then. I would love to go back in time for a day just to experience some of what you've talked about. I have to wonder if the future would be better if we pulled some from the past.

Margaret Cloud said...

thank you Alice for your comments, you probably woul of liked that time.

Margaret Cloud said...

kathleen thanks for posting again on my blog, times were hard for a lot of people back then,thanks again

Margaret Cloud said...

Crystal thanks for posting on my blog, and our weather is cool for this time of the year, thanks come by any time.

Margaret Cloud said...

Thank you sandcastle mama for posting on my blog, please stop by again.

Granny J said...

Hi -- at 81, I recall many of the old ways that you mention. And I have very mixed feelings about the changes. On the one hand, I applaud the self-reliance of the older times ... but on the other, I doubt if I would have made it through pneumonia 10 years ago without the intervening medical inventions. And, of course, I absolutely love the Internet -- it's a better companion for an old lady than park bench gossip.

Margaret Cloud said...

Thank you granny for coming by and sharing, you are right medicaly speaking I prefer this time, stop by again.

me ann my camera said...

This is fascinating and just full of wonderful information! A nice read!
ann

Margaret Cloud said...

I am glad you came by me ann my camera and enjoyed it, please stop by again.

Pam said...

Interesting post. Hello to you too.

Rosie said...

hello margaret, thanks for dropping in, and for sharing your memories. We have lost so much of our own family history because my parents were relatively old when i was born, same for my husband, and for our children! (2 generations instead of 4 the last century) We must be slow starters- but we get there in the end!

Margaret Cloud said...

thank you isabelle & rosie for stopping by, when we were young we moved from Ohio to Michigan and lost contact with the relatives back home and time robs your memory some what..

Ruth said...

Technology has changed our world dramatically in your lifetime. Change is inevitable and one must adapt to survive. Looks like you are surviving well...a blogger! How modern can you get ;-)

Mike Eberhart said...

That was a nice read. I just hope the future is as bright for our next generation(s) as it has been for us. I'm all for progress, but lately I can't help thinking we may be pushing the limits of what this world can take from a human-impact standpoint.

Kelly said...

Thanks for writing such a sweet comment about our cat Sox! I am so saddened about your "Melody". You said there was something written about her on your blog, but I can't seem to find it. I'd love to read it! Anyway, I know Melody is waiting in heaven for all of her loved ones! I think all of our pets are waiting for us and we'll be with them again some day! Thanks again for writing such a lovely post about your Melody and our Sox!

Kelly

Margaret Cloud said...

I want to say I appreciate everyones comments about my blog and feel free to come by anytime and comment.

Judy said...

Thank you for your sweet comment about my grandson on my blog. I have an older sister that is 75 and went through the depression. She has not thrown away anything since then! I love the old movies, too. I watched one with Barbara Stanwyck last night. I thought she was such a great actress. Hope you will come by again. I enjoyed my visit with you and will be back! Loved your blog.

MrBrownThumb said...

Interesting post. It got my brain working when I was just expecting to vegg out as I surfed the internet. Now my mind is going to keep me up all night.

Thanks for stopping by my blog recently.

Ragged Roses said...

Hello, thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. I really enjoyed this post, I use to love asking my mother about her childhood and my children do the same to me, although they are still convinced everything was black and white when I was little (not just the TV!)

Margaret Cloud said...

Thank all of you bloggers for coming by and I did enjoy your blog sites and am glad to have someone to keep my interests going, thanks again.

Dewdrop said...

Wow! You have great readership! I appreciate your compliments on my pics. I'll have to see the bridge in OH.

Forty Paws said...

We're glad that you like our blog. We tend to keep busy with 10 of us underfoot.

Interesting life over the last 100 years or so isn't it?

Luf, Us

Margaret Cloud said...

Thank you dewdrop and forty paws for coming by, come again.

tea time and roses said...

What a lovely post! I thank you so much for your visit and sweet comments! I sure hope you drop by again soon, and I will surely be back to see you again! Have a beautiful holiday weekend!

Smiles...

Beverly

Lilly said...

What an amazing writer you are and this post is fantastic. I so enjoyed this - I shall be back for more. Thank you.

Margaret Cloud said...

thank you tea time and lilly for coming by and sharing, I will be by to see you.

Judy Hartman said...

Thank you, Margaret, for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment on the post about my Mom. Your blog is great and I love this post! I was very close to my Mom and she told me many stories about the past. This is a wonderful overview of the incredible changes you've seen in your lifetime!!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Hello,
Thank you for visiting me and I sure enjoyed reading your post. My Mom is 71 years young, just like you! It's amazing how much happens in one's life time and maybe you should write a book :)
Deb :)

Anonymous said...

Your post made me think of this wonderful magazine I subscribe to that has no ads and is 99.9% reader written. It's called Reminisce www.reminisce.com . Lots of personal stories, recipes and photos. Hours reading about them good ol days...

Margaret Cloud said...

Thanks Judy, Garage Sale Gal and She's Gone Fishing for coming by and leaving a comment and I will be back to yours, have a great Labor Day weekend.

Merle said...

Dear Margaret ~~ It is nice to meet
you and I did enjoy reading this post
Thank you for the kind words about my blog. I am the same age as you, but am a widow so blogging is great for me. I have 4 kids, sons, 54 and 51,
and daughters 48 and 46 and 12 G'kids
and 2 G.G.Daughters another on the way. Take care Margaret and I hope to "see" you again. Love, Merle.

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