Old Codger Musings:
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:18 am
Children of the 50's and 60's were given all sorts of opportunities to explore the world around them, whereas today's kids aren't even allowed to think for themselves. I believe it was that environment of encouragement that caused people to question the status quo sparking the 60's revolution. (Government forbid we should ever see anything like that again.)
Chemistry sets with actual chemicals, alcohol burners, test tubes and other "hazardous" stuff made many child's best Christmas or birthday gift list. I had one and loved it. Didn't blow anything up and I still have all my fingers and toes intact and eyesight.
I remember being given a dollop of Mercury in 6th grade science class and instructed to study it's unique properties by playing around with it. Or sitting in back of class carving my initials (and other, um... clever stuff) into the chalky white, fibrous asbestos insulation covering the hot water boiler pipes.
Played outside all during summer vacation, each day from the time we got up until after dark, getting the deepest, darkest natural tan (punishment in those days was actually being sent to my room, imagine that!) Waited for the evening mosquito truck just like we were waiting for Mr. Softee. It came weekly spewing it's DDT laden smoke clouds reducing street visibility to zero. Perfect conditions for an impromptu game of street "tag" or zombie attack. Loved following a city bus just to smell it's diesel exhaust (my mother hated being stuck behind them.)
Was taught proper gun safety (and respect for firearms) being given a BB gun when I was nine and a hand-me-down, rifle/shotgun combo when I turned 12. Rode our bicycles as fast and far as we could without any safety gear, just knew we had to be back home in time for supper. Rode motorcycles since age 14 and damned the helmet laws when they were passed. (Still don't like them.)
Took my uncle's boat out on the big lake all by myself at age 11, left in the morning and didn't return until dark all without benefit of any lifesaving devices. Boats didn't have floatation chambers in those days, they just sank. In fact, there were no safety devices, period. But then, there weren't any lawyers advertising on TV 24/7 to sue your neighbors.
Firecrackers like Cherry Bombs and M-80's could blow your hand off but because we knew that, treated them with fear and respect (although regular firecracker pranks and bottle rocket wars were fair game.) Yes, we occasionally got hurt but all of us lived to tell great stories about it.
The edges on old, lead painted, tin toys were sharp as hell, held together by unfinished tabs that were inserted in slots and bent over. Many times I remember slicing my finger wide open on those damn tabs but despite the gushing blood, never once needed the ER.
Rode standing up on the car's back floor, shoulder to shoulder with my cousins (or loaded into the bed of a pickup) as my parents drove us everywhere. My smaller siblings even slept in the rear window ledge. Nobody had seat belts and if they did, never used them, ever. And while maybe a few of us didn't make it to adulthood, more of us did than didn't and we had a damn fine time along the way, making for great memories.
Nope. The only thing we kids really feared was the A-Bomb. But hey, we all seen the government films on them and you could avoid injury just by curling up under your desk (after neatly stowing away your textbook, of course.)
In the end, I didn't lose any friends throughout those perilous days of youth and none of us lost any eyes or other body parts... at least not until the Vietnam “Police Action.” Thinking back, it seems the most dangerous thing to us kids back then was the government! Hmmm. Maybe some things don't ever change.
But really, I kind of feel sorry for kids today. Somewhere between my youth and theirs, fear mongering for profit stole away the potentially greatest moments in growing up.
Chemistry sets with actual chemicals, alcohol burners, test tubes and other "hazardous" stuff made many child's best Christmas or birthday gift list. I had one and loved it. Didn't blow anything up and I still have all my fingers and toes intact and eyesight.
I remember being given a dollop of Mercury in 6th grade science class and instructed to study it's unique properties by playing around with it. Or sitting in back of class carving my initials (and other, um... clever stuff) into the chalky white, fibrous asbestos insulation covering the hot water boiler pipes.
Played outside all during summer vacation, each day from the time we got up until after dark, getting the deepest, darkest natural tan (punishment in those days was actually being sent to my room, imagine that!) Waited for the evening mosquito truck just like we were waiting for Mr. Softee. It came weekly spewing it's DDT laden smoke clouds reducing street visibility to zero. Perfect conditions for an impromptu game of street "tag" or zombie attack. Loved following a city bus just to smell it's diesel exhaust (my mother hated being stuck behind them.)
Was taught proper gun safety (and respect for firearms) being given a BB gun when I was nine and a hand-me-down, rifle/shotgun combo when I turned 12. Rode our bicycles as fast and far as we could without any safety gear, just knew we had to be back home in time for supper. Rode motorcycles since age 14 and damned the helmet laws when they were passed. (Still don't like them.)
Took my uncle's boat out on the big lake all by myself at age 11, left in the morning and didn't return until dark all without benefit of any lifesaving devices. Boats didn't have floatation chambers in those days, they just sank. In fact, there were no safety devices, period. But then, there weren't any lawyers advertising on TV 24/7 to sue your neighbors.
Firecrackers like Cherry Bombs and M-80's could blow your hand off but because we knew that, treated them with fear and respect (although regular firecracker pranks and bottle rocket wars were fair game.) Yes, we occasionally got hurt but all of us lived to tell great stories about it.
The edges on old, lead painted, tin toys were sharp as hell, held together by unfinished tabs that were inserted in slots and bent over. Many times I remember slicing my finger wide open on those damn tabs but despite the gushing blood, never once needed the ER.
Rode standing up on the car's back floor, shoulder to shoulder with my cousins (or loaded into the bed of a pickup) as my parents drove us everywhere. My smaller siblings even slept in the rear window ledge. Nobody had seat belts and if they did, never used them, ever. And while maybe a few of us didn't make it to adulthood, more of us did than didn't and we had a damn fine time along the way, making for great memories.
Nope. The only thing we kids really feared was the A-Bomb. But hey, we all seen the government films on them and you could avoid injury just by curling up under your desk (after neatly stowing away your textbook, of course.)
In the end, I didn't lose any friends throughout those perilous days of youth and none of us lost any eyes or other body parts... at least not until the Vietnam “Police Action.” Thinking back, it seems the most dangerous thing to us kids back then was the government! Hmmm. Maybe some things don't ever change.
But really, I kind of feel sorry for kids today. Somewhere between my youth and theirs, fear mongering for profit stole away the potentially greatest moments in growing up.
Although I was seventies and I agree with your sentiments. Boy those summer holidays were great as a kid, real freedom.
