A Tribute To The "Real" Survivors!

This is for all of the kids who survived growing up in the
1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's...

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us in the womb. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then, after that trauma, our cribs were covered with brightly colored lead-based paints. Childproofing a home was unheard of... there were no "impossible to open" caps on medicine bottles or "locks of any kind" on cabinet doors.

When we rode our bikes, we had no helmets... not to mention, the risks we took with our younger siblings riding on the handlebars. As children, we rode in cars with no car seats, seat belts, or air bags. And, riding on the back of a ute on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from a garden hose and not from a bottle! We shared one soft drink with four friends from one bottle and no one actually died from it.

We ate cupcakes, white bread with real butter, and drank soft drinks with sugar in it... but, we weren't overweight because we were outside playing! We would leave home in the morning and play all day. As long as we were back when the street lights came on, no one was able to reach us all day and we were actually okay!

We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then ride down a hill, only to find out we forgot to make some brakes for the thing. After running into the bushes (or worst) a few times, we learned how to solve the problem! We did not have cable TV with 100+ channels, DVDs, CDs, MP3s, cell phones, computers, email, or the internet. We had friends and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given slingshots for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes in the process.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door, rang the bell, or just walked in to talk with them. Under 12 footy had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn how to deal with disappointment. Imagine that! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of... they actually sided with the law!

The 1930's to 1970's has brought forth some of the best inventors, problem-solvers, and risk-takers ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had consequences, failure, freedom, responsibility, success, and we learned how to deal with it all! And, YOU are one of the survivors! Give yourself a hand clap!



You might want to share this with others who were lucky enough to grow up as kids before the lawmakers and the government regulated our lives for our own good. While you're at it, tell your children (and their children, if you're a grandparent) so they will know how brave you were back then. It kinda makes you wanna run through the house with scissors even now, don't it (smile)?