Santa not only came down the chimney. He smoked like a chimney, too, and considered cigarettes as “gifts of pleasure.”
Babies who used to drink cola during “their early formative years” had “much higher chances of gaining acceptance and ‘fitting in’ during their awkward pre-teen and teen years”
Women who received Hoover vacuums as gifts “were happier on Christmas morning.”
Taking Midol would ensure that you became “the you he likes.”
Men who showed their wives “it’s a man’s world” would be served breakfast in bed. Wearing a shirt and tie in bed was a surefire way to demonstrate one’s manliness.
Looking back at newspaper and magazine ads from the 40s and 50s, the “good ole days” don’t seem like they were quite so good. Thank goodness most of us survived, even thrived. Back in the day, my mother put out at least three oversized bottles of soda at Sunday lunch and we all guzzled away. When I began smoking, at 17 years old, I thought I was a pretty cool gal. I haven’t had a sip of any carbonated beverage in over five years or put a cigarette to my lips in over 25. And if I’m in a rotten mood now, I don’t care whether my partner likes me or not.
I wonder what society will discover decades from now about the “cool” things we’re doing today and what impact they’ll make on the lives of our children and grandchildren. Will we learn that the Internet actually makes us dumber because it’s filled with a world of inaccurate information? Will emailing and texting render us completely unable to spell or use writing implements? Will gluten be the cure to cancer? And will anyone who watched more than 10,000 hours of the Kardashian and Housewife shows combined actually be able to communicate in complete sentences?
Time marches on. Where we’re marching is another story.
0 Responses to “Bet you didn’t know what went on in the “good ole days”…”
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Kate Line Snider says:
Women were not odd. Brainwashed.
My grandmothers were not that far from the generation where women had no rights at all, and were considered the property of men. Both were in their twenties before the government allowed them to vote.
Funny, I was reflecting about that recently. A great-aunt of mine died at age 100 in 2003. I was in my fifties when she died. It was amazing to think of the changes that took place in women’s status during her long lifetime. I doubt that she ever thought about it!
Kate Line Snider says:
I remember ads like this. Have you seen the one where the husband is spanking his wife? (And it’s not a sex ad.) I forget what’s being advertised.
I haven’t smoked for 26 years and avoid carbonated drinks (mainly because I don’t like them!) I do believe, however, that Midol probably kept me from killing my ex-husband, so I’ll give that ad some credit.
I notice you left alcohol out of your abstinence list. That’s not good for you either, but everybody drinks it except me.
Geri says:
Hi Kate,
Funny line about Midol! I haven’t had a drop of alcohol or wine for over five years, so I can join you. I used to drink vodka like a Russian in winter, but I stopped cold one day and actually lost my taste for the stuff.
Will absolutely start drinking again when I hit 90, if I live that long. At that point, it won’t matter.
Did see the ad where the husband is spanking his wife. Women were certainly odd back then.
G
Bettie says:
This cannot be real. I know it is, but THIS CANNOT BE REAL!
Geri Brin says:
I didn’t think it was real either, Bettie, but I was reassured it is.
Geri