Retired: Do you think much about the good old days? (55, grandparents)

[Weekend Traveler]

When ever I am around the older people in my family, I always hear the term, the good old days. It is really brought up when they are looking at pictures. The photos sure bring back memories and they did sure seem to be good old days. What a time it was in America from 1945-1965. Those were the days many of my retired friends felt was the best time to be an American.

Now that you are retired, older and lived life and seen things from a mature perspective, give us an honest answer. Do you miss the good old days?

[Jammie]

That's an excellent question.

I'm not retired cause I'm only 53. BUT there are many things I miss about that era. The number one thing I miss are the people (parents, grandparents, etc.) I also liked the music starting from the early 60s through the 70s. AND the clothes and the hairstyles are still my faves. I also liked the tv shows back then, but watching reruns of them seems strange. They were so simple that they almost look stupid now. LOL

Things did seem so much simpler then, but I don't know if it's because I was so young and naive or if they really were. People seemed to be more trustworthy and honest back then, too. But again, maybe I was just too young to be skeptical and I didn't watch the news regularly.

Things that I don't miss are not having AC or a furnace or running water. I do miss farm life since that's where I grew up. BUT I don't miss all the hard work associated with it. We did things the old fashioned back-breaking way and I'm glad that part of my life is over.

So, it's a tossup. They really weren't the "good ole days" in all respects.

[Plain Jane 3953]

Yes, it is an excellent question.

I watched a program this week about the Motown singers touring the UK back in the 60s. I saw a very young Smokey Robinson, the Supremes, etc. It was amazing how romantic the lyrics were back then. Now they seem to sing about hate.

Yes, I miss the "good ole days".

[pekemom]

The funny thing is that "back then" they were still saying how much better the "good old days" were, prior to 1945-1965. I think every generation remembers the good times when they were kids/young people. I had the freedom to play outside without worrying about abduction, but my husband contracted polio just a year before we all got polio vaccines through the schools. To the youngsters growing up now these will be the "good old days".

[Curmudgeon]

I was born in 1946 and I certainly have nostalgia regarding the "good old days." I believe things WERE simpler -- so simple that as children we played outside without fear. Houses and cars were left unlocked. Neighbors knew neighbors. The young respected their elders, especially their parents and teachers. Every adult was your "parent" anbd expected you to behave. Schools taught the "Three Rs" and personal responsibility was the order of the day.

We were permitted to fall down, stub toes, get cuts and broken limbs without anyone looking for the nearest attorney. Doctors made house calls. You could run a tab at many stores and little boys could play "cowboys and indians" without being reprimanded or shamed for it, or shot by over-zealous police. In fact, you knew your neighborhood police, trusted and respected them too.

Television (all 3-5 channels), movies and magazines weren't filled with women in their underwear, or less, music was "moral" and people in polite society didn't discuss sex, finances or religion. Personal information was just that. There was respect for the government and people were actually ....shudder.... patriotic!

Was it a perfect time? No! There were social ills, racism and bias, but those still exist. However, it was simpler and a lot more civil than what passes for a society now.

As always, just one (old) man's opinion!

[texdav]

I sure wish I was twenty again but wouldn't give up the difference in society now to skip being twenty when I was.We had it harder but society was much better then compare to now .

[Tesaje]

Not being one to only remember the good parts and forget the bad, no, I don't look at them as the good old days. I'm hoping for the good days ahead. Every time has its good and bad. Yes, people were more circumspect and polite but there was also a lot of lies and backstabbing and corruption. I do think that the censorship for the media forced them to be more creative with innuendo. Shows from back then covered absolutely everything - they just didn't shove it into your face with graphic pictures. But then, I can not watch stuff now if it offends me - and I don't for a lot of it. There's a reason a R rating is the kiss of death for a movie.

Those years were especially good for white males - not so much for non-whites and women. There were huge societal changes during those years and some really horrible stuff going on like the McCarthy witch hunts and lynchings. A lot of our our pressures today are a result of the huge population increase fueled by our parents breeding like rabbits after WWII.

I was young (and not even in existence during part of that period) but I really would not want to have relearn all the hard lessons of life over again. Nope. I just want ot move forward. Lets work on fixing what isn't good and enjoy what is good in our present time and future. There never really was any gold in the old days.

[Newdaawn]

I suppose I will always remember those days in the 50s and early 60s fondly as that is when I was coming of age. I had a great High School experience and lots of great times with good friends. I don't know how good the days of the early 40s would have been with WW2 and all. I was a small child then and do remember my parents talking of the hardships they endured with rationing and all, and my many uncles that surved in Europe. I do remember hearing my grandmother talking of the days when 3 or her sons were missing in action at the same time. She must have been frantic, but thankfully all of them came home. To me - the best days are - RIGHT NOW - hey this is all we have.

[carmac]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I was born in 1946 and I certainly have nostalgia regarding the "good old days." I believe things WERE simpler -- so simple that as children we played outside without fear. Houses and cars were left unlocked. Neighbors knew neighbors. The young respected their elders, especially their parents and teachers. Every adult was your "parent" anbd expected you to behave. Schools taught the "Three Rs" and personal responsibility was the order of the day.

We were permitted to fall down, stub toes, get cuts and broken limbs without anyone looking for the nearest attorney. Doctors made house calls. You could run a tab at many stores and little boys could play "cowboys and indians" without being reprimanded or shamed for it, or shot by over-zealous police. In fact, you knew your neighborhood police, trusted and respected them too.

Television (all 3-5 channels), movies and magazines weren't filled with women in their underwear, or less, music was "moral" and people in polite society didn't discuss sex, finances or religion. Personal information was just that. There was respect for the government and people were actually ....shudder.... patriotic!

Was it a perfect time? No! There were social ills, racism and bias, but those still exist. However, it was simpler and a lot more civil than what passes for a society now.

As always, just one (old) man's opinion!

I absolutely agree with you on this post! Since we are the same age, I know we remember a lot of the same things. I know life wasn't perfect then, but still, I can't help but wish that my grandchildren could grow up in such an innocent time!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by carmac

I absolutely agree with you on this post! Since we are the same age, I know we remember a lot of the same things. I know life wasn't perfect then, but still, I can't help but wish that my grandchildren could grow up in such an innocent time!

That's the key -- not just our grandchildren, all nine of them, but even our children, all adults now, as well.

I think that in the end, we will have left them less well off, in terms of a civil society, than our parents did us.