How old is grandpa?

United States
June 4, 2007 11:30pm CST
One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The Grandfather replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before: ' television ' penicillin ' polio shots ' frozen foods ' Xerox ' contact lenses ' Frisbees and ' the pill There were no: credit cards laser beams or ball-point pens Man had not invented: ' pantyhose ' air conditioners ' dishwashers ' clothes dryers ' and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and ' man hadn't yet walked on the moon Your Grandmother and I got married first, . . and then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older t han me, "Sir". And after I turned 25, I still called every man older than me, "Sir" We were before gay-rights, computer- dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey. If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5&10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, . . . but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon. In my day: "grass" was mowed, "coke" was a cold drink, "pot" was something your mother cooked in and "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby. "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office, "chip" meant a piece of wood, "hardware" was found in a hardware store and "software" wasn't even a word. And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap... and how old do you think I am?
2 people like this
10 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
5 Jun 07
87 urban
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
5 Jun 07
Why, and I was nearest, where is my prize? all the best urban
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
No...
• United States
5 Jun 07
Alright...you all have suffered enough in your curiosity. Grandpa is onlyyyyyyy 59 years old!!!!!
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
5 Jun 07
At least 80 for their to be no television or Penicillin all the best urban
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
No
@urbandekay (18278)
5 Jun 07
He's younger but a liar, Penicillin and Television where invented in 1927 all the best urban
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
No, and when I get a total of 10 responses, I will tell.
@urbandekay (18278)
5 Jun 07
90 urban
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
No, 3 more responses and I let the cat out of the bag.
• United States
5 Jun 07
No...
@urbandekay (18278)
5 Jun 07
95 urban
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
No...
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
5 Jun 07
Oh my God this is absolutely BRILLIANT! I'm printing it and putting it up in my office. Thanks girl it brings back some memories of days gone by when I grew up, and with almost the same values. I guess he is 80 years old.
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
6 Jun 07
Somehow I knew there was more to this, knowing you! Now I'm so curious I want to chew my knuckles lol!!!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
Noooooooooooo....wait until you find out!!!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
Excellent! It couldn't have been said any better than that!
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
But you did not guess how old he is....
• United States
6 Jun 07
I'm going to guess he's about 75-80?
1 person likes this
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
5 Jun 07
I do not have any grandparents. My son has a grandpa and he is 90 and going strong.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
How old is the grandpa in this story?
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
5 Jun 07
ok he's 61 but has a bad memory all the best urban
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
lollllllllllll
@urbandekay (18278)
5 Jun 07
85 urban
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jun 07
No...
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
5 Jun 07
Grandpa would have to be at least 80, but could well be over 100 years old, because that's how long ball point pens have been around, though they were not mass produced until the mid forties. I miss a lot of the fun things that used to be around in the old days, like families dining together most nights on homecooked meals, cheap gas, clothes drying on the line,Walgreen's lunch counter, and values like responsibility (for on's own actions) and respect which seem to be scarce these days. Today, I don't know how I'd get by without my computer, cell phone, or microwave. I could do without the fast food places.
• United States
5 Jun 07
I miss the old days, too. I think there was more respect for others, too. No, he is not 80.