WHEN LIFE WAS SIMPLER …

I received an email the other day that read, “People Over 30 Should Be Dead.” No, it wasn’t for getting rid of us. It had to do with all the things those of us over 30 did or grew up with. They were saying that it is harmful or you shouldn’t do it.

For instance, we grew up with brightly colored lead based paint on our cribs, highchairs, and rocking chairs. We swam in unheated pools or worse yet, the river. We rode our bikes down hills and on the roads without helmets and lived to tell about it. We drank out of the garden hose and out of our friend’s pop bottles—-without getting sick! We climbed trees, roller-skated, jumped off walls and broke our arms and legs…no one started a lawsuit. There were accidents and it was our fault!

We got black and blue from playing and no one turned our parents in when they saw bruises. The boys had “fist fights” but made up in five minutes and were “buddies” for life. We got bit by dogs, stung by bees, cut our feet on glass and Dr. “Mom” was there with her alcohol and iodine for cuts or baking soda/water mix for stings. No rush to the ER for us!

We went outside to play early in the morning and didn’t return home except for dinner, when called or when it began to get dark. Our moms knew where we were and we knew how far we could go. We made new friends by going to parks or 4-H fairs. Our entire day was spent outside playing tag, baseball, climbing trees, bike riding…no Playstation or XBox. We didn’t gain weight. We ran it off playing outside!

Weekends and evenings were for “family get-togethers”. We visited other friends, neighbors, and relatives or our parents sat on the front porch and watched my brother and I as we rode our bikes or ponies up and back the gravel driveway, who knows how many times. Or at grandma’s for Sunday dinner and visiting. Our summer vacation would find us in central Wisconsin on a fishing trip in Chetak or Wild Rose with family friends.

Those of us 40, 50, or 60 sure had it good! It was a simpler time, a less expensive life style, a quieter time. I wish I could go back some days!