SURVIVORS

Survivors

It is said there are three stages of man; Youth, Middle and "You haven't changed a bit." Change is the name of the game. Consider:

We were before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, frisbees and the Pill. We were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens, pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets and automatic shifts.

We walked on sidewalks, not the moon. We got married first and then lived together. In our time, closets were for clothers, not for "coming out of." Bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagons.

We thought deep cleavage was something a butcher did. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousin. Fast food was what you ate during Lent. Outer space was the balcony of the local theater. We were before house husbands, gay rights, computer dating, dual careers and commuter marriages.

We were before daycare centers, groups therapy. We never heard of FM radio, computer chips, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, Muzak, yogurt, and guys wearing earrings.

We would have thought that ERA, JFK, DDT, ESP and IUD were lovers' initials carved on a tree. We hit the scene when 5 and 10 stores were where you bought stuff for five and ten cents. For one nickel you could mail a letter, buy two postcards and mail was delivered twice a day. You could buy a new Chevy for $590.00 but who could afford one. A pity too, because gas was 10 cents a gallon.

In our day Grass was mowed. Coke was a cold drink and Pot was something you cooked in. Rock music was a grandma's lullaby, and AIDS were helpers in the school cafeteria.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," wrote Charles Dickens. We agree. We made do with what we had and we "SURVIVED".

-- Mervin D. Borthick