I think technology is not always what it is cracked up to be. My mom had the same appliances for my entire childhood. They were indestructible, like Superman, and if something did need fixing, a nice repairman came the same day and had the part to fix it right in his truck.
I think the world needs a daily dose of SSR. Remember that? After recess, we had sustained silent reading. For about fifteen minutes each day, everyone sat quietly and read a book. Even the teachers. Imagine if we could do that today.
I think these two delicious things together were the epitome of '80s coolness. We thought we were all that riding around with that seltzer water! And I can still hear the sound the cheez balls made when you shook that can!
I think we need to slow down with all the apps and phone stuff. Pencils and paper have served us very well thus far. Writing things down creates something tangible and aids us intellectually in ways I can't explain. Walking through the store with a piece of paper really isn't all that bad, right?
I think whoever wrote this is very perceptive. Midlife has its share of challenges, but it also has plenty of benefits. Among them? Midlife gives us the knowledge, power, and confidence to let go of the need to please, and the chance to realize we can be who we are. We can say no. We can choose the people we surround ourselves with and let go of the relationships we thought we had to keep, just because.
I think these are two of the best episodes of one of my favorite shows. I also think television programs today, for the most part, are filled with extra garbage meant to please a small percentage of people, and that shows from the past are much better. Oh, if you aren't sure, these are two episodes of The Twilight Zone!
Well, I guess that is enough for today, my friends. That's all I have! Have a wonderful Wednesday. Thanks for visiting!
Billie Jo
Pinterest for the images.
I do miss the old appliances! My parents always had the same ones throughout my childhood. I have gone through many over the years. I always hand-write grocery lists. I wouldn't even know how to put one in a phone!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your middle age because when I was 58, I thought I was so old and had to take it easy. Now that I am 69, I wish I would've appreciated being only 58!! Yes, old shows...thank goodness we can watch reruns. We watch the Dick Van Dyke show from the 1960's. Those old shows were so moral. And they were refreshing to watch. andrea
ReplyDeleteWe're in the middle of season one of Perry Mason...I think it was probably supposed to be a little edgy at the time, but boy, is it tame these days! It was one of my Mom's favorite shows, and it always reminds me of her.
ReplyDeleteI use a paper grocery list! Jen
Oh Billie Jo, I could relate to this post in so many ways! I remember the silent reading. It was a good idea back then. I actually shared on a post "it's chaos out there," but with a different picture. I like the pic you shared better, and will pass it on to the girls. Those cheese balls - I still like cheese puffs and buy them occasionally. ; ) And the Charlie Brown grocery list made me smile, as I still make hand written grocery lists sometimes. I hear ya on the appliances - way more efficient back in our mom's time. Thank you for this delightful post. It made my day! Have a blessed Wednesday, my friend.
ReplyDeleteLots of wisdom here today! Yes on the appliances, yes to saying no sometimes, yes to the paper list - I used one just yesterday. :)
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love your blog header. I totally enjoyed this post, Billie Jo. It brought back so many good memories. The seltzer water and cheese balls were very tasty. Appliances were built to last and then some. I still use a paper calendar and a paper list (I am a list maker at heart with pen/pencil and paper). I do remember SSR. When I was teaching, they were still doing this. But since the majority of my students were nonreaders (and most had never been read to at home), I would read aloud to them for those 15-20 minutes. Best time of the day in my book! We love the old shows; they don't make them like that any longer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Things are not made as well as they used to be. We have been in our house for 20 years and we still have the same appliances. We have been blessed. I still write out my grocery list.
ReplyDeleteYes, to all of these. I always write lists on paper, and I'll always use a paper planner also.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED the Twilight Zone!!! And do you remember The Outer Limits? I still write my grocery lists by hand, and also all kinds of other lists. I actually find it kind of soothing. And it also helps with your memory, as you can remember things better when you write them down. Appliances today are not made like when we were younger. They are made to be replaced, not repaired. I've been meaning to tell you I like your American header!
ReplyDeleteThe writing one for sure!!! There's a Neuroscience study that handwriting is so much more beneficial for brains than typing. And yes... dumb appliances are so much better!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember silent reading (which is probably a plus for me as I am not much of a reader) but I do remember, after recess, the teacher would read a chapter book aloud...while the students put their heads on the desks. Not one student complained. It was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Billie Jo! The graphic about smart appliances is sooo true! My brand-new house built in 2019 had a "smart" kitchen cooktop that would turn itself on all by itself in the middle of the night. I would come in to make breakfast the next morning to see at least one of the burners glowing with heat! Thankfully our builder took it out and gave us a full refund. But that experience alone made me even more distrustful of all of this "smart home" stuff.
ReplyDeleteYES to all of the above! :)
ReplyDelete...and I would like to admit that I food shop with a handwritten list 🙋🏻♀️
DeleteI sure do agree about the old appliances!!! We still do go shopping with a hand written list. :)
ReplyDeleteI hate relying on my phone so much. So, yes, I keep a paper calendar/planner and I take a grocery list on paper to the store. This morning I overheard a man complaining that he couldn't remember what all he needed to buy. A very helpful woman told him "that's why I bring a list!". She reminded me so much of my mom - smart AND blunt!
ReplyDeleteOh the smart appliances! If you lean on the refrigerator, you may press the wrong button on the door and accidentally turn it off. If you put a load of laundry in, then the prompt comes up to clean your washer with AFRESH!, you have to unplug it and plug it back in or it won't wash your clothes. I like writing lists in my little notebook! Packing lists, to-do lists, recipes that I see...store lists, but shh, I take a pic of my list and look at my phone in the store, ha.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, Billie Jo! An appliance repair person told me to never buy an appliance made by a company that makes computers! Stick to GE or Fridgedair. Bring back Kenmore!! They lasted forever! Thanks for the walk down memory lane!! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a great, great post Billie Jo. I agree wholeheartedly about the appliances. I have a friend in Spokane who is still using the refrigerator that was in the house when they bought it 61 years ago! And it works great! Meanwhile, my two year old refrigerator died a few years back. I decided I was never going to spend that much on one again and just buy the cheapest one I can find when it breaks.
ReplyDeleteLoved the Twilight Zone and the reading bike meme and story. We love books around here. When we moved to Spokane and our kids were still home, we moved 136 boxes of books. The movers couldn't believe we owned that many books. I'm happy to say that they all still love reading and would rather do that than watch TV any day.
Have a wonderful Thursday my friend.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
I still handwrite my to do list, my shopping list, my brilliant ideas, etc.
ReplyDeleteI want a washing machine that has nothing but manual controls. I don't need computerized settings
Oh, to have a can of those cheeseballs!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree one hundred percent about the techno appliance world today. SIGH!!!
I loved this post!!! Love you and hugs!
Love the Twilight Zone! Also, the minute I see a cheese puff...I can instantly taste it and I still love them to this day. But I would eat way too many :) Also, we do start waking up in our middle ages and one of the greatest aspects of this age is that we start to not care as much. If someone doesn't want to be our friend, bye bye. Someone is hateful...bye bye. I just don't have time for that kind of thing anymore. Oh! And...we are still using a dryer that is over 40 years old! We inherited it from David's grandmother in 1989 and she had it several years before that. And we've had many washing machines and that very same dryer all of this time. They don't make them like that anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have a printed spreadsheet that we use to do groceries.. the things we buy on nearly a weekly basis are already written and I just check the box if we need it and then I have spots for people to write in/add in things we only buy occasional or want to try for the first time. That way ANYONE can add to list at any time and they don't need to come to mom. Also when I shop and they then don't have what they want I remind them that they should have added it to the list!
ReplyDeleteHi Billi Jo, Great post and I agree with everything you said. Our world today is so crazy . . . even the fact that we moved more in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's . we got up to turn the channels on the TV, we washed our own dishes, we hung clothes on the line, we mowed the lawn by pushing the mower and vacuumed by pushing that heavy thing around the house . . . now we push buttons and join a gym. I have a refrigerator in my garage that is from 1950 and it is still running perfectly. I bought a new one and in 15 years had to replace it.
ReplyDeleteOh yes Billie Jo....those hand written grocery list are so important...They keep me from getting in trouble... I try to stick to the list and not buy items that end up being wasted. I have a double oven and goodness...I can practically run the kitchen sick with all the buttons that are on it. I miss my old oven... Wishing you a happy Memorial Day weekend...Can't wait to see all of your food selections and desserts..
ReplyDeleteSo true about excessive tech, it's a double edge sword. Fun fact, cars made prior to 1985 will be the only ones running in the event of an EMP (Hugh altitude nuclear detonation) attack or Carrington Event level solar flair. Cars now have so much electronics and AI, they'd be instantly fried.
ReplyDeleteYes to all of this! Especially the handwritten grocery list. I can never manage to hold my phone as well as the scanner, AND push the trolley when I'm doing my shopping. And what is it with appliances - why do they never last these days?
ReplyDeleteI would much prefer life to be simpler. Fewer Apps would be a start. X