A friend of mine from Rushville sent me the following e-mail. I’ve fact checked it, and it seems to be on target. It asks the question; how old is the grandfather in the story. You’ll find out at the end. The answer might surprise you.

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, copying machines, contact lenses and the pill.

“There were no laser beams or ball-point pens being sold. Man had not invented credit cards, 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 than me, ‘sir.’ And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, ‘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.

“Fast food restaurants weren’t around. (We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent.) There was no instant coffee.

“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 considering suicide when 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.

“We had ‘Five and Dime’ stores where you could actually buy things for five and ten 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 one letter and two postcards.

“You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, but who could afford one? That’s too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.

“In my day grass was mowed, coke was a just a cold drink, pot was something your mother cooked in and rock music was your grandmother's lullaby. "Aids" (spelled with an e) were helpers in the principal's office.

“There were no computers, so 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.”

So just how old do you think this grandfather would be today? Some decrepit old guy with one foot in the grave, right? No, he’s not even eligible for Social Security yet. This grandfather would only be 59 years old.



Rick Dawson is a Rush County resident, a reporter for WISH-TV Channel 8 and a regular columnist for the Rushville Republican. You can reach him at rdawson@wishtv.com or rdawson@lightbound.com. Add a comment at www.rushvillerepublican.com.