We Didn't Have the "Green Thing" Back In My Day

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Written by David Lee Whitehead David Lee Whitehead

We Didn't Have the "Green Thing" Back In My Day

 

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to her and explained, we didn't have the "green thing" back in my day.

That's right, they didn't have the "green thing" in her day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, Coke bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But they didn't have the "green thing" back in her day.

In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300- horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks. But she's right. They didn't have the "green thing" in her day.

Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the throw-away kind? They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.? But that old lady is right, they didn't have the "green thing" back in her day.

Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a pizza dish, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right, they didn't have the "green thing" back then.

They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But they didn't have the "green thing" back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But that old lady is right. They didn't have the "green thing" back in her day. Gee!!! That was MY day too!

Anonymous

09-19-2020 Treated myself this year.

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Written by David David

By the time I hit 16 years of age I had already been through 5 cars, 2 motorcycles and one tractor that had been modified with a Ford V-8 Flathead engine. Scroll forward to (MANY years) to January of 2005 when I was finally able to afford my very first brand new car, a Hyndai Accent. At the time all I wanted (and this is exaclty what I told the salesman) was a couple of doors, some glass and an engine and I'd be good to go. And that was exactly what I ended up with. It was all I needed at the time as I just didn't want to have to ride a motorcycle to and from work every day.

Now scroll ahead to September of 2020. The poor Accent was starting fall appart at the seams and just wasn't worth the amount of money it was going to cost for the repaires it was in need of. Our close friend "Nurse Mike" had been a fan of Kia for quite a long time and had been through a couple Sportage models as well as a few Soul's when they first came out and has kept up on them ever since. He also knew the dealership quite well and had actually participated in some "think tank" for the Soul. So I asked him if he'd come along with us to look at what they had in stock for the Rio which I really liked. After much discussion, poking and prodding at it, I ended up with a "does ALL this STUFF!" 2020 Kia Rio S Hatchback. I decided that due to my age, I may as well be comfortable and after having driven it for the past month I'm now totally spoiled rotten!!

 

Shall we Balkanize America?

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Written by Michael Whitehead Michael Whitehead

Shall We Balkanize America, or Unify Her?

 

Dear readers. Allow me to recount two seemingly-unrelated experiences that clearly reflect two antithetical attitudes towards America’s linguistic unity as demonstrated by two residents of my home town, Irving, TX.

Let’s start with the attitude of a Mexican national who resides in Irving.

At Home Depot one evening, a man approached me and asked for advice on which brand of caulk to buy. I told him that I was not a store employee but that I could give him my own personal advice, if he was interested. Yes, he was interested.

I immediately noticed his heavy Spanish accent. He was struggling to speak to me in English and was having great difficulty understanding my responses. Being a fluent Spanish speaker, I continued discussing the merits of certain brands of caulk over others, in Spanish. He immediately warmed up to me when he saw that the language hurdle had suddenly and unexpectedly been removed. We continued conversing pleasantly in Spanish for several minutes. His wife joined the conversation, too.

He complimented my Spanish repeatedly and effusively. My response, translated into English: “And you, my friend? How about your English?”

He smiled and made the typical excuse that he can’t afford to take English classes and doesn’t have time. I told

him, “You are surrounded with English; there is no excuse. You owe it to America to learn it. This is a matter of respect for the country that is offering you a chance at a better life than you have found in your home land.”

He smiled, again, and heartily agreed, as did his wife.

As we parted ways, I said, with a smile, “¡Unase con América!” which means, “Join America.” His response: “Yes! That’s a great idea!” understanding that I was speaking linguistically, not politically. He even reached out and took hold of my elbow, smiled enormously, nodded his head vigorously, and repeated, “Yes! That’s a great idea!” (in Spanish, of course.)

He gets it!

Now, let’s take a look at a very different attitude.

Here in Irving, TX, a lovable, grandmotherly lady is running to replace our current mayor Rick Stopfer. Her name is Olivia Abreu. In response to my questions to her about why we should vote for her, how her values differ from Mayor Stopfer’s, and how she is more qualified to be mayor than he, this is the most salient qualification she proffered.

Good morning…

Mr. Stopfer has no background, to my knowledge, of having lived extensively in another country, trying to fit in a different society and a foreign language. As Irving is growing more diverse, I can better serve the city by being multilingual and knowledgeable about world cultures.

My oh my! Doesn’t that sound pretty! I grant it does, but only cosmetically, only superficially.

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Joe GED's Ides of March

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Written by Joe GED Joe GED

Presidential Elections:

In 2016 the Democrats were crying out, “How could this have happened?” for the next four years. Impeachment (with a sidebar of election fraud) was called for shortly after the 20th of January 2017 (exchange of power) by Nancy Pelosi, and was successfully completed (twice) during that four year term.

In 2020 the Republicans were crying out, “Election Fraud – the results are rigged” up to – and beyond the 20th of January 2021 (exchange of power).  This included an insurrectionist riot at the Capitol Complex, with nary a word from Ms. Pelosi. 

Neither party gives a FIG about our Constitutional Rights.  They’re only concerned with maintaining their power hold over the masses.  Unfortunately, we empower them.  Benjamin Franklin was right, “A republic Mam, if you can keep it.”

 

Patriotic Groups:

They’ve always been around but now some of them seem to be using a playbook from the 1930’s.  Back then, an all-male patriotic group called the Brown Shirts wreaked havoc until they got their way.  Unfortunately for them, their leader did away with them during the Night of the Long Knives.  Perhaps today’s all-male group should remember history or they’ll repeat it.

 

CoVid Vaccinations:

National vaccination is a great idea.  It worked for small pox, polio and other previously fatal diseases.  However, I want to observe those vaccinated for side effects before I get mine.  It seems the vaccines were rushed and I don’t want to be Wil Smith in I Am Legend.

 

Shelter-In-Place:

It worked the first time (for 90 days), but people Woke Up and politicians relented.  The backlash is now starting with Recall Movements underway throughout the country.  The idea seemed sound, but we failed to think it through, and are now paying the price with failed businesses, destitute people, damaged infrastructure and struggling economy, and a new societal phobia concerning contact with others.  To survive in this new world, I recommend reading Ken Follett’s Kingsbridge Series.  It will teach you how to be either an Aristocrat or a Peasant in this new society.  Unfortunately, as only 1% have the money (aristocrat) the majority of us need to learn our place (peasant).