In my day, kids were told to go out and play, and we went. Usually empty-handed or maybe with a ball, hoping some other kid would bring a bat and when the other kids showed up, we’d play ball. There were no overweight kids in the neighborhood because we were running all the time, playing catch or hide and seek or climbing trees. When we were called home for supper, we dare not say “I don’t like this,” or you’d go to bed without supper. Our parents were pretty strict, but we loved them and knew they loved us.

When I grew up, I realized that folks in my neighborhood were, by today’s standards, pretty poor. But we never felt poor, and now that I’ve grown old, I realize that we weren’t poor at all.

We had loving parents who took that job seriously and worked at it. They taught us to appreciate what we had and to work for what we wanted. They taught us to respect authority, get good grades in school, be responsible and take credit or blame for what we did. It was hard work being a parent when you couldn’t bribe your kids with fancy games, toys and such to be good. They also taught us that if you can’t say something good about someone, say nothing at all. Oh, for the good old days. I wonder if the todays will ever be thought of that way?

I have a hard time with today’s standards where everyone tries to blame, hide and deny their misdeeds. You can no longer believe what you read, see or hear. All the finger pointing and smear campaigns. Oh for those good old days!

Eileen Condie

Hempfield

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