How old is grampa? A riddle

Stay with this - the answer is at the end - it will blow you away.

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 granddad replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born, before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens.

Man had not invented 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 I, '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. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent.

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 blowing his brains out 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. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.

We had 5 & 10 cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 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 1 letter and 2 postcards .

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

In my day, 'grass' was mowed, 'coke' was a cold drink, 'pot' was something your mother cooked in, and 'rock music' was your grandmother's lullaby.

'Aids' were helpers in the Principal's office, '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. ...and how old do you think I am ???.

This man would be only 58 years old!

Why do we have to throw away the good with the bad? There are some wonderful new ideas and inventions, but what was wrong with what used to be called family values?

Heidi! That was really interesting!!! Thank you! It is amazing how much things have changed so fast!!!!

I was amazed when I saw the answer, but after thinking about it I realized that they were talking about my father's generation. He will be 60 this year. He and my mother raised me with the same values that they have, and for the most part I think I turned out pretty good.

It is pretty amazing to see everything that has changed in such a short time.

I guessed close to the right age...I thought the person had to be in their mid to late 50's. Things sure were ALOT different back then.

Hmmmm very interesting, though I also think, alot of things back then were better than now..... but it works both ways. Maybe Im old fashioned, but I liked the values etc back then.... (obviously apart from the stuff about "chips" :LOL: )

Hey, Rhea, computer chip, not potato chips! You can breathe more easily now.
Heidi, you seem to be a lovely young lady. However, divorce, abortions, adultery, and living together without marriage were things to be whispered about. Since I believe the Bible, I still disapprove of these things. Divorce is justified at times, even in the Bible-for adultery, at least. (In my opinion there are other valid reasons.) And who would have thought that SOME people would use abortion as a form of birth control once it became legalized?

I'm sure I am considered to be old-fashioned. I am part of your dad's generation, and my children also grew up with good values, but few people think anything about young people "trying each other out" before marriage. Even the pastors hesitate to call it sin from the pulpit, because the young people in the church would consider him judgmental, and probably not come back. Often the young people get together because the guy gets sex, a clean house, and home cooked meals, but the woman herself is expendable. Women take relationships more seriously, and often end up alone and with children. It's sad, but true. I believe that love results in a lifetime commitment. At no time did EVERYONE live up to these moral standards, but they WERE the standards. This is not an attack on young people; it's history.

I belong to that generation too and tried to bring my children up with the same ideas. With my daughter, things are more modern but she is married and her two children are very well brought up.
On the other hand, my elder son is not married, has three children (with the same woman) and those kids are impossible. No way to eat out with them, misbehaving all the time, forever getting their faces slapped and being screamed at. I don't put all the blame on my daughter-in-law as I notice that my son has a way of getting away each time there is a problem and leaves the mother to get on with it.My other son tells me not to say anything to Richard, but when they come to my house I'm afraid I sometimes comment on the face slapping, especially when my 20 month-old grandson is concerned.

There's still hope, I think. My parents were raised in the generation your're talking about and raised my brother and I with these same values. In turn, my husband and I are raising our children the same way. It is a lot harder however since the prevelance of drugs and violence is so strong. But as long as families are striving for this way of life, there's hope.

Mary, There were disobedient kids and bad parents when we were growing up, and the best parents can't always overcome genetics and the rest of the environment. You know I think a smack of the bottom is ok, but your son and his wife could have their children taken away for abusing the baby.

Dawn, I know you were raised in a Christian home. Most people, when I was little, took their children to church, Sunday School, synagogue or mosque. It was hard to find a seat in church on Sunday morning and on Christmas Eve, people stood out in the alcove and church basement and listened to the service on the loudspeaker. There will always be church- (etc.)=goers, but the numbers have diminished incredibly.