New Seniors

While peashooters, sling shots and cap guns have had their day; yet the yo-yo, slinky and water guns are still enjoyed every day by kids of all ages. Many of the toys and games developed after our childhood evolved from the more primitive ones of our time. Even electronic and computer games have the roots in the toys of the not-so-distant past.

The car and truck line that dominated the US marketplace for over 50 years following WWII is Chevrolet. Americans affectionately refer to this brand by its long-established nickname, “Chevy.” In an effort to try to recapture its once proud leadership position, GM has decided that from now on the brand will be known only as “Chevrolet.”

I recently took time from my busy day-to-day schedule and to be quiet and think about how blessed I have been over the nearly 74 years of my existence. No, it was not all sweetness and light. Nonetheless, I can’t deny my life has been filled with rich and meaningful experiences that exceeded my wildest dreams. For this I am truly grateful.

There was a time, not so long ago, when a handwritten letter from a loved one, friend or associate allowed the person who penned it to be close to the reader, whether across town or across the country. People took time to think about what they were going to say before they wrote it.

When New Seniors were growing up, a secretary was considered a good job. Back then, women held this position and often stopped working after they were married and started to raise a family. Employers were not happy losing someone they trained to become homemakers after a few years on the job. So they looked for ways to entice better qualified people as well as reduce turnover.

As a kid, I couldn’t wait to get a few pennies together to spend at the corner candy store across from my elementary school. I suspect most of us born between 1930 and 1945 have fond memories of moments like this. Let’s wander back to those innocent times and see if you can remember any of these candies.

I remember my great love affair with cars when I was growing up. The family car was a 1941 Ford. It was not driven very often during the war and looked new when it was traded in for a Plymouth ten years later. My father’s vehicles didn’t interest me much.

There were several neighbor stores with in a block or so of my house in the northeast section of Philadelphia.  A mom and pop grocer was located on nearly every corner.  There was also a drug store, which was more for sundries, magazines, OTC medicines, penny candy, and ice cream plus a soda fountain with stools in front of the granite counter.  Around the corner was a butcher shop and across the street was a real pharmacy.  So no one had to travel far to buy the necessities of life.

Back in the days when we pre-boomers were in school, many of us were delighted when given an assignment that required research.  Even if we had the latest edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica at home, which cost our parents a pretty penny, a serious paper called for a trip to the library.

When I was a kid, there was always something going on in my neighborhood.  I remember the daily routine of the milk man and bakery guy showing up each morning, first with horse drawn wagons and later in little trucks.  The mail was delivered twice a day and the trash as well as garbage wagons picked up twice a week.  And it seemed that there was a coal delivery for someone every week.  And this was just the beginning.