How old is grandpa? Sure makes you Stop & Think

@BELMCstar (1341)
Australia
April 24, 2007 12:34am CST
I will put the answer in to this in 2 weeks time. I think people will be surprised with the answer. 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 for a minute. I was born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There were no credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Mad had not invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air. 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 centres, and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgement, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right & 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, CD's electric typewriters, youhurt or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny and the President's speeches on the radio. And I dont' remember a kid ever 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. 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?"
1 person likes this
4 responses
@14missy (3183)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
I think that because I remember a lot of these things being invented or happening, Grandpa was probably born in the fities or sixties, which makes him in his forties or fifties. Let's see how close I get...
1 person likes this
@BELMCstar (1341)
• Australia
7 Jun 07
Grandpa is 55. Well done. You are the closest, and thefore got best response.
@BELMCstar (1341)
• Australia
7 Jun 07
Grandpa is 55. Well done. You are the closest, and thefore got best response.
@shaz6611 (951)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
tv was around much earlier than that....I think you might be a fair way out.
1 person likes this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
I think the keyword here is penicillin. I would say that's make him about 70. My parents are 79 And if my grand-parents were still alive... they would be 110... Ever wonder how they did survive? But they did... until 1980.
@BELMCstar (1341)
• Australia
7 Jun 07
You are incorrect. Have another guess.
• Australia
7 Jun 07
Well... your question is incorrect because penicillin was invented in the 1930's I believe.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
Hi, yes well I am trying to think of the answer here now you I am trying very carefully what could be the answer here so I do think that grandpa must of been born around the 1920's so grandpa must be in his eighties. After reading all this information as some of this I had in my time as well so grandpa could not be that much more older I think maybe 30-40 years older.
1 person likes this
@BELMCstar (1341)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
So, how old do you think grandpa is then?
@shaz6611 (951)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
How the times have changed! I think perhaps he was born in the mid 20's that would make him about 82 now.
1 person likes this