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- 4 JUST FOR FUN: WE ARE SURVIVORS!! (for those born before 1940...) We were born before television, before penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, plastic, contact lenses, videos, Frisbees and the Pill. We were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ball point pens; before dishwashers, tumble dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes... and before man walked on the moon. We were married first then lived together (how quaint can you be?). We thought fast food was what we ate in Lent, a "Big Mac" was an over-sized raincoat and "crumpet" we had for tea. We existed before house husbands, computer dating, dual careers, and when "meaningful relationship" meant getting along with cousins, and "sheltered accommodation" was where you waited for a bus. We were before day care centres, group homes and disposable nappies. We had not heard of FM radio, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt and young men wearing earrings. For us "time sharing" meant togetherness, a "chip" was a piece of wood or fried potato, "hardware" meant nuts and bolts and software wasnt a word. Before 1940, "Made in Japan" meant junk, the term "making out" referred to how you did in your exams, "Stud" was something that fastened a collar to a shirt and "going all the way" meant staying on a doubledecker to the bus depot. Pizzas, McDonalds and instant coffee were unheard of. In our day, cigarette smoking was "fashionable," "grass" was mown, coke was kept in the coal house, a "joint" was a piece of meat that you had on Sunday and "pot" was something you cooked in. "Rock music" was a grandmother's lullaby, "Eldorado" was an ice cream, a "gay person" was the life and soul of the party and nothing more, while "aids" just meant beauty treatment or help for someone in trouble. We who were born before 1940 must be a hardy bunch when you think of the ways in which this world has changed and the adjustments we have had to make. No wonder we are so confused and that there is a generation gap today. BUT... By the Grace of Good ...we have survived!!! (St. Stephen's Parish News; Courtesy of Pat Power) FINAL WORDS There is no cure for birth or death save to enjoy the interval. (George Santayana) Enjoy yourself. These are the "good old days" you're going to miss in the years ahead. (Anon.) (Anon.) Enjoy today and don't waste it grieving over a bad yesterday - tomorrow may be even worse. Tony Scammell Editor