Friday, December 9, 2011

Not so long ago

I was thinking about things that almost every household would have had not so many years ago, that they may not have today. How about a waffle iron ? Do you have one of those ? Some younger people, I'm thinking, have never seen one. Frozen waffles took their place. You can buy frozen pancakes but I'm thinking they are not as popular. A can and bottle opener ? You know, what we used to call a church key. A regular mop and bucket. I'm talking about a rag mop. A wash board. I have one, but it is for decoration. How about an iron and ironing board ? I'm thinking homes may still have those items but they get used rarely.
Got a hurricane lamp ? Got any lamps that use oil for fuel ? How about candles ? Not scented or decorative candles. Not birthday candles, candles for lighting. Matches ? Wooden matches or book matches ? A manual can opener. A wind up clock. Do you have a clothesline in the yard ? What about a charcoal grill ? Not a gas grill ! The round grill with three legs,that's what I'm talking about. An ax or a hatchet. A bow saw.
Got any rags ? Not clothes waiting to go to the salvation army or waiting for disposal.Rags that you would use for cleaning,painting or maybe even sewing up a patch work quilt. No fair buying the material for that purpose. Do you have a rag bin ? What about a needle and thread. Can you readily put your hands on those items ? Does it contain a darning needle ?
Friction tape. Turpentine. Kerosene. Rubber cement. Tire patches. (more correctly inner tube patches) A meat grinder. A dutch oven. Black and White pictures hanging on the walls or sitting on a shelf. Don't count those in albums or ones over thirty years old. Paraffin wax. Paste type furniture wax or floor wax. A peculator coffee pot. A telephone hanging on the kitchen wall. A princess phone in your bedroom.
These are a few of the things that come to mind. I'm sure you can add to it easily enough. Isn't it amazing how quickly we adjust and become used to new technology. Doesn't take us long to accept them and throw out the old stuff. What did we do before the microwave oven ? A cup of hot cocoa was a lot more work,that much is sure. And OMG how did I ever get by without having a telephone in my pocket ? Remember looking for a phone booth ? Remember when they were actual booths ? Cost a dime for a local call. You could call collect, but then you had to hope the other person would accept the charges. Ever had anyone say, No ? Now I'm wandering off the subject at hand. I have a tendency to do that.
What things did you have ten years ago that you wouldn't have today ? It is fun to think about. Especially fun if you think about what clothes or hairstyle you might have been wearing. All I can say about that is, Rock On !

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