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Remembering the good old days

By Gary Shaporka 5 min read

Today, life is a discredit compared to the days of yesteryear. Sixty years ago, life was plain, simple and relaxed. There were problems, but we lived sensibly and moderately. We were at ease and anxiety was unlikely and rare. Presently, we consume medication just to get up and going and face the day. The House of God “was” abundant with worshippers. Today, insufficiency is dominant. Importantly to deal with today’s frustration, keep yourself spiritually strong. Quote Albert Camus; twentieth century writer, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”

Yesteryear, everything was like a gentle stream of water flowing through the forest of calm. Today, is like a flooding surge of water raging through an environment causing death and destruction. Is this progression of civilization? (Get out of my way, it’s me before you). Progression can be harmful, i.e., computer hacking crime, Facebook/Twitter ignorance, and the cost of living. Nicer conveniences embellish, but worsening circumstances of greed and selfishness prevail. People wanting more than necessary to live comfortably. You just never have enough! We want to have the best of everything. That’s understandable. That wasn’t there when I was a kid. I suppose some “numbskull” will say “times change, get with it.” (Those dazed comments are like a fly in your soup).

The economy and politics of today are the felons of rupture. It began in the 1960’s and has gotten to the point of absurdity. Excessive financial means created by “I want this, I want that” (spoiled brats epidemic). The good ‘ol days were a simple meat, potato and vegetable for supper; a basic two-tone four-door sedan in the garage; a get-away fun trip to an amusement park; a basketball, bicycle or inexpensive portable record player for Christmas and birthday was a special gift. A pretty blouse for mom and handsome shirt for dad was typical. Now, its costly gourmet dinners, two SUV luxurious automobiles, vacations to the Caribbean islands, costly high-tech electronics and expensive fashionable outfits “just” for birthdays. Christmas is extravagantly out of control!

Yesteryear was cash purchases. Now, its credit card and severe debt accompanied with bankruptcy at times. There are unfortunate families having but two pennies to rub together struggling to live comfortably. The value of a dollar was significantly reasonable in the past. Today, you pay a dollar for a glass of water. Some people today have the look of despicable Amazon jungle savages compared to the neatly groomed individual of past.

Competition is a serious thing with today’s exploding society compared to bygone days. Someone fortunate to get a terrific job and an acquaintance is envious and grudgingly think of them as a “luck shmuck.” At one time, with good-fellowships, hands were connected for congratulations.

We entertain ourselves on the fast lane of enjoyment of all sorts. The 1960’s we amused ourselves with three channels of TV and a game of monopoly. TV selection was minimal, but appropriately respectful and “cost free.” Comedy shows were reverently wholesome of family values. Today are too liberally bias of political views and desecrating abhorrence with 200 selections of repetitive programming for your “money.” News at most was comfortable back then, now, consistently depressing and deplorable. Some movies were violent, today most are insanely vicious and filth. An occasional weekend of music and dancing for mom and dad with a few drinks was respectfully rewarding. Today, it’s nightly and overwhelmingly repulsive with mom, dad, and “teenagers” in the mix. Life may be much better and exciting compared to days of old, but dangerously out of control. We do have families under control with speeds of go and stop (well-behaved). Thank God and Christianity. Most are creating the fast life with brain speeds of fast, faster, and fastest. No stop. As a kid, I remember family and friends always finding time to visit your home to socialize. These days they always find reason to avoid.

Years ago, dad selling insurance or a check-out clerk was acceptable. A reasonable living and put food on the table. Today, one needs to own the insurance company or grocery store. Automobile traffic was a pleasure getting from one place to another; cars far apart and few seen. Now cars are every which way and riding up your back speeding and congested like the Daytona 500 raceway. Long ago, a toot of the car horn was a gesture of hello. Today, a foul hand gesture is prominent. If a kid gets a fifty dollar bicycle fifty years ago it was a gift of gold. Now it needs to be a multi-thousand dollar motorized four-wheeler or power dirt bike. A nasty cut wrecking a bicycle was common, loss of life on a motorized 4-wheeler is catastrophic nonsensical.

Political matters were a flame of conservatism in the past, now it’s an over-powering bonfire with liberalism absurdity and upheaval. Professional sports were a game played rationally, now it’s a financial rapacity and pathetic racial behavior. In the past, people were like a soft chewy “Milky Way” candy bar compared to a hard nutty “Baby Ruth” today.

The happy days are gone and no turning back. Gratifyingly tremendous, as rudimentary plain, as they were was reposeful. We weren’t spoiled and accepted what we were given. It was a civil society. Now, the ugly truth is a monstrous magnified animation. The least isn’t good enough. It has to be the ultimate and climatic extravagance of anything. “Most” of us are just “mature out of control” immoral spoiled brats.

Gary Shaporka is a resident of Jefferson Township

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