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Didn't have the green thing

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  • Didn't have the green thing

    Not quite humour, but close enough.:wink:

    In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't
    have the green thing back in my day."

    The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment."

    He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

    Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and
    over. So they really were recycled.

    But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day.

    In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go
    two blocks.

    But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.

    Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the
    clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

    But that old lady is right, they didn't have the green thing back in her day.

    Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a hankerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and
    stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you.

    When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

    Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on
    treadmills that operate on electricity.

    But she's right, they didn't have the green thing back then.

    They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

    But they didn't have the green thing back then.

    Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an
    entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

    But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?




    :angelic:

  • #2
    Re: Didn't have the green thing

    And folk seemed happier. More content with their lot. Great post!

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Didn't have the green thing

      Originally posted by Lizzie View Post
      And folk seemed happier. More content with their lot. Great post!
      Lizzie,

      This does not follow on as a rib tickler, however it does tie-in nicely with your comment re contentment.

      Below is a letter from my grandfather to his brother back in England in 1911/12..............

      42, Redmond Street
      off CatherineSt
      Leichardt
      January 7th 1911

      Dear Joe,
      Your letter of Nov 15th to hand also paper, for which we are so glad to receive, always glad to hear from the old Folks at home. Yes, Joe we have arrived here quite safe & we had a good voyage and the wife Jeanie had quite a good time on board well I must admit that the baby is more like a prize baby so big & fat & is now 11 months old. Well I must say I was a bit surprised to hear of your new addition I really thought you had discovered the real remedy for preventing any such occurance as that & Gertie going to work too & firstly making your fortune & then to do that, well I must say we have got on very well since we landed, my first jobs here was timber lumping 1/3 per hour & then as Builder’s Labourer 1/- hour after that job finished I had a place at the Hotel Metropole here another good place, Night Porter with plenty of tips (money) (not boot tips) and now I am in Charge of the Cleaners at one of the Biggest Drapery Houses in Sydney. Where they employ1020 assistants and are just now extending their premises by spending £200,000 on Building, it’s a good job £2.80 per week for 48 hours. My hours are from 7.30 pm till 4.30 next morning Friday 10.30 pm till 7.30 am & Saturday 3 pm till 12 pm one hour is allowed off for meals. Sunday I do an extra duty as Watchman from 7am till 3pm one hour off for Dinner, & get 7/- for that 1/- per Hour, so Ive not a bad pay. We are also paid for all Public Holidays New Year we had three days, well I done duty as Watchman for three days & got 21/- for it, for Watchman’s Duties are paid at the of 1/- per hour 7 hours each day and then my own pay of £2.8.0. as well it was a nice little wage for one week. So see what you are losing, you say there is no such luck as you coming out here why not, all you have to do is come first, by yourself & then send for the wife and children afterwards. Surely it would not take you long to save £8.0.0. or better still work your passage out with Shaw Savill & Albion, I can give you accomadition when you get here, plenty of work here for you & good money for doing it. Builders Labourers get 8/6 & 9/- per day for 8 hours it’s a pleasure to work here because you know you are getting a decent pay. & another thing you don’t see any class distinction here Tradesmen & Labourer’s are all chummy even to the Bosses, that is why this place is booming so much in the Building Trade they can’t get enough men, why don’t you come you will never regret it, instead of holding out your hand for 28/- or 30/- as you do now, you would get £2.10.0 that’s what you have to look at, & a good Labourer is always in demand now Cheer up and Save up. & say that you have also made up your mind to Sail away, we all wish you & Gertie & family A happy New Year. Glad to say we are all in good health & a Good home together again.

      So will close with a kind regards from Jeannie Jack, Sydney & the Baby (Ila)






      That's what I call "being content with your lot"

      Gordon.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Didn't have the green thing

        Gordon:

        On reading I can see why you have kept this letter and treasured it for so long. It just bubbles with enthusiasm for life. It has such a positive and optimistic tone. But, above all, the one thing that caught me was the satisfaction of self-worth. Many thanks for sharing.

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