Wednesday, February 8, 2012

WE DIDN'T HAVE GREEN!


We Didn't Have Green

Received this from a friend and wanted to share with you all.

At the checkout at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags 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." He responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop 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 we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery shop and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two streets.

But he was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We 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; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we 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 handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the Wales.

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But he's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

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

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

Back then, people took the bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we 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 we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Just the thoughts of a selfish old person who obviously needs a lesson in conservation from a smartass young person

13 comments:

Pat said...

"Ain't it the truth?" Loved this post...

Pat said...

"Ain't it the truth?" Loved this post...

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

What a wonderful post Sue!
Makes you think ~ doesn't it.
Thanks for sharing.
Prim Blessings
Robin

Living Arete said...

I just stumbled upon this blog and I am really glad I did. I would like to repost this on my own blog for my friends to see and hopefully take notes from.

Cheers

nancy huggins said...

You are so right and it is a shame that the new generation will never know how great it was back then. I miss the good old days.
Nancy

Ellie's Country Accents said...

WOW! It's amazing when its put in perspective. We should copy this and send it to grandkids. Love this post.
Ellie.

Lois--Huckleberry Lady said...

Wonderful post...so true!!! Yes, need a lesson in conversation with a young kid!!!!
Lois

Jeannie said...

Thanks for sharing, you indeed have a wonderful blog,I don't have a blog but luv to enjoy others, creativity and personalities, your the bestest...Jeannie from Ontario Canada!!

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

great post!
It is all so true! and our kids today are NOT using the green bags either!
good to hear from you!

BumbleBeeLane said...

I've often thought the same thoughts.Funny though it's about the Green but I'm sure 90% would not be able to live without one luxery for a week.Warm Blessings!~Amy

debra said...

DEB, I just love your blog. I am new at this. I just got into loving everything primitive about two years ago. I have missed out on so much not loving it sooner in my life. What you said brings so many memories. Eveything you said is so true.

debra said...

DEB, I just love your blog. I am new at this. I just got into loving everything primitive about two years ago. I have missed out on so much not loving it sooner in my life. What you said brings so many memories. Eveything you said is so true.

paperpest said...

I just posted this on my lorasara blog.