Thin N Noun

Dear Readers,
How are you and I doing?

Hope all is well with you on this great day. Please know that flooded rivers soon return to their beds. I have been missing and I thank you Dear Readers for letting me know.

Thank you dear God for your eyes. My, you do see everything, no matter what. When I get the big mouth I notice how you will wake me up at night, just to remind me to beg someone’s pardon, or something I could have done better to help another person.

Then and Now Comparison I owe you Dear Readers, the comparison on Then and Now.

What was happening when I was a child and what the year 2010 have to do with it? Here is a small sample of my list.

THEN: The school bus was for those children who lived in the country. If you went to a Kent County school, no matter if it was rain, snow or hail, you just keep walking. Electrical storms you just keep walking and try to anticipate when the lightning will flash. Then duck under a tree. Looking at the bus stops it was amazing to watch as women’s umbrellas were torn by the wind. The pieces of paper that was used to protect hair-dos just fell apart and the printed word went down the drain. This left wet women waiting on the bus, trying to protect their hair-dos, and fighting to keep the wind from raising their dresses.

NOW: Students are blessed to get a ride to school on buses, cars, vans and trucks, that have heated seats, surrounded by music and On Star. If hungry stop at a local drive-in and get hot food. What would you like, Egg McMuffin or Pancakes?

THEN: Our old telephone on Franklin Street use to ring, ring, ring and nobody wanted to answer it. Mama would finally say, “kids somebody get the phone before it rings off the hook.” In order to make a long distant call you had to dial ‘O’ for the operator and she would dial it for you. She was a real live operator and she would say, “long distant operator, number please.” You could not talk until she said, “go ahead Grand Rapids.” Twix & Twitter I have not a clue, but just find a young person and in seconds they have sent a message. I think reading scores and comprehension should be based on the skills used and language to Twix and Twitter.

NOW: There are so many people on the phone and so many types of phones that I thought I saw an ant with an Ipod, or was it an apple? People depend on phones so much that even in the midst of budget cuts they will wait in line for hours to purchase a new phone. Who are we talking to? Does it really matter that you private phone gives you some prestige and information and a feeling of security on a dark lonely road.

I thought a well-known person here in our town was having some mental problems. I saw him out at the mall talking to himself. I am a nurse and I know when a person is hearing voices, because they talk to the voice they hear in their head.

I felt so sorry for him. When he passed our car I told my husband, “you never know who is having mental problems.” My kids laughed and said, “he has a blue tooth in his ear that is connected to his phone.” I bought a GPS and had no idea that this hunk of plastic and glass was smart enough to take me to my destination. One time I refused to make a turn and the GPS went on and on saying, “turn right.” When I did reach home it said, “you have arrived at your destination.” A friend was visiting me, I did not believe in ghost until I heard this voice. My friend remained calm and said, “ oh, my phone is programmed to call me when I have an appointment.” Sure enough her phone was blinking and calling her name. One night when I was half asleep, Ernie, the doll from Sesame Street, who used to belong to my grandsons, Leroy and Deon, yelled out one night in song.

The kids said the battery was dead, and that may have been true, but Ernie was not! (smile)

The Piggy Bank
My son Rufus Will and his wife Javonne Granderson, tried to explain to me why they got rid of the bank I bought Thaxton & Mathis. The bank was shaped like a robot with blue glass eyes.

Will, who is a great story teller said the bank was fine until one night when he went to touch the bank it gave the balance of the account and the eyes flashed. When he picked up the bank, it yelled, “I am being robbed.”

What has become of the old fashioned piggy bank that you just hit it in the head with a hammer and got the money you needed? Where is the bank now? Rufus and Javonne know.

Next week more of the same.

Keep Reading.

Please share your then and now observations on this blog!