Without going into a lot of detail,
I have been a little "Under the Weather"
the last couple of days.
When I lie in bed for any time I start
to reminisce.
I was also thinking about this post!
I had been wanting to do this for sometime.
~~~~~~~~~~
DO YOU REMEMBER?
1. Do you remember... how much did your first child's delivery cost?
Robby, my first child was born in the spring of 1958. There were many mores at that time that I disliked but that would take an entire post. I was under the care of Dr. Weinberg who was a well respected OBGYN in Atlanta. For the seven months of great care and the delivery of my first born he charged a whopping $150.00
We were very excited that our firstborn was a beautiful and healthy boy. However, as a boy the expectation was, to have him circumcised. For that torture we were billed an additional $15.00. I was glad that Dr. Greenberg was Jewish and probably had lots of experience.
The customary four day in the hospital was an additional $150.00
I think we got a bargain.
Grand Total
$315.00
Grand Total
$315.00
bouncing baby boy
8 lb 2 oz
19 inches long
2. Do you remember...June bugs and Lightning Bugs?
I know, now days, I would be subject to investigation by the EPA, FBI, CIA, KGB. A Special Prosecutor will surely be appointed after this post.
We tormented poor insects both day and night.
During the day, we looked for the largest and most perfect June Bug we could find. The stronger and more perfect he was, the longer he would hold up.
We would get a length of heavy string from mama and tie the string to one hind leg of the big bug. What fun we had twirling that length of twine round and round our head. We were rewarded with the neatest humming sound. When that hind leg would break, we would tie it to the other and continue our childish dance.
Come nightfall the torture moved on to those wonderful and mysterious lightning bugs. First you get the jar. It would have to be from a "store bought" item. Mama's wouldn't give us a canning jar. After the holes were put in the top, mama did the hole punching, we were out our respective doors. We ran, we chased, we fell down, we got up and caught the awesome creatures, in flight, placing them in our jars. We felt like we had captured the moon.
We were just children having fun as we knew.
I would use my jar of magic as a night light. I always expected the magic to still be there at dawn. Alas, the magic had dies and I wondered why. I, now, know one cannot hold magic captive.
We were just children having fun as we knew.
3. Do you remember telephone "Party Lines"?
You could have a four party-line or a two party-line. We had a two party-line. You would be assigned a ring tone. Not like todays musical menagerie. You would had a long ☎☎☎☎☎ ring or a short ☎.. ☎ .. ☎ ring. It was easy to distinguish the difference.
Party lines were fun! Being an only child, I had to create fun and games. I can remember the fun I had, easing up the receiver as quietly as I could. You had to be careful and not breath into the microphone. That wasn't a problem, after all you were listening not talking.
Yes, it was fun! Until mama caught you! I remember her taking the phone, she put it on the cradle too hard. Now they would definitely know someone was listening. I would get a swat on the backside. I never felt a thing through the dress and petticoat (yes I wore dresses with dreadful sashes).
Then I would hear "Ginger, that's not ladylike, and besides Mrs. XXXX will think that was me". I thought, "Well now she will, you put the receiver down too hard".
Funny, I never heard any neighborhood gossip, nor anything racy or even interesting. I think it was mostly the intrigue of the technology and the fact that I could hear strangers talking to one another, in another location on a machine.
And yes, they usually knew someone else was on the phone!
4. Do you remember the first time your noticed the price of gasoline and how much it was?
I remember my daddy pumping gas at a little station with two pumps, a tiny building and a narrow gravel drive. It was in Atlanta at the intersection of Gordon Road and Hightower Road. I don't know if those roads even exist now. The price was 15¢ per gallon. Yes, I said 15¢ per gallon.
I don't know why I remembered that. I have related that memory to my children several times. I do know, I never had an inkling that on this day I would pay $3.79 per gallon at Sam's and think I got a bargain.
I hope my journey down memory lane was interesting. I fear, I let you know more about me than I should. Yep! I was an only child, spoiled, precocious, inquisitive. As we would say in the day, a "Smarty Pants".
~~~~~~~~~~
Please leave a comment. Share something you remember from the past. I plan to do this again next week and I would like to feature some of your memories. No Linky, just sharing your memories.
Have fun!
Blessings, Ginger
