Every generation enjoys reminiscing about the past, often exaggerating the hardships they faced. We hear the tales of “When I was your age, I walked uphill both ways to school.” And now, it seems, many of us have found ourselves sharing similar stories with the younger ones in our lives.
Dear Young Ones,
Back when WE were kids…
When you had a crush and wanted to tell the world, social media didn’t exist. Instead, we scrawled messages on bathroom walls or sent dedications to the local radio station, knowing the person would likely hear it—there was simply nothing else to occupy our time.
Ordering pizza meant calling Domino’s, where your options were limited to cheese or pepperoni. And if it didn’t arrive within 30 minutes, it was free!
Making popcorn was a hands-on affair. We either used a pot with kernels and oil or, if fortunate, a Jiffy Pop kit. And let’s not forget the burns that came from stove-top popcorn preparation.
Wanting to see a film? You patiently awaited the one summer blockbuster, then squeezed into a flat-floored theater, clutching a bag of popcorn and a small Coke—because cup holders were a luxury. Often, your seatmate was a chain smoker, as smoking was permitted in cinemas.
When it came to home viewing, you waited an entire year for your favorite film to be released on VHS or Betamax. You shelled out $80, praying the tape wouldn’t snap during rewinding. And if disaster struck, you resorted to using a pencil to rewind it manually, all in a bid to keep your copy of Grease 2 intact.
Listening to music on the go? That meant using a Walkman, a clunky device that was a challenge while biking—unless you had a cool handlebar basket.
If you loved a song and wanted it for yourself, you either begged your mom to take you to the mall for a cassette or record, or you anxiously waited by the radio to record it, only to have the deejay talk over the best part.
Frozen yogurt was simply Yoplait placed in the freezer. And cereal prizes were actually inside the box, not hidden behind layers of plastic.
Selling candy for school meant pulling a wagon door-to-door in your neighborhood without worrying about safety. Watching television involved choosing from a mere three channels and hoping the antenna provided a clear signal.
For video game fun, you stuffed quarters into a sock and begged your mom for a trip to the arcade, where you watched others play while you waited your turn. At home, you could only dream of an Atari or Intellivision, usually connected to a small black-and-white TV from grandma’s collection.
Communication meant using walkie-talkies or, if you were fortunate, a cordless phone—both of which often malfunctioned. For research, a trip to the library was necessary, where you’d search through the Dewey Decimal system for that musty old book.
A McDonald’s Happy Meal was a special treat, complete with a mini burger, fries, cookies, soda, and a toy—no questions about gender preferences. And let’s not forget the diet sodas of the time, like Tab, which could only be described as tasting like WD-40.
Footwear options were limited to sneakers or flip-flops, which you wore until they literally fell apart. And when it came time to take a photo, clip a coupon, check a word, or find directions, you simply used a camera, scissors, a dictionary, or a map—apps were a distant dream.
So, kids, toughen up—you really have it easy. If we could survive those times, you surely can thrive in this era! For those interested in more about home insemination, check out this post on intracervical insemination.
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In summary, while the past may seem tough, it has shaped our resilience. The tools and technologies of today, from home insemination kits to smartphones, have made life considerably easier, and you should embrace that progress.