Re: Taking Simple Things For Granted

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

@Mominohio wrote:
@AngelPuppy1 wrote:
Reading some of the replies I am reminded of when I went to school. When I was learning commercial classes, as they were called back then --- we had only manual typewriters. Shortly before I graduated our typewriting class was granted 2 electric typewriters! Our teachers said --- who wants to work on these? Volunteers? No one wanted to use them, as everyone was afraid. So, my best pal and I put our hands up and off we went! Wow! We were truly pioneers! HA!

My first job, we had electric typewriters but at first there were no computers. There was a huge machine which was called a Memory Typewriter. I was delegated to operate it. That was something! Any long documents were given to me because they could be saved in it's internal meory and then corrected to a certain degree and re-printed. It had a limited cpacity though and printed the documents right from the typewriter -- no separate printer.

We then got 1 computer - just to try it out and we had to share! It was a huge Radio Shack model with a huge, loud printer!!! Oh, my! And it had the big floppy discs in it!
Later, we each got our own Radio Shack and printer. The noise was deafening!

We have come a long way, baby!!!

In the 70's when I took typing in high school, we still had manual typewriters too.

My folks bought me an electric typewriter for Christmas one year, to use for high school work and college. Boy I thought that was the best thing since sliced bread. That and some erasable typewriter paper and I was set for all A's! And so much less force needed to get the typing done, compared to those old manual machines! Life was good!

@Mominohio

Big difference from the manual, right? I had occasion to attempt typing on one awhile back and goodness --- I couldn't even hardly do it! And that made me think of all the carbon paper we used to use.

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

NativeJax · ‎01-27-2015

In 1978 I went to visit my grandmothers relatives in Alabama, it was the house she grew up in. A shack basically....anyway, I was ten and had to use the bathroom, they sent me to the outhouse because they still didn't have indoor plumbing. I remember talking to my mother in disbelief. My mom's mother grew up so poor it's hard to believe that people were still living that was even 38 years ago.

I have asked myself many times what modern day convienence could I live without with no real issue. It just has to be indoor plumbing...electricity would be number 2....I could live without phone, intranet and car...thank goodness I don't have too but plumbing and electricity are two really important ones.

By the way, for several years I pretty much lived with my grandmother and she did not have AC except a wall unit in her bedroom. I remember it didn't seem to bother us, I have no idea why but today I would be miserable without AC. It gets very hot in Florida. I always joke with my cousins about why we were thin as children because we had no AC and we were the remote control for the TV...we constantly had to get up and move. We had to play outside, be home before the street lights cut on. My grandmother use to still wash her clothes with a washboard and hang them on a line. My dad bought her a washer and dryer and I remember her crying and begging him to take it back because she didn't want him to spend so much money. That was 1976.

Thanks for the post! It brings back memories:-)

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

Every year we spend the summer in our camper in Pa. - we do not have a dishwasher or a washer/dryer here. Also , at home I have a housekeeper but here I have to do my own cleanng. (though the camper is much smaller than a house and simple to clean). By the time we get home from here each fall I walk around the house and hug my appliances and can' t wait to see my wonderful housekeeper - who I also consider my friend.

Financialgrl · ‎03-13-2010

I'd say electricity is the big one for me. Until recently I lived pretty rural and at least 3 times over the past 10 years during snowstorms where we'd lose power. The power companies begin restoration in the business and most populated parts of the county and during at least these 3 storms we were without power for 7-10 days. Homes on well/septic need electric to work the pump to pull it up from the ground in addition to the other things that don't work.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Gram W wrote:
Earlier this summer my hot water tank went. No hot water for 5 days. It was in the 90s so the cold showers were not as bad as they might have been. I ran from the shower to the electric blanket to get warm. Thank goodness I had a shower and not just a tub. Years ago I did have a similar toilet tank problem. To make the water shut off I lifted the bulb in the tank and put the handle of a long brush under it so the tank would not call for more water. Shocked the plumber that I would think to do that. We ladies can be inventive. Where there is a will we will find a solution if only temporary.

@Gram W

This happened when I was a kid ..... my mother heated water on the stove so we could all take sponge baths with nice warm water. There's always a way to improvise.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@candys mine wrote:
Part of the trouble now is that people have grown up with all the appliances at hand and Do Not Know How to get along without them. Can you do long division in your head? Do you know you can make a dinner WITHOUT a food processor? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my appliances and hot water in a jiffy is heavenly but if you have never been without these things you don't know, what you don't know. I love reading about history but I wouldn't want to live there. I have the utmost respect for the poineers who moved west before the railroad, before the telegraph, Day, after day, after day, after day of unending QUIET. You couldn't turn on the radio or the computer or skype your friends and family or shop for anything you needed. You were ISOLATED. Would have driven me Insane for sure. I admit though, I am still a pencil pusher when it comes to anything I want to save. It's private, it's tangible, and paper dosen't " crash".

@candys mine

Um, I don't believe I could ever do long division in my head ... on paper, yes .... in my head, no.