Reply
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,371
Registered: ‎06-19-2010

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?

I still make dinner almost every night. No fast food or take out for us. An occasional pizza delivered once in awhile. Seems more and more people don't cook as often due to a busy lifestyle.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?

I can make change at a cash register without having to use the amount given by the register. I just count backwards from the cost until I get to the amount the customer gives me. 

I can touch type without looking at the keys.

I know the whole Dewey Decimal System so I can find books in the library.

I can write in cursive.

I know how to address an envelope. 

I can tell time on a non digital clock.

 

 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,216
Registered: ‎08-02-2010

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?

Gregg Shorthand

Honored Contributor
Posts: 32,616
Registered: ‎05-10-2010

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?

I truly don't understand the obsession with cursive handwriting..lol   It probably is dying out but that's okay, since only caligraphers have any use for it now.  I doubt that anyone under 50 uses it, even for notes to themselves.  But, at 56, I do.  Not often. But I surprised myself, I was writing down some to-do notes for my daughter's wedding.  Notes for myself and....I did it in cursive.  My girls, on the other hand, would have jotted their notes down in the phones.  Something that never occurred to me.    Other than my occasional use of cursive handwriting,  I don't think I am holding on to any old or irrelevant things.  I have no problem moving forward in life.  Time marches on and I go right along with it. 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,458
Registered: ‎06-08-2012

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?


@Venezia wrote:

@sailor_moon wrote:

I can count back change.


@sailor_moon - This brought back a memory!  About a hundred years ago I worked for a few years in a bookstore.  We were a small crew and all took turns on the cash register.

 

One day this old man walked up with his books.  I rang them up and then counted out his change, at which point he said "You young'uns!  Can't even make change without a register to tell you how much!"

 

I was flattered at the "young'uns" but I looked at him and pointed to the cash register.  "Do you see anything there that tells me how much change I should've given you?"  He admitted there was not.  I said "I can calculate the change in my head.  I never use the register!"

 

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr Old'un!  Woman Tongue


@Venezia, he was probably one ,of those old coots, who yelled at kids to "GET OFF MY LAWN!". 

Too many cashiers, these days, don't know how much change to give back, when the registers aren't working; or in a situation like this: the total is $1.96, you give them $2.00, they ring it up and then you find a penny... I swear that penny throws some cashiers off. They look at the penny and then they look at register ($00.04) still confused, until you tell them to give you nickel back.

☀️...And I think to myself what a Wenderful world.☀️
Highlighted
Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,081
Registered: ‎10-01-2013

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?


@chrystaltree wrote:

I truly don't understand the obsession with cursive handwriting..lol   It probably is dying out but that's okay, since only caligraphers have any use for it now.  I doubt that anyone under 50 uses it, even for notes to themselves.  But, at 56, I do.  Not often. But I surprised myself, I was writing down some to-do notes for my daughter's wedding.  Notes for myself and....I did it in cursive.  My girls, on the other hand, would have jotted their notes down in the phones.  Something that never occurred to me.    Other than my occasional use of cursive handwriting,  I don't think I am holding on to any old or irrelevant things.  I have no problem moving forward in life.  Time marches on and I go right along with it. 


Of course you do. Afterall, you are Miss Humility.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,111
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?

[ Edited ]

Some ancient skills are pretty useless...like how often does someone ask you to diagram a sentence? On the other hand, it helped us to understand the parts of speech.

 

I still use my Gregg shorthand from high school when I want to write something privately, and I can type about 90 wpm (even on a manual typewriter...which I do still own)...mainly for typing envelopes. 

 

I can sew, although I pretty much limit that to repairs and alterations these days.

 

I can shovel snow with a regular old manual shovel if I have to...and push a manual lawn mower. We do have a power mower and snowblower, but I still possess the old- fashioned skills.

 

I have beautiful cursive handwriting, can make change, balance a checkbook, tell time, know my math tables, and can turn pages in a book...and I read at least two books a week. (Guess they find different applications for reading, writing, and 'rithmetic these days.)

 

I can cook up a great meal rather quickly. I buy my own fresh produce...rarely use anything frozen...and never use canned. And, yes...I love to cook.

 

I could also set someone's hair in pin curls or the old pink sponge rollers if I had to...still remember that from school days.

 

I can row a boat.

 

And to quote my mother...I can "pick 'em up and put 'em down" (walk). We seem to be doing less and less of that these days.

 

 

A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. ~~ Steve Maraboli
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,960
Registered: ‎04-27-2015

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?


@Winkk wrote:

@VanSleepy wrote:

Stenography.


I still use shorthand when I write notes to myself.


Me too.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,812
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?

[ Edited ]

Typewriter

 

Cursive

 

Rotary phone

 

Can read a clock

 

Can write a check/balance a checkbook/cash a check

 

Use turn signals when driving (LOL seems a lost cause for many)

 

I can fire up the push lawn mower.

 

Iron (when deemed necessary)

 

Make change

 

 

 

 

Go VOLS
Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me.. Good ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee... Rocky Top Tennessee
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,337
Registered: ‎01-09-2011

Re: What 'ancient' skill do you possess?

I was at an event recently where I was in charge of the cash.

 

I was counting back change to a 20-something person. They looked at me and said "How do I know that is correct?"

 

SMH

"Cats are poetry in motion. Dogs are gibberish in neutral." -Garfield