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Some time ago I did an article on the things I miss from my early life. There are times when I look at what is going on around me and I think, 'give me something good, or fun or positive' -- give me back those days! After listening to the political pundits as the national elections are getting revved up, it is obvious they never ended! So this month it is going to be a look back to another time, when things were not what they are today. A time when things were slower.
Most know I spent many years reenacting the 18th Century (specifically 1778), but on a broader scale, the time of the American Revolution. I like that time period - it was harder, required more physically and mentally, but in many ways it was easier and most times, better. It also made me think again of the things I enjoyed in my early life.
I remember the first time I shot a .22 caliber rifle. I was young enough that I couldn't hold it steady by myself, so my father got down on one knee and I laid the rifle on his shoulder so I could take aim and fire. It was at my uncle's farm, and I really don't remember if I hit the target or not (which tells me I did not), but it didn't matter. I had fired my first firearm and I loved it.
I still find enjoyment in the shooting sports. It requires respect, practice, accuracy, caution, patience, and care in cleaning and maintaining the tool -- because that is what it is -- a tool. It does nothing by itself, much like a hammer does nothing unless picked up and used. I became a lover of the 2nd Amendment early in life for all the right reasons. In that time guns were common to see. Later skills were learned, and friendships made through hunting and spending time in the woods.
It was no issue to see a rifle rack in a pickup in the school parking lot, or even one in the front of the classroom for use after school if you couldn't secure your vehicle. Imagine that. And then came the instruction from other shooters that after shooting or hunting, that rifle needed to be cleaned to keep it operating smoothly. It was soon to be a routine and I became very diligent. Those of you who have been there know the smell of Hoppes No. 9 cleaning fluid.
I loved reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school or singing along with the National Anthem. Sadly, I am told most kids today don't know the words to either. My understanding is that the Pledge is still recited along with a moment of silence. Do they know about God? We learned about dedication to God and Country. It is our Country and students need to know where their allegiance should be. Why don't we have that association with God and Country anymore? Because some use freedom to eat away at both and it has slowly been eroded.
Remember cook stoves? Most know, they were different from a wood stove, even though it still gave off heat. And many were a true work of art and design. But it was used to cook on as well. If you haven't had the opportunity, well, you just need to do that. Basically used since our country's beginnings, stoves take chunks of wood or in some instances, coal as a fuel. There are new ones being made, but the originals are classic.
Lots of things to think about here. First, you had better make sure you have a draft - if you don't, well, you'll know it when the house fills up with smoke. It is a controlled fire under cast iron. Many old cook stoves also had a water reservoir or a water jacket on it to make hot water after you fired it up. And in the beginning of our country you would use this water for cooking, bathing, or laundry. Cook stoves though were primarily for slow cooking having both a cooking surface and an oven. And that can't be beat. A microwave is a poor substitute for a good home cooked meal. They are cast iron and produce a nice even heat on the cooking surface. You control the amount of heat with the draft which would control the burning rate, or you can deflect that heat to go around the oven which door was on the front. In the center of the oven door is a heat gauge. While it is easier to control the heat from a gas or electric stove, in some cases skillets are either too big or too small and you don't get even heat. Never had that issue with a good cookstove.
Many also had a warming oven at the back and above the stove. Place food in there to keep warm, or perhaps a good home-made bread or garlic bread. Food cooks slower and the smell is wonderful.
Secondary benefits -- no electricity needed, use cast iron skillets -- you aren't going to scratch off the finish or your stove, and you get an iron supplement from the cast iron. You also get heat in the house (this is a negative in the summer).
For those who ask, used carefully today, your cast iron will not scratch the surface on a glass top stove - I always get that look when I use mine - but it has been good so far! Young people for the most part never have the enjoyment of the smell and taste of slow cooked food cooked in cast iron.
I remember and deeply miss family at dinner. We ate together most of the time. And there was family television time before bed. Gunsmoke, Walt Disney when it was Disney, Green Acres, Bonanza, Johnny Rebel, Bat Masterson, I Love Lucy, Jackie Gleason, Lawrence Welk - and let's not forget Red Skelton. Oh, the list of good family shows goes on. And remember when the news lasted a half hour and wasn't a political diatribe - it was the news and usually pretty accurate. It was a good age.
And those Saturday or Sundays when we went to our grandparents. Let me just say, one side of the family was Italian and made great wine and all English was sprinkled with a lot of Italian. The other, a mix from England, Germany and Scotland and were farmers. What stories and memories - but that is truly for another article.
A short while ago I got a new cell phone. For the most part, we all like those for convenience, but I don't find them fun or easy to use. Sometimes I don't even know what I want it to do. In today's world it is a necessity. I remember party-lines - they were ok, but when we "upgraded" to the regular rotary dial phones with your own private line - that was the thing! Early on to make a call was only a couple of numbers. Personally, I remember maybe four digits that went to seven unless you were making a long-distance call. Simple. Pick up the receiver, hear the dial tone and dial the number of the person you want. It rings. They either answer or they don't. No answering machines. If the party didn't answer, you hung up and tried later. If they were on the phone it 'rang busy,' and you still tried later.
Without cell phones, we talked, played outside or did homework - the limitation was your imagination. We even talked with our family or friends inside the house one on one. No texting in those days. Riding our bikes in the alleys. Playing basketball at an old court no one used except local kids. Football in the neighbor's yard. They just moved into their newly built home with children our age. What great friends.
When you drive through neighborhoods today, how many times do you actually see children playing outside. Most places you can't even walk to school or leave your children out of sight. Children and parents have to watch out for those perils that, if they did exist fifty years ago, were nailed early on because everyone on your street or block knew you. But they also knew the troublemakers. Your neighborhood was a cohesive entity that most (not all) held the same values your parents did. You knew your neighbors and they knew you. Troublemakers were known by all.
It was baseball, tennis, football, wrestling, going to the playground for the merry-go-round and the sliding chute that you made faster by rubbing sand on it. The merry-go-round. Swings on chains with a wooden seat, the see-saw. And perhaps you'd be lucky enough to go to a playground where there were summer events like painting small pictures, getting snacks, getting pushed on the merry go round or swing, or maybe even someone to throw a baseball or football with you.
And the sand box. Honestly, I really think in our family that our mom loved us most when we played in the sand box and came home. She seemed very excited because she would, in a much louder voice, cry out; "Outside! Get those shoes off, brush off! You're not coming in here like that!" Wow, what did we do Mom? We were just playing in the sand box.
Butter made in a butter churn. Food put together by ingredients, not taken out of a box, consumed and the box thrown away. We went to church as a family.
Old record players - played the vinyl records with a needle. Early they were tall, square, and needed cranked up (to go around), if you wanted more volume you opened the front flaps, reverse for quieter. The electric one was a nice new smaller invention. It had sound volume control and would play 45's (those little ones that needed the insert in the middle because they had a bigger hole than the long play ones - never did figure that out). The long plays were 33 RPM and would play for quite a while - and then on both, there was always the 'flip side'. 78's (they were fast) was the choice for longer play. Remember manually lifting the arm and putting it back down to rehear that favorite part of the song, or to play it again or skip to another favorite. And then, the scratched record!! How frustrating when it just repeated, and you had to get up and move the needle - unless you were just too comfortable to move. Stomping your foot on the floor the right way would make the needle jump just enough.
And believe it or not, when I look back, I miss my mother making me do my homework...and checking it...and sometimes making me redo it. Mom, I hope you know it paid off.
As I write this, I remember my first time typing, or trying to, on an old manual Royal typewriter that I loved. I still have that typewriter, but I must confess, I do like typing better on a computer. Computers allow us to easily correct a letter, paragraph, or page. I remember papers later in high school and certainly in college, corrections were not allowed. No white out or erasures.
So many things that required the use of our minds, our hands and yes, our hearts - and I really miss those days. I am sorry that so many people don't and won't have that opportunity.
Some would say it was a simpler time and it was. It was and mainly because it was home, family, friends, personal interactions, and creativity, and not a ton of mind control devices to keep us entertained and occupied and out of the road. To those parents of the 50's and 60's, and to the parents who are watching what your children are doing, who they are associating with and putting limits on them, my hat is off to you. That is a tough job today.
In closing, I hope you enjoyed the "lookback". But I must indulge in one additional lookback at my family. I was blessed with a great family and have many great memories. My brother Greg and sister Marie both live in and contribute to our community. One could not ask for better siblings. They are kind, caring, loving people. They have been and are an extremely important part of my life. On Sept. 22, my brother and sister-in-law, Greg and Judy DeVecchis, will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They were both born and raised in Mifflin County and have two wonderful children, Lori and Dan, who are both married and now have their own children. If you see Greg and Judy, please wish them Happy Anniversary. Congratulations!