Way of the world
Today a few of our cousins are
spending the day with us along with our grandparents who will be staying
with us for a short while. We, my sister and I love them a lot and enjoy
the delicious food my grandmother prepares and the interesting
conversations we have with grandfather. He is very alert and knows
everything and always sees things in a different but interesting
perspective that also makes us think deeply of different aspects.
 My cousins had bought their - i-pods, game boys, phones and walkmans
and while comparing them with one another my grandfather joined us. He
did not even know what some of them were and I had to explain and I
asked him what they used to have during his time.
He laughed and said that there were many things that they had and
many did not even exist. We were astonished to hear what he had to say
and were amazed to see the development of technology as well as the
people during his time and ours which was not very long ago. I am sure
it would make you also think differently and wonder...
He spoke of the current problems in schools and said that there were
no shootings, violence or drug related problems during his time. The
computer age was not even thought of. He was born before-television,
penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, Frisbees,
and was only familiar with garlic pods as i-pods and tri-pods were never
heard of.
They’d never heard of FM radios, tape recorders, CD players,
electronic typewriters and the note pads they used were sheets of paper
attached together it was never electronically operated. They listened to
news, the President’s speech and big band music on the wireless or radio
and kids never blew their brains out listening to rock music or oriental
music. There was no - credit cards, laser beams, ballpoint pens or
pendrives that were used by anyone as they were only taken on drives by
their parents.
Man had not invented aircraft and missiles nor walked on the moon!
And man had not invented - air-conditioners, vacuum cleaners, dish
washers, clothes dryers, washing machines and clothes were always washed
by hand and hung out to dry in fresh air. They considered anything ‘Made
in Japan’ on it was junk. Fast food and instant coffee were unheard of
and there were 5-10 cent shops where you could actually buy things for
5-10 cents.
Grandmother and he had married first and then lived together! Every
family had a father and mother and children were born after they were
married! Until he was 25, he called every man older than him ‘sir’ and
after 25, he still called policemen and every man with a title ‘Sir’
they never heard of - Hi! Yo! Geez! Wazzup and would have been severely
penalised if they had used such language! There were no - gay-rights,
computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centres, counselling or group
therapy and guys never wore earrings nor coloured their hair.
Time sharing meant the actual time the family spent together during
the evening or weekends and not spending time trying to buy condominiums
or making business deals. Shares were meant to be a portion that you get
out of a particular thing which could be even food and not buy from the
share market!
Their lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, religion, good
judgement and common sense. They were taught to know the difference
between right and wrong and stand up and take responsibility of their
actions. Serving the country was a privilege and living in the country
was a bigger privilege.
Fast food was what was eaten during lent. Having a meaningful
relationship meant getting along with your cousins and family. Deserters
were not the people of the forces. The term ‘making out’ refers to how
you did in your school exams and not relationships.
We were amused to hear when he said that in his day - ‘grass’ was
moved, ‘coke’ was a cold drink, ‘pot’ was something your mother cooked
in, ‘rock music’ was your grandmother’s lullaby, ‘Aids’ were helpers in
the principals’ office, ‘chip’ meant a piece of wood, ‘hardware’ was
found in a hardware store and ‘software’ wasn’t even a word. The laptop
meant the lap of a person and had nothing to do with computers. You
never walk with anything plugged on your ears or blocking your ears
unless you have an ear problem!
Now it was his turn to be amused as he said that people call them
‘old and confused’ and speak of the generation gap and wonders why the
present generation is so confused! Do you know how long ago these
changes took place and how old my grandfather is? You are really in for
a shock, because all these changes took place not more than 65 years ago
and my grandfather is 68 years old!!!
- Saffiya
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