Back in the 50's; A Nostalgic Walk Down Memory Lane

Cars were classic!

Today's my birthday. November 21, 1955 to be exact. I've been thinking about all of the changes I've seen in the past 57 years. Remembering simpler times. Perhaps you'd like to join me as I recall how things looked the year I was born...

A little more meat on the bones was considered beautiful.

Elvis was king.

Here's how we listened to him, scratches and all. No headphones, mp3s or pandora.

Women dressed with elegance---mostly in dresses. 'Casual' was a housedress.

We wore these to bed. And sometimes to the market, if we had to. Painful!

This was every woman's dream.

She was every man's dream.

You could become a secretary if you could type and take shorthand. Not too many women were bosses.

Or you could sell a little kiss for charity.

Our classrooms had order. You'd better straighten up or it might mean a swat on the hand with a ruler or worse. Loved those lift-up desks!

And the telephone was connected to the wall. You shared a line with the neighbors...called a party line. Your phone number might have a name; like 'Flanders 4-2254.' No cells, answering machines, voice mail, or faxes. You had to talk to people...if their phone wasn't busy.

On Saturday afternoons you might go down to Woolworths or Newberry's or the 88 Cent Store and have lunch at the luncheonette.

And on Saturday night your boyfriend might take you to the dance. Gosh, he was dreamy!

And back in those days, Father knew best.

No, life wasn't perfect back then. We didn't all have a 55' Chevy or a dreamy home. Dad certainly didn't have all of the answers and the tv was on the blink more often than not. Women couldn't get great jobs. Often they didn't want them. The economy permitted many of them to be housewives (which back in the day, was an honored profession, and still is, to my way of thinking.) Music was upbeat. Movies usually had happy endings where the good guys always won. And the luncheonettes had the best darned greasy burgers with fries that you've ever eaten! Nope, life was far from perfect, be gee, it was swell!

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