‘My brother and boyfriend bought a car together for $35! Now it takes more than that just to fill the gas tank!’: Woman reflects on changes during her lifetime thanks to StoryWorth

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Bonny’s story is part of an ongoing collaboration between Love What Matters and StoryWorth, an online service that makes writing your loved one’s memoir (or your own) as easy as writing an email. Click here to learn more about StoryWorth and begin capturing your loved one’s lifetime of memories to cherish forever.

How has the world changed in your lifetime?

“Usually life changes slowly in real-time and so quickly when one looks back. Lately, though, things are changing so quickly it’s hard to keep up! It’s got me thinking about how life has changed since I was young, and oh my, have I seen changes!

Today’s washers and dryers are so high tech, sensing the load and the amount of water needed. I remember turning the crank on my grandma’s wringer washer to squeeze the water out of the clothes. She filled the washer tubs with buckets of water.

Dryer? How about clothes lines, any time of year.

I used cloth diapers, hanging them on the line or up in the attic in the winter.

My brother and my boyfriend bought a car together… for $35! I think it was a 1960 Chevy Impala with big fins. We drove it for quite a long time. Now it takes more money than that just to fill the gas tank!

We looked at buying a cozy home with some lovely acreage in northern New York for $11,500 in the early ‘70’s. We ended up buying a fixer-upper for $4,500. Most folks pay way more than that for their annual taxes now!

We had a bulky dial phone that was stationary on a table or on the wall. You couldn’t talk on the phone outside or walk around the house, let alone in a car. How did we survive before cell phones?

Google? None of that. Try looking up your answers in a dictionary or encyclopedia. I still have a set of encyclopedias taking up space on a bookshelf.

There were no seat belts in the car, and the baby rode in a flimsy little seat hung on the back of the front seat. Now look at the stringent safety features!

Speaking of cars, the muscle cars were all the rage when I was a teenager. What an era! I could usually tell the make of a car by looking at its design. Now all the cars seem to look pretty much the same. Those early cars were so easy to work on. Now everything is computerized and complex and expensive.

Children were not stuck in electronic devices. We actually played with one another, looked at each other when we talked, read exciting books, wrote letters to family and pen pals. We played outside all day without fear of strangers. We learned to get along with one another, and if we got in trouble at school, we got in worse trouble when we got home. We showed respect for our parents and teachers and for all those in authority. I see a very sad lack of respect in today’s world.

Today’s technology is amazing! I stand in awe of the exponential growth in medical advancements. And it continues to expand!

I remember the family gathering around the radio and listening to episodes of ‘Gunsmoke,’ popcorn and all.

We didn’t have any TV until I was seven, and then it was a small, heavy box with a staticky, snowy picture. Reception depended on an antenna on the roof, or an inside antenna we called ‘rabbit ears.’ They were more effective when wrapped with aluminum foil.

All programming ended in the evening with the playing of the national anthem. So different from today’s entertainment systems! I miss the clean entertainment of the years gone by.

There have been so many changes in my lifetime. Nothing stays the same. Life was simpler years ago, but there have been so many exciting advancements in today’s world.

What will be next?”

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Read more from Bonny:

‘Grandparents are a sweet blessing in life. They will always hold a special place in my heart.’: Bonny reminisces on growing up with both grandparents thanks to StoryWorth, ‘I am so lucky’

‘She kept her pain to herself, always putting on a brave face. Mom was always standing tall.’: Woman remembers mother’s sacrifice and love for her family thanks to StoryWorth

‘My kids were eating breakfast when I heard a knock. A sheriff’s deputy greeted me. ‘Your husband’s been killed.’ My world came crashing down.’: Widow talks turning grief into a positive thanks to StoryWorth

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