Stuck In An Era

Can someone please help me out? I feel like I’m in a twilight zone. I’m stuck in an era, and that era is the
early 70’s. I use to hear my old grandmother say phrases like “Those were the good old days.”

Now I’m saying those old phrases.
 
I realize more than ever that I’m stuck in an era whenever I see kids coming home from school. Go
straight to their friend’s houses, without giving a second thought about doing chores, or homework. First
things first,  boys and girls. Sitting around for hours on their cell phones.
 
Aren’t you all tired of being cooped up all day? Girls, would you not like to go outside and jump rope or
hop scotch? Maybe play hide and go seek or something? Girls, why not sit on the porch and play jacks?
Boys, it’s a nice day to shoot marbles. Oh, I keep forgetting I’m stuck in an era. These things could not be farther from their minds.
 
Young ladies, don’t you have to help with supper or washing dishes or something? 
 
Young men, isn’t there garden work or anything for you to do?
 
Girls and boys, isn’t there an elderly neighbor around the corner you need to check on? It would be so
neighborly of you to go and ask them if they need anything from the neighbor store?
 
Oh, pardon me, I keep forgetting, I’m stuck in an era. Now the weekend is upon us. Young people are still
on their cell phones. Ok, young ladies, I’m sure you have some laundry to hang out to dry?
 
Maybe, girls, you’ve got a  cake to help your mother bake or fry some chicken for a church function.
 
Time for a little fun. In which young folks rightly deserve. It may go something like this. “Mama, can I have
thirty dollars to go to the mall?” Mother’s reply usually is, “didn’t I give you thirty dollars last weekend?”
 
My thoughts: Isn’t there a penny party down the street at one of your friend’s houses?  It’s a penny to
get in, and everything is a penny? Food and drinks. Just good old, wholesome fun.
Folks, I need to really get out of this twilight zone. I’m stuck in an era.
 
Summer has begun, and kids are still sitting in the house on their cell phones or playing games on the computer.
 
Young folks, are you not making preparation for your next school year?
Like learning your multiplication facts, practicing writing in cursive would be just as rewarding, don’t you
think?
 
Girls, should you not be sewing some garments for the next school year? Boys, don’t you have some
school shoes to polish?
 
Boys and Girls, where or those books you did not get a chance to read during the school months?
Didn’t anyone ever tell you young people reading is fundamental?
Oh, why is it so hard for me to remember that I’m stuck in an era?
 
I’m stuck in an era when kids were afraid to go home and tell their parents that they had been punished
for not having their homework done. When families sat together for meals. Turned everything off,
everything,  and went to bed at 10:00 pm.  The entire family went to church on Sunday mornings. Prayed
together at night before they went to bed. Rose up the next morning and ate breakfast together. Watched
television together at night after supper.
Life was a family affair.

 Now it’s 10:00 pm. The child is still up talking on their cell phone or playing video games like they do until
the wee hours of the morning. Now, in my era, one of my grandparents would have given us a command
to turn the lights and everything off and to go to bed. If any of the kids in my house would not have moved
quickly enough to the command given, one of my grandparents would have gladly rushed in there to put
our lights out. I do not mean our electrical lights either.
 
In this day and time, the child may very well tell the parent they will turn things off when they get good and
ready. In my opinion, we can find good in all eras.
I’m just enjoying telling you about an era that I grew up in. An era that brings a smile to my face.
 
An era that warms my heart when I think about it,
Yes. An era when love thy neighbor meant something.
An era when sitting services were not needed because neighbors would take care of each other.
Carrying a hot meal 3 times a day if needed.
Who would not agree with me that’s living up to the true meaning of love thy neighbor?
Indeed, those were the good old days!
Can anybody help me out?
I’m stuck in an era!