ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604180013
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY LEEDY SMOOT
I ENJOYED reading the April 3 commentary by Colin J. Brown titled ``How'd we survive pre-drip-dry days?'' For those of us in our 50s, the expressed sentiments do ring true.
In 1990, the Cave Spring High School classes of 1959, 1960 and 1961 held a reunion, and the same material was read at our banquet and included in our reunion booklet. I don't know who wrote it or recall who contributed the material to our reunion festivities, but at the time I did feel compelled to respond. I take credit for writing the following, titled ``Why we survived'':
Yes, most of us were born before 1945. We have witnessed many incredible new inventions and labor-saving devices, as well as the miracles of modern medicine. And we've loved every one of them!
We are forever grateful for television, VCRs, dishwashers, panty hose, and especially the pill. As higher education, careers and marriage came to most of us during the '60s, we embraced these modern miracles with open arms.
Did folks really get married first and then live together?
We have accepted our friends who have "come out of the closet" and left us room to hang our clothes. Every man who reads this will have to admit that he enjoys looking at a "Bunny,'' and we hit the roads every day in our "Rabbits, Mustangs, Cougars" or whatever.
Being a "house husband" or having one, has allowed many of us to pursue our own careers or educations. Day-care centers allow our daughters to enjoy their careers, and keep us out of the group therapy we would need if we were the child-care providers for our grandchildren. Nursing homes are realities as many of us see our own parents end up there - and wonder about ourselves a few years from now.
We all welcomed FM radios, tape decks, word processors and microwave ovens. We even accept the guys who choose to wear earrings, and don't flinch too much when we see our own sons with one pierced ear. As for artificial hearts, I'm glad they're around. Might need one someday.
The women among us who work outside the home are forever grateful for Pizza Hut, McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken. I still can't drink instant coffee. Five-and-10-cent stores were nice, but I much prefer my credit cards and the mall. We can't get the front seat of a Chevy for $600 anymore, but who wants anything less than the air-conditioned luxury of modern automobiles? Forget that they cost more than the first house I bought in 1966.
At our house, we still mow the grass, drink Diet Coke and cook in pots. Many families of our generation have suffered because our children or friends have been drug abusers. We've experienced the tragedy of seeing drugs destroy lives. Let's hope our grandchildren will just say no.
I long ago switched from rock music to country, and find the voice of Kenny Rogers to be much more soothing than something called Motley Crue.
Having lost a dear friend to AIDS, I have become more aware of this terrible epidemic and how it touches so many families today.
Not too many people opt for a sex change. Most of us make do with what we have - we just wish it would do as well as it did a few years ago. And we all know that you don't have to have a husband to have a baby.
We have survived and enjoyed our survival. Good reason to celebrate.
Nancy Leedy Smoot of Goodview, a graduate of Cave Spring High School, is clerk of the Bedford County School Board.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB