LizzieMaine
Bartender
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- Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
In the 1920s it was very common for people to call radio stations and tell them "Talk louder, my batteries are running down."
Indeed I am serious. I never cease to be amazed by the publics ignorance of common things. I don't expect everyone to know everything, heaven knows I sure don't, but how does one reach middle age without having picked up some general framework of how things in our lives work? It isn't just hot water. There seems to be a feeling that if it doesn't affect me, I don't need to know about it and don't need to pay attention. Curiosity and common sense are most definitely on the decline. I don't mean to offend anyone here, because it is in no way universal, but being a university town does not help. A fair number of relatively intelligent people in their field could not change a tire or unclog the kitchen sink drain if their life depended on it. These are the same people who wrinkle their noses in distaste at those who can and do keep their civilized lives in operation.
… I never cease to be amazed by the publics ignorance of common things. I don't expect everyone to know everything, heaven knows I sure don't, but how does one reach middle age without having picked up some general framework of how things in our lives work? It isn't just hot water. There seems to be a feeling that if it doesn't affect me, I don't need to know about it and don't need to pay attention. Curiosity and common sense are most definitely on the decline…..
… A fair number of relatively intelligent people in their field could not change a tire or unclog the kitchen sink drain if their life depended on it. These are the same people who wrinkle their noses in distaste at those who can and do keep their civilized lives in operation.
On the other hand, finding a place with a public air pump -- even a coin-op one -- is surprisingly difficult these days. The only one in my town was hanging on the outside wall of a convenience store, but vandals crowbarred the coin box for drug money and it was never repaired. You either have to go to a tire dealer/garage or buy your own compressor.
My mom was a successful and respected bookkeeper for a small commercial real estate firm for decades. She was also a very common sense person - she could quickly "read" a situation and know how to respond. Her people skills were high and she was reasonably well read. And day to day, she managed her time well and dealt with basic household issues with a smart pragmatic approach. That said, all technology / all science was magic to her.
She had no idea how anything worked and had no interest in learning. If the car didn't start, my dad or I got involved as other than turning the key in the ignition she had no automotive skills. Water, electricity, the TV (which she still thinks is the most amazing thing in the world) are all great mysteries to her. You got heat by turning up the thermostat - what happened "behind the scenes" was all a mystery to her.
I've had all but wanted to kill myself helping her with all this for the past 25+ year since my dad died. I now take a Zen approach and just accept that it's my job and I do it. Her being in AZ, though, makes the logistics hard and the expense (hiring people) not fun - but it is what it is. And modern digital technology was invented, IMHO, just so that my mother could torture me with the most excruciatingly basic questions that I still struggle to get her to understand the answers to. (And in an act of self torture, because I want her "up to date," I get her all the new stuff - Wi-Fi, iPhone, smart TV, etc. - which only makes my life worse.)
That's it - just another example of a smart, regular and, overall, common-sense-oriented person who is completely out of touch with all technology.
My mom passed away last year. She was 92.
But actually, I lost her years before in the
sense that over the years she gradually
lost her memory or the ability to carry a
conversation.
Because I was the oldest or her first born
she still had the ability to recognize me
up until she died. She was very strict with my sisters. Not with me. They have
much resentment and we do not speak
with each other since.
I can understand and hopefully someday
we can all get together.
1940 co-op station.
Rob
Found these images on social website. Hometown sometime in the ‘40s.
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