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Heidi White's avatar

Thank you for sharing this perspective. I missed the recycled milk bottles, but drank from a garden hose and used paper bags for book covers. I loved that!

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C.J. Heck's avatar

I always appreciate your comments, Heidi. Thank you. You are probably too young to appreciate very many of the old woman’s memories.

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Dave Karpowicz's avatar

CJ, Thanks - like the song says" you don't know what you got until it is gone" D

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Well said, Dave!

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Connie J. Casella's avatar

Very true! I remember doing those things when I was growing up! I used a push mower to mow the grass! I hung out the laundry on clothes lines in my back yard! I remember the brown paper bags and covering my books with them! And I walked all over my town, including shopping downtown! I took the bus or a cab back then! Oh, yes, I remember it well!

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C.J. Heck's avatar

… and we didn’t have ‘the green thing’ to help us. 😂🤣😂🤣

I grew up like you did! Thank you Connie for your comments and for restacking this post.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

I've read and enjoyed this article many times, C.J. Thank you for giving me one more opportunity to enjoy it again. What I would like to know is what caused all these very un-green changes? The Health Dept. demanding packaged condiments on restaurant table. Straws instead of just sterizing glasses at 165 degrees washed by hand? Water bottles instead of (gasp) water fountains that just anybody could use?

HOAs frowning upon clothelines and other de classe lifestyles? Rakes and brooms instead of leaf blowers? It can't all be marketing ploys by plastics manufacturers, can it? Please say it isn't so!

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Hello Sue. I think the biggest changes came from my generation going forward to make life easier for people. Like lawn mowers for example. These days they go by themselves with no pushing, only steering.

I think ‘The Green Thing’ was invented to lay a guilt trip on the older generation.

🤣😂😁😂😁😁

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

True.

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Jo-Ann Petrarca's avatar

CJ, whoever wrote this was so right. We did recycle with our glass bottles. We did walk far with our legs not cars. I can’t imagine some young person blaming us for ruining the world. I found it amusing that the older woman had the best comebacks ever. What a great read, thank you hun…

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C.J. Heck's avatar

It really is a great story, Jo-Ann, I agree. I don’t know now how many years ago I found it online, but every so often I drag it out and let it breathe again. I also wish I knew who wrote it. I’d like to give them a standing ovation.

Have a good day, sweet lady. ❤️💕😁

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Jo-Ann Petrarca's avatar

Thank you and I wish you the same. It was a tough couple of days, was feeling melancholic but I’m much better today. Yesterday was the anniversary of a good friends death. Her daughter Jessica, is dead ringer for her mom and she also is a RN like her mother. I cried so much and then wrote a small poem.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Writing always helps me. Focusing on feelings and then seeing them in black and white is very cathartic. I’m glad you’re doing better today.

❤️💕🙏

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Jo-Ann Petrarca's avatar

Thank you ❤️

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Jo-Ann Petrarca's avatar

I was thinking how I would love a youngster tell me that my generation ruined things for earth. Oooh wee, what a debate that would be.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

It’s a good reason to get all fired up! The lady in the article made some mighty good points for our side!

Yes, that would be a GREAT debate!

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Andrew Devlin's avatar

Love this blast from the past!

We also didn’t throw away stuff as readily as today. If our kitchen knives or pruning tools got dull we just waited until the sharpener came around in his little truck and made them sharp as new for a pittance.

PS. I don’t think I ever had a book cover that wasn’t a recycled A&P bag!

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C.J. Heck's avatar

That’s fantastic, Andrew. I love that you lived it like I did. It really is a blast from the past.

… and we didn’t know about the ‘Green Thing’ back then.

Thank you!

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Andrew Devlin's avatar

The only ‘Green Thing’ I knew of back then was the slime that came in a can!

Have a great and blessed rest of your day!

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Thank you, kind sir. You, too!

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Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

C. J. I remember doing all of those things. I am happy with the progression we have made through science and technology, but there's that word again. Sometimes I long for time gone by where things were slower and people were kinder and not as rushed.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Geez oh man, I hear you Kathleen. Slower, kinder, and not as rushed works for me, too.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

I know, Wendy! I remember every one of those, myself -- and especially sitting at the kitchen table with crayons, scissors and Scotch Tape making my book covers! LOL

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C.J. Heck's avatar

GeorgeAnn, thank you for restacking my post, "The Green Thing".

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Thank you for restacking this post, Annette!

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Thank you, Kent. I'm pleased you enjoyed the post and I thank you for restacking it, as well.

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Thank you, Kevin! I'm happy it struck a chord with you! Thanks, too, for restacking it!

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