Blurb

The shoes didn't fit. It was an omen.













Friday, August 10, 2012

Back in the Day

Today, I wanted to post car and truck pictures that are mentioned and featured in my novel. But it scares the kaka out me that I could be sued after what happened to one of our fellow bloggy-buddies.

The featured cars and vehicles in the novel are a 1975 Impala, a Bug, and a monster truck. Back in the eighties kids were buying these.They would re-paint them. Put in the baddest speaker systems known to man back then. And hike up their vehicles with  tractor tires. Well…that’s what we did in Manatee County, Florida, a/k/a po-dunkville, which brings me to another topic.

Today’s kids expect their parents to flip the bill for such pleasantries. They expect us to keep giving and to give nothing in return. And they see nothing wrong with it,

The other night, King of the Hill was on for like a split second and the funniest comment was made by the MC, “Are kids so lazy today that they can’t wear out their own jeans?”

You know, back in the day kids worked for their clothes, cars, and stereos. They went to their own wallets for their fun money, not their parents.

If we couldn’t find regular jobs we babysat, mowed lawns, painted fences, washed cars, and cleaned our neighbors’ houses. We didn’t complain that we couldn’t find a job. We found one some how. It was expected of us.

I know the economy sucks but our kids can work even if its keeping their own house clean and their yard mowed for their parents. They need to earn their keep in the world. They need purpose. There’s always volunteer work, of course.

Over the last two years, I’ve had young people sit in my salon chair with no direction. No life. They have no job and no clue what they’re doing. When you ask them how their day is, they give this reply, “I just got out of bed.” I will usually look at my watch seeing that its one o’clock in the afternoon. Then I’ll ask,”So what’re you going to do after your haircut?” They either shrug or say, “Go back to bed.” My inquisitive mind doesn’t stop there.

Me: Do you have a job?

Kid: No.

Me: In college?

Kid: No.

Me: So what are you going to be when you grow up?

I usually get a shrug. And then I’ll ask their age. Can you believe some are thirty still living with mommy and daddy. Oh my…

Where did the eighties go? Where kids UNDERSTOOD what was expected of them. And they didn't have to fill out job applications on-line. How impersonal is that? And what kind of question is, ‘do you ever feel like killing anyone?’ What does this have to do with being employable. Well….okay I get the drift but still…the kids applying for jobs want to work. I doubt they want to kill anyone.

When I was a kid, we filled out paper applications, turned them in on the same day, and got an interview, too. Most times, we were hired right on the spot.

Where did we ever go wrong?

Novel update: It’s still in proofreading.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

12 comments:

  1. Hi Shelly, Great post! You are so right about todays kids...They take way to much for granted.Social media and the internett is good for a lot of things but at the same time I think kids have never really been exposed to a life with out Facebook and twitter. They really don't have to get out of bed now do they? I am happy to say that my kids are young adults who are continuing their education. Now when school starts up again, I hope my daughter will start getting out of bed before 1 pm. Thanks for joing my blogfest. BTW, love your new book cover :)

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    1. I'm just amzed at this generation of kids. I raised my 5 daughters on my own. They watched me put myslef through college, work 2 jobs,and kept up with their homework, chores, and cooking. They were not spoiled but some of them believe I owe them somehting.

      Looking forward to your blogfest.

      And I'm glad you like my book cover.

      Delete
  2. Oh Those were the days! My first job was babysitting until I was at the age I could get a real one. Once my own kids got out on their own they try to live beyond their means and even tho I preach that to them, I will never understand them. :( Great posting, enjoyed the Deja' Vu reading.

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    1. Hey Gossip:

      I remember my parents having the conversation with me the summer before I went to the 8th grade. The you-will-be- buying-your-own-school- clothes this year. Get a job.

      Thanks for coming by.

      Delete
  3. I wonder the same thing sometimes. I started working at 15, paid for my car and insurance, spending money, clothes, etc. Nowadays, kids don't get their license at 16, sleep all day long. It's crazy!

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  4. hi Shelly, just popped over from Katie's blog. I completely agree with your post. I'm amazed at how many elementary school kids I see with iphones their parents are obviously footing the bill for. Oh, and I had a 1967 Chevy Impala. It was my first car :)

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  5. I think it's a generation who have been coddled and indulged with everything.

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  6. HI,Shelly! I'm back!
    Hell-ooo! I see it a lot, but also drive students around who ARE paying for their school. But I'm sure that all their toys are paid for by mom and pop. It's the ones that are not going to school and have 4-5 kids already and I think "how the hell are you affording this?"
    I've given up on trying to figure out this world. Right now I don't understand the oil discovery out west which is paying some men $40/hour, and driving up the price of apartments of people who have lived there all their lives who do not make that kind of money. The greed I've seen is crazy. Talk later, girl friend!

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I'm dying to know what you think.