Our world

[Goodwatch]

I was born in 1960. I’m the son of an electrician and a nurse but my mother quit her job as soon she became pregnant. (In that time, women were not allowed to be pregnant in their job). My parents were not poor but didn’t have any money as well. If I said that I was thirsty my mother told me to drink a glass of tap water. We didn’t have television until 1968. That’s when my father bought a TV set from our downstairs neighbor. We didn’t have telephone until 1973. Blue collar workers didn’t need a telephone. What would they use a telephone for anyway? We didn’t have a stereo set either. It was a big event when my father bought a Toshiba cassette player with some cassettes. It was placed on its own little pedestal.

Both my parents lived through WWII and thus were deprived of a good education but I wasn’t. (I blew it partially but made up for it later in my life but that is another story). Our holidays consisted of two weeks stays in hotels owned by the Union. I never went abroad until 1976 and my parents still have never flown. Birthday gifts consisted of small amounts of money from uncles and the odd toy car. I went to a very strict Christian school although my parents were not religious. They thought it would be good for me. (It was).

I remember life was very uncomplicated and simple. Bread was bought from a baker and meat from a butcher. Vegetables, potatoes and milk were delivered by men with small vans. Supermarkets were for the rich as were department stores. In our street the only people with a car were a policeman, a small grocer and a cobbler who had won a big prize. My father had a motor cycle (a DKW) but no car. Can you imagine that, three cars in a whole street? The grocer was one of the last that sold buckets of hot water. Yes, in those times houses were still without boilers and people bought hot water from ‘water stokers’. I went their every Saturday to buy two packets of Miss Blanche cigarettes for my father. As a 7 year old! No questions asked and I never had to pay either. (Everyone ran a tab).

The first digital watch I set eyes on was in one of those posh department stores. It must have been in 1973 or so and it was a L.E.D. watch. It sold for the sum of 1299 guilders, an obscene amount of money in those times and twice the price of a descent Rolex!

Water, homemade lemonade and store bought lemonade in small bottles were the only drinks we had as a child. And milk of course. Why this rant? What is the point of all of this?

I opened our fridge the other day and it was stocked with all kinds of beverages you can imagine. Fruit juices in the most exotic combinations. Beer, lemonade and several bottles of ‘designer’ water. And yet I’m neither rich nor important. Why this abundance? Is it because it wasn’t available when I was a child? Is it because we earn more than our parents? The same goes for all the different things you can buy to make a sandwich. In my youth we had plain sugar, cheese, jam, baloney, ham and trickle. Now we see endless assortments of cheeses, meats, hams, sausages, 100 types of jam (confiture), the list is endless.

Do you feel the same about this? (Well, old geezers like me). Has the world as a whole changed or has life become more rewarding? I have a 17 year old daughter who can’t imagine a life without Internet, PC, iPod, television and VCR. Yet I didn’t have to take on a second job to provide her with this but in my youth even a new bicycle was something very special.

[C.J.]

Hell yeah, pal. I think life has changed quite a bit. My father was a beat cop and my mother a secretary. We didn't have much, but we weren't poor either. Luxuries were few and far between and we appreciated things more. Nowadays it seems times have changed. I think we earn a little more, but things we considered as luxuries then don't cost as much as they used to. I look at some of the things my family has and remind my self to count our blessings, for we, like you, have come a long way

[roadcarver]

My grand parents emigrated from China to Manila, Philippines looking for a better life. They only spoke Cantonese.

In Manila, you couldn't open a business unless you partner up with a local, and the local doesn't really have to work and they get a cut of the earnings. And my grandparents had to buy someone's surname inorder to start the business.

From here my grand parents opened up a bakery business which thrived. They had 5 kids, and one of them was my father.

My father has told me that in the old days, he had to start the fire to boil water, walked to school, and did some part time work. All money he had he gave to my grandparents to save for him. Without them enforcing this on him, he wouldn't have money saved up. He also lived through WWII and experienced the Japanese occupation. My dad still has the scar from when the Japanese soldier hit him with the rifle stock.

My dad worked as a book keeper at a local hardware store in his early 20's, saved money, met and married my mom. They then had 4 children, and all of us where crammed into a one bedroom apartment. My sisters were in a bunk bed, my youngest brother was between my parents and I was in a crib.

They started their lumber business which became a successful business, and we were able to move out of the one bedroom apartment to a house that my dad had built with his hard earned money. We lived there for 15 years and had to suddenly leave for Canada when the revolution against dictator Ferdinand Marcos occured.

My parents were scared for our safety that they abandoned the business to start a new life in Canada. My dad who was his own boss before coming to Canada had to get used to reporting to somebody. He did try to start his own business here but it was too hard.

Without their hard work to put us through school and all, I don't think I would be here.

[Rockrolex]

I was extremely fortunate growing up. My grandfather (my mother's father) emigrated to the U.S. from Russia as did my grandmother. They met and married in New York. They had four kids, my mother (who is the oldest) and her three brothers. My grandfather was in the garment business in New York. One day a friend came to him and told him he had better get out of town or he would be killed. I never found out why. He quickly moved to Fall River, Massachusetts, which was where I was born. My grandfather stayed in the garment business and built a very successful manufacturing operation. We were comparitively well off. We had a nice house with plenty of room for me and my cousins to run around and hide in. We may have had the first TV on the block back in about 1947 or so.

My grandfather always drove Cadillacs and all the cops would salute the car when he drove by. I never knewe we were well off, and I don't think I was spoiled.

Years later, I had to take out student loans to pay for law school but I always knew there was something up there that would make sure I would survive.

When we started our law firm, in 1981, I went for 6 months without a paycheck. Do you know what that does to your credit rating.

But 25 years later, we have a successful firm with nearly 100 lawyers. I can now do most anything I want, including indulge in this rather expensive hobby. But I still can't afford to pay for first class to Europe. Now that would be something to shoot for.

[Otis]

Drifting a bit OT...but anyway...
If there's someone it my life I will always look up to, it's my father.
For me it's a no-brainer if someone ever asks me that question.

My father & mother both had comfortable lives, great jobs and lots of friends and family in Switzerland, but in '87, when I was 3, they decided to move out here to Australia and start again, with pretty much nothing. Their degrees weren't recognized, so no jobs etc, not great english skills and a small (smelly) kid to raise. In the next 20 years my father, originally an engineer, started a new career and became one of the most highly-regarded commercial real-estate fellas around town. To arrive with nothing, and to totally re-build a life & become like a mentor to many people, when you are over 40 years of age is something I just find astounding. I just hope that I've inherited a little bit of his tenacity, determination & skill to succeed. Hell, I know I got the stubborness, so the rest might come naturally!

[JJ Irani]

Great posts, guys!!

My parents decided to have just two kids - Nina and myself. Nina is 5 years older.

I was born in 1946, just after WWII. My father had just come back from North Africa (he was Captain in the then British Army) after kicking Rommell's butt!!

He then got a job with the State Transport company. Mother was always at home looking after Nina and me.

We were certainly not well off then....not by a long shot, but dad was a very hard-working man and a very devoted husband and a father. He gave us the best....by way of food, clothing and education.

Nina and I were fortunate enough to get Cambridge based educations in Bombay....schools which were affiliated with Cambridge, London. The best thing any father could have done for his kids...a good, solid grounding!!

As for the other luxury items....well, we saw Stereo by way of a GRUNDIG TK-60 for the first time in 1960, a 20" black & white TV in 1972 and the rest just followed with time and technology.

Zemina and I immigrated to NZ in 1996....the best move we ever made in 36 years of marriage.

And here I am in sheep land.....one of the most natural and beautiful countries on planet earth.

Cheers - JJ