Never Know I'm There...

Most people have seen the play, movie, or, at least heard the songs from "Chicago." The songs are all catchy, but, there is one song that is perhaps one of the saddest songs I have ever heard.

"Mister Cellophane."

I think we have all had times in our lives where we feel like no one can see us.  No one notices us. No one really cares.  Sometimes you can be in a room full of people and still feel alone.  Real or imagined, it is how we sometimes feel.
With the pandemic of Covid19 sweeping the world I can't help but, feel that more people, even people who may not have ever felt that way, will be feeling alone.  Feeling that they aren't even seen.
Well, I guess many of us can't bee seen.  We are self isolated in our houses after all!!!
Everyone wants and needs some alone time, but, they also need human kindness and the feeling of being loved to touch their hearts and soul.

Wah wah wah Wah wah

So, I assume that everyone is familiar with Charlie Brown.  You never see the adults in any of the Charlie Brown movies, just their legs.  You never hear them actually talk either.  All you hear is...

Or, just in case you have never heard it, which I find impossible inconceivable! 

I was thinking about this today.  How many times do we talk, give our opinion, our advice, our heartfelt thoughts and then realize that no one is actually listening?

It has happened to me on occasion and I don't know about you, but, I find it really annoying.

I have written about Samuel finding his voice before.  If you don't know his story, you can read it here - The Power of 3 Words

We always knew that if Samuel could tell us what he needed, that his meltdowns would diminish. 

 After all, don't we all want to be heard?

Today was a lesson for me.

Firstly, it can be a crushing feeling to realize that nobody listens to you.  Well, I guess they listen, but do they hear what you are saying?

Secondly, never assume that others understand what you are saying to them.  Today was the lesson of the pot holder.

Sam and I were doing a science experiment today.  It involved the melting of a marshmallow over a candle and observing the changes.  I forgot to bring a pot holder up to our class room, so I sent Sam down to get it.  I described what it looked like and where he would find it.  I heard Sam down in the kitchen opening the draw that holds all the pots and pans.  "We don't need a pot..." and once again told him where it was and what it looked like.  Sam came up with a pot.  So, I ended up going down and showing him where the pot holder was and what it was.  After all that, we didn't even use the stupid pot holder!!!!

But, it was a lesson for me.  Never assume that people get what you are trying to say.  Sam was listening, but, obviously, I needed to do a better job explaining.  If it is important, make yourself heard.  Way back when Sam had full blown meltdowns, he was trying desperately to make himself heard.  I look at the tv, social media, the news, etc., and see so many people having the equivalent of a melt down.  People think that to get what they want, a public display of aggression is the way to go.  We see this all the time in customer service.  "I want to get a discount, so I will yell at this person until I get it."

Can you be heard and understood using a quiet voice?

I think the answer is yes.

Can we be heard, understood and get what we want using a quiet voice?

I still think the answer is yes.  Just ask my grand-babies!!! 

Still Call Australia Home...Wish It Was Closer!!

I've been living in the United States for nearly 29-years now.

I have lived here longer than I lived in Australia.

I still consider myself very much "Australian."

Though, for the past year I have been mulling over becoming an United States Citizen.

It is amazing to me sometimes, that even though it has been 29/30 years since I have seen some of the people that I grew-up knowing in Australia, they still have the ability to touch my life.  

One of the most difficult things to cope with living thousands of miles away, are the life changing moments.  I do miss the fun things like when the ladies in my family would get together once a month for lunch.  It is always difficult to miss fun things.  Birthdays, engagements, weddings and births.  But, perhaps the hardest to cope with are the deaths.  Aunts, Uncles, little nephews, family friends...

My Dad, my Mum and my brother.

All are grieved, all are missed.

This week I have been thrown for a bit of a loop.

Via facebook I found out that someone I knew from growing-up in Australia had been ill and the prognosis was grim.  I had reconnected with the family a little via facebook, and I followed his daughter's blog.

In church on Sunday, the congregation sang, "Abide With Me."  I have always loved that hymn, but, on Sunday, it caused the tears to flow.  I kept thinking of the Triffitt family, what had been and what was to come for their family.

Lisa King blogged about her Dad HERE.

If you check out her blog, be sure to read the two posts about her Dad.

That Sunday morning in church, it hit me.

I knew why I was feeling so emotional.

Way back in 1983 - can it really be that long ago??  Nick Triffitt was my Bishop at church.

A Mormon bishop is the leader of a local congregation (known as a ward) with duties similar to those of a pastor, priest or rabbi.

I was 20-years-old (nearly 21) and at a bit of a crossroads in my life.  I was dating someone pretty seriously, but I wanted to serve a mission for my church.  Nearly everyone thought I should get married, well, at least everyone who shared their 2 cents worth with me!!!  I went and spoke with Bishop Triffitt and told him that I wanted to go on a mission.  He also thought that I should consider the marriage route.  Finally, he said that we both should spend the week praying about it, and next Sunday dedicate a fast to the situation.  We would meet again that Sunday after church.

When I walked into his office, Bishop Triffitt had the papers that needed to be filled out sitting on his desk.  He said that we needed to get things moving as quickly as possible, that the Lord wanted me to serve a mission.

Looking back, Bishop Triffitt was a very young Bishop.  He may have been young, but he made a difference in people's lives.  I only wish that it had all clicked with me earlier.  He listened to the promptings of the spirit and in return, guided me.  I will be forever grateful and I hope he knows that his guidance set in motion a happy life.

I do have one more story to tell, and I like to think that my Mum is confessing this to the injured party!  Maybe she already did, but my kids love this story!!

When Nick Triffitt was still Bishop, my Mum made him a Christmas fruit cake.  In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Mormon Bishops conduct tithing settlements with members of the church.  It can result in some very long Sundays for the Bishop.  So, Mum made one of her fruit cakes for him to munch on during the afternoon.

Mum used alcohol to soak the fruit.

Usually not a problem for the alcohol is cooked out as it bakes.

This particular year my Mum forgot the alcohol step.

Not thinking, Mum poured some alcohol over the top of the fruitcake as it sat cooling.

Bishop Triffitt said it was the best fruitcake he had ever had.

I told my Mum that I hoped he wasn't pulled over by the police on the way home!!

My thoughts and prayers are with Nick Triffitt's family as they mourn the loss of a husband, father, brother, grandfather...

A few years ago I was attending our church's temple in Orlando.  Each of the temples have a beautiful room called the Celestial room.  There wasn't anyone else in there for a short period of time and I was waiting for Jim.  There was a brother and sister (siblings, not just a brother and sister in a church sense) there who were attending the temple for the very first time in preparation for going on missions.  There were many family and friends attending with them, and as they came into the Celestial room, they stood by the doors and waited for the brother and sister to come in.  As they did, everyone hugged everyone and the tears flowed.  Joy on every one's face.  Happiness.

I remember thinking that this is what it was going to be like.

This is how it would be when I got to seem my Mum, Dad, brother and our little Emma.

This is how I imagine my former Bishop.

Joy and happiness.

Wombats......Gotta Love them!

Of course Wombats check Facebook and their e-mails!

Thought this picture was cute.

A Crappy Day & Burned Biscuits

Yesterday was a fairly crappy day.

I keep hoping that each year will get easier when the 23rd of April rolls around.

I guess in the grand scheme of things, it is easier in many aspects, but it still hurts. 

The physical pain isn't there, and the emotional pain isn't so raw.

But, many of the feelings and emotions still come to the surface.  Just......duller.

I still grieve for my Mum, Dad and brother at different times, but it is different than my grief for Emma.

On the 23rd April, 2004 I felt completely alone and engulfed in the despair of losing a child.  Every year that comes back.  Like I said, it is duller, but it is there.

The feelings pass and the knowledge that families are eternal is always a constant source of comfort.

I love this.....

A friend posted the following on face book.

It reminded me of something my mother shared years ago about some good family friends.  Just something very simple, but, it stuck with me.  My Mum told me that no matter what Anne put on the table for dinner every night, Mike always thanked her for the meal.  Never complained if it was something he didn't like or if the recipe hadn't turned out as expected.

I am blessed that Jim follows that same philosophy.

Burned Biscuits - and the lesson we all should learn

 When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!  All my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing...never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said, "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides--a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"
As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people.  I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today...that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of the Divine Creator. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket--keep it in your own."
So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.
And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life--

and remember to be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

 

Sally-Ann

Some big changes........

We have had quite a few changes over the past few months.

One of our biggest changes is that we are now the proud owners of.......

 This picture was taken at our official ribbon cutting.

We like to live on the edge and let Sam use gigantic scissors!

 The above photo, and the next few were taken at our "night before our official opening".  In 3 hours we scooped a very large amount of frozen custard!!!

 This photo wasn't actually taken at the before mentioned event.

Sam sets up appointments with various people to come and play "Sonic" or "Candy Land" with him.  The usual victims recipients (usually willing!!) are Scott and Christine Chambers.  They teach Samuel's class at church and he has latched onto them with a vengeance!!!!

Samuel loves the custard shop and likes to help. 

Here he is after he has busily wiped down all the counters.

Samuel's request never waivers when he comes it.

Chocolate milkshake.

and

chocolate custard with chocolate sauce.

Otherwise known as a Sundae!!

 

Why a custard shop you may ask???

Some days we ask ourselves the very same question!!!

Jim went to was in Salt Lake City on business and was staying with his brother, Mike, and his family.  One night Mike took Jim to Nielsen's Frozen Custard.  Jim made Mike take him back every single night he was there.

Jim came home and told me that one day he wanted to own a frozen custard shop.

I said, "That's nice honey...."

Last April we went to Utah for Joshua's graduation.

Every night Jim went to Nielsen's Frozen Custard.

I think I finally had some on our final night there.

Last month we finally opened our own frozen custard shop.

We will never go back to ice-cream.

 

So, if you are ever in the area and get a hankerin' for something delicious and some good old fashioned service with a smile........

Come on in and say "Hi!"

If you live near or far, you can check out our different flavors on facebook.

Purdy's Frozen Custard

 

Sally-Ann



It's Raining, It's Pouring...........

 



Today is a rainy day in Tampa, Florida.

I have always loved rainy days.

Days to spend curled up with a good book, or watching a movie.

I love listening to the rain on the roof when I am laying in bed at night.

Not to mention that we could do with some rain at the moment.  It has been pretty dry and my flowers need the water.........we won't even talk about the lawn. 

Well, I should have said that "used" to love the rain.  I still have moments of loving it, but since about September of last year I have been viewing the rain, clouds, thunder and lightning through different eyes.........through Sam's eyes.

 

The weather had never really bothered Samuel that much.  Then all of a sudden it did.  Thunderstorms are pretty common during the summer in Florida, but it caught me by surprise one day, when during a particularly noisy storm I ended up.....well, I don't know if words can accurately describe the scene!!  Imagine Samuel wrapped around my neck as tightly as possible without actually making me pass out, insisting that we sit on my bed with Nick Jr. on as loud as humanly bearable and the covers over our head.  To top it off, the dog also appeared to have developed this fear over night and was trying to squash under the bed.  This was after I refused to let him on the bed.  Blue is a 100lb Golden Retriever.  There was no way I could have him sitting on me as well as Sam.

When I was little, my Mum would sing me all kinds of funny songs and nursery rhymes.  One of my favorites was

"It's raining, it's pouring,

the old man is snoring.

Bumped his head, and he went to bed,

And he couldn't get up in the mornin'.

Rain, rain, go away.  Come again some other day."

Several months ago I found a book by Peter, Paul and Mary

(for those who may not have a clue of who they are, they are a singing group from way back in the dark ages!!!)

Sometimes Sam and I will read the book and listen to the song that goes along with it.  In the book, all the children play a game of hide-and-seek to take their minds off the rain.

 

When I look at the stormy weather through Sam's eyes I don't necessarily understand why he is constantly asking me about everything imaginable about the different aspects of the storm, but it helps me not to get frustrated when I am asked the same questions over and over and over and over...........

Are there grey clouds?  Are there thunder clouds?  Is there lightning?  Is that thunder?  Is it going to be cloudy all day?  Is it going to thunder all day?  Is there going to be lightning all day?  Is the water going to come up? (Courtesy of the song, "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man."  It goes, "The rain came down and the floods came up, the rain came down and the floods came up.....")

When you have answered the questions, they are then repeated back.

There are grey clouds?  There are thunder clouds?  There is lightning?  That is thunder?  It is going to be cloudy all day?  It is going to thunder all day?  It is going to lightning all day?

 

I may not understand why this worries Sam so much, but I understand that it scares him and sends him into a constant loop of worry.  I know that he comes to me for comfort and for answers.  I do not have all the answers, but I can love him.

 

As for Blue, the big yellow dog.........

he is still not allowed in the bed.

 Sally-Ann

I Dreamed.........

The Republican National Convention has been on my mind a bit the past week.

It is being held here in Tampa.

If I could vote, I would probably vote Republican.

(No hate comments, you will be deleted without any hesitation......I like Mitt)

 

But, that isn't why it has been on my mind.

Every morning and every afternoon I have to drive past downtown Tampa to get to Sam's school.  I can go 2 different ways.  Next week, one of those ways will be closed because of the Republican National Convention.

It is my favorite way.

It is my quickest way.

It is the way with the least amount of traffic.

I know that I am not the only one in this predicament.

So, next week I have to go another way.

The way I usually come home, but I hate to go that way.

Several people have suggested that I stay in a hotel on the beach for that week and not worry about traffic at all.

But, now there is the possibility of a hurricane coming our way.

I do not want to be stuck at the beach if that happens!

So, instead, I will drive through this.....

Anyway,

I think because all this has been on my mind.

Last night I had a dream.......

I dreamed that this Sunday Mitt Romney and his family were sitting behind us at church.

Samuel liked the look of his family and climbed over the pew and onto Mitt Romney's lap.  He then proceeded to insist that Mitt Romney play Jelly Cars on the IPad.

Governor Romney was very good, you could tell he has grandsons!

Dreams, we all have them.

I started to think about the other kind of dreams.

The dreams we have of our future - or our present.

When we were little we would dream of what we wanted to be when we grew up.

Who we would marry.

Where we would live.

Dreams for our life.

When we grow older.....

I mean older, middle aged older, and even older than that.

Do we still have dreams?

I mean more that goals.

Dreams.

For myself, I don't know......

and that makes me sad.

Sally-Ann

Sad news to share.........

Just read some sad news.

Sad in our house anyway.

Three of the Wiggles are retiring!!!

Sam does not watch very much television, but, a few years ago, he would watch the Wiggles.

We even went to a Wiggles concert!!!

Sam's favorite song was "Fruit Salad."

He still sings it.......

So, I have included "Fruit Salad" for your listening pleasure.

Sally-Ann

If I am found dead, "Keep Calm and Carry On"........

I have been trying to get my garage organized.

It is a job that requires a hard hat, a strong back, nerves of steel

and lots and lots and lots of large trash bags........

This actually is NOT my garage.  Ours is not THIS messy



The process has been slowed down a little bit because amongst all the junk are boxes of mementos. 

Photos, my baby's firsts......

their seconds,

thirds

and fourths......

.you get the idea!

Love letters from Jim to me.

Love letters from me to Jim.

Memories, memories, memories.

One of my most favorite photos that I found, is this one....

I was extremely pregnant with a 9lb 8.8oz Jessica.

Joshua wanted to come to my doctor appointment with me because he absolutely loved adored loved and adored our family doctor......Dr. Perzinski.

In this photo Joshua is listening to his sister's heartbeat.

A friend was doing a photography project and capturing the different stages of pregnancy on film. 

That is the only reason a photo of my big belly exists!!!  

Can't believe I am putting it on my blog!

But, I love the look of concentration on Joshua's face.

My next find was very bitter sweet.

It made me smile.....

It made me sad......

It caused me to reflect a bit.

It made me think of this..... 

 Shortly after my mother died, my good friend Andrea, sent me a box with some of her things.  I had forgotten about this one item, it is a note, and when I unfolded the paper, I laughed out loud. 
My Mum would put many of these notes around her house.  

"If found dead, PLEASE do not panic.
Phone Anne on *** *** and she will call Dr. Monks.  
Remind him I'm not to go to the morgue!!  Murphy McKay Funerals
Phone Murphy McKay *** ***
and Sally ***************" 

Yes, this may seem a strange thing.
If you knew my mother.........not so strange.

My mother had bad health and the last few years of her life she would often have times where she was sure that she was going to die on a certain day or weekend.  Mum would often call me and tell me this - so it wouldn't be a shock when I received the call!
I would always call her a few days later, and when she answered the phone, I would ask her how come she was answering the phone!!  She would get mad and hang-up on me!!

What made me sad then, and makes me sad today, is that she concentrated so much on preparing for her death and preparing others for it, that she stopped living. 

We need to find joy in every day.
Sometimes this may be hard.
But, if we look hard enough, there is always a bright spot in each day.

Samuel helps me to find the joy in each day.
He is a happy boy.
When you walk in the door he greets you with joy.
He builds you up.
He encourages you to "try again Mummy!"
and gives you a resounding, "You did it!" or, "Good job!" when you do try again and succeed.

Are we that encouraging and supportive to those that we meet?
Do we have joy on our faces??
Are we living in the moment???
Or are we swept up in what was and what will be?
Worrying about the past and about the future takes away from where we are.

Oh, I know that everything can't be sunshine and roses all the time.
But, we can live joyfully........

Just ask Sam.

 

Sally-Ann

You've learned the language so well......and quickly!

I have lived in the United States for 25 1/2 years now.

Over the years I have been asked some very weird questions.

Sometimes I don't know whether to attempt an answer, or just ignore the person asking the questions.

It is a family joke that still doesn't get old still gets told about the first question someone asked me when I moved here. 

Are you ready??

"In Australia, do you have...........

indoor plumbing,

satellite dishes 

and running water?"

What do you think I answered?

A friend recently shared this on facebook and I am going to share it here.  I have seen these questions before and they still boggle my mind.......

These were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials.

__________________________________________________
Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia ? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? ( UK ).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
__________________________________________________

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? ( USA )
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.
__________________________________________________

Q:I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? ( Sweden )
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.
__________________________________________________

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in 

Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay ? ( UK )
A: What did your last slave die of?
__________________________________________________

Q:Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia ? ( USA )
A: A-Fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe.
Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not
... Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
__________________________________________________

Q:Which direction is North in Australia ? (USA )
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
_________________________________________________

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia ? ( UK )
A:Why? Just use your fingers like we do...
__________________________________________________

Q:Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? ( USA )
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is
Oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
__________________________________________________

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia ? ( UK )
A: You are a British politician, right?
__________________________________________________

Q:Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? ( Germany )
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers.
Milk is illegal.
__________________________________________________

Q:Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. ( USA )
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from.
All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
__________________________________________________

Q:I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. 

It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. ( USA )
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them.
You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
__________________________________________________

Q:I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth.

Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia ? ( USA )
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
__________________________________________________

Q:Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia ? ( France )
A: Only at Christmas.
__________________________________________________

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? ( USA )
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first

But, I think my all time favorite comment came from a customer I was helping when I worked in a department store in Minneapolis.

Customer:  "How long have you been in the United States?"

Me: "About 1 1/2 years."

Customer:  "You've picked up the language so quickly and speak English so fluently!"

Me: (biting my tongue)  "Well, thank you!"  (didn't want to lose a customer!!)

Sally-Ann

Still trying to master the English language........ 

If you're happy and you know it........

I had good intentions of posting this earlier.

But.......I didn't.

So, here it is now!

Mondays can be tough.

In case you are having a bad Monday....

A case of afternoon blaahs......

or just need a pick-me-up in general.

Here is an original art project by

SAMUEL WILTON PURDY

 If you're happy and you know it,

CLAP YOUR HANDS

 If you're happy and you know it,

CLAP YOUR HANDS

 If you're happy and you know it,

then you face should surely show it

If you're happy and you know it,

CLAP YOU HANDS!!!

The Wikki Sticks that are next to the smiley face are balloons.

Sam loves playing with Wikki Sticks.

The big blue blob that is on the smiley face's head is a "bandaid" for his "boo boo".

Hope everyone is having a "boo boo" free day.

If you are not, I hope that there is someone to give you a bandaid.

Sally-Ann and Samuel



Remember when........I dare you!!!

REMEMBER WHEN:
All the girls had ugly gym slips?

These gym slips actually look a lot like my primary school winter uniform!!

It took five minutes for the TV to warm up 

 

Nearly everyone's Mum was home when the kids got home from school 

 

Nobody owned a purebred dog 

You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny 

Your Mother wore nylons that came in two pieces 



All male teachers wore ties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels 

You got your windscreen cleaned, oil checked and petrol served, without asking, all for free, every time.. 

It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents 

I didn't eat at a "real restaurant" until I was 13!!

They threatened to keep children back a year if they failed the school year. . .. and they did! 

When a Ford Zephyr was everyone's dream car... 
and people went steady 



No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked 

Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles?

Playing cricket with no adults to help the children with the rules of the game 

Bottles came from the corner shop without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger

And with all our progress, don't you wish, just once, you could slip back in time and savour the slower pace, and share it with the children of today?


When being sent to the headmasters office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited you at home 

Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs etc.. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we survived because their love was greater than the threat. 
As well as summers filled with bike rides, cricket, Hula Hoops, skating and visits to the pool, eating lemonade powder or liquorice sticks. 

Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say,

'Yes, I remember that'? 

I am sharing this with you today because it ended with a Double Dare to pass it on. 

To remember what a Double Dare is, read on, and remember that the perfect age is somewhere between old enough to know better and too young to care. 

Send this on to someone who can still remember the Lone Ranger and Sgt Bilko


How Many Of These Do You Remember?
Coca Cola in bottles.


Blackjacks and bubble gums.


Home milk delivery in glass bottles with tinfoil tops


Hi-If's & 45 RPM records.


78 RPM records!


Adding Machines.


 

Do You Remember a Time When..
Decisions were made by going 'Eeny-meeny-miney-moe'?
'Race issue' meant arguing about who ran the fastest?
Catching tadpoles could happily occupy an entire day?

It wasn't odd to have two or three 'Best Friends'?

The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was 'chickenpox'?

Having a Weapon in School meant being caught 

with a Catapult

War was a card game?


Cigarette cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle?


Taking drugs meant orange - flavoured chewable aspirin?


Water balloons were the ultimate weapon?

If you can remember most or all of these, Then You Have Lived!!!!!!!

Share this with someone who may need a break today
Double Dare You!