The HARD times of today, by geezer who

[Jim Franklin]

are often accused of bragging about the tough/hard times of yesteryear that some of you discovered in "Just Remembering." But the really hard times for we geezers is: trying to figure out how to use a cell phone for just making a phone call and not all that other mumbo jumbo, what all these keys on this keyboard are for other than the alphabet, how can you send a message on a cell phone with ten digits, there are 26 letters in the alphabet, I know because that is the way the carpet is arranged on Esther's kindegarten floor, dealing with the huffy people behind you at the checkout counter when you take the time to write a check and not push some piece of plastic through some gadget there, having to help cashiers make correct change who cannot figure out how to do so, trying to understand an auto mechanic who tells you that "it" can't be fixed for under $500 because the computer is out, wondering how trust worthy paying on line is when we are told don't ever give out any numbers that can facilitate identity theft, approaching one of those weird traffic roundabouts without fear of being hit from the side not knowing who really has the right of way, hearing beeps from various appliances and running to three or four before you find out which one beeped. wondering why my hearing is so good and the young folks have to crank up the amplifier to hear what they would like to hear (it used to be that it was the old folks who lost their hearing as they aged, now it seems the young folks are rushing their loss of their auditory faculties), wondering why young folks can't tell time with a clock with the numbers and the hands, our work used to be physical enough to keep us fit without going to some gym to "work out," Why we even used to get up on our feet and walk across the room to turn on or adjust the radio going through the owners manual/volume to find out what all the knobs and toggles are when you get a different vehicle before you dare get out on the road. wondering if the traffic light will change before we can make it half way across the street and we'll be mowed down because we are not as agile as we used to be.

Laptops: were reserved for your special girlfriend not gadgetry.
Mens' shoes: came up over his ankle
Oxfords: were mens' shoes that were cut below the ankle
Underskirts: were what women wore under their outerwear
UndershirtsL were what men wore under their clothes before T shirts.
Horseshoes: were what horses actually wore and not just a game.
Hods: what coal or bricks were carried in or on
Skillet: what you fried up your spuds, eggs, pancakes and bacon or sausage for breakfast
Added for no extra charge.