131 Years ago ...

What was lost in translation ? Sometime between the last 131 years and now something was seriously lost. Just as Adam and I sat to dinner last night we spoke of how so many people today have sooo many things, and just as how much the same amount take it all for granted. True there is alot today that was not around then to be quite thankful for ... but who seems as if they are thankful anymore ? Quite often you go to the store and so many are grumbling about this or that, telling everyone in the checkout line just how bad thier lives are or who did what to whom in thier family. Well, after a lengthy discussion on the topic, we came to the question of " If the same people that lived 131 or so years ago were alive today - what would they be like as people living in our communities" ?

Our answer was simple, in one of two ways it would depend on how the person was as a person before, however I bet that the majority would think us rather rediculous for living so friviously and well out of our means as alot of most society does today. Somehow these people that helped to start our country managed without ALL of the modern technological things that are in our midst today. These people mangaged with no running water, wash machines, dryers, showers, toilets.... they lived without ANY electicity, TV, computers AND cell phones, they managed without microwaves, Refrigerators or McDonalds' .... many simply cooked over open fire in or out of the home that they bulit from cut down trees, cut without chainsaws and all done by hand. Things were hand sewn, all the clothes, dresses and blankets, people were paid a salary and had work without worry that they be downsized for machinery taking thier jobs. A persons word MEANT something and defined them as a person and gave them personal character. If you wanted to go somewhere, it took alot of money and alot of time, there were no such things as a two hour flight from Chicago to New York, but instead a horribly bumpy ride that drew out amoungst a number of days or even weeks to get anywhere. Of course here was no gasoline prices, but not everyone could afford a team of horses for a wagon, so usually only some had them. If getting around town was what was needed, walking was your main mode of transportation. Not everyone HAD money immediately and some had none at all, credit or credit cards were only available for the extremely wealthy and even then not used as they are today, most often people paid for items when they had CASH, not when they wanted the item.

So can you imagine just living for ONE day in a similar manner ? Truth is - while many say no I can't, no one would. So our line of thinking about this is - while the majority of folks had some deep set morals from way back when, many as they got used to the new and modern ideas that are around today would too become greedy. ~ GREED, such an ugly word - a word that no one will admit to even being in the slightest, but it is true. Today we are all too spolied, not many of us left in this generation even know what it is to grow our own food, make our own clothes or to just live within our means without using credit.

Well, I for one can tell you that we have ONE credit card - and that is to JCPenney, I usually let it ride one month before I pay it off, I do not believe in credit. I do not believe in pay day loan things or checks. Even so - as we try to go amoungst old fashion values and beliefs, we are finding it increasingly difficult to do so. Everyone wants money now, not "cash on the barrell". Most today do not care if you rob a bank to get the funds, if someone has stolen from you or even if you are just having a hard time, they all just want thier money and they want it yesterday. Just try explaining to someone that you have NO money, and they all think that you are somehow just trying to get out of paying them. There are very few that are honest, caring or trustworty any longer, and this is what I don't understand - what was lost in translation ? Did our ancestors not teach us enough about the honesty of a fair dollar or working hard or is it that too many of our generation are so used to things being handed to them ? What has gone on with this country, this world; to make it such an insensitive place for people to live anymore ? It worries me that people today have taught our children that doing wrong is a better way of life than doing what is right. Today people - both women and men work all day and night anymore just to pay bills or compete with the "jonses" next door - leaving the kids alone for hours with no chores, no idea of thier goings on and no one to care for them. While many others kids are pushed from person to person or activity to activity with no thought. Why has money done this to people ? Why do people let GREEN contol thier minds ? How can a bill collector call and be soo awful to you on the phone to a bill that you've explained- you did not cause (we had a previous credit card stolen from us in 2002) and then go to thier own home where they as well probably have children, owe bills and have lived in similar circumstances at one time or the other - knowing that it is not very caring to be that way as they would not like it done to themselv's ....

Should our new US flag colors been red, white and green ? Somehow we have to get a new translation out ...but how ? How can we teach our kids that money should come AFTER people and NOT before .... is it too late ?

Anyway, as we finished our discussion on this matter Adam and I both stated that if we could have chosen a time to live in, it probably would have been around 131 years ago. Sure things were harder - but people appriciated more and were nicer to eachother as a whole. I wish people would be that way today, and it is sad that most aren't, but then again does anyone really care ?

I would love to hear anyones comments on this or a similar topic - perhaps maybe a time era that you'd enjoy living in or maybe some stories that a family member has passed down from one generation to the next.

Not a whole lot went on for our weekend here, rained mostly and was kinda long and depressing. We finally heard that there will be no NC - a total bummer of course, but someone else was picked for the slot. I know it wasn't what I wanted, but they say things happen for a reason :( Jimmie Johnson won the race in Richmond on Sunday and that stunk - royally, so I really don't have alot to say about that other than atleast Jeff is still first in points and finished the race in third. Today I have some running to do ... grocery store, etc. Other than that it is back to doing some more spring cleaning which I really don't mind too much, but this year we must really be slobs, it is taking so much longer and I have gotten rid of 10 boxes of things already ! I do think I will do a yard sale sometime, just don't know when yet ... lord knows, I am not going out there to become a millionaire, I just want rid of all the big stuff that I want out of my way !

Well, I hope that our discussion has stirred some thoughts in your minds and maybe we'll hear back from someone about this, it would be nice to see what others think about this topic.

I hope ya'll have a great day, God Bless ! TAMMIE :)