The Days of Yore

Via 4Branch

I write in the language of the people, of the time, of the place.  If any find that offensive, they have a ‘Delete’ button

It will be noted I use the term ‘boys’ often enough.  ‘Boys’ is a legitimate word in common usage in the time and place, and in the manner used.  It is a term of friendly familiarity, comradeship, fellow feeling, brotherhood.  It doesn’t derogate anyone.

I feel foolish even having to explain this.

The foul, ugly, vile language in common usage today, in public, on TV, in ‘entertainment’ was unknown in my youth.  No one spoke the ‘Mutha’ word.  No one.  My experience includes daily contact with the roughest sorts of men, field hands, laborers, seamen and soldiers; Black, White, and Brown.  No one used such trash talk.  My experience ranged from Southern California to north of Boston, San Diego to Swampscott.  I cleaned gas station rest rooms, never any such garbage on the walls.

The sluttieness of today was totally unknown.  Women and girls were respectable and respected for it.  Bikinis were not unknown, but thongs weren’t even thought of.  Girls didn’t chug pitchers, didn’t puke all over themselves, and certainly didn’t embarrass sailors with their language.  People were people and blood got hot then, as it does today.  Things happened and arrangements had to be made, not to murder innocent babies, but to outplace them if necessary.  Many girls elected to keep the child and do the best she could.  And God love ‘em, they did.  Tough life, their choice. Brave, heroic for them to do so.  Some had no help or support from their families.  Perpetual shame on those parents for their selfishness.  Even then we thought it cruel to abandon a girl ‘in trouble’.