Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Growing up in the 50s

I voted for Goldwater in 64. Really sorry that didn't work out so well.

It was in the 50's when the 1st McDonalds opened in Boise. Mom took us down for a 'famous' 10 cent burger. It was dry and boring, almost as bad as their 'famous' burgers today that I won't eat.

You really have to have lived through that slice of time to fully appreciate it. I was born in '39, so most of the men who influenced us were veterans; family, friends, teachers, scout leaders, bosses; most served (one in the Luftwaffe). We had great respect for them, still do.

Coming of age, we wanted to follow in their footsteps. We were also told that it was our duty to serve, and without an honorable discharge we'd have a tough time finding a decent job. When I graduated from HS in 1956, the main options were go to college if you had the money, enlist if you didn't. I joined the USAF, two days out of HS.

By 1960 when I got out things had changed. Looking for a job it was "Why didn't you go to college, were you too stupid"? The old respect for military service had waned. It was the beginning of the '60s culture, and all that brought. I knocked around for awhile, then decided to beat them at their own game, so I pursued college with a vengeance. I'm not going to brag about my academic record, but if I ran for office it would be front and center, not like Obama's. I earned mine. Was it worthwhile? I suppose so. I've had a decent life, but no fortune or fame.

The point is, you have to play the hand you were dealt, and the times you find yourself in at each stage of your life play a big part.

Just my $0.02.

Paul

Somebody say "old jalopies"?

Lots of people didnt vote for him because of his Jewish ancestors.
Even though he himself followed one of the spin off christain religions.
He has been credited with the intial rebirth/ resurgance of the conservative movement.
Reagan followed to an extent some of his positions.



But people voted for LBJ the Darkie lover insted and this is where we are today.
The great welfare and benefit society for Liberal Socialist Democrat voters as a way of life.
It's also what illegal aliens are to Liberal Socialist Democrats.
Illegal voters and millions more potential voters dependant on them and their great society programs.
Mutha fugging Liberal Socialist Democrats couldn't give a fugg about a bunch of illegal aliens "suffering".
All they wanta do is get em here, get em on welfare, and get their votes.

All at the expense of working and retired tax paying citizens.

LBJ,s "great society scheme" is winning more every day, every week, every month, every year, every fugging decade.

I was born in "37 and joined the USAF in 1956. I know exactly what you are talking about. My favorite high school history teacher came home from the War with a plate in his skull.

LBJ the darkie lover! I like that!

I had the mumps in both cheeks at a young age (pre-school). That was a miserable experience. I think the risk of going sterile is for those who get it later in life (maybe post puberty?). Also had the chicken pox, but I was so young, don't remember that. Mom said all of us kids got it at the same time and I was still in diapers. The vaccines for these diseases already existed, but I was young enough not to have been vaccinated when I came down with them. Don't think I ever had measles though.

[/quote]
Lots of people didnt vote for him because of his Jewish ancestors.
Even though he himself followed one of the spin off christain religions.
He has been credited with the intial rebirth/ resurgance of the conservative movement.
Reagan followed to an extent some of his positions.



But people voted for LBJ the Darkie lover insted and this is where we are today.
The great welfare and benefit society for Liberal Socialist Democrat voters as a way of life.
It's also what illegal aliens are to Liberal Socialist Democrats.
Illegal voters and millions more potential voters dependant on them and their great society programs.
Mutha fugging Liberal Socialist Democrats couldn't give a fugg about a bunch of illegal aliens "suffering".
All they wanta do is get em here, get em on welfare, and get their votes.

All at the expense of working and retired tax paying citizens.

LBJ,s "great society scheme" is winning more every day, every week, every month, every year, every fugging decade.
[/quote]

yes, it might have been the high=water mark in this country.

i was advised rather directly some 20 years ago that the walls were down, and get ready for it.

actually, it all began under johnson pretty much.

his reign of terror pissed me off on several accounts.

but we have survived, and things appear to be going global (in a sense).

there's two economic philosophies appearing to be coming into more direct conflict with each other?

Was born in the late 30's, finished school in early 50's. Quit a part time job to work full time (and took a 10% pay cut to do so). Married in 1958, still with her. Wasn't until I was older I realized what we didn't have although I was better off than some as an only child for 12 years until there was a whoops brother. We really couldn't afford to get married so we struggled like a lot of our friends. Bought a house for what now seems like a ridiculously low price but for which we struggled to pay for a lot of years. Was given my first gun when I was 12. It lived in my bedroom closet with ammo on the dresser. In those days seeing a deer in this area was a rarity. Both ducks and geese were sparse. All of these are now quite common.

Lots of woodchucks around then, now they are non-existent. Some say this is because of the coyotes we now have, but have never seen a scientific study to support this.

As others have said it kind of depends on your perspective. All in all I feel as though we have lived through some of the best times. Others will disagree.

Jim

Great times but the children of today have learned nothing about it.

Good to read the comments of our senior members born in the 30s. Thanks for sharing. Hope to read more from you.

tongue in cheek: history, what history?

we're all living in the now.

I was born in '56,..so I don't have very many memories of anything before the early 60's. I was in the second grade when Kennedy was killed. A first grader told me about it as my class was leaving the gym and his class was coming in.

We were both very small children but both of us knew that it was a significant event.

Looking back, the 60's was a crazy time. I didn't realize just *how* crazy because I hadn't been around long enough to compare it to any other time.

The war in Vietnam started popping pretty good when I was in the 4th grade, or so and it didn't wind down until I was Junior in High school. From 4th grade to a Junior in high school is a long time when you're a kid. It seemed like the Vietnam war had been going on forever and was going to continue to go on forever.

The crux of the national news on TV was the war in Vietnam for years,..every night.

I registered for the draft late in my junior year of high school. I recall being happy about the fact that I wasn't going to get drafted when they ended it. But I was too young and ignorant to understand how happy I should actually be about it.

I remember the first draft lottery, my number was 354.

Grandpaw and me about 1958 or 59. Atascosa co Texas. . Im a ‘56 model. I think his old tractor was a Case. Someone here may recognize it for sure. I remember when this pic was made. We rode up to the highway to get the mail. About a 2 mile round trip. Kinda funny! Im older now than he is in this photo!

I was born in 1944.We lived near a small airport.I remember bi-planes and tri-planes flying around.Never saw a black person until we moved to town.If you swore you got your mouth washed out with soap.All men were addressed Sir or Mr.All ladies Misses or Miss.When your father asked you to do something ,you said yes sir.No adults were ever called by their first name alone.Mr.Jones,Mrs Jones,Aunt Jane,Uncle Bill.Except Grandma and Grandpa who were Granny and Gramps.We went to Church every Sunday no exceptions.We believed in God and no one told us we could not pray.School mornings were started out with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.I spent summers at Gramps farm and was driving a tractor a 6 years old.Gramps had Belgian and Percheron work horses that as a little kid looked like giants.We had loaded guns in the house and knew enough to not touch them.On the other hand out at the farm I was allowed to shoot any gun I could handle at 6 years of age.We knew what directions you could shoot safely,cause Gramps said you shoot one of my animals I will hide you(Meant a good ass whoopin ).As a kid we were outside all day.Only inside if it was raining.Never locked our doors or had windows shut in the summer.Keys were left in the car ,which was not locked.Gramps house did not get electricity until the mid fifties,but his barn had it ever since i could remember.There was a radio in the milk house that only had the ag report and weather on except when the Braves had a baseball game.Pretty sad how things turned out with all the PC bullchit .Kids can`t even point their fingers at each other and say bang.I am glad I was born when I was and lived the good free life that we will never see again.Huntz

I was born in 1960 but grew up with my aunts & uncles who on Mom’s side of the family’s were all born in the 50’s.
So I have lots of memories from them talking about growing up in the 50’s. They are all gone now, so I’ve really enjoyed reading all the posts on this thread.