IndianaWay
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I grew up in the 70's in rural Indiana. The adults I really admired in our community seemed to have a sense of class and decorum mixed with a certain degree of strength, confidence and self-reliance. I read pretty much this entire thread tonight and loved previous posts about people "back in the day" dressing up before they would go anywhere. I have seen pictures from local high school basketball games in the 50's and 60's where pretty much all the men wore suits and the ladies wore dresses. Class and respect are the words that come to mind.
I also have to credit my grandparents - both born in the late 'teens.' My grandpa's brother was killed in WWII. I remember one night as a teenager at Grandpa's/Grandma's house I said something (I don't remember what) and they both looked at each other and said I sounded like the "spittin' image" of his brother. It was kind of an eerie feeling and while I don't think there was anything supernatural, it did make me curious about him and that time period.
I loved listening to "old" music on the radio at their house - Mockingbird Hill comes to mind. I now have a 1940 Philco radio I'd like to have restored. Back in the 70's Grandpa also really wanted me to get a haircut - I've now pretty much adopted a "short back and sides" of which I think he would have approved. Probably my interest is a bit of homage to him and Grandma but it's also borne out of an admiration for a generation of people who faced some very real challenges and didn't crumble under pressure. It's that sense of class, resilience and character I would like to someday exemplify for those who would see me was one of the "older people" in the community. I know I'm painting with a broad brush and the era had its flaws like any other, but there are positive traits which that generation exemplified which I think are in danger of being lost. Glad there are others who in general seem to sense the same thing.
I also have to credit my grandparents - both born in the late 'teens.' My grandpa's brother was killed in WWII. I remember one night as a teenager at Grandpa's/Grandma's house I said something (I don't remember what) and they both looked at each other and said I sounded like the "spittin' image" of his brother. It was kind of an eerie feeling and while I don't think there was anything supernatural, it did make me curious about him and that time period.
I loved listening to "old" music on the radio at their house - Mockingbird Hill comes to mind. I now have a 1940 Philco radio I'd like to have restored. Back in the 70's Grandpa also really wanted me to get a haircut - I've now pretty much adopted a "short back and sides" of which I think he would have approved. Probably my interest is a bit of homage to him and Grandma but it's also borne out of an admiration for a generation of people who faced some very real challenges and didn't crumble under pressure. It's that sense of class, resilience and character I would like to someday exemplify for those who would see me was one of the "older people" in the community. I know I'm painting with a broad brush and the era had its flaws like any other, but there are positive traits which that generation exemplified which I think are in danger of being lost. Glad there are others who in general seem to sense the same thing.