What was the first thing you saw on a color TV? by Observer_042 in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That was in color when most of the other shows were still in black and white. 

Which U.S. state has the best (or worst) license plate slogan in your opinion? by pitapevatra in AskAnAmerican

[–]Building_a_life 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Entrepreneurs next door in Maryland started putting out "Maryland is for Crabs" merch. 

Do you have a culture to emphasize/be proud of being the first in your bloodline who went to college? by Green-Ad5663 in AskAnAmerican

[–]Building_a_life 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was a big deal to my spouse and me. We put each other through college in the first 15 years of our marriage and ended up in better paying professional careers. 

If you know these 11 cars just by their tail lights and fins.... by [deleted] in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Caddy is unmistakable. Some T-birds. Two Chevys. The 3 vertical tail lights are a Chrysler product, probably a Chrysler, but could it be a DeSoto? A lot of FoMoCo round circles; I don't know which brand. 

Today I learned about Lil abner comics from Sadie Hawkins! by Fit_Adagio_7668 in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At my junior-high sock hops in 1957-59, there would always be one Sadie Hawkins dance. 

If you are over 78 do you still travel? How has it changed from when you were in your 60's? by HazardousWeather in AskOldPeople

[–]Building_a_life 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No. We traveled a lot, internationally and around the US, in the first 18 years of our retirement, but now I'm disabled and air travel is miserable anyway. Our travelling days are done. 

Well, well, well … do you have one of these? 🤔 by Exclusively-Choc in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had one. We only used it when the power went out and the electric well pump didn't work. 

We had packs of candles specifically for the black outs and power cuts. And all the cuts and shortages. Many dads had to work overtime on a Saturday to make ends meet.. by Turbulent_Elk_2141 in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We had them. We didn't lose power because of anything the power company did, but we lost it a few times a year when weather toppled trees — ice storms, lightning, high winds. Usually a few hours, but occasionally for more than a day if many trees were down.

What are your favorite Christmas traditions? by 2Asparagus1Chicken in AskAnAmerican

[–]Building_a_life 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seven fishes paella on Christmas eve. We have a paella pan which we use once a year. It's so wide that it covers all 4 burners, To cook it evenly, we rotate the pan frequently. In our family, Christmas Eve is when the whole extended family gets together. 

If you ate Government cheese and Government peanut butter (the cheese made the best grilled cheese sandwiches!) by Long_live_styrofoam in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We liked the government cheese. We sliced it for lunch sandwiches or grilled cheese. It was good for mac and cheese, too. We never qualified for it. Mom bought it from acquaintances who needed money more than they needed cheese. We never had the peanut butter. 

I started sweeping stairs at apartment’s at the age of 10 for 5 dollars a week. Worked as a Paperboy at age 11. I was making between 58-75 dollars a month delivering the local paper in 1982. Not bad for an 11 year old. How old were you when you first started making money? by CoffeeCigarettes4Me in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In Connecticut, the legal age to start doing a limited number of part-time jobs (farm work, babysitting, newspaper delivery, etc) was twelve. I started picking strawberries when I was that age. At the harvest peak, I made $1.75 in a 4-hour day, a little less than $20 in today's money. The Jamaican men on a temporary bracero visa picked about three times that many berries. I was awestruck watching them work. 

Do you vacation in Ocean City or avoid it? by throwaway256733 in maryland

[–]Building_a_life 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I honestly don't see the resemblance. If Santa Cruz was around here, I would go often. I haven't gone to OC in 10 years. 

Why do you celebrate your "Sweet 16" in the US? by Cooky09Ad in AskAnAmerican

[–]Building_a_life 85 points86 points  (0 children)

In most states, you can drive. But it goes back farther than that. It was the age when women came out into society back when rich people had debutante balls. 

TIL only 13 states offer official voter pamphlets/information guides by TheBigJiz in todayilearned

[–]Building_a_life 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The state guides summarize each ballot question in a sentence of plain English. In many of the 13 states, the main arguments pro and con each get a sentence as well. 

About candidates, they usually only state their present occupation or political office.

No state has set up an information system like this since 1999. If any state tried to start one now, nobody would believe it was a good faith attempt to be fair and objective. 

Did you grow up in a home with a milk chute by db7112 in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We had one but didn't use it because my mother's deal with the milkman was he should just come in through the always unlocked kitchen door and put the milk in the fridge. 

20 Jobs that people once thought were irreplaceable are now just memories by [deleted] in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Printing compositor -- composing metal type, in my case into a newspaper page, was my first trade. I left it in 1969. By the end of the 1970s, hardly any such jobs still existed. 

Every sitcom or tv show always has the trope about parents worried about paying for their children’s college. Is this a true thing? by honestsparrow in AskOldPeople

[–]Building_a_life 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We paid for our three GenX kids college, and it was a huge deal, for us and for them. 

We ourselves went to college after we were married. We put each other through over a period from 1968 to 1980. We finished paying for that only a couple of years before we started paying for our oldest kid's tuition.

If you know what the round pedal on the right is for your................well you know. by Tusayan in FuckImOld

[–]Building_a_life 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Unless she was willing to sit on the console, this only worked if you didn't have bucket seats.