Congratulations!

How many times has each of you pholks said to yourself, “Gee, I wish I had said that” or “Darn, I wish I had written that”?

As a writer for nearly 45 years, I admit that has happened a lot. I'm proud of most of what has plopped out of my mind over the years and, of course, I've written some things I could have, or should, have done better.

Recently one of my morning coffee buddies handed around a copy of an e-Mail ditty which I wish I would have written.

Since it was anonymously written I can not give the proper credit it deserves. I must say, however, that this person is a damned good writer and knows what he or she is talking about. I will share and add some personal reflections to what I consider a work of literary art. A masterpiece which I will stash in “If-only-I'da” file.

Here goes:

“Congratulations to all the kids who were born in the 1930's, 40's, 50' 60's and 70's!!!

First we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.

They took aspirin, ate bleu cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets. And we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pickup on a warm day was always a special treat. (I remember an 80-mile round trip with some fellow Cub Scouts in my dad's 1951 Chevy pickup to Castle Air Force base)

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because …WE WERE OUTSIDE PLAYING.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.” (not all of us had streets—let alone street lights).

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Play stations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, nor video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones nor personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat room…WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays. (Nobody went to the doctor after a dirt clod fight).

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Image that.!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law.

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned. HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL.

And YOU are one of them?

Congratulations!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and government regulated our lives for our own good.

And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

PS The big type is because your eyes are shot at your age.”

Well pholks, there it is. I have only one more thing to say.

Amen!!!

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com