Signs that I am Getting Old

I have been saying to my husband a lot "These kids have no idea what you are talking about!" when he references something in our past. Now I have more proof that I am getting old other than the more prominent white hair on my head. MSNBC has an article about the class of 2013.

They have never heard the words "Here's Johnny" or that Magic Johnson use to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. They don't know what RSVP stands for or who Bob Dylan is.

They have never known a world without the Internet, flat-screen TVs or chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

It all reminds me when my niece (around 17 at the time, but who is now 21) came to my house and saw a rotary phone. She asked me what it was. I told her it was a phone. She asked me how you dial the phone. I showed her and she said that would make her crazy if she had to dial a phone like that. She didn't know what a vinyl record is or a record player.

My husband is freaking out because the oldies station is playing music that we use to listen to in high school. I had to remind him that 80's music is considered oldies these days and that his version of the oldies is now considered ancient music. Alan has always been stuck in 1979 and refuses to join the rest of the world in 2009. Although he is excited that bell bottoms and tie-dyed shirts are back in style.

I made a comment in Walmart the other day when I saw some of the styles on the rack, "I didn't like this style the first time it came out, why would I buy it now". Of course I got a laugh from a lady about my age and a strange look from some teenagers.

According to the MSNBC article Beloit College makes a Mindset List for us old farts so that we can relate to the younger folks. Some items on the list are:

• They have never used a card catalog to find a book
• Text has always been hyper
• They have never had to "shake down" a oral thermometer
• State abbreviations in addresses have never had periods
• There has always been a Cartoon Network
• They have always been able to read books on an electronic screen
• They have always watched wars, coups, and police arrests unfold on TV in real time.
• There has always been a computer in the Oval Office
• CDs have never been sold in cardboard packaging
• Viewing TV and videos; listening to radio and CDs on the computer has never been amazing to them.
• They do not know the phrase "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up."

It will be interesting to see what the children will learn in the next few years in this low economy like what a coupon is and actually how to save money to pay for an item that they want instead of putting it on a credit card.

It is interesting how things do come full circle. Thinks like:

• Vinyl records are coming back
• saving money to pay for things (something that has not been done since my grandparents era).
  
• Lay-a-way and Christmas savings plans are back in vogue.
• Learning to make your own clothes and jewelry are becoming a big thing again.
• The family road trip vacations

I have to say that I am not stuck in an era, but I am not totally up on all the new lingo or technology either. I have enough knowledge to understand my 16 year old nephew and remember enough to get my husbands jokes.

If you are stuck in 1979, like my husband, you may want to take a look at the list in order to relate better with you kids or grand kids.