The Stranger of Elk Co. Ks.

[Warph]

   

The Stranger

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town.  From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family.  The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on..

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family.  In my young mind, he had a special niche.

My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey.

But the stranger... he was our storyteller.  He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future!  He took my family to the first major league ball game.  He made me laugh, and he made me cry.  The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet.

(I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them.

Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... not from us, our friends or any visitors.  Our long time visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol but the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis.  He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished.

He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex.  His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing..

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger.  Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family.  He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first.  Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?....






We just call him "TV."

He has a wife now....we call her "Computer."

Their first child is "Cell Phone"

Second child "iPOD "

And... JUST BORN THIS PAST YEAR WAS A GRANDCHILD: " iPAD"

[Diane Amberg]

"Your" parents should have taught you to think and then thrown da bum out.
   I was was not born to TV. We didn't get ours until 1950, but even then TV time was controlled by my parents. I remember when I was learning my x tables. I wasn't allowed the TV until I could say and do what ever we were learning until I had it down perfectly. Same with learning to tell time. We only had face clocks then, but Daddy would quiz me and if I couldn't figure out how he had the hands set really quick, no TV (Howdy Doody) until I had 'em cold. Same with spelling lists and reading words .Fortunately they came very easy to me. The last I remember was Latin in 7th grade. He went over the vocabulary lists and no TV until I could translate and spell them all correctly. I bet most of you have similar stories. Want to share?

[readyaimduck]

The only time we got to watch tv in the afternoons in the summer, was when we were shelling peas, snapping green beans, or ironing on Monday afternoons. In the evenings, it was never on until AFTER supper and dishes were done 6:30 PM, and off at 9 PM.  (Except on Saturday night to watch the Boxing match!!!!!!!)
Then when I got to college in the early 70's, I sat down to watch for the 15th time "Wizard of Oz".  My jaw dropped to the floor when I saw COLOR!!!!!!   

ready