We didn't used to freak out like this back in the day, did we?
Fuck no. We suited up, grabbed our snow shovels and went out to make some serious shovelin' money...
I think we've become a nation of pussies sorta. They're freakin' the fuck out up in the New York area because they might get 8" of snow. Shit - we looked at it as day off for making money and having fun. But I guess we were a little different then, huh?
I remember when I was a kid during the 60's into the 70's and we used to walk a 1/4 mile to the bus stop where all the neighborhood kids met and wait for the bus. It was very rare for a "snowday"; I remember the buses were outfitted with tire chains when it was snowing. Today, if it snows no school; Buses stop at every house that has a child, there are no longer bus stops for kids. I miss the old days!
yeah, todays kids have no idea. best day ever I think I made close to 40 bucks by lunchtime. that was a lot of sidewalks and steps at 5 bucks a pop. dave in pa. just another old fart.
Oh heck yeah! As an also former NJ guy who grew up where Rt. 9 crossed over Bordentown Ave. in Sayreville, when it rained a storm in the summer we used to toss cardboard over the storm sewer drain on Rt. 9 just north of Bordentown Ave. so the road got flooded and pushed out the drowned cars some of whom gave us $5 or $10 for doing it. Gotta make a buck and we hustled.
Also, I had a missing cat, it was snowing to beat the band. Our school bus driver was a miserable cuss who would leave if you were running for the bus. One of the other kids at the bus stop told me she heard a cat crying "down the woods" so I headed down there to see. My cat was in a trap I didn't know how to open it so I picked up the log, the trap and the cat and headed up the hill for home. I was sure the bus was gone but that miserable old cuss of a bus driver was waiting. He opened the trap and told me to take the cat back to the house and waited till I cam back sobbing and got on the bus. The cat survived. It was a great cat.
Didn't make much money, we just went around to our neighbors houses (live in a small village) and did it for free, then went sled riding or ice skating (western ny)
I live in the mountains. Roads can be blocked, power lines destroyed, bridges flooded, by any kind of ordinary predictable weather--it happens a few times in every season. So schools were closed if snow was expected, sometimes if rain was. What was fun was when school was closed in anticipation of a hurricane, which then blew off another way, and the day off from school was sunny and pleasant.
Unexpected snow was also fun. The minute it started sticking to the ground, the principal would start announcing which buses were ready to take their usual riders home. Most buses made two daily trips. Usually the more remote route was the first one in and the last one out, but in case of weather emergencies this might be reversed to get the country kids safely home first. Yee-haa.
*Little* kids had to be kept warm inside...LOL. *Teenagers* got to shovel snow, prop up bent trees or saw up broken ones, and generally have a wonderful time giving ourselves bronchitis.
I remember when I was a kid during the 60's into the 70's and we used to walk a 1/4 mile to the bus stop where all the neighborhood kids met and wait for the bus. It was very rare for a "snowday"; I remember the buses were outfitted with tire chains when it was snowing. Today, if it snows no school; Buses stop at every house that has a child, there are no longer bus stops for kids. I miss the old days!
ReplyDeleteyeah, todays kids have no idea. best day ever I think I made close to 40 bucks by lunchtime. that was a lot of sidewalks and steps at 5 bucks a pop. dave in pa. just another old fart.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet.... you moved away and then lament 50° temps. Let 'em complain. It doesn't make 'em 'pussies'.
ReplyDeleteOh heck yeah! As an also former NJ guy who grew up where Rt. 9 crossed over Bordentown Ave. in Sayreville, when it rained a storm in the summer we used to toss cardboard over the storm sewer drain on Rt. 9 just north of Bordentown Ave. so the road got flooded and pushed out the drowned cars some of whom gave us $5 or $10 for doing it. Gotta make a buck and we hustled.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I had a missing cat, it was snowing to beat the band. Our school bus driver was a miserable cuss who would leave if you were running for the bus. One of the other kids at the bus stop told me she heard a cat crying "down the woods" so I headed down there to see. My cat was in a trap I didn't know how to open it so I picked up the log, the trap and the cat and headed up the hill for home. I was sure the bus was gone but that miserable old cuss of a bus driver was waiting. He opened the trap and told me to take the cat back to the house and waited till I cam back sobbing and got on the bus. The cat survived. It was a great cat.
Didn't make much money, we just went around to our neighbors houses (live in a small village) and did it for free, then went sled riding or ice skating (western ny)
ReplyDeleteI live in the mountains. Roads can be blocked, power lines destroyed, bridges flooded, by any kind of ordinary predictable weather--it happens a few times in every season. So schools were closed if snow was expected, sometimes if rain was. What was fun was when school was closed in anticipation of a hurricane, which then blew off another way, and the day off from school was sunny and pleasant.
ReplyDeleteUnexpected snow was also fun. The minute it started sticking to the ground, the principal would start announcing which buses were ready to take their usual riders home. Most buses made two daily trips. Usually the more remote route was the first one in and the last one out, but in case of weather emergencies this might be reversed to get the country kids safely home first. Yee-haa.
*Little* kids had to be kept warm inside...LOL. *Teenagers* got to shovel snow, prop up bent trees or saw up broken ones, and generally have a wonderful time giving ourselves bronchitis.
(PriscillaKing)