Reflecting on the last generation

I have sat back quietly for the last few months watching, listening and reflecting. Is mine the last generation — to have had a basic, well-rounded education to prepare us for our ever-changing world? We wrote in cursive, each signature, like our thumb print, distinct. On our own we could tell time on any clock. We held, read and wrote real paper books. We played outside on our block or in our yards with our friends, reluctant to come indoors for dinner, and no TV — we listened to great programs on the radio. We experienced history as well as learned it in school and from our parents and grandparents.

We learned common sense, respect and compassion from our elders, whose life-lessons prepared us for our life. We didn’t have computers or smartphones, but we did have to think and figure things out on our own. We could even figure out how to dial a phone!

We had presidents who revered America, who united us and led us through horrible conflicts, comforted us when tragedies struck, and cheered with us in our victories We knew we had the respect of nations around the world, and worked hard to keep and live up to that priceless standard. Perhaps, because we were children of the Great Depression and WWII, we learned to appreciate all the more that which we achieved and what seems to be taken for granted today. Somehow, something seems to be missing today. Audrey Frieman, Pembrokes Pines