Fabulous Fifties

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How long will it take to remember to write 2021 on your checks---that is if you still write checks? It is awkward to say. It sounds as if you are counting pennies you have saved—19--20-21-22 and so on. We must have hope that 2021 improves on 2020. Perhaps we can gather with friends in the spring of 2021, wishful thinking----but pleasant thoughts.

What better era for me to return to in my thoughts than the Fabulous Fifties. The classes who were at SHS during this time gathered for several reunions and all agreed the Fifties were fabulous. We were able to renew friendships not only with our classmates but all of the Fabulous Fifties folks.

The popular television show, The Happy Days with Richie, Fonzie and Ralph Mouth could have been filmed in Swainsboro. I can even suggest Fifties guys who could have been role models. (If you are interested in knowing, send me an e-mail). Life was simple but oh, such fun. We put our nickels into juke boxes to hear the latest tunes and danced the ‘Jitter-Bug” ---until Joan Girardeau came from Savannah and taught us to Shag. We hung out at Harrisons Drug Store after school and were welcome to fill all the tables and make our milk shake last until time to go home. Gas was cheap and “riding around” was considered fun. Fonzie had a motorcycle, but several of our Fifties guys had motor scooters. The Busy Bee Café was considered “off limits” because of the pool tables. Now pool tables are in home recreation rooms.

The dinner table was fabulous in the fifties. Pasta was unknown. It was macaroni or spaghetti. Curry was a last name not a menu item. Take-away was a math problem. Pizza was a tower you once saw in your geography book. Chips were all plain potato. Fiber was readily available, but it was called cattle food. Oil was for your car, and fat was for cooking. Had you ever heard the words yogurt” or “kabob? Chickens did not have fingers. Some things never ever found at tables in the fifties were elbows, hats and cell phones.

Our parents did not read books on child rearing. How did they know what to do? Simply, they relied on logic and could discipline with one sentence, “Because I said so.” Case closed.

I must say again that the Fifties were fabulous. President Truman started the decade and then came World War II hero, Eisenhower. We loved to say “I Like Ike.” Politically it was a gentler and more graceful time than the future would bring.

Much of our pleasure was the great movies shown at the Dixie. We saw the classics—Singing in the Rain, Shane, High Noon and the glamour of Betty Grable and young Elizabeth Taylor. My wish to you is a return to The Happy Days in 2021.

Write to Shirley at sptwiss@gmail.com