July 24, 1985 I grew up in the pre-equality era of our school system. Boys took shop, girls took home economics. Boys joined clubs to learn about auto mechanics or motorcycles and girls attended babysitting clinics and cosmetics seminars. No one told me back then, and I certainly did not foresee the need to know,…
All posts in Boring Word Archive
The Boring Word About Let There Be Music
July 17, 1985 Mother never had formal music lessons but she loved music, and of course Dad played the trombone and led the firemen’s band for years; so it seemed only natural that we were given music lessons as children. We played the piano, the trombone, and bell lyre at various times and were even…
The Boring Word About Telephones
July 10, 1985 I had a telephone conversation with a friend the other day that lasted for fifteen uninterrupted minutes. This is a fact that will undoubtedly make it into the World Book of Records. The ring of a phone in our house opens the refrigerator door, begins the first round of a fight that…
The Boring Word About Patriotism
July 3, 1985 We’re getting ready for another Fourth of July at our house. I’ve checked the supply of charcoal, dusted off the flag, found out the time for the fireworks and bought film for the camera and steaks for the grill. The Fourth has always been one of my favorite holidays. As a child…
The Boring Word About Fads
June 26, 1985 Living in the same house with seven and eleven year old girls is a constant challenge. Just keeping up with the latest fad can put any mother off balance. In the last few years we have lived with the aroma of Strawberry Shortcake and Lemon Meringue dolls, pushed Care Bears with cupcakes,…
The Boring Word About Home From College
June 19, 1985 It has been more than 20 years since we left your college alma mater behind. Like many other memories some of those years have become a little fuzzy. I had forgotten what it was like to pack up and head for home until recently when we drove down to bring our daughter…
The Boring Word About Father’s Day
June 12, 1985 Standing in front of the Father’s Day greeting card displays brings back many memories. Every year we have searched for the card that expresses just the right sentiment and has the right picture and theme. As children, when someone asked, “What does your daddy do?” We knew! We knew because we saw…
The Boring Word About Those Rare Occasions
June 5, 1985 A new pet is always an exciting experience. Shortly before Christmas last year we took a thirteen month old Benji look-a-like into our home. It was no time at all before she had won a place in our hearts and taken a place on the couch. We weren’t her only admirers, after…
The Boring Word About One Precious Vote
May 29, 1985 When I wrote two weeks ago about our trips to the polling places I had no idea I was going to make a trial run in my own voting district on election day afternoon. This was the first election in which our 18 year old would vote. As we got in the…
The Boring Word About Sales Gimmicks
May 22, 1985 When I answered the telephone recently the voice on the other end said, “remember that $1,000 drawing you registered for at the mall a few weeks ago?” While my adrenaline rose I searched my memory but could only come up with a vague recollection of a free dozen doughnuts, a ten speed…