Writers Workshop

MamaKat's Writers Workshop

1.) Write a haiku about what you see out the window. 2.) Begin with "I thought I saw..." 3.) If I could live in any era of history, what would it be -- list 10 reasons why. 4.) Write a light hearted piece on how to get along with an enemy. 5.) The first time you...

My choices this week are... #3 and #5

Here goes!

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If I could live in any era of history, it would be... The 50's.

I would be a teeny bopper in the 50's-early 60's...

Here's why...

1. I like that Rock N Roll was new and everyone was jiving here and there, but everyone seemed to be able to do waltz, samba and other cool dances. Even the men.

2. I like that there weren't any blurred lines of who was a man and who was a woman.

Men were men, and dressed accordingly, and women were women, still in control, but not letting her man think she was. Women dressed up, in gorgeous dresses to go to dinner, and the men all wore suits. It seemed romantic to me.

I know... I know... I have been watching too much "Mad Men" my favorite show ever!

3. Cars were built to last back then. No plastic, all chrome and steel. Fins were awesome, and surfing was the 'living end!'

4. More Mom's stayed home and raised their children. Daycare centers weren't available.

Families ate around the table every night.

5. Most girls seemed to wait a lot longer to jump into the sack with a boy.

Back then, it wasn't unheard of to be a virgin in high school.

Boys and girls actually dated, and the boys were taught how to treat a girl like a lady, at least in front of other people. Nowadays, girls aren't taught to value themselves, and their virginity.

There are way too many bad role models for our young girls... some of them are their mothers.

It breaks my heart and makes me stark raving mad that we have daycare centers in high schools these days. Mama's need to teach our little ladies, to be just that. Little ladies. Girls these day seem to think they have to do such adult things to 'keep a boyfriend'. Are they kidding!

We also need to be teaching our young men, to be men, and to accept the word 'no' as NO, and to keep it in their pants. They'll live without it. No one needs to be a Mama or Daddy at 16.

6. There weren't as many distractions. Teens had to be creative to stave off boredom.

No Ipods, Gameboys, Playstations. Kids biked, ran, skipped, went outside and played all day long! Childhood obesity was unheard of.

7. All the greats were still alive... Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, George Burns, Virginia Mayo, Bing Crosby Danny Kaye, Bob Hope. No... I am not 80. I'm 40, and Sunday's were the days my Mama and I would watch old movies on TV together.

8. If I were a teen in the 50's I would not have been living in this country. I would be in Italy, where my parents were born and raised. Although I love USA, it would be cool to live abroad too. Having been to Italy twice, the last time was in 2006, my kids were sold on Italy.

It was love at first sight. They wanted to move there immediately. It is so much like our home of California!

9. People were more honest back then. They were much less litigious, and people seemed to look out for one another more. Now, it seems everyone is only for themselves.

10. When kids wanted to play a sport... they had to try out, and sometimes they wouldn't make the team. It was a good lesson to learn, and these days, there are an awful lot of kids running around thinking they are owed something just for showing up.

So there you have it. There are about 50 more reasons... but these were off the top of my head.

Now for #5...

THE FIRST TIME I...

Met Bill, I went home to inform my Mother that I had just met my husband.

The first time I...

Held my firstborn baby in my arms... the first words out of my mouth were to my mother and I said... "Oh Mama... I am sooooo sorry for everything I did to make you worry."

The First Time I...

Walked on to a stage to dance in front of thousands of people... I knew I wanted to be in front of crowds my entire life.

The First Time I...

Tried out for Star Search... I didn't make it.

The First Time I...

Traveled abroad... I did so alone... and it was thrilling!

The First Time I...

had my breath literally taken away from me... it was from something one of my babies did for the first time.

The First Time I...

Cried for no apparent reason at all for 12 hours straight, I was 17 and it was July 17, 1985.

The First Time I...

Kissed a boy.. I was 15, and he was perfect.

The First Time I...

Well, you know... did the deed.. I was way older than most girls... OKAY! Okay! I'll tell you!

I was 20.... Gosh! (Italian Mama, lots of rules, lots of terrible guilt... you get the picture).

I lost a lot of boyfriends that way... not putting out... but oh well... I have quality now.

My hubby's the BOMB in the hay! Oh my God! I can't believe I just wrote that.. and I'm not erasing it!

Okay... I'm done. I'd better stop before I tell you my blood type, and where my "happy" spot is.

Yikes!