Attachment 12154
I walked to school, except when there was really deep snow. Then, I skied there [[like we do even today, in Skandinavia). And no one ever stole our skis. Nowadays, they'd have been stolen in minutes. I rode my bicycle all over Winnipeg when the roads weren't icy. That's my main transportation now, when I'm in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. I have a bicycle in L.A., too. But, I'd be killed within a few times riding, if I dared to ride it on city streets. Drivers in US cities drive way too fast, drive through too many stopsigns, too fast VERY late after their signals have been red a long time, and, generally, are not looking out for bicycle riders.
We walked to school in a large group of kids, with no adults. 12 and 11-year olds were old enough to watch out for the little ones. Our parents never had to worry about us being abducted by bad people. Yes, we were tougher and more worldly than our kids, and our grandparents were tougher than us. Everything is prescribed for kids now, and older people or machines do much too much for them.
I played Midget hockey with straight all wood sticks, very little padding as compared to today, and before even kids were wearing helmets, and before concussion protocol. You got knocked out, they'd carry you to the bench, give you smelling salts, and you'd go back in one or two shifts later. Maybe that's why I'm already losing LONG-term memory, early, at the tender age of 70? :p
They DID finally require youth players to wear helmets in 1964, but that was after my only year of Junior A, and I had moved to Chicago, and my hockey "career" was over. I did get a helmet for some Senior play, but hated it because it restricted my vision.
Still, I'm glad I grew up when I did. The World is too "crazy" now. I wouldn't want to have grown up in the 1970s or later. I was old fashioned enough in the 1950s. :rolleyes: