By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher “Don’t leave the lights on in room behind you!”
That admonition may have been drilled into me from my parents since they came up during Depression Times, where every minute the “the lights” were on meant another bite out of their pockets.
No matter. I still practice this every day, if only leaving a room for a short time. I can’t help it. The lesson stuck.
Thinking back, much of our adult life habits stem from minor, everyday ways we were trained. We may never recognize that we do this, but nonetheless, it is straight out of our parents play book.
“Did you wash behind your ears?” Maybe that’s a good question to ask a boy growing up, with their almost-every-day playing outdoors, often down in a hole, digging their way to China, or wrestling with another, or happily rollicking with a dog, or in and out of ponds or the ocean.
Another oft-heard question: “Did you brush your teeth?” That question led to better health care, and better teeth. The question may have been necessary, since sometimes boys might forget.
Another on the cleanliness circuit: “Did you wash your hands before you came to the table?” Most of us may need to do this more than ever. After all, we come in contact much more today than previously when life was simpler. We are out and about, and touch door handles both at home and at work places, public toilets, your car’s steering wheel, and your and often others’ cell phones. Did you clean your hands before your last meal?
And another: “Did you put on clean underwear?” That’s a key question, at least for boys. Somehow, this is not very important for growing-up boys. Good thing, most of the time, that we were asked!
“Are your shoes shined for Sunday School?” That really meant more than that in my growing years. Impressed upon me was that we all should wear our “Sunday best” when going to church. (That may explain my going out in coat-and-tie daily, while others have adopted more of a leisurely-presentation.)
We remember one admonition that my wife used to give our young (8-10) year old son when we lived in Jesup, about 7,000 population, in South Georgia. When taking his bike across town, perhaps two miles, she would say to him: “Be careful when crossing the railroad tracks.”
You need some more info on this one. You see, the streets Andy rode his bike to see his friend were not crowded. But in the middle of town the Atlantic Coast Line (now CSX) tracks Y-ed off, one headed to Waycross, the other to Jacksonville. Altogether, at this street, there were about six or eight tracks. A train might come along once an hour. That was the “menace” at this location. Certainly the train would toot its horn, loud and clear. But still the admonition.
What this showed was really how safe our community was. If worrying about the train tracks was the main thing, the town was pretty safe.
Those routine and natural admonitions can stick with you long in life. What do you remember your parents said to you that is still today a good habit?
Follow Us