A lot has changed in 40 years

By Richard C. Snell

Barton County Extension Agent--Agriculture

Do you know what happened 40 years ago this month? It wasn't any great invention or scientific accomplishment. Most of you won't even venture a guess unless you are a sports fan.

The first Super Bowl ever played was on Sunday, Jan. 15, 1967. It should have been a joyous occasion and was for most people. It was between my Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers.

Despite how I hate losing, it wasn't the game that made it a sad time. Yes, the Chiefs ended up losing 35-10. The reason it wasn't so great was because my Mother had died the day before on Saturday, January 14. I really shouldn't spend too much time on this first part of my article as it should be more of a Mother's or Father's Day article. However it is on my mind now and may be forgotten later.

My Mother had suffered her last three months in a hospital with cancer. This was in the days before advanced diagnosis and treatments that they have today. It was a tough time and many of you have gone through similar circumstances.

I am grateful for the short 11 years I got to spend with my Mother. She was a Godly woman and a wonderful person. In spite of how much I miss her, I really don't spend a lot of time thinking about her. But then I thought about the date and how long ago it had been. A lot has changed.

I wonder what she would think if she suddenly appeared on the Earth today after not being around since 1967? She came from an era where she had never learned to drive a car and my Dad drove her wherever she needed to go. She didn't work outside the home until I went to first grade and ironically enough she worked at the hospital. I guess her surroundings never changed much.

Now, many of the younger ones won't believe this but she never had indoor plumbing in her house her entire life. We lived in an old farm house and didn't have money to re-model it. It did have electricity but that was it. We didn't even get a telephone until the mid-60s and then it was a party line. We didn't go out to eat that I can recall and 25 miles was considered a really long trip. I'm not crying in my beer, that's just the way it was.

When I was really young, before school-age, we had one Jersey cow we milked and we raised chickens. For whatever reason, later we got out of the chicken and dairy projects. Probably because all my older brothers were out of high school by then and no longer wanted to do those chores. However, this led to other fond memories of yesteryear. We had a neighbor that we went to their farm and bought bottled whole milk with the cream on top and everything. If any of you know Holly Martin or Nathan Campbell, it would be their grandparents. Another memory was going to the Frank Ray farm there at Winfield and buying eggs at their farm. This of course was Martin and David's parents.

I do remember we got to take a vacation once or twice to eastern Oklahoma and Missouri and Arkansas. Just weekend excursions that my oldest brother took my parents and I on. Nothing like today but good memories!

She never had a lot of luxuries but she never complained. She worked hard and I learned a lot from her in the short time we had together.

One of the ironies when I got married was that my wife's youngest sister was born on Jan. 14, 1967. The same day my Mother had died. One gone out of this world, a new one to take her place. It's nice that the sister has equally good character and values.

Things have changed a lot, but some things are the same, like the Chiefs losing the other day in the playoffs. At least they got closer than most of the teams. Lamar Hunt, who brought the Chiefs to Kansas City and did a lot for that community, died just a month ago, another timely irony.

Well, enough reminiscing! I hope you will enjoy this year's Super Bowl, no matter who is in it. I also hope you will take time to say thank you to your parents for the heritage they gave you and the sacrifices they made. Do it while you still can, for these are the good old days.

B

5

1/22/07

2 Star EK

Date: 1/18/07

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