My brother and I would catch lightning bugs and bring them in the house and let them go in our rooms. It would drive our mom crazy.
Judy Kay Krantz, CECA | Lake Leon
We played outside all day long, rode our bikes and drank out of the water hose.
Rebecca Berry, Taylor EC | Abilene
I wanted to be an adult. Now, as an adult, I really wish I could be a kid again.
Arzola Yoshimi | Via Facebook
We didn’t ask if it was safe. We just did it and found out.
Ruth Orloff Sclawy, Houston County EC | Elkhart
I remember my dad climbing on the roof and yelling down to my mom to see if he needed to move the antenna more to get the picture clearer.
Cheryl Hahn, Central Texas EC | Fredericksburg
I couldn’t wait to hear the ice cream truck’s music in our neighborhood.
Gwen Spiess, Bluebonnet EC | Brenham
An hour took all day, a day seemed like a week and a week took forever, especially before Christmas.
Steve May, Bryan Texas Utilities | Bryan
The cherries on the neighbor’s tree always seemed sweeter.
Peter Jelito, Pedernales EC | Leander
The scariest thing your teacher would say is, “This will go on your permanent record.”
Adrian Maui Sclawy, Houston County EC | Elkhart
Shoes were for school and church.
Caron Gipson, Panola-Harrison EC | Marshall
I was struggling to put a 50-pound block of ice in the top of the icebox.
Rudolph Buchwald, Pedernales EC | Canyon Lake
We rode our bikes behind the DDT truck.
Sherry Schott | Via Facebook
I loved to play outside all day and climb up my great-grandparents’ mimosa tree.
Remona Gray, Panola-Harrison EC | Marshall
I would sit on my front porch and wait for my mother to arrive from her nursing job. She looked so beautiful in her nurse hat and white shoes.
Diane Faragini, Nueces EC | Corpus Christi
The bottoms of our feet were purple all summer long from climbing barefoot to the garage roof so we could pick buckets of mulberries from the tree branches.
Terri King, San Bernard EC | Hempstead
I looked at those over 50 as old, but at 86 I see those under 50 as kids.
Clady Paul Page, Jasper-Newton EC | Kirbyville
I played outside till dark.
Cristi Swinney, Taylor EC | Trent
We would go early in the summer mornings to the sugar beet fields to watch my mom clean them as she walked up and down the rows.
Mona Hernandez, Deaf Smith EC | Hereford
I didn’t know being a kid would last this long!
Steven Bailey, PenTex Energy | Gainesville
I never realized how good and carefree life was and that it would be unachievable for future generations.
Rebecca Turner, CoServ | Prosper
You got a quarter from the beautician after your cut and spent it on candy.
Kit Vaughn, Pedernales EC | Liberty Hill
I was taught the work ethic at an early age. I always liked having money in my pocket.
Eddie T. Rendon, Victoria EC | Inez
Winners and losers clapped at the end of a game.
Patricia Rainey, Nueces EC | Corpus Christi
I walked home for lunch every day because everyone walked in those days.
Judy Womack, GVEC | Cibolo
The picture show was 9 cents.
Ron Tietz, Medina EC | Real County
I loved singing with my four sisters and mom and dad.
Kathy O’Nan, GVEC | Seguin
We were taught to turn off the lights when not in use to save electricity.
Cynthia Caldwell, Wood County EC | Pittsburgh
Living was easy.
Carol Brady, Nueces EC | Bay City
I was a serious philatelist. Now I have about 10 books of stamps from all over the world.
Mara Tran, Cherokee County EC | Troup
My family drove from upstate New York to California on a southern route, and it was the first time I ate Mexican food and saw palm trees.
Jutta Werrlein, CoServ | McKinney
We could ride our bikes all over town with no fear.
Johnny Holcomb, Trinity Valley EC | Chandler
I never had to wonder where my next meal would come from.
Vivian McLain, CoServ | Argyle
I played outside until the lights came on.
Denise Grant, San Bernard EC | Hempstead
Life was easier—no computers.
Jane Patterson, Bowie-Cass EC | Texarkana
Torn jeans were patched.
Iva Galindo, Central Texas EC | Llano
I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face at night—it was so pitch dark.
John D. Austin, Pedernales EC | Liberty Hill
We had fireflies and horned frogs in abundance.
Wesley Cochran, United Cooperative Services | Strawn
We played outside until the streetlights came on.
Patricia Wiggin, San Bernard EC | Waller
We went barefoot all summer. Didn’t get shoes until school started.
Mickey Owens, Bluebonnet EC | McDade
The trolley stopped at our corner, and rides were 5 cents.
Maxine Lain, Fayette EC | Round Top
Life was so much simpler.
Linda Denker, Victoria EC | Victoria
I ran barefoot, climbed trees and played outside.
Janis Janca, Fayette EC | La Grange
I walked the railroad tracks to my grandparents’ house to enjoy a Coke float and Cheetos.
Sheri Neeley, Fayette EC | Round Top
Gas was 21 cents a gallon.
Wayne Adams, Grayson-Collin EC | Melissa
I was outside all day until dinner time, and nobody worried.
Bonnie Rhoby, United Cooperative Services | Granbury
We ran around barefoot everywhere, drank from the garden hose when thirsty and played outside all day until mom called us in for supper.
Yvonne Kruse, Bandera EC | Lakehills
I played outside all day with friends—no TV.
Joyce Minter, United Cooperative Services | Hood County
Life was simpler.
Lori Pittman, Bluebonnet EC | Brenham
