The 60s Official Site Blog

Dedicated to the memory and history of the 60s from a personal and historical point of view.

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Monday, January 19, 2009

To All My Friends; Thank You For Your Time


A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said."Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him."I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said."You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said."He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone," he said
"What box?" Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,' Jack said. It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.
Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was...my time"
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

Revisit your the past at The 60s Official Site and 70s Official Site.

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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Only 54 Years Ago

Many baby boomers remember the 50s. Many of us wereonly been kids. We probably heard our parents or grandparents make these remarks but these are actual facts in these statements from the year 1955, only 54 years ago. How time does fly!



'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they
are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries
for $20.00.

'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year?
It won't belong before $2,000.00 will only buy a used one.

'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit.
A quarter a pack is ridiculous.

'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a
dime just to mail a letter.

'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will
be able to hire outside help at the store.

'When I first started driving, who would have thought
gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd
be better off leaving the car in the garage.

'I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more.
Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying
DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every
new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.

'I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's
possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the
century. They even have some fellows they call
astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.

'Did you see where some baseball player just signed
a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball?
It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making
more than the President.

'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen
appliances would be electric.
They are even making electric typewriters now.

'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see
where a few married women are having to work to
make ends meet.

'It won't be long before young couples are going to
have to hire someone to watch their kids so they
can both work.

'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open
the door to a whole lot of foreign business.

'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the
Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes
wonder if we are electing the best people to congress.

'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather,
but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.

'There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for
a weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel.

'No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $35.00 a day
in the hospital it's too rich for my blood.'

'If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget
it.
'

Visit me at 60s Official Site and my new site that just launched, 70s Official Site.

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