by Anne Marie
In the aftermath of the WWII, as manufacturing returned to production of consumer goods, populations redistributed themselves and the world of suburbia was born. Cookie cutter homes popped up in planned ‘estates’ all over the outlying areas of large cities and small, and Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Jones became neighbours. Being house proud, in order to stand out from the people next door, became the order of the day. Housewives became instant gardeners and husbands became obsessed with THE perfect lawn. Saturday mornings saw couples emerging from their homes in checkered dresses, shirts and dungarees for the onslaught on their little patches of unsuspecting nature. Beds, hedges, trees and grass were planted, nurtured, sowed and mowed into snap shot perfection. Flower shows and community competition became part of the fabric of suburban life. And Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Jones remained polite but obsessively jealous of their little slices of paradise. Trees began bearing fruit, vegetable gardens began yielding larger tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and the like, than the local supermarket, and Mrs. Smith began to cast a covetous eye over the property line onto Mrs. Jones’s pumpkins. The fall “harvest” show was coming up and Mrs. Smith was determined to win that Blue Ribbon for her pumpkin pie. Mrs. Jones’s boasting at each Ladies Meeting of the virtues of her pumpkins and the purity of her hand ground cinnamon, had finally driven Mrs. Smith to thoughts of larceny. She was convinced that the pilfering of a couple of Mrs. Jones’s pumpkins for this years pie competition, was actually a Christian act to teach Mrs. Jones some humility. Mrs. Smith became a little withdrawn over the weeks leading up to the entry date for the pie competition. She constantly skulked around her backyard, keeping an eye on Mrs. Jones pumpkins, trying to judge the perfect moment of ripeness to filch a few of those oh so perfect pie makes. Mrs. Jones, being the keen competitor that she was, took note herself of Mrs. Smith’s odd behaviour. The competition was only a few days away. Mrs. Smith had her plan in place, her black sweater and slacks layed out in the guest room, a small pocket light at the ready. The night in question was forecast to be balmy and fine and her excitement knew no bounds. At last, at last, she would show that bragging neighbour who was really the better pumpkin pie maker! But the best laid plans of mice and men and all that, and poor Mrs. Smith found herself spending the afternoon and the night in question at the hospital caring for a child suffering from a severe asthma attack. The next morning dawned bright and clear and Mrs. Smith went out into her backyard to take stock and make a new plan. Oh Horrors! What is this? A fence? A FENCE?!!!! Mrs. Smith was beside herself. All the way down her property line and Mrs. Jones’s was a four foot chain link fence, that wrapped itself around and up the other side of Mrs. Jones’s property! Inside this unsightly enclosure Mrs. Jones was calmly cutting her pumpkins from the patch. Catching sight of Mrs. Smith, she rose and came over to the fence. “I know it’s ugly, she said, but we are getting a dog, and needed to put up something quickly to keep it confined. Next spring we will put up a wooden fence.” Poor Mrs. Smith could only nod and cast her eyes depressingly over her own meager, underdeveloped pumpkins as visions of Blue Ribbons danced out of her head. Of course, Mrs. Jones took first prize AGAIN that year at the pie competition, and to Mrs. Smith’s chagrin, the Jones’s never did get a dog. The following year, competition being what it is, Mrs. Smith tore out her pumpkin patch and planted strawberries. She took first place every year for the next six years in the Jam making competition. BUT. Her lovely wooden fence went up the FIRST year after planting. Take THAT Mrs. Jones!
Now to site business – Please, please everyone, click your little hearts out on the Boomer Games Navigation tab. In this age of depressing headlines and increasing stress, the need to keep our brains active and alert, without early drug usage, is imperative. The game links on this tab are invaluable. And don’t get discouraged if they seem too hard at first. The sense of satisfaction you will get when you finally ’solve’ one is immeasurable and worth the effort. So here’s your challenge for the week – How many puzzles can you solve in 7 days without losing your mind, and which ones did you beat? Inquiring minds want to know – can’t wait to read your comments.
Tags: Elderly Problems, marketing to baby boomers, Psychological Articles