1970'S Verses NOW !!!

Today I had to drive my 2 oldest children to the DMV to get their learners permits renewed. Yes my 17 year old son and my 19 year old daughter STILL have their learners permits, As I still do not feel they are ready for full driving licenses.

For today's standards I am a strict parent. I am not a buddy, and pal or a friend to my children, I AM A FATHER !!!!! As that I take the responsibility seriously.

The drive to the DMV is about 50 minutes from our house and then, well you all know the fabulous wait at our lovely government offices, (LOL), then lunch and the 50 minute ride home, gave me some quality father, son & daughter talking time.

My daughter's almost 20 year old boyfriend who does have his drivers license, (and is a fathers dream for a daughters boyfriend, also has a healthy fear of me ~ LOL), I would not let him drive another couple with them, on prom night, even though he is an excellent driver.

On the way to the DMV, my son notices a sign that says; "Do Not Enter ~ Wrong Way", and he says wouldn't the cars heading towards you be your first clue. I told him if he would watch the news, he would see at least once a week here in Georgia especially near Atlanta, some non-caring driver who enters the expressway by the wrong way and has a head-on and kills themselves or someone else.

The other thing that is on the news here in Georgia EVERY week is a bunch of kids that are in the car together, and one changes the radio, or somehow distracts the driver for a split second, and because of that distraction they can not react in time when a non-caring driver does something stupid. Then the car full of kids are killed. And that is why I will not allow my daughters boyfriend to drive a double date around. If he is driving my daughter on a date, then it had better JUST be my daughter in his vehicle only !!!! And he abides by my rules and so does my daughter ~ their friends don't understand it and think I am a %&&%&%%%^ prude, but oh well, IT'S MY DAUGHTER !!! PERIOD !!!

Our highways are filled with non-caring drivers. Ride down the interstate in the morning at rush hour and look next to you, watch the lady putting on her makeup, the guy reading his report for work, another talking on his cell phone, yet another arguing with the talk radio station, and yet another woman adjusting her pantyhose, the construction worker eating his breakfast, everyone doing everything except paying attention to driving.

Read my blog "My Philosophy" read about the accident I had that turned my life around. A guy late for work blew through a stop sign at 80+ miles per hour hitting me a flipping my Blazer upside down a sending it sliding down the highway on its roof for 300 yards. Almost killing me for being 6 minutes late!!! A non-caring driver 6 minutes late for work blew through a stop sign for what, an extra .35 cents in his pay check. Is that what my life boiled down too, being worth his carelessness for .35 cents extra in his paycheck.

That's when my fatherly discussion with my children took over. I told them when they started to drive on their own they had to be defensive drivers, a non-caring driver was around every hill, turn, bend and corner and just then as I said those words a Fed-ex truck whipped out in front of me, causing me to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting him, proving my point.

I told my children it was a shame that they were growing up when they were. I said that when I was growing up in the 70's there weren't as many non-caring drivers. It was not a thought for a bunch of us to jump in a car and not care were we ended up. Just to get in a car and cruise, ride until we couldn't ride no more. We would sometimes leave home and end up at the Jersey shore, or the Pocono Mountains. One time we ended up in Nevada. But it was carefree and we didn't have to worry about non-caring drivers popping up out of nowhere.

Also in the 70's the worst I had to worry about going to school was maybe having to meet somebody out front at the flag pole. Maybe I would have to clean their clock or maybe they would clean my clock, but after wards we would get up dust ourselves off, shake hands and walk away. Nowadays you have to worry about offending someone and having them come back with a gun and blow you away, half your classmates away and then your teacher, just because you called them a name.

Another thing in the 70's, a group of us would walk South Street in Philadelphia on Friday & Saturday nights and then go to the Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight, we would be carefree with no worries at all. I use to be one of the few white people that could walk 63^rd street in Philadelphia untouched. Nowadays if you walked South Street or 63^rd St. you would be mugged for 20 bucks and a Timex.

Now it has been just 30 years since I personally did all these things myself, experienced all of these things of life, would I let my children go to the Pocono's or the Jersey shore? Would I let my children go on a cross country trip to Nevada? Would I let my children walk South Street or 63^rd Street in Philadelphia? NOT WITHOUT ME !!!!! NOT TODAY !!!!!

In the 30 years since I did all those things, our society has made all types of advances in technology, medicine and social reform, BUT HAVE WE ADVANCED ????

Something to think about !!~~!!

Just one man's opinion. As always, put the wind in your hair and keep the sun to your back. Be good and stay safe. Peace, Love and prosperity to all.

Good Journeys !!!

Frank WOLF

watchdog taking a BITE out of corruption!

Copyright

If you like this blog or any others that you read and would like to hear me in person, I am available for speaking engagements.

I still have some 2007 dates available; contact me at 706-348-1308© Frank J. Ball Sr.

all rights owned by Frank J. Ball Sr. All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from owner to use or reproduce this material.

™ © 2005