Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Back in the Day





One of my facebook friends brought this up today. Oh how I remember the old timer's things even though I was only five years old. When I was about 5 years old, I put my hand through a washing machine that looked like the one above. Kids can be very inquisitive which sometimes get them in trouble. As a child I was not different. I remember the pain and not much else. I called mom to tell me more about that fateful day when I decided to wring out my hand and arm. She said she was washing and I can down to the basement. I saw the towels go through and they came out stiff and almost dry with the water all wrung out. I wanted to see what would happen if my hand and arm went through it. I stuck my hand through and it roll through a little before it popped upon. I suffered no broken bones. You are right about thousands of stories, I am one of eight kids and she said almost all of us did the same stupid thing sticking our hand through it. Thanks for reminding me of that event. I'll show this post to my daughter. I'm sure she has never seen such a contraption. (LOL)

The wash board is something I would have never been able to use. I saw that in my grannie's house in the south around the age of 6. I don't know how the folks in the day did the things they did or use the things they used. But I am thankful that every year things get easier and better. Yet, I know if it were not for the old days, we wouldn't have the foresight to make improvements.

5 comments:

Fresh said...

While I never had to use a wringer washer we did have a wash board in our house to scrub out stains before putting clothes in the washer. When I think about how people back in the day and people in other countries have to take their clothes to the river or lug the water up from the pump I don't complain about going to a laundry room or laundromat anymore. Just dealing with inconsiderate people. I remember I am blessed to even have clothes to wash. As for sticking my hands in places that they didn't below I don't remember but I was very naughty so I imagine I did my share of experimenting.

Dee said...

I've never seen a wringer before. I always saw people wring things by hand. No matter how big they were.
Never seen a washboard either. But I did see people bleach clothes in the sun.

Rose said...

You are right Freshabella. Often I just say a word of thanks for the things that have made our lives much easier.

Rose said...

Hi DierdraL You are so young. My daughter is 22 and she has never seen a ringer but she has seen the wash board of someone's house. She is amazed by the things from the past.

Dee said...

@Rose
It's not really my age. It's a culture thing. Where I'm from washing machines were nonexistent for many years. We pretty much just had washtubs and rocks for beating the clothes.