REFLECTIONS "Growing up in the 50's" -Chapter 12- Keep it Quiet

Nostalgia Tidbit: The house I grew up in was a 2BR, 1 Bath with a Living Room and a Kitchen. We had a very small back porch and a larger front porch. Total square footage was probably 1000sf. You can imagine that with the five of us (my two Brothers and Mom & Dad) things got a little tight at times. Mom and Dad always went to bed real early and the three of us usually got to stay up a little later and watch TV….under certain conditions, of course.

                                                                       Chapter 12

Keep it Quiet

Mom and Dad were always early to bed and early to

rise. Even though in later years Dad had trouble

hearing, back then I think he could hear “a pin drop on

the grass” from two blocks away.

Usually when Mom and Dad went to bed around 8

o’clock, my two older brothers and I were allowed to

stay up until 9 o’clock on school nights. We had to be

in bed as quickly after 9 as possible. The one

requirement was that the TV must be turned down low

so as not to disturb Dad’s sleep. 

Keep in mind,  we are in a two bedroom/one bath

house. There was probably only about 20 feet that

separated  the TV from Mom and Dad’s bedroom door.

Remember Dad is the guy who could hear a “pin drop  

on the grass”!

 Also, keep in mind, the only speaker was small and it

was on the TV…..no surround sound back then!

It had to be a sight to see with three boys huddled as

closely as could be in front of the TV….so close it was

hard  to see the picture. I know we all learned to read

lips  because the sound was so low. I am sure this

experience  is what made me such a “good listener”

later  in life. If you don’t believe me, ask my

wife…On second thought, maybe you shouldn’t ask

her. Oops, it is 9pm…early to bed and early to rise and don’t let the “sound bug bite”.