the good ole' days?

Life expectancy in 1906 was 47 years of age in the USA. The maximum speedlimit in most cities was 10 mph. More than 95% of all births took place at home, not in a hospital. At least 90% of all doctors in the US had no college degree. Again this is all in 1906, 100 years ago in the USA. Most women washed their hair once a month, and they generally used borax or egg yokes for shampoo. Only 6% of all Americans had graduated from High School. Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the counter at local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, "heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." And last but not least is the statistic that there were only 230 reported murders in the entire USA. (Contrast that with 16,900 murders in the USA in 2005).

Billy Joel sang that the "good ole' days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems." That seems to sum it up pretty well. I wonder what it will be like in 2106? My grand children will find out I guess given the progressive curve of life expectancy, though I certainly will not be here. As I have mulled over these statistics this morning the conclusion that I reached is that much change has happened both good and bad in the last 100 years, but today is mine to make and shape and influence. The past is done and tomorrow may not come. Today is all I have. You too.