How did we survive?

[Sarge]

It's a wonder any of us old farts ever got past middle school


http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-did-we-survive.html

[Boone]

I wrote about this same concept not too long ago....

Surviving the 70's (http://www.thenoosphere.com/blogs/boone/81-surviving-70s.html)

[China]

Boone, I had missed that one. Very nice. Reminds me of my youth. Definitely did the mix all the chemicals in the chemistry set one (got some foaming green concoction - cool!). Also had the BB gun which was great for shooting at glass bottles as they would shatter very satisfactorily.

And I definitely lost a few model rockets. I remember getting one for Christmas and setting it off (in Guy Mason Park) only to have in land in the Vice-President's yard (Naval Observatory). No problem, my sister hopped the fence and retrieved it (I'd like to see a kid try that now). :)

We would also manufacture various implements of destruction. We would buy calcium carbide from Sunny's Surplus and then use it to make our version of a Molotov ****tail. Carbide was great fun. What could be better than simply adding water to rocks to get a flammable gas? Making Polish cannons was also a blast. I also recall my friend making a homemade mini-crossbow. This doesn't cover the other items we bought such as throwing stars and blow guns. :)

Ah, the joys of youth. My son will sadly miss out on many of these things.

[Boone]

You sound like a kindred spirit China :)

And yeah, I think our kids are really missing out - their memories will be of classic Xbox video games and epic laser tag battles... I think I prefer our version....