People Over 35: How Did We Make It?

My younger brother, Charlie, who at 46 remains forever young at heart, found this item floating around on the Internet. I thought seasoned doctors might find it to be a very amusing—and honest—commentary on life:

“According to today's bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, or 1970s probably should not have survived.

Our baby cribs were covered with lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets.

We rode in cars with no seatbelts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors! We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died.

We spent hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones!

We didn't have Playstation, Nintendo 64, or Xbox. No video games, no 99 channels on cable, videos, surround sound, or computers.

We had friends! We went outside and found them. We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt.

We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. No one was to blame but us.

We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, rang the bell, or just walked in.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. We had to deal with disappointment.

Some students weren't as smart as others or weren't ready, so they failed a grade and were held back. Tests were not adjusted for any reason.

Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. The idea of a parent bailing us out was unheard of. They actually sided with the law.

This generation has produced some of the best risk takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. We had freedom, failure, success, and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.”

Mr. Kelly is the editorial director of Physicians’ Financial News. He welcomes comments at gkelly@pfnlive.com.