Changes, changes, we have seen so much
Life was very simple then
Our lives have changed forever by such
When all the inventions and technology began
We drew our water from a well
That was a child’s job, you know
Sometimes with a full pail we fell
All we could do was get up and go
There was no electricity for power
The kerosene lamps made a glow
That was our vision on the darkest hour
To keep the lamps burning the wind could not blow
I remember the first radio that I saw
It was at Clifton Pinegar’s house
A big flat box, three knobs, and a big speaker on top
In order to hear it, we were quiet as a mouse
Nobody had ever heard of child labor laws
Everyone in the family had to work
We picked the cotton with our paws
Not even the youngest child could shirk
When a small plane would fly in the sky
We all looked up to see
The plane did not soar up very high
We all looked amazed and thought how could it be
I heard my teacher predict there would someday be TV
I thought that he was crazy as he could be
Nowadays most homes have three or more
The video games let the children keep score
We were so happy to get the electric power
It pumped the water from the well
It lighted our homes on the darkest hour
No more kerosene lamps did we fill
All our automobiles you had to shift the gears
With your hand on the stick and your foot on the pedal
Then the Oldsmobile gave automatic transmission
No more putting your left foot to the metal
Our scientists invented the atomic bomb
When the B-29 dropped it, it ended WW2
The Japanese knew where it came from
They surrendered and said we are through
Aluminum foil and plastic were great inventions
Those two items have so many uses
Now they are used in every vocation
It preserves our food and helps keep in the juices
We sent a man up to the moon
Where there is no gravity at all
They did not stay long, they came back soon
They left the U.S. flag and it did not fall
I can leave New York on a jet plane at 7
And go soaring across the sky
I will arrive in Los Angeles by 11
That is fast travel, my oh my
The invention of penicillin was wonderful
A quick cure for infections
Soon the medicine became bountiful
The illness is cured by a few injections
Another wonder was the polio cure
Everyone feared that disease
We all dreaded it that is for sure
Now we can go any place with ease
Open-heart surgery is an everyday thing
The doctors may perform three or more a day
Many times better health it does bring
And death for the patient could be years away
Who would ever thought about getting a new heart
Many years ago a person would be doomed
The medical field has become very smart
Now the patient leaves the hospital without any gloom
We have more work to do in the medical field
When we can find a cure for cancer
Someday I hope that something will yield
I hope that a scientist will find the answer
What would we do without the microwaves
To heat our leftovers in
By eating those snacks it stops our craves
And puts a little more fat on our chinny-chin-chin
How could I possibly leave out the computers
They are everywhere to be found
They even direct the way for commuters
All parts of the country the drivers are bound
Many families own a VCR
It is attached to their television
It records the programs while we ride in our cars
Whether we watch it or not later will be our decision
It seems that every one owns a cellular telephone
They are used often and everywhere
It lets you call when you are away from home
You can tell your friend when you will arrive there
We have so many satellites in the sky
Sending back to earth messages of some kind
So many of them I do wonder why
Maybe a lot of knowledge they will find
In the business world we are identified by a number
The numbers are zero to nine
It is our SS number if you should wonder
I am very protective of mine
We have seen conflicts and wars in our years
Most all would agree that our world is in a mess
We have seen a lot of blood, sweat and tears
But living in the U.S. is still the best
We have seen changes, many changes
In the last 80 years
All has happened through the ages
We must try to live a life without fears
These are only a few of the great things
As we think back about our lifetime
It has to be a guess about what the future brings
We can declare that the Lord is Thine
--VY, February 2003
(Valeta Young and Averil Beaver are members of the White County Historical Society.)