17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, November 16, 1912: Didn’t have much at all to do this afternoon. I think you feel so funny when you have nothing at all to do.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Many days when I read what Grandma wrote, I am surprised how similar teens a hundred years ago are to teens today.
But occasionally, like today, I’m amazed how astute Grandma was—even though she was only 17. I don’t think that I learned until I was well into my 40s that it feels funny when I have nothing to do—and that I’m happier when I’m busy doing things that are meaningful to me.
“Nothing to do” back in the day when there were no distractions like there are today (internet, texting,TV, etc.) had to have felt different. Or maybe not, to a teenager. (Beautiful photo!)
Since they didn’t know about the possibilities of internet, texting, TV etc. I suppose that they never missed it. I wonder what people did back then to while away time.
So true, I think I was also around 40 when I finalize the truth tot that. Funny how I never thought of people 100 yrs ago having nothing to do..I always assumed they were always busy with something. 🙂
When I was growing up on the farm, it often seemed like the pace was much slower during the winter months than during the summer.
I would think with so much do on a farm it would be busy all year long. I admire our farmers and appreciate what they do to feed us all. Where you raised on your grandmothers farm?
No, I was raised on another farm in the same general area.
We were in Watsontown Saturday and I thought of you and your grandmother. The First Presbyterian Church on Main Street had a craft fair. I am still amazed that Helena walked there from McEwensville.
The craft fair sounds like fun. It seems like people walked so much more in the old days.
We can all stand to walk more – I know I have grown soft over the years.
I bet it was neat to be raised on a farm.
I have to wonder if Grandma ever told her mother she had nothing to do – if I happened to mention that to my mother she would smile sweetly and say she could find plenty of things for me to do!
When I was a child I quickly learned never to say that I was bored. 🙂