Older Adults Are Sharing The Unique Experiences From The Past That Have Gen Z'ers Dumfounded

"I remember riding in the 'rumble seat' - a bench seat located outside the back of my friend's dad's restored Model T. There were no seat belts or protection whatsoever. Similarly, it was common to ride in the beds of pick-up trucks when there were too many kids to fit inside. Driving in the 'way back' of our Station Wagon with our dogs and other kids with no seat belts on was considered completely normal, and something every family with kids did."

"There were stores that let you grab groceries and small items and put it on 'store credit,' which you would pay off on a monthly basis. Sometimes, they wouldn't charge you anything to do so, but I remember there was one store that'd charge a $5 interest on a monthly basis. Your signature was all you needed, and you were good to go."

"Before you could dial phone numbers, you had to use an operator to connect you to the other party. I picked up the phone one day to call Santa Claus, and a very kind operator connected me to Mrs. Claus because Santa was 'so busy that day.'"

Many older adults grew up tending home gardens and eating home-cooked meals because takeout options were scarce. Telephone service often required an operator to place connections and occasionally offered unexpected personal assistance. Car travel frequently involved riding in unprotected spaces such as rumble seats, pickup truck beds, or the way-back of station wagons without seat belts. Local shops commonly extended informal store credit based on a signature, sometimes charging small monthly interest instead of formal credit checks or electronic payments. These everyday practices shaped routines around food, travel safety, shopping, and communication that differ markedly from modern norms.

Read at BuzzFeed