A while back I heard that a person was being interviewed by a news reporter and was asked what the two greatest problems facing society today were. The person yawned and replied, “I don’t know and I certainly don’t care.” When you stop and think about it, that’s exactly the truth today isn’t it? But it wasn’t like that in the small town of Chelsea where I grew up. Our parents and grandparents both KNEW and CARED. But what exactly did they know and care about?

* They knew that you had to work 8-10 hours a day, five days a week to make a living. They understood the fact that for the most part, if you didn’t work, you didn’t eat or sleep very well. They knew that even though you were tired at the end of the day, you actually felt good about life and about yourself. They knew that besides work providing a good way of life, it also was (still is) the greatest therapy in the world. A day’s pay for a day’s work. And hey cared enough to instill this work ethic into their children. Mow the lawn and you get two bucks. Don’t mow the lawn and you get punished. Yep, they had those dog-gone small town values.

* They knew that in the long run, it always paid to not only do a job but to do it well. Your reputation and that of the family’s name was at stake.

* Our parents and grandparents knew that for the most part, Sunday mornings were reserved for Church. And it seems that about 80-85% of Chelsea-ites went to Church-fairly regularly. Today across America, I believe it has dipped below 50%. That’s a shame. Moral guidance was a given back in those days. Not sure where our morality thermometer is anymore.

* And I know from first hand experience, that they taught very well the rule, “spare the rod, spoil the child,” train of thought. OUCH! But I learned “many-a-thing,” because of that rule. There was none of this first, second, thirds and more chances. Usually we were told once and then expected to do what we were told. PERIOD.

* We were also taught to respect our elders. And not only to respect them but to, in a way, honor them. They were, after all, our elders. Don’t necessarily see much of that today.

* And they knew that authority was to be respected. We were not able to play the “blame game.” I used to hate it when my kids would come home from a ball game and they said the reason they lost was because the refs or umps were against them. GRRRRR…….yet on Facebook and other places I hear adults blaming the refs still.

Well, we could go on and on about the problems facing our world today, but this is a good start, don’t you think? Let me know what you think are some problems at jsheda@indytel.com or call me at 319.327.4640. Love to hear from ya.