About North Georgia's publisher Randy Golden contributes a look into life in north Georgia, the Web, or anything that's on his mind.
Hello, friendsMy wife and I were talking the other day about the evolution of America from a front porch environment to a back deck world, and what happened to change our nation. I can remember when the front porch was the gathering place after dinner, with my uncles and cousins joining us on the swing or in the large wooden chairs that Grampa had built.
By the time I left home, Mom and Dad had an enclosed back porch and a patio, away from the noise and bustle of the now busy main street. But the evolution was more than people getting away from noise. Years ago, members of a community depended on each other. People were an integral part of neighbors lives, giving support when things got tough, helping in times of great need, or sharing the joy of a first step.
Today we have come to depend on a much wider support group, frequently made up of people entirely outside the immediate community. Cars and telephones have made it easier for long distance relationships, maybe going 300 miles to sit on Mom and Dad's patio again. And we have moved from our front porches to our back decks not only to reduce noise, but also to reduce the often unwanted intrusion of the local busybody.
Believe me, this is not a complaint, just an observation, that with the passing of time we lose something, and we gain something.
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