Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Antenna TV






I remember back when we had antenna TV, to turn the antenna it was a task and always took three.
One in front of the TV, one on the porch and one to climb the tree.
The one standin in front of the TV is the one that played the biggest part and held the key.

I can still hear it now, TURN IT A LITTLE MORE, A TAD MORE. WHOAAA, GO BACK SOME MORE.

We had one brother that could climb a tree faster than a squirrel. He’d scare ye to death so bad it’d make ye hair curl.

We only got two channels and they were snowy as could be, except on a clear day and that old antenna was stuck high up in that tree.

And when it came a good, swiff wind it’d happen every time. That old TV was gone and we’d holler for him to take his daily climb.

One time we put daddy in front of the TV and on the porch was my spot to be.
My brother hadn’t been in the tree long before daddy yelled, WHOAAAA, COME ON DOWN.
On the way back down my brother slipped and hit every limb as he fell to the ground.

We all went runnin, just knowin he’d broke every bone in his body.
He got up off the ground and seemed to be alright but he walked awfully slowly.

When we went in to check out the TV, it was still snowy as could be. Daddy was sittin there with his legs crossed and said son you’re gonna get killed yet climbin that tree.

That TV was blank as ye ole hat, couldn’t see a thing. All my brother could say was Daddy what happened to the dang thing.

My brother wouldn’t climb it again when daddy was in reign. He knew there was no use or he’d have to borrow daddy’s walkin cane.

Mama got upset and had plenty to say. She told daddy the next time to
get out of the way. That young’un could’ve broke his neck and you’d still be sittin here killin the day. Sanford and Son is not worth it at all to see a young’un climb a tree and take a death fall.

Daddy sure did like his favorite show and mama always waited patiently and the anticipation continued to grow. She wouldn’t admit it but she sure did love her game show.

She actually had two she liked the best. Wheel Of fortune and The Price Is Right, was a joyful contest.

But when it came time for us to watch our favorite one of all, dog gone if company wouldn’t come to call.

Yep, just walk right in and make themselves at home. And it’d been a whole week since we’d seen The Waltons come on.

By the time they left we had to hit the tic and there’d be no TV and our wounds we had to lick and half the time my brother was using daddy’s walkin stick.

I’ll have to give credit where credit is due. When an old antenna is all you got, you learn to make do. Even if climbing a tree, it takes a whole crew.



                       © Susie Swanson, 2015

13 comments:

  1. Love this Susie!
    I can just picture this,
    had me smiling and nodding my head
    as I read.
    You see, we still do this today!
    As they say You hit the nail on the head with this one!

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  2. Oh, I remember these old TV's, Susie - the ones with the antenas. What a delightful poem this is. Yes, we had to make do with what we had. I love hearing your stories of the past, my friend. I am smiling every time I visit.

    Have a beautiful week, Susie.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. Thank you Sheri. hope you have a nice week as well.

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  3. LOL!
    Loved this!
    Those were the shows we all watched back then...Nowadays there's so many to choose from it is quite overwhelming isn't it.
    Hope you are well today...God bless!
    ((hugs))
    Lisa

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    1. Thank you Lisa. yes it was good entertainment back then compared to today... God Bless you as well!!

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  4. Ha ha! I would go back to that time in a heartbeat!
    My daughter and son in law have cut the cable and now rely on an antenna. It's
    jury-rigged up on an ottoman to the left of the "flat screen". . . makes me laugh and think of yesteryear(s) every time I visit them.
    ~Lynne
    w/L

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  5. Susie, I laughed about the turning of the antenna...we did that too. But ours wasn't as high. No tree climbing. I remember mommy watching Queen For A Day...she would say, Oh I wish I could be queen for a day and get a new washer and dryer. Her washer was an old wringer type and her dryer was the clothes line. There were times we tried to treat her like a queen. LOL. Gee, Susie, I would give anything to go back to those simpler times. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. Thanks Susie. I remember that show really well. We tried to treat our mother the same but it was so hard on them and they sacrificed a lot for us. I agree, i would love to go back too. Blessings to you.

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  6. I remember those days of struggling with the antenna. Ours was fastened into the ground behind our house. My Dad didn't have to climb the tree, but he would fuss with it sometimes from the ground turning it to adjust it just right. Great poem! :)

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    1. Thank you Daisy. I bet you all got a good laugh out of it.

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  7. How funny Susie! My grandparents had a big old antenna but it was clamped to the side of the house. My grandfather would go outside and turn it . Then later on they got an electric antenna that you could turn from the in the house! We were "uptown" then.

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