How Life has Changed

by Bernice Feliz
Franklin K. Lane High School

So very often we tend to dismiss how easy our lives are.  Every day new ways to make our lives easier are being developed.  Meanwhile senior citizens like Adelle can explain how hard life was and how privileged we are today.

Adelle grew up on Grand avenue and Canon Street on what was known as a tenement building. They were similar to apartment buildings today, except tenements were often in horrible conditions with over-crowded rooms and unsanitary states. “Eight of us lived in four rooms …. The bathrooms were out in the neighbor next door,” said Adelle.  People had to come up with ways to sterilize because washing machines and detergent were not available. “…Some people even boiled their clothes, so they were more antiseptic.”  Today to see someone boil clothes would be considered insane.

Another aspect of life, which is disregarded, is the availability of health care. Almost anyone can receive health care.  In Adelle's time, “If you had a cold [the pharmacist] would suggest what cough syrup to take. You didn't have the money to go to the doctor….You would go to your local pharmacy and he would give you anything that he thought was appropriate for you,” stated Adelle.

Women and children are especially privileged in the 21st century. Today women can be whatever they want, doctor, lawyer, judges, businesswomen, teachers, etc. Anything they can dream of and work for is available to you. Children can also be whatever they aspire to be without your financial status as a burden, all you need is an education and the determination to strive for your goals. Adelle explains, “Settlement houses…catered to the people that were immigrants…they would help you. They would teach the women how to sew and cook different things like that. Mostly women were there…because nobody had much money. My brothers didn't have classes after school…they didn't have activities as they do now. So one of them sold newspapers and the other one shined shoes…;that was how you made a nickel and a dime.”