Remembering The Past

As she celebrates her 100th birthday, Maria Morales Cabrillo

talks to Youth2day magazine about growing up.

1

My family didn’t have much money, but my brothers and

I had what we needed. We didn’t feel poor. We were like

everyone else around here. We used to get together with the

other children and play in the street every day. We all got on

well. It was a nice place to be. Everything used to happen in

that street. I got to know my husband in the street. He lived

opposite us. When we got engaged we had a party in the street.

It was wonderful. It’s changed a lot. It’s a lot quieter now. The

children don’t play outside. I know their lives are busier, but

I don’t think the kids are happier. And they’re fatter than we

were! I can’t believe that so many children are overweight

these days.

2

We used to eat three times a day and no more. We had a much

healthier diet. Lots of vegetables, some meat and very little

sugar. There didn’t use to be junk food like crisps and burgers

and no one needed to go on a diet or get fit. Everyone on our

street, children and adults, used to work so hard.

3

It wasn’t all better. Lots of people smoked. We didn’t know

how bad smoking was. My husband was a regular smoker.

Fortunately, he gave up smoking when our children were born.

4

My husband used to work in the local shoe factory. He worked

hard but didn’t get paid very much. It was di cult sometimes.

People are richer and their lives are easier now, especially

with the Internet. But our lives were happier then. I wouldn’t

change my life then for anything.