November 2, 2011
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Controversial topic, beware all who enter here
I try to be upbeat and non-controversial on my blog although I do broadcast my opinion in comments I leave on other sites. The last I knew we still have the freedom of speech and the internet is certainly a public forum. So here goes.
If I could find it easily I would post the one photo of the house I was raised in from the age of 5 until 12. A very humble abode to say the least, never finished, 3 rooms and a loft. No running water. 3 of us girls to a bed, wood stove in an uninsulated house,the chimney of the pot belly stove rose through the floor up to the loft and out the roof. So much heat was lost that you could warm yourself by huddling around it. My siblings may have a different take on this and maybe based on their birth order things were better for the younger ones than for the older ones. But history is in the mind of the teller and right now that would be me.
I recall cardboard placed in my shoes to cover the holes and we did indeed walk a little over 2 miles to school and 2 miles back often without adequate winter clothes, rain gear or boots. It was not uncommon to have only bread and butter or cold biscuits in our lunch sacks. Once in a while Mom would make a simple frosting of powdered sugar and milk and spread it between saltine crackers as a lunch treat, oh yum, what a great treat it was. My older sister and I still make these once in a while. I do know hungry, believe me I do. I still recall the lovely clothes my aunt sent to me that her daughter had outgrown. Each item freshly washed, starched, pressed and folded. I treasured each item of clothing which even included a "can can" that was all the rage in the 50's. My aunt's kindness and the care she took of each piece of clothing gave me a lifetime of love and respect for her.
I was very ashamed of our little unfinished house and very afraid someone from school might see the hodgepodge ladder we scurried up to our loft. Our older brother had one side of the loft and we girls the other side. Little brother when he came along shared a room with our parents. Rarely, but when I did have school mates stay overnight we shared a room at my grandparent's home. Truthfully claiming there was no room for guests in my home but more so because I was very ashamed of our very humble home. So different from my friends' homes. Some people claim they were poor but happy and sat around singing "So The Circle Won't Be Broken" each night. Not so us. For whatever reason we were poor and I now marvel that Mom was able to put a meal on the table.
Why am I saying all this, why reveal all this history? Because when I saw the other kids' sack lunches I didn't begrudge them their baloney sandwiches, potato chips and cookies. I recall thinking someday I could also have nice lunches. Time spent in the homes of my classmates delighted me to see running water, scented soaps and a nice clean bed for everyone. Homes that appeared to have laughter, peace, hugs and attention. Homes like I wanted when I grew up. When I noted how the other girls dressed I could attempt to follow their styles and with my hand me down 'can can' slip and cousin's skirts I thought I did pretty well.Guess I learned that imitation was the most sincere form of flattery rather than to feel jealousy and think they were the 'haves' and I was one of the 'have nots'.
I will close with this and wish I could post pictures of my and each of my siblings' homes today in contrast to the humble shabby house we were raised in. Each of us have nice homes, each of us earned our educations, through the military, working our way through college or on the job,and have had excellent jobs and raised our families. Four of us rented when we started out, bought homes we could actually pay for even though they were not big lavish and new we all managed to avoid the trap of being heavily in debt(if at all). Our children are all hard working and earning their own way with our strong work ethic and it appears the grandchildren are following this pattern also. Oh my, how different it would be for the 5 of us and our families if we had sat back and envied those who had better lives than we had. Or just as bad begrudged the success of others rather than reaching and working for our own success. Or how different if we had held our hands out waiting for Uncle Sam to give us the money taken from others. Or if my parents had put us on the welfare train to ride through our childhoods to the point of perpetually looking at others and wanting them to have less so we could have more.
I know the Lord blessed each of us and kept us safe and reasonably healthy and that we all 5 married good spouses who were like minded and we married for life. Actually I imagine our great grandmother who saw our poverty and who had a strong faith in the Lord and a love for us prayed for our futures and maybe it was more the Lord than our hard work that resulted in our situations today. But I like to think the harder we worked the more the Lord blessed the 5 of us and our mates.
Fritz and I spent most of our married life being self employed. We scrimped and saved and paid the quarterly estimated tax, we paid our own health insurance and the full Social Security tax, we lived off of what was left over and saved for our retirement. My husband worked harder than any man I know and went without and made do to support his family. We are not "the evil wealthy" but we worked and saved and expected nothing to be given to us. We know many who have struggled and have far more than we do and we admire them and yes they are the "rich" but they earned every dime and it is none of my business to question their motives. Socialism has been tried and has failed every where it has been practiced. Class envy will not only destroy our country it destroys the individual.
So there you have it I think this is what shapes my world view and leads me to have little tolerance for those who want to heavily tax those of us who have more than they do. Success is something to strive for not something to be jealous of.
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Comments (58)
Oh how, similar many things in your post are to my own growing up years. We too, (Bob and I) ended up being self employed, and paid our full share of Social Security. We paid into it believing it to be 'like a savings account'. So , that we do expect from the Gov.! We don't blame any one else for our 'lack' in anything .
You have said it so well !!
@SewWorthIt - Thank you. Yes, we paid into SS, it was the law we had to pay even when we knew it could not sustain the heavy burden it increasingly carried. I agree we thought we'd get it back and maybe we will but the next generation might not. We could have invested that SS back when interest rates were high and if the other tax burden had not been so high maybe we'd have even more today. Who knows? SS is certainly not an entitlement. We've all paid in all our working lives. But all these other than retirement benefits erk me that are being paid out. People getting it that never paid in!! Okay I'll climb off my soap box and try not to slip and fall LOL. Thanks for your comment.
I remember when I discovered that poverty was cultural rather than financial: I was staying at my sister's house for a couple of weeks at the beginning of summer vacation in college. They lived in a subsidized townhouse, surviving on his TA stipend (maybe $500 a month) and food stamps. She wasn't working because she had young children. But the house was pleasant, we ate simply but well, and it felt very middle class even though there wasn't any money. The kids were read to every day and grew up surrounded by books, and were expected to do well in school and go to college.
On the other hand, I've seen people with full-time jobs get evicted because they didn't pay rent, but did have money for satellite or cable TV, several cell phones, a PlayStation, and junk food.
I admire your heart, agree with your thoughts and wish others shared your view. Thank you for sharing part of your history with us. There is so much integrity in what you said. Thank you. Wow. I truly do appreciate your story and agree with your ending thoughts.....it's really scary what's going in our world. I'm so thankful that this old world is not my home!
I think this is one of the best posts I've read in a long time. Funny how people are gripping about not having money to pay their bills and yet have all sorts of expensive "toys" to enjoy. My husband was the sole provider for our little family, he knew poor too, and worked very hard to accomplish all we have enjoyed in our 31 years of marraige. Many times we said no to our kids, but many times we said yes too...if we knew it would benefit them in their development and future. We lived as debt free as we could and because of my husband's ability to have self control, we are ready to retire without debt. Too bad society has the mentality that they are OWED what they do not WORK HARD to get for themselves. They want to take from those who sweat and tire from working hard instead of doing it themselves. Young people feel we should all be equal....I'd like to see some kid who stayed up sleepless night after sleepless night working hard to get a GPA of 4.0 have to share that GPA with someone who didn't work as hard and only has a 3.0!!!
@Roadkill_Spatula - Wants and needs are certainly not the same are they. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for sharing. I grew up in the city and never went to bed hungry. My parents were divorced and my grandma lived with us to help pay the rent. We shopped for clothes at the Goodwill (before it was stylish to do so.) I got my first bike (used) when I was 12. We too have been self-employed. My husband worked long hours so I could be home with our children. It wasn't easy, but God helped us.
@Bumblypick - Thank you for your comment. Yes, this earthis not our home nor are men in control but God is.
@MadraysGarden - We have much in common don't we my friend? Thank you for your comment.
@ata_grandma - Thank you for your comment. Certainly makes one thankful for what we have now and how good life is now doesn't it!
This is a great, honest, well written post. One of the best posts that I have read in a long time. It reminds me a lot of my dad. He did not have a lot growing up and to add to it, his father was an alcoholic. My dad dropped out of school to work in construction, a job that he held, with the same employer until he retired. When I was growing up my parents could have given me anything (within reason) that I wanted, they didn't of course. Because my dad worked so hard his whole life, he does not have to worry about money now that he is retired.
i think i held my breath the whole time i was reading ... honest and excellent story you share ... as hard as your early life was, i think you agree that you became a strong, resilient woman with strong values and ideas about what is important ... and you & Fritz shared these values with your kids ... I take my hat off to ya ma'am!! You are what it means to be an American!!
Well stated. Class envy & Socialism are scourges that will ruin this country if not nipped in the bud. Now, I'll get off my soapbox
I too grew up in very humble surroundings. I recall when we first got running water, when we no longer had to trot out to the outhouse in the middle of the night (no, both of those events did not happen at the same time), when we borrowed the neighbor's horse to hitch to a plow so we could plow up the garden. Funny, we never considered ourselves poor, never chanted about being one of the 99%, nor did we ever begrudge those that were better off.
I really enjoyed this post, Nancy. It is well written, honest, thought provoking and full of emotion. I didn't grow up in poverty, but my Daddy and Sweet Mama worked hard, and I always thought we were poor. Daddy had a way of making us think we couldn't afford things. I remember him bringing out his worn change purse and showing us the few coins in it and saying that was all he had. As an adult, I realize that he was probably speaking of "cash on hand at that minute" but it really made an impression on me. I don't remember worrying about it, but just thinking that we were "poor" and wondering what it would be like to be "rich" like the other kids seemed to be. Oh, Nancy! We had so much! I remember sleeping three girls to a bed, and stuff like that, but most of what you wrote here, I don't begin to identify with. And we were so happy, too. Our parents loved God and each other and us with a tenacity that amazes me when I look back on it. I think the one thing that impresses me about our world today that is extremely damaging for our children is the idea that "If we want something, and we can afford it, it is okay to buy it." NO!!!!! It is NOT OKAY!!!! We have to have a more compelling reason to buy something than we want it and can afford it. We send a whole wrong message to our kids when we live that way -- and I'm as guilty as anyone of living that reasoning. I'm learning the dangers of that thinking as my kids grow older.
Anyhow, this is a good post, and I appreciate it very much!
@oxlorixo - Sounds like your father is a wise man.Thank you for the kind comment.
@windupherskirt - Thank you so much for your sweet words, I appreciate it very much. American can still be the land of opportunity if the federal government doesn't ruin us and stifle personal responsibility and entrepreneurship.
@Lucy_or_Ethel - you are so deserving ... you are right about the govt ... wonder if the peeple we elect to speak for us really "speak" for us ...
@bluezbrewsbbqz - Certainly makes one appreciate what many take for granted doesn't it! I hope we are not the last generation to be in the majority of appreciating all we have. Thanks for your comment. Came back again.
@Buckeyegirlie - You were blessed to be raised in a Christian home.Thank you for your very sweet comments my friend.
You and Wil could have lived in the same house basically. 7 kids 3 rooms 3 to a bed with youngest in with parents. All grew to do well and have nice homes. Now we are losing so much of our investments that we were counting on during retirement. Like Wil says, he doesn't mind making his living and helping out family when necessary, but he doesn't think it is right to have to pay for someone else's living too.
@TheSunnyC - Fritz worked for a major company for 8 years before he retired. They had a 401k to invest in,we now watch that take a roller coaster ride. Glad we didn't have more invested like that! Usually it isn't lack of money but how it is spent that is the problem. How's the weather where you are!
Well said! I get a bit annoyed when someone says.."you are so lucky". I grew up during very difficult times too. Not that we lived in poverty but we sure didn't have a lot and my parents worked very hard to make a living. My husband and I had next to nothing when we got married. He went to school for 7 years to get his degree and worked very hard for many years and put savings aside...Never expected anyone to give us anything. Yes we watch some of our investments tank but I don't see how anyone can put the blame on any particular people..
Thank you for approaching the subject..
It seems that the "American Dream" has morphed quite a bit -- it used to be that if you worked hard you could earn success, however you measured it; now it seems to be that you can have success, no matter how little you do to accomplish it!
Thank you for sharing this! Your childhood and experiences have shaped you into a wise, compassionate person. I grew up one of eight kids. I didn't know we were poor until I went to Jr. High School. I remember only 2 pair of shoes...weekday and Sunday...raising our own food...often meatless meals, slept in a bed with two of my sisters, no extras or frills, etc. But I learned a good work ethic, worked hard (babysitting when young and got my first go-to-paying job at 15 years old) and have held jobs (teaching) up until 3 years ago. I have way more than my parents did, and than I thought I'd ever have. I am very grateful and content.
Great post! I appreciate what you shared with us!
HUGS!
@dingdongdingbat - We appreciate things far more when we accomplish things to succeed on our own. Success breeds success often times. Sounds like you folks know what it is all about!
@slmret - Maybe a so-called success without the feeling of accomplishment. Maybe like it is owed to them and they deserve it*ugh* I do not like that attitude at all. Maybe difficult times are good for us, what do you think?
@AdamsWomanFell - Thank you for your touching comment. To this day I marvel at my filled closet and my many shoes. Seeing our pantry filled and cupboards with so much food still after all these year makes me so thankful. When Fritz and I got married I had 2 dresses and a pair of white sneakers and a pair of black flats. A couple of pairs of slacks and a couple of shirts and not much more. God has blessed me with a good man and a good life. Good to hear you say you are content, so many people are not anymore it seems.
@Lucy_or_Ethel - Definitely hard times allow (cause) us to appreciate that success more. Things have been pretty easy for most people for long enough that expectations have increased and effort decreased. I definitely agree that difficult times are good for us -- builds that sense of accomplishment. I agree, too, that the attitude of "deserving" is not a positive one without the work that leads to reward.
Boy, could I ever agree with all of this, FIRST HAND!!! I could have WRITTEN this. I grew up the same way. Mom said, in the early days, we had a cow. She said we lived on home-made bread and gravy. We also walked two miles and a half to school. Everybody in our neighborhood did. Now I have to tell a giggly. You mentioned the cardboard in the shoes and no boots. I grew up during WWII and shoes were rationed. I know ALL ABOUT THAT CARDBOARD!!! But the giggly part to me today....not then....is that in the winter time, MY FEET WERE ALWAYS DIRTY!!! You see, it didn't matter how often you washed your feet, the moment you put those darned goulashes (sp) on over your shoes, your feet were instantly dirty!!!
Many times, I've wished my parents could come back to see how wonderful life is for me today, because we really struggled their whole lifetime. Oh, we still work hard, but things are so much easier now.
oh,Nancy, I never knew
@GrannyHummingbird - Thank you for your comment. I like the dirty feet story! I appreciate what you wrote, guess we can say "we've been there done that" can't we? My parents knew hard times. My Mom's family was hard working but not real prosperous. Few were then. As a young girl Mom left the farm to go to Des Moines to nursing school during the Great Depression. There was no money, she worked hard and jobs were few and far between but she made it through 4 years of college. A little farm girl in the big city determined to get her education and she did. There were no student loans or government help then! Hard work and going without and a little help from her family(not rich) made it possible. I do so admire success and hard work!
@Babyboomerjill - Jill, I guess everyone has their story don't they? Some happy and some not so happy right? Makes us what we are today. Life is good!
The older generations had a different set of problems and advantages. I remember when they had coin deposits on glass bottles and each store had to return the bottles but that made it a temptation to spend the bottle deposits for more stuff at the store.
I was raising my family in the early 1980's. Arcade Video games was too much of a temptation for me. My ex wife wanted us to move out of a home and move into an apartment! Some of the better elementary schools had a waiting list to get into.
The construction trade had its ups and downs. I was a plumber instead of using my BA degree in biology. I later fell into drugs and I am still crawling back up into society.
I don't mind if people look down on me, but I apply for no welfare and generally stay under the tax radar. I prefer to use public transportation and maybe if the government decides, I hope my daughters are able to pay off their student loans.
But let me remind you that the higher taxes on the rich may return to previous levels. Don't think that the rich haven't lobbied for tax breaks and got them. There are now more super rich who are getting richer than middle class folks who are getting richer. It is not solely tax the rich but undo the tax breaks that they were able to lobby for.
It's hard not to be jealous when success and the results of success exist in a zero-sum game. We can't ALL be the 1%... most of us HAVE to be the 99%, and will be. Our successes come at the loss of somebody else. It's hard to stay positive about the gains of others when you think of it that way.
I had it easy compared to everyone else.. just used to laugh at Dad and say right it was up hills both ways from school. But he did instill in us a good work ethic. And I have paid long and hard into social security counting on it only to find it may not be there. I didn't invest my retirement account, played it the safe and steady low interest.. but have to say now I am glad I did. I've paid off everything but those stupid student loans I have for my kids college.... so I have no house I rent because I am still 50K in debt.
I think a childhood of doing without , no matter what it is we are doing without, makes us stronger in the long run, although it doesn't feel like it at the time we are going through the hard times. TY for sharing this and you have come so far.
@TheMushyPear - Then do not think of it that way. It only hurts you and it gains you nothing. Looking at others rather than striving to take care of your self will only hurt you. I disagree 100% with your world view. That 99% tag line is nonsense. Who hires people? 2 sources, the governemnt and the upper income people. Class envy has caused many a nation to become bankrupt as they let Socialism "make things fair". Begrudging success will hinder your life.I do thank you for your comment but if we do not learn from history we shall repeat it.
@PPhilip - You have an interesting life story. Just how would it help you if the tax rate was increased on the wealthier? In what way? We have a cousin who is a plumber, not Joe The Plumber LOL. He came from humble means like I did. Before the now in place government regulations he studied,learned and later apprenticed himself to learn his trade. He put together a thriving business and worked 24/7 to do the best job anyone could do, went out of his way to answer every service call. Nice honest man. His wife kept the books for the growing business. No vacations, no spending money unless he had to. Business grew,he was able to replace his old service vehicle with a nice new reliable one.Years later they were able to build a nice home. His 2 sons grew up and joined him in the business. He needed more service vans, more tools and equipment.Time passed he opened another plumbing shop in a bigger town and hired more men and helped them become certified and meet the regulations. Success! The American Dream. He has his 2 sons and 12 other men employed, providing health insurance to them and of course paying in 1/2 of their Social Security each pay day. His goal? His wife's goal? To provide jobs for others. Yes, he and his wife are well off and doing really well. He could close his business down and still live well, he is now in his 60's. But he doesn't. He recently invested in a closed down factory building and is working hard to get a business in there that will also provide jobs, they live in a little town where they have poured money into providing a community center,helping to make the little town better in every way he can. Of course getting tax breaks on these things, the devils LOL.Do not climb in the trap of classifying and tagging people with titles. Oh and our cousin has been too busy working to even go to Washington to vacation and certainly not to lobby. Although he has formed a corporation it was to protect his business and his family. Many farmers and people who want to protect their businesses in-corporate.
I do not mean to be nasty or mean but you did not "fall" into drugs. You chose to get involved. You did not "fall" into it anymore than my cousin "fell" into success.It is called personal responsibility and choices made.
I do thank you for you comment. Oh and btw returning glass pop bottles was before all this plastic and they were re-used just like milk bottles were exchanged with the milk man. Not necessarily so the store keeper would sell more things.
Once again I am not aiming to offend you but taking from others will in no way make your life easier or better. Thank you for you comment.
@dgweg - Love you DGWEG. Student loans are hurting many people. Makes tings difficult for the young people and their parents.
@Grannys_Place - Thank you for your comment!
Boy have you opened up a can of ..something! There was a time in my life that I envied the SUPER wealthy. But not so much anymore. Spending 31 years working with convicted felons does that to a person I guess. Its not so much that they should pay more in taxes I don't think.. 10% to you is certainly alot different than 10% to Warren Buffet, Bill Gates or others. Perhaps taxes should be a % per dollar... like when you pay your sales tax on goods at the store. Maybe companies should only receive tax cuts if they show they provide so many jobs and that salaries of their CEO's are only a certain percentage above their employees (I'm not sure that makes real sense, but something) Again, I'm not envious of the rich. But shall we start on the rich that run for office because a common person could never put out that kind of money to get elected... and then I could start on congress and senate benefits compared to our or particularly our military. Perhaps if the rich in office to some steps to curb themselves this conversation would be less of a can. Love you!
@Lucy_or_Ethel - I feel like a know you even better now.
@dgweg - Thanks for your comment. I do agree with you and that "buying" the presidency or other political offices is about what it amounts to and yes many are are millionaires to begin with. Maybe more business people and fewer lawyers in office is what we need LOL. I think term limits would end this good ol' boy system. But then we'd lose the better ones also. Very strong emotions right now as people are hurting. I just do not like the jealousy and class envy.
@Babyboomerjill - Thank you Jill!
@Lucy_or_Ethel - A higher tax rate or a return to previous tax rates (it is a semantics trick) but we need to lessen the nation debt. Do I want the United States to still help police the world militarily/diplomatically? Yes
Do I want more infrastructure? Yes better roads for the plumbers.
Do people fall into bad health? Do natural disasters happen to fall on people? I would like a little bit of help in those cases but how little help should be offered to those who fall to addictions? Offering rehabilitation programs is not too much to ask. Just like police enforcement you can only spend so much for one service before needing to spend a little for other services. Moderates sort of play it smart, extremists are good targets and the true way of handling things falls somewhere in the middle of those two.....
Sister, I accidently deleted my comment and will not replicate it exactly (it was too long,LOL) There is not a shred of resentment in my heart for our childhood struggles. I just knew that with God's help I could make of my life whatever I wished. There is a pie out there for everyone who is willing to search and work for it. There is not one BIG pie that has to be shared by all. That is the faulty thinking of many today. Unfortunately, government today seems to think that it holds that BIG pie in its hands to divy up. We shall see how that diminishes one's ability to make his own personal pie in the "Lucy and Dominie" s of the future.
@Dominie - I appreciate your thinking and you are a great example of working hard with most of the odds against you, yet you succeeded. Our struggles made us who we are today and for that I am very grateful.
I have never had financial struggles in all my life, but maybe that's because we lived within our means. In the younger years that meant, no cable, no phones, no video games, no eating out, no fancy cars, clothes or homes, but we were happy with the little things. My husband served 20 years in the military and they paid for his education. We sacrificed a lot in the early years of our marriage, maybe that's why we live so comfortably today. No issues of entitlement.
Most of our kids are following a healthy plan and making their way, but we do have one that took another route, blowing every sent on extravagance, booze, smokes, eventually he ended up homeless. We brought him to Oklahoma to start over fresh. He seems to be making a turn around, but he says it is really tough not to go back to his old way of spending/thinking.
Eventually, the hard working folks will run out of money and then we will all be equal, leaving everyone needy. I love helping folks who cannot work, but it should be a choice on where I chose to give my money I've worked hard for. Government should not be forcing me who or what to contribute. My money, my choice.
My family volunteers at the city rescue mission, so my kids know the needs, they see the faces of those who struggle. But giving money alone does not fix the problem. It's an issue of the mind and heart, addictions, mental illnesses. These folks need more than just a few bucks, they need investment. And that comes from the heart, not the wallet.
This last generation has been raised with the entitlement mindset, they know no different. It's a problem we have created ourselves. Give the child whatever he wants, just to shut him up. Sadly, they do not grow out of it and struggle their whole life.
Loved this post! We were dirt poor growing up, too. We learned what it was to work hard on the farm, buck hay, tend the livestock, etc. We didn't get handouts, didn't get much of anything, but I did learn what it was to live within my means. My dh and I aren't rich and we've taught our kids that if you want something, you have to earn it.
Thank you so much for posting this!
@WildWomanOfTheWest - I do so appreciate your comment and learning this about you! We know living debt free is possible I could write an entire new entry just on that subject and how hard my husband worked to buy our 1st house...a real fixer upper...an old 10 room 2 story house but that's for another time and another blog but makes me appreciate the experiences of others as they also struggled. I appreciate all you said and yes living within our means eliminates financial worries. "My money, my choice" I like that also. Socialism makes everyone poor but the ruling class.Once again I stress I appreciate your attitude.
@SealedbyGrace - thank you for your comment and I appreciate your attitude. Sounds like you've raised your kids with the right way. So often people think as long as they can make those payments they can have whatever they want at the moment. No thought to interest rates and what if they are unable to make those payments.
So well written!
@cerwindoris -
Thank you Doris.
Amen, sister! My hubby worked so hard, he's suffering for it, physically. Thankfully, he does get some retirement money each month. As an MK/PK, I was led to believe that money was always tight to non-existent. I heard miracle stories of how this check and that cash came in the mail to us "just in time" to pay the rent and or buy a little food. Our living conditions weren't awful as far as toilets go. It didn't always flush. There were bug plagues on the sides of two of our places we lived in. Scorpions, cockroaches, two kinds of ticks. We had tarantulas (fun), and a matavenado...(the bugs that kill large animals such as deer). There was the stalker and the sleezy molesting missionary and the witchcraft lady who wanted to cast a spell on my dad. Oh and the fridge that rarely worked (the milk was always sour), and the bed I shared with little sis was always wet because we'd both wet it. Icky, icky tomes. I really don't know how poor we were. I just knew that a certain parent was very envious of a certain relative who had a nice house, a nice life in the city of our birth. I sometimes find myself falling into that mindset...why does SHE get to live like that and I don't? Answer: choices. We each make our choices, and sometimes other peoples' choices clash with ours and influence ours and keep us from achieving what we dreamed of achieving. Like health. And accidents. And poor money management in the early years of marriage and a developer's decision to eradicate our then city neighborhood, forcing us to move, and not paying us a dime. That's why we are where we are. But we're not suffering. God is blessing us and I'd like to think that as we continue to work in different ways (hubby does only what he's capable of, which is alot less now), we'll reap what we sow. I'm glad you opened up this subject!
P.S. I do love your thinking!
@Richgem - And I like your thinking and how you learned to make the best of things.I had it so much easier than you. None of us girls wet the bed LOL. But we had little sister Susan sleep in the middle. She was so 'warm blooded'(still is) and we'd huddle by her and she'd sweat and we'd be warmer LOL. Poor little thing no wonder she sweat, it's a wonder we didn't crush her. I didn't realize your husband had such a time, I am sorry. Bad health is certainly not a choice is it? My little sister Susan has Parkinson's. Her form of it is dreadful and she has had it for 10 years. She was forced to retire from teaching. Through all this she has 'chosen' to retain her sweet gentle nature. I appreciate your open comment. Throughout our lives we realize the Lord is our provider don't we, certainly not all our wants but certainly our needs.
I fear that we are just a generation removed from people not knowing what it is like to save to buy things, to pay as you go, to do the right thing and to be responsible. I fear for the future of my grandchildren, for them to live in a society where there is widespread expectation that one doesn't have to provide for oneself, that someone else will do it. When no one does it, what then? It is so discouraging for OUR generation to see what we worked so hard for became devalued and trivialized and even taken away because of the greed or selfishness or irresponsibility of someone else. That's not the American dream. That's the American nightmare. I hope and pray that leaders will (from somewhere!) rise up with the ability and courage to do the right thing and lead us back to responsible government. But so far, I haven't seen those leaders yet....where you they? Afraid of the media? What their families will have to endure if they do step out and take a stand? Sad, sad.
@AmericanJanet - The media can be like hungry hounds and certainly attempt to form public opinion than to simply report it. I do not like what I see either but more important than what happens in the White House is what goes on in our house, as Barbara Bush said. And to remember God is our provider. We can see today what is happening in Europe and what protests we saw in Wisconsin and other states. This recent Occupying whatever it is protest gives an insight into the mind set of these young people. Troubled times indeed. Thanks for your comment.
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