Before Us
My Mama told us about her life during The Great Depression. Every cadence of her voice comes back to me when I remember her stories. Being one of eight children, and somewhere just above the middle child, she'd tell us about running into the train yards at night, to get precious coal that had fallen onto the tracks. She, her older sisters and a couple of the younger brothers would stealthily sneak around the darkened tracks at night, loading their shirts, baskets, and bags with coal while keeping an eye out for the train detectives. One such night, her siblings scattered to avoid the detectives, and my Mama, all of nine years old, was left alone, hiding under a train at night. She eventually made it home to help distribute the coal to family and neighbors.
My Daddy, on the other hand, had different memories of The Depression, as he grew up on a farm. They never went hungry, but they did without a lot. He retold stories of pranks pulled, and adventures won. His most frequently told memory, to me at least, was trading sausage biscuits for peanut butter sandwiches, a creamy, golden, store bought luxury. My parents had such different tales to tell, and yet they reminisced with an almost fond longing for times past. I wonder how I'll look back on 2020.
My parents generation, which saw depression and The Second World War, was one of resilient strength, and doing what you had to do to get the job done. They had Victory Gardens, rationing, and survival with a hope unfounded that would surely make my much blessed, "OK Boomer," generation freak. I'm one of the last in line in The Boomer generation. I still have a 13 year old son at home and a 22 year old daughter. We're social distancing with a vengeance, and I miss my parents.
I miss them because of their resilience, their voices of calm in a storm of frazzled thoughts. I miss my Mama's touch, but mostly, I miss my parent's example. They were a part of what is now called The Greatest Generation, and I finally, and thankfully see why. It was tougher than many of us can imagine, and they did what they had to do. Many are facing the worst imaginable situations of their lifetimes. It's a different time, but in so many ways, we can still gather some hope from what has gone before. At least I'd like to hope so. Hope, it is what helps sustain us.
Every day, my 22 year old goes out of our house with mask and gloves, preparing and delivering meals for those in need. Every day, she comes home and we Lysol her down before she comes in. She reminds me of her namesake who hid under a train at night, to bring a little comfort for others. I hope for all of us, that we can comfort, and be there for each other in any way we can, and that we all do what we have to do. We can learn so much, from so many, who went before us.
My Daddy, on the other hand, had different memories of The Depression, as he grew up on a farm. They never went hungry, but they did without a lot. He retold stories of pranks pulled, and adventures won. His most frequently told memory, to me at least, was trading sausage biscuits for peanut butter sandwiches, a creamy, golden, store bought luxury. My parents had such different tales to tell, and yet they reminisced with an almost fond longing for times past. I wonder how I'll look back on 2020.
My parents generation, which saw depression and The Second World War, was one of resilient strength, and doing what you had to do to get the job done. They had Victory Gardens, rationing, and survival with a hope unfounded that would surely make my much blessed, "OK Boomer," generation freak. I'm one of the last in line in The Boomer generation. I still have a 13 year old son at home and a 22 year old daughter. We're social distancing with a vengeance, and I miss my parents.
I miss them because of their resilience, their voices of calm in a storm of frazzled thoughts. I miss my Mama's touch, but mostly, I miss my parent's example. They were a part of what is now called The Greatest Generation, and I finally, and thankfully see why. It was tougher than many of us can imagine, and they did what they had to do. Many are facing the worst imaginable situations of their lifetimes. It's a different time, but in so many ways, we can still gather some hope from what has gone before. At least I'd like to hope so. Hope, it is what helps sustain us.
Every day, my 22 year old goes out of our house with mask and gloves, preparing and delivering meals for those in need. Every day, she comes home and we Lysol her down before she comes in. She reminds me of her namesake who hid under a train at night, to bring a little comfort for others. I hope for all of us, that we can comfort, and be there for each other in any way we can, and that we all do what we have to do. We can learn so much, from so many, who went before us.
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