Our "PaPa" is living with us now. He is 91 years old and just full of history. He is in good health and is sharp as a tack. He plays the stock market every day on the computer here next to me.
This last week while I was working on my family tree (I do genealogical work for our family) I got reacquainted with with a distant relative, Marie, who is 92 years old. She is also in good health, sharp as a tack, and full of vim and vinegar, as they say.
These two people are members of what Tom Brokaw called "The Greatest Generation" and they could also be included in that very small fraternity of "Notch Babies." Notch Babies were those born between 1917 and 1922 and were designated as such for the purpose of disenfranchising them within the newly formed United States Social Security program. Their benefits would be very much less than all the other recipients born either before or after that small window of time. Sadly, this is the same group of people who gave so much during World War II to preserve those very programs for the rest of us. It is even more sad when you realize that these same benefits would be given away to anyone with the ability to crawl across our borders in the ensuing years!
Both of these people lived through and came of age during the last "Great Depression" and one of them actually experienced the infamous "Dustbowl." They saw the proliferation of automobiles, the coming of the airplane, plastics, sliced bread!, and a myriad of other innovations. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know these people and, through my genealogical work, to be able to get a glimpse of their lives through their own words. There are very few of them left. Most of their generation has come and gone and, for the most part, we don't even notice them.
I, for one, want to thank them for preserving our country and handing it to us in relatively good shape. I want them to know that I will do everything I can, to do the same for the next generation. I have my work cut out for me!
Show your clout and vote them out!!
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2 comments:
I enjoyed your post :-). I wish more people would pay attention and listen to what the older generation has to say. When you listen to them, not only do you get the benefit of padding your genealogy files, you get the added bonus of just getting to here all of thier intersting stories such as war stories and dust bowl tales. Thank you for posting.......except that last line ;-) .
XLNT, Cuz!The sad fact is how many of us are left who can realize and appreciate what these dear ones remaining have seen and done in their lives-like my own father-I cherish hearing the "stories"-history of his life and times-I feel privileged to have someone with me/near me who still has the mind and memory to remember and pass on the history-shall we call it as the Great Chief did with the young braves of the tribes: Telling Of The Legends -- do our children & grandchildren care or appreciate these people and what they lived thru? Sadly, I think we are in the minority -- but at least we understand what a Blessing it is for whatever it will mean in the days ahead for our Nation!
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