Regardless of the emotional times due to whatever, I think we live in a great time.
Consider the following:
One of my grandmothers did laundry by hand with homemade soap for her family of eight on a farm during the depression.
Early yesterday evening I had to make an "emergency" run to a store for dryer sheets.
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My father, uncles and other relatives were “deployed” for many years/months from 1941-1945. Very little contact, except mail. Which took weeks. This was against the backdrop of hundreds of casualties being reported daily. From off our shores, around the world back to the other shore. One of my grandmothers said, when seeing a war movie with the name of a ship was mentioned, “That’s the ship my friend’s brother died on. He was listed as missing for a long time.”
Servicemen now can call mommy and complain from in theater.
—-
I have relatives who rode horses to school as late as 1948.
My neighbors drive their kids to school so no one is mean to them on the bus.
——————
The hardships I’ve “suffered” are minimal. And I’ve had some, trust me. Big ones. I wish they didn’t happen. But, they caused me enjoy the good times. There are people a lot worse off than I am present and past.
I’ve been successful in life by any metric and have lived with faith. I have been mostly successful in being kind to people. Though not always, especially on the socials, even the ones with my real name. I am prepared and unafraid for what comes after this life.
No, I don’t have bad news. Death isn’t in the near forecast. Known forecast. But death is sure. And effing taxes.
One of my grandmothers did laundry by hand with homemade soap for her family of eight on a farm during the depression.
Early yesterday evening I had to make an "emergency" run to a store for dryer sheets.
—-
My father, uncles and other relatives were “deployed” for many years/months from 1941-1945. Very little contact, except mail. Which took weeks. This was against the backdrop of hundreds of casualties being reported daily. From off our shores, around the world back to the other shore. One of my grandmothers said, when seeing a war movie with the name of a ship was mentioned, “That’s the ship my friend’s brother died on. He was listed as missing for a long time.”
Servicemen now can call mommy and complain from in theater.
—-
I have relatives who rode horses to school as late as 1948.
My neighbors drive their kids to school so no one is mean to them on the bus.
——————
The hardships I’ve “suffered” are minimal. And I’ve had some, trust me. Big ones. I wish they didn’t happen. But, they caused me enjoy the good times. There are people a lot worse off than I am present and past.
I’ve been successful in life by any metric and have lived with faith. I have been mostly successful in being kind to people. Though not always, especially on the socials, even the ones with my real name. I am prepared and unafraid for what comes after this life.
No, I don’t have bad news. Death isn’t in the near forecast. Known forecast. But death is sure. And effing taxes.
61-69, M
