A cousin of mine just send probably 75-100 letters and about 50-75 postcards from about 1904 through the 1960's from the family, including from my parents, and many to my Grandparents and Aunt/Uncle....
Spent a good part of the afternoon, just organizing all of them, so that I can read them in order....Won't be for a few days, as have to get ready for the Board meeting, then the Meeting the week following....
But, I skimmed some of the postcards, and am most anxious to read the letters of the 1930's and 1940's....Living with them for a year when I was in the 1st grade, was fortunate for me. I learned at a young age, that I wasn't the center of the universe, and learned to be helpful in any way I could. Laundry used to be an all day affair...Most of the clothes were washed in the old wringer one gear washing machine. Then rolled into first one tub of rinse water, then rolled into the 2nd one. Then rolled the water out of them, and into the basket waiting for them on the floor. Then hung outside on lines. Then taken down, brought in, and sorted. Then sprinkled, and let sit till the next day. Then some starched, then all ironed. Then folded and then put away.
That was just one of the jobs the ladies had to do....
They didn't have much need for running to the store, or running out to buy "stuff"....they were pretty self sufficient, except for flour, sugar, salt, shortening, yeast, coffee, and a few "fluffy" things. They made most everything. They did need gas for the tractor, and threshing machines, and sometimes the car. But NOTHING we like we need, or think we need today. The small village was about 3-4 miles away, and they would drive up...or sometimes, to treat the kids, Grandad would hook up the horses and the buggy and we would go that way....For the nearest little town, they had to go about 15 miles away, and so it seemed like it was a "most of the day event...." Grandma packed a picnic lunch for all of us, koolaid or milk or juice in the beatup old thermos, both of them put on their "hats", and off we went.
I remember those times fondly. However, I'm SO glad I live today....we have so much more opportunity and time to be as well read as we want to be, or have time to be... But I think if push comes to shove, on the oil situation, that most of us could make do with a good deal less, and who knows, maybe even enjoy it more....
Sounds like you had a good day yesterday as well....I love fall...! But then, I like winter, then spring, then summer too....<ggg> |
