Tough Times

Both my father and mother were born in 1915.  That may seem like a long, long time ago, but it isn't even 100 years ago.  They grew up during The Great Depression.  They were married in 1936 and my brother was born in 1939.  Then my father enlisted and went to fight in Europe.  Nearly all of the young men in America fought in WW II.  The women were left to take over the jobs vacated by the men who were fighting. 

My mother worked in a factory that built airplanes for the military. 

She and my brother survived the incredible restrictions placed on Americans during the war. 

To find out more about rationing, ration books, scrap drives and more, visit this link: http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/events/rationing.htm

Americans at home were encouraged to cut back on everything.  I remember my mother talking about stockpiling toilet paper.  Growing up, the last of 9 children, their family didn't have much.  Her father worked for a wealthy man, taking care of and training his horses for sulkie racing, or harness racing.  They lived on property and mother learned to garden and can the produce.  During WW II, Americans were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens.

Although buses and cable cars were still in use around the country, many people had cars too.  Gas was also rationed for the war effort.

Those were tough times, maybe worse than those we are facing now.  Our parents and grandparents made incredible sacrifices.  Ones they hoped we would never have to face.  Several men in Congress have expressed the need for Americans to do their part during these difficult times.  Both Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Mitch McConnell come to mind.  They, however, are talking about the middle class and poor.  Those folks who continue to make more and more money are safely protected from doing their fair share.

Many of us have made sacrifices during these tough times of our own.  Each of us, myself included, can do more.  We need to consume less and conserve more.  Reduce, reuse and recycle, especially knowing that this is just what the folks who lived through WW II did, should be adopted by each and every one of us. 

Let's help ourselves and each other and make thoughtful choices before we buy something or throw something in the trash.  Personal and natural resources are limited.  Let's protect them both.