Today is Thursday, June 18th, 2009; Karen's Korner #1594

Several weeks ago my mom asked me to do a program for her local club which has been in existence for more than one hundred years! What was a "Home Improvement" club, now features whatever the hostess for the month sets.
 
She asked me to be their program for June. What would I do or tell them? I have a couple of programs which I have given a number of places. Several of the members would have heard the presentations.
 
Then I knew. Club members range in age from the early 70s to the mid-90s. Why rely on my thoughts, when they had all of their wisdom and life experiences. I would interview them and use it? I wasn't sure how.
 
I asked them five questions which I would like to share a portion of the ten-member responses who attended that day.
 
Recall one vivid memory of the depression.
 
Several remembered being able to buy patches (like a car tire patch) for soles of shoes when they wore out; cost 10 cents each from either a dime store or a grocery store. Lots of stories of people being out of work and not being able to find a job. One lady told of her father not having a job and moving with the family from South Dakota to Iowa to live with her grandparents. The federal CCC camps for men who were out of work and for kids graduating from high school. Pay was $22, but they couldn't recall if that was per week or per month. Lots of the camp structures are still in use today.Seventy-five year old Mary Woerver recalls her dad selling two big cars for a total of $17.
 
Recollections of living through World War II.
 
Because of the age span, some of the ladies were in school. Some were working or newly marrried at the time. They remembered sugar, coffee, bananas, oranges, and gas being rationed (as well as porbably other things). My mom, Kit Zirbel (90) said, "All tires were listed by the rationing board by serial number. Used tires (with matching serial numbers) had to be turned in to get another tire." Speed limit was 35 mph to save gasoline. Mom told, "You haven't lived until you travel from South Carolina to Iowa (my dad was in the Army and was being shipped to Europe), driving 35 mph with a six-month-old baby." The first thing she had to do was get enough gas stamps from the rationing board for the trip and then make sure they stretched far enough to make the trip.
 
"We planted victory gardens," said Nadine Drenan (71), "to produce our own food rather than using others to produce food for us."  Donna Furleigh (75) said, "I was always sure the Germans were going to come and get us any minute." They recalled 'black out' drills, practicing to shut off all lights in case they needed to ever not be seen by any enemies from the air. Kids who were in school would bring small amounts of change to school and buy war bond stamps. Once the stamp book was filled, they would be turned in to a $25 U.S. savings bond (war bond) to help finance the war. Lots of $$ back then.
 
Thoughts about life/culture/economy/government today.
 
They recalled the country 'coming together as one' after 9/11 but unfortunately it didn't last long.
 
They can't understand changing things which have stood the test of time:  i.e. marriages, use of money and credit. Several mentioned, "We may not have had much money, but we didn't spend what we didn't have." Living beyond ones means - families and governments, they have a hard time accepting.
 
Because of all of the changes, they believe we are living in a 'scary' time. Collectively, they recall lots of sharing: i.e.sharing bedrooms with up to four siblings. One said, "Today kids are so used to have things like their own bedroom, etc. When they get married, I don't know if they know what it is like to share." Another said there are too many elected leaders who are only concerned about getting re-elected and not representing the people and their needs. They hope that the number of job losses will not get more serious.
 
One change/new invention which has most impacted your life.
 
Donna Furleigh:  microwaves. Lenita Houdek (86) recalled hardly being able to study because when she got home from school they would have electricity (not like switches, but pull strings from lights in the middle of the room. Several said, "Running water". My mom, who moved from town (which had indoor plumbing) to the farm when she got married, said, "Hot Water". Gertrude Larsen (91) said, "Wrinkle free fabric."
 
Several nodded their agreement that two inventions were both great and unnecessary:
computers and cell phones.  Computers are good for communication but can reveal more information that anyone needs. Cell phones would have been 'nice when we were farming and I had to walk a couple of miles to get where I needed to go', said Nadine Drennan, or "when we were in the excavating business," said Jennie McNelson (81). But why do some of the younger ones have a cell phone up to their ear at all times, rather than talking with their friend right next to them.
 
An unnecessary invention/technology.
 
Along with the computers and cell phones at times. Who needs an iPod? So many fast food places to eat?? Does the world need all of the types of armaments that we have which could be used on one another? One said, "Credit cards are nice, but they certainly aren't a gift from Santa Claus. Pay day is coming."
 
 
And there were other comments. But a nice voice of past, present and future wisdom.

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