The country was still recovering from the depression during the 40s… In 1945 my parents sent me to live with relatives in Slater Missouri. That was a different world. Some of my friends did not have electricity or indoor water. There was one doctor in town. Our milk was delivered by a horse drawn wagon. The general standard of living during the 1940s was very different from today. Your father was kind not to burden you with it.
My mom was six when the US entered WWII. Her strongest memories were having blackout curtains over the windows at night, and her older brother memorizing the outlines of Luftwaffe aircraft. Fortunately, Elizabeth, NJ was never bombed.
Incredible write-up, thanks. One thing I regret about my grandparents is that I never got to hear their World War II stories firsthand before they passed away. Then again they didn’t seem interested in talking about the topic at all - perhaps because of how traumatic the WWII experience was for people in China.
Happy Birthday Crane, always like reading your articulate posts. Hope I grow up to match your wisdom! (68 now) Keep on Keeping On!
As a lover (still) of Contact (CQ, this is W9GFO, do you copy?), I should be the most impressed that you had Jodie Foster and crew at your place, but as a 25-year birdwatcher who owns a number of his illustrated bird guides, I would have kicked Jodie out of the breakfast line to make sure RTP got a plate—wow!
I’ve read every word of this thread. I have been struggling mightily with the concept of (my) aging these last few years and you have lifted my spirits. Thank you, and happy belated birthday!
Belated happy birthday sir.
Here is to another decade.
Reading the history events narrated in this thread, it’s pretty incredible to think that the United States is younger than the lifespan of three Cranes put end on end. What a young nation.
Yeah, I’ve thought about that. I was born at the end of the Hoover administration, so now I’ve participated in over a third of US history. Doesn’t seem possible.