Our parents are labeled, thanks to newsman Tom Brokaw , the Greatest Generation when he wrote his book about the WWII era. We their children born during the Depression are labeled The Silent Generation. Our contribution to the world is held in the works of Gandhi, King, and other folks who followed the peaceful path to a civilized world. We are called the Silent Generation because there were so few of us. Only starry-eyed young folks opted to marry and have children during these difficult years. Mama reports that I was the only baby in the hospital when I was born. We grew up with a small knowledge of hard times, if we were lucky. Those who remember really hard time, such as living on the streets during the winters in the mid-west and knowing their daddies stand in line all day in the same cold weather hoping for a day's work, were not so lucky. With the shortage of jobs, married women lost their jobs if they were not able to conceal their married status. Families gathered together and shared one home. Mama who always had a green thumb grew food in her garden of abundance and always had a pot of soup or stew available for the men who were looking for work and starving as they traveled from from town to town. They placed an X on the electricity pole in front of our house which indicated to other men that food was available at this house. I remember mama serving the men in the backyard and they were always very grateful and polite. Not the picture folks want to paint of Hobos today. Mama could not afford to give them work and pay; but, she certainly could share from her garden of abundance. Please remember the hungry of today and donate to Meals on Wheels which provides the only food many of the Greatest Generation and Silent Generation will have on this day. One small plate which they divide into two portions and hence two very, very small meals. Help them to maintain their dignity as they struggle to remain in their homes or apartments and cope with physical afflictions. One of these Greatest Generation may be your neighbor who you never see. I wonder how many of us are pack-rats due to deprivations of the Depression? Tree Mother -- "She is insane, of course. The family history has become a mania for her." Hercule Poirot http://www.FrontPorchRockerNews.blogspot.com http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Langford This project includes Lankford spelling also. "Truth and reason are eternal. They have prevailed. And they will eternally prevail; however, in times and places they may be overborne for a while by violence, military, civil, or ecclesiastical." --Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson, 1810 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html