Born on a farm in 1941 I started paying attention to life on the other side of the fence about 1950. World War II was recently won but the Russians were acting up, Jim was in the Airforce, we had our own family bomb shelter so I started paying attention. It is easy to be nostalgic about "the good old days." It was no better then than now. We were concerned about World War III and nuclear Armageddon. We wrote letters. Each began with who was and had been sick. All children caught measles; mumps and chicken pox. Polio and tuberculosis were endemic. We all had small pox vaccination scars and were immune to that pandemic. Injuries happened frequently. Automobile accidents were much more often fatal then than now. The most common dental care was teeth pulled. Me, and all but one sister, were born at home. We had an indoor toilet and running water but there was no television; central heating in the winter or air conditioning. Hot water flowed a little while after a fire was lit in the basement hot water heater. .

We've got it pretty darned good. Let's keep it that way for our Grandchildren.     Champions of the world Two party patriotism Economics Schools created communities_ Higher education in America Boss - worker relationships The farm vote We were oblivious Party-line to Smart phones Free speech run amok KKK to MAGA Politics and Religion End of an Era