@Kaylagirl : "To become what one is, one must not have the faintest idea what one is." - Friedrich Nietzsche🤔

@Reivax : Unfortunately, they were only relaying facts. It was a hard life, especially if you lived in poverty. Both my maternal & paternal grandfather owned country stores and frequently allowed unfortunate families credit that were either never paid or were bartered when the crops were harvested, livestock slaughtered or hunting was successful. My papaw didn't hire someone to plow his enormous garden. He hooked up a mule and did it all by himself. Likewise, my maternal grandmother worked like a slave on everything in raising six kids (no contraception) including making her own soap to wash clothes (no electricity...can't imagine the hardship), weeding, harvesting, shucking, shelling, digging, canning and preserving the vegs and fruits all summer long with not even a fan for comfort from the Texas heat. That's only a small representation of everything she had to do as a mother, wife, dr... you name it! I don't believe we appreciate all of the conveniences we enjoy, and even less as time moves on. Texas and American history is not being accurately relayed to students in some ways, so w/o stories like this one, real accounts are quickly forgotten. As it has been said, "History is Written by Victors."

@larpa : Yep, I say that all the time when people start doing the rose colored glasses thing around here.

@Ruger5 : "In the year 2525, if man is still alive" Those opportunities weren't given to us. We worked for them. Future generations won't have the motivation as we did.

@Quixote : Here is another interpretation of Boomer timelines that is noteworthy. According to this breakdown, I'm a "Gen Jones" Boomer!" Who knew!? @Ruehic & @Kaylagirl, you can't help being influenced by older siblings, and you're welcome to identify with Gen Jones Boomers. Close enough imo, and you are in good company.

I think when current generations try and say all the previous generations had it so much easier, they are not really familiar with American History. Every generation has it challenges. Through Revolutionary Wars, Civil wars, World Wars, and conflicts all generations have had to face aversity. Covid was bad but the Spanish Flu was no joke. A lot of workers in previous generation worked 60 plus hours a week to obtain the American dream including children. Many of the past generations experienced depressions and inflation as well. My parents were Silent Generation and I certainly don't think they had it easier than I did.

@Reivax : Respectfully, that is how a lot of boomers sound to us when they talk about millennials and gen z.

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@ZMAN : Since the deaths of my parents, getting together with my siblings, nieces & nephews has dwindled and we have drifted apart more each year. Very sad to me, and my grandparents would say we have no excuses, with all the conveniences for travel & communication at our disposal. Wouldn't be able to debate that very effectively, could we? (I've got tears streaming down my face.) Think I will send a group text right now to my bros. They typically don't think to do it, and grieving is a combat that I'm still battling, and I've been a little self-involved. Even more of a hardship, my parents weren't "dip ****" and I will miss them until I join them. I regret you, and others, didnt have the blissful upbringing I so enjoyed and will always look back on with fondness. However, it is always possible to make new and lasting memories. Seeing the cup half full is work sometimes but worth the effort. I'm sure your upcoming DW trip will be an opportunity for memories that can be recorded for posterity, ad infinitum. ENJOY IT TO THE FULLEST!!

@larpa : Lucky you.

@larpa : True that. We all do the best we can with what we have to work with I guess.

@Ruger5 : Fire was just starting to be used the year before I was born..!

@ZMAN : Only thing I truly miss from a technology standpoint is that back then there was a lack of DNA-profiling.
Oops. I've said too much. Nevermind!

My mother and I are both Boomers. She was young when she had me. She used to say that we grew up together.

@billcherie2 : Did you know the guy who invented the wheel?