Doing Without A Lesson America May Have to Relearn.

  I have often heard my mother talk about, what her life was like,  during the Great Depression of the 1930's. My mother was the eldest of 12 children. My mothers family consisted of five girls and seven boys. My mother's aunt also lived with the family.Therefore, if you count,  my mother's mother and father, that means 15 people sat down to eat at every meal. My mother says she doesn't ever remember going hungry, but that doesn't mean every meal was always a royal feast..My mother says they ate a lot of oatmeal for breakfast. Lunch consisted of peanut butter sandwiches and cocoa usually made with canned skim milk. Supper was a meal filled with great wonder, that's because they often wondered if there was going to be any  supper. She told me that since oatmeal made such a great breakfast it was often served at supper. Yet, she says they were very glad to have it. She told me she saw people standing sometimes all day in soup kitchen lines and many times the soup would run out. The outbreak of World War Two in 1941  brought with it the practice of food and gas and even rubber rationing. She said these items could only be purchased on certain days of the week. She mentioned to me one time that her family got really excited  because her mother was able to buy a pound of hamburger, and her family was able to have mashed potatoes and hamburger gravy, what a treat! My mother told me,  that even though they did without many things she never really felt like she had missed out on anything.She said in fact, although she didn't have everything she ever wanted , what she did have was the love of a close knit family and the joy that came from living in the security of a stable home.My mother says to this day,  that was all she really needed.
  I realize that America is going through some tough economic times right now. I also noticed however, that the Walmart parking lots are still rather full. I've noticed the fast food  places are still doing quite well. I know a number of people who have more than one car.Most everyone I know has a cell phone and a personal computer.There are somethings however, I haven't noticed. I haven't seen any soup lines lately. Gas and food are expensive,  but you are still free to buy all you can economically afford. I haven't met anyone recently, with patches on their shirts and pants unless the clothes were designed to appear that way.  I don't know too many people,  who have to place card board in their shoes, because they can't afford to have them resoled' In fact, I haven't had anyone knock at my door and offer to work for food,  at least not yet.
  I am not sure, that  we will ever  face  truly,  hard times here in America. I wonder however, if  America should experience another Great Depression,  are we ready for it ? Can America relearn the lesson of doing without? That's a question America may soon have to answer. As always, my friends,  these thoughts remain, just some words to think on.