Ken Morris travels through 90 years in one day
A few days ago, I began a road trip that started with a visit to see my 93-yearold mother. She has some health issues and, if all goes according to plan, she will soon be moving into an assisted living facility. It will be a big change, but she’ll be in a safer environment with staff available to help 24/7.
She was born shortly after the stock market crash of 1929, which means she grew up during the Great Depression. Most households barely made ends meet and her family was no exception. Her mother died when she was young, leaving my grandfather to raise five children on his own during difficult economic times.
There wasn’t any type of food assistance back then until the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) was passed in 1933. It’s intent was essentially to help farmers. Uncle Sam bought crops from farmers then distributed food across the country through local relief agencies. At the time, most households were simply in survival mode.
I don’t know many details about my mom’s childhood but I doubt there was an overabundance of anything but love in her house. Keep in mind that the average life expectancy for a woman in 1930 was 62. Today the average life expectancy for a woman is almost 90.
The next stop on my journey was to celebrate my 3-year-old granddaughter’s birthday. She was born during Covid and for a long time her only interaction was with her parents and brother. My wife and I didn’t see her much. It was difficult.
She did have a multitude of toys to keep her busy and her mind stimulated. She already knows how to navigate through grandma’s photos on the iPad. Am I biased to think she’s really smart?
My little day trip concluded at my grandson’s classical piano concert. And though I love the beauty of classical music, it reminded me that so many different genres of music have been created over the years and many will be with us forever.
At the end of the day it struck me how much our nation and the world have changed in just 90 years. Things aren’t just different; they’re totally different. Today’s seniors that grew up during the Great Depression know what it’s like to go without and, based on my experience, many are now borderline hoarders. They seem to find value and purpose in every little item, and they know how to repurpose a damaged or broken item. Today we don’t repurpose; we recycle.
Over the past ninety years, technological innovations have been incredible and unimaginable. While not perfect, the world is much improved. Today there’s a multitude of resources to help clothe and feed needy families. Not to mention programs like Toys for Tots that put a smile on every child’s face.
On another note, none of us, young or old, would be able to enjoy our lifestyles without the sacrifice of the men and women who have served our nation. Memorial Day is the day we remember and honor them along with those that are currently protecting our nation. Nobody can rewrite history, but I truly doubt we would be able to enjoy our freedom, including our economic freedom, without the efforts of the men and women of our military.