There is good news in the future and in the past

As usual I get comments directly to my email rather than on the blog, but a comment is still good no matter.
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Barry, this is a great story, wish more people had a chance to read it. Most people our age have stories like this. Mine not as interesting as yours. What makes mine interesting is that my Dad was a new Lutheran pastor and had just gotten married the day the depression started. Somehow, his little church in Indianapolis, Indiana survived. Somehow, his family survived because my mother's family contributed what little they had to the family. Then, my maternal grandfather died suddenly and my grandmother moved in with my parents and they somehow survived. One interesting thing was each year, Indiana had the state fair in Indianapolis. My dad's church ladies sponsored a tent with meals all day for the 2 week run of the fair, it was always crowded with people who wanted the best food at the fair. With the money made during the 2 week fair, that was what got the church through for the entire year, since the congregation individually had very little money, so many people were out of work. In spite of this difficulty, by the late 30's, the church had built a beautiful church building, of course, mortgaged to the hilt. Such is the story of my family's start.

Charlie

I am second generation. Grandparents with 2 Aunts and a Great Grandmother came off the boat from Poland in early 30's. The rest of our family were slaughtered, as far as we know. Bubba took in laundry and Zeida opened a shoe repair shop. And eggcreams at the corner store and English accented with yiddish. And everyone knew everyone. They NEVER spoke about Poland. "America is our home"

G-d Bless them and may their souls rest in peace.

Barry: That was an excellent piece. I, too, remember days like that although our family came to America in 1638 and through several generations became solidly middle and upper class........all by their own efforts. Farmers, trades-people, professionals, business owners. In both stories, America gave them the opportunity to be what they became. The thread o family tradition extends down the generations. Those without the drive and determination will disappear from civilization, nameless and forgotten. But those who succeed will be remembered not perhaps by name so much as by the habits of family tradition.

Our town, Dedham MA, was populated by Italians and Irish mostly, besides the early English settlers. Strong, good people. I remember the kids I went to school with, and the fact that every parent on the block somehow was involved in raising every kid on the block. One's sins made it home before you did! And parents were a united front!

But I believe hard times make strong people. And harder times are coming. And America and the strong, patient and determined will prevail! BHO will not succeed in damaging us beyond our ability to recover. Our message will continue to spread.

We need to talk some more and divulge our backgrounds more!

Cheers,

Frank