Remembering the Past

After listening to Richard Blanco read his poem "One Today" at the Presidential Inauguration this last Monday, my mind began to wander over the past years and how many things have happened since I was born.  Of course I don't remember much of the early events but the stories have always fascinated me.

Here are a few facts from that year: Franklin D Roosevelt was President when I was born in 1942.  Since then there have been 12 presidents with a few serving more than one term.  John F. Kennedy was my favorite with Bill Clinton being my next favorite.  The average cost of a house was $6,827, the average cost of a car was $920, the average wage was $1,561 and the cost for a first class stamp was .03 cents.

By the time I was of school age I had traveled back and forth across the country about five times.  My father was always fortunate to find better jobs in California working in factories producing war machinery and parts for airplanes.  In 1949 we moved to sunny California for the last time.  In starting school I found that my education was more than just reading, writing and arithmetic.  My true education began when I started making friends with kids of different cultural backgrounds than mine.  I loved their language, their heritage, the stories they told, the clothes they wore and the food they ate.  As a kid I was just having fun with new friends but as I grew older I realized that the world is made up of all kinds of people and we need to accept and respect all cultural backgrounds.  After all, each and every one of us was originally from a different country and ethnic background except for the Native Americans.

My Dad decided to start his own business in the San Fernando Valley so we made one more move to a lovely new house in a great little town called Granada Hills.  This wasn't a huge decision for him as my Dad and Mom had owned a truck stop cafe in Indiana for several years and had done quite well.  What was new for us was the fact that this was a camera store not a cafe.  My Dad did something that several of us would love to do and that was to follow his hobby of photography and make a business of it.  And it turned out to be a very successful decision.  Of course, this meant that the family pitched in and helped on a few occasions.  So, at 12 years old I had my first job, with a wage of .25 cents an hour.  I learned to work with the general public, be polite, handle money, be a hard worker and be responsible.

When I'm asked what it was like growing up in the 50's I always reply with one word, "Wonderful".  It was such a happy time after the war ended.  The troops came home, people had money, there were plenty of jobs and everything seemed to center around families.  There were beach parties, swimming parties, community dances and family cook-outs.  The 50's brought us color TV, Elvis Presley, Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat", the first man in space and the first man to walk on the moon.  It also brought us Civil Rights unrest and the Korean War.  Being in California I escaped most of the civil rights issues.  However, in the early 60's East Los Angeles began having riots and there was a lot of destruction in the Watts area.  I remember a rumor that they were bringing the demonstrations to the valley and the Army was sent in with tanks, jeeps and large covered trucks filled with soldiers to stop any riots from happening.  Hearing the rumbling roar of those vehicles coming down the street was a sobering realization of what was happening in other parts of the country.  Fortunately for us, it was just a rumor and nothing came of it.

In looking back over my younger years I can see how my parents moving to the west coast and the course they took in their lives have influenced my adult years.  I learned to respect and accept all nationalities and religions, work hard for what you want, be a responsible citizen and love family and friends.  I often wonder if we had never left Indiana if I would have been exposed to such an open minded, accepting and relaxed atmosphere.  I really don't think so.  At that time California was a giant arena of mixed occupations and ranges of people.  Opportunities were there for the taking.

So, I will leave you with this thought.  Each day starts the same, with the Sun coming up for each of us.  How we choose to live that day is another matter.  We can each take our past experiences and make them what we will.  I hope yours is a good one.

Please check out my book review under the above tab.    


If you're interested in a book and gift pack giveaway for the new release wildflowers,  you can sign up on the Goodreads site.  Click the link for more information. http://www.rmccormackwrites.blogspot.com/2013/01/goodreads-giveaway-starts-jan-20.html