We were miles apart but our childhoods were very similar but I’m sure a little different. The Nancy Drew books brought back many memories. We didn’t have a swimming pool but the water hose provided the same fun.
When did things change and why. Is it the lust for money or the lust for power?
Great memories Joan! I was 10 in 1946, grew up pledging allegiance to King George VI. Walked to Sacred Heart Catholic School, rain or shine. Only a few had cars in our Italian ethnic community, bordered by White Russians as they were called at the time and Chinese on the other side. Needless to say us kids had blinders on, we all assimilated, some of my friends intermarried with the Russians. It was a great binding of cultures, from food, dances and community events. Our church was the focal point for us. Baptisms, marriages and funerals brought out the best in everyone. There was a code of behaviour that hung as a yoke for us, fostered by our parents, the school, our faith, and of course, the law of the town. Italians are even today proud of their "bella figura" and you didn't dare damage the family name nor go out in public disrespectfully dressed.
I remember listening to "Snooks" with my best friend after school. Her mom serving us fresh bread lathered with butter and homemade jam. The paper dolls were our outlet making sure we handled them with utmost care. Playing jacks, sliding down one of the hills that overlooked the railroad tracks on large cardboard boxes, skating on the ponds at the bottom in the winter, the bigger guys lighting little fires to keep us warm. I still have, those that haven't died, friends from that time. The bond strong as glue. We talk, cry and love each other unconditionally.
My family provided the core of my essence. My father loved opera and my mother had a beautiful contralto voice, there was music, wonderful food my mother put together with the little resources they had. She taught us love of neighbor. Every Easter she knelt on the floor with a huge metal container where she poured 10 lbs. of flour, eggs, and all the things that went into making Easter bread so my sister and I could deliver the round panettones to our neighbours. My youngest sister was 4 so she happily skipped behind us to greet the smiling faces and gratitude of many of the older folks.
What we see today, is part of a broader construct, a cultural problem. A sense of authority is gone, broken homes, children in government care, a loss of a moral higher authority. Our young have become depressed and suicidal. There is a degradation and desensitization of human life - porn is rampant. There is no simple answer as the slide took years to make, the upward climb is greater than some of the minds that govern us can conceive.
Todays ten year olds live a life unfathomable to those 10 yr. olds of yesteryear. My 10 yrs. as a court appointed advocate in the 1980's for abused and neglected children was tepid compared to today.
It needs to start with courageous and well meaning people, of which there are many, in trying to resurrect our at risk youth, but it needs politicians willing to have courage, will and follow through to help make this happen.
Merci, for your essay. A topic that cries for solutions.......
Well said,Joan , and like all good writing it stirs
Memories, I was 10 in 1948, my sons in 1970 and grandsons in 2003 and they were walked to school which was 2 blocks away. With all the “progress” that has been made, it seems like we are worse off. And now with the latest Supreme Court decisions we are heading backwards and not in a good way. God help us all!
Over the past several years, I have compared my own childhood in the 50’s and 60’s to a present childhood.
One of our similar highlights was reading. I remember my excitement with the privilege to walk independently to the library with my own library card.
I am sickened by many of the current, horrific events. I struggle with my attempts to appreciate slow improvement with racial, sexist, gender identity issues, and economic disparity.
In addition to your appreciated and reflective article, the current 10 year old faces the pandemic.
The rise of violence towards ten year olds is reflective of a society where individuals are isolated, feel unloved, and yearn to “act out” their self hate. I recognize this response is terse in comparison to a multi faceted evaluation.
My guess is you were so focused on the theme in your story, you had a much needed “pandemic break” in your writing.
Climate change is another major stressor for our children. It was a harrowing experience last year in our area to evacuate and currently live with the fire danger.
This makes me cry, things are so awful for our youngsters, but your essay is so very important to have been written and read.
We were miles apart but our childhoods were very similar but I’m sure a little different. The Nancy Drew books brought back many memories. We didn’t have a swimming pool but the water hose provided the same fun.
When did things change and why. Is it the lust for money or the lust for power?
Great memories Joan! I was 10 in 1946, grew up pledging allegiance to King George VI. Walked to Sacred Heart Catholic School, rain or shine. Only a few had cars in our Italian ethnic community, bordered by White Russians as they were called at the time and Chinese on the other side. Needless to say us kids had blinders on, we all assimilated, some of my friends intermarried with the Russians. It was a great binding of cultures, from food, dances and community events. Our church was the focal point for us. Baptisms, marriages and funerals brought out the best in everyone. There was a code of behaviour that hung as a yoke for us, fostered by our parents, the school, our faith, and of course, the law of the town. Italians are even today proud of their "bella figura" and you didn't dare damage the family name nor go out in public disrespectfully dressed.
I remember listening to "Snooks" with my best friend after school. Her mom serving us fresh bread lathered with butter and homemade jam. The paper dolls were our outlet making sure we handled them with utmost care. Playing jacks, sliding down one of the hills that overlooked the railroad tracks on large cardboard boxes, skating on the ponds at the bottom in the winter, the bigger guys lighting little fires to keep us warm. I still have, those that haven't died, friends from that time. The bond strong as glue. We talk, cry and love each other unconditionally.
My family provided the core of my essence. My father loved opera and my mother had a beautiful contralto voice, there was music, wonderful food my mother put together with the little resources they had. She taught us love of neighbor. Every Easter she knelt on the floor with a huge metal container where she poured 10 lbs. of flour, eggs, and all the things that went into making Easter bread so my sister and I could deliver the round panettones to our neighbours. My youngest sister was 4 so she happily skipped behind us to greet the smiling faces and gratitude of many of the older folks.
What we see today, is part of a broader construct, a cultural problem. A sense of authority is gone, broken homes, children in government care, a loss of a moral higher authority. Our young have become depressed and suicidal. There is a degradation and desensitization of human life - porn is rampant. There is no simple answer as the slide took years to make, the upward climb is greater than some of the minds that govern us can conceive.
Todays ten year olds live a life unfathomable to those 10 yr. olds of yesteryear. My 10 yrs. as a court appointed advocate in the 1980's for abused and neglected children was tepid compared to today.
It needs to start with courageous and well meaning people, of which there are many, in trying to resurrect our at risk youth, but it needs politicians willing to have courage, will and follow through to help make this happen.
Merci, for your essay. A topic that cries for solutions.......
Well said,Joan , and like all good writing it stirs
Memories, I was 10 in 1948, my sons in 1970 and grandsons in 2003 and they were walked to school which was 2 blocks away. With all the “progress” that has been made, it seems like we are worse off. And now with the latest Supreme Court decisions we are heading backwards and not in a good way. God help us all!
Over the past several years, I have compared my own childhood in the 50’s and 60’s to a present childhood.
One of our similar highlights was reading. I remember my excitement with the privilege to walk independently to the library with my own library card.
I am sickened by many of the current, horrific events. I struggle with my attempts to appreciate slow improvement with racial, sexist, gender identity issues, and economic disparity.
In addition to your appreciated and reflective article, the current 10 year old faces the pandemic.
The rise of violence towards ten year olds is reflective of a society where individuals are isolated, feel unloved, and yearn to “act out” their self hate. I recognize this response is terse in comparison to a multi faceted evaluation.
Thank you for your insightful essay.
My guess is you were so focused on the theme in your story, you had a much needed “pandemic break” in your writing.
Climate change is another major stressor for our children. It was a harrowing experience last year in our area to evacuate and currently live with the fire danger.