THE LUCKIEST GENERATION

In my opinion, my generation was the luckiest generation.
1st: and most important, we were raised by the greatest generation.

2nd: we were first to experience air conditioned homes (even if it were just half the
house). Before this though, I remember sleeping by a window to catch the breeze coming from the attic fan. AAHH!

3rd: along with that, came the television...shows with good moral values, cartoons,
and later came movies on TV. The first to see color on TV. What a hoot.

4th: we played outside all day with our neighborhood friends, most of the times, barefooted. Even into the evening, catching lightning bugs in a jar and playing hide and seek from car headlights.

5th: It was safe to walk or ride our bikes to school. Our neighbors were our parents'
eyes from afar, keeping us in line or helping in time of need.

6th: I had a 2 parent home. My mom was a domestic engineer until I was in the 8th
grade when she went to work at the new JC Penney.
We have memories of riding our bikes with our mom to the city park and
zoo just to have a picnic. She played badminton with us in the backyard. Before
we had a neighborhood recreation center with a pool, she drove us across town to
the largest swimming pool, to this day, I've ever seen. (I hear it's filled up with
dirt; what a shame). My children got to swim in it though.

My dad worked shift work at the local paper mill. Sometimes not seeing us kids
til the weekend, conflicting with our schedules. He brought home scraps of
canvas type mats for us to play on in the yard. He also had one to lay on while
working on cars, (his hobby). On one end of the volleyball net, he put a basketball goal and on the other end he put a tetherball up. He played all 3 with us. He has the patience of Job...case in point....
letting me drive his truck in a ditch while not turning the wheel enough. He
quietly got out, drove the truck back on the road and told me to get back in the
driver's seat. All this while my friend who was with us, had eyes as big as
saucers.

We went on family vacations, nothing elaborate but full of memories I wouldn't trade for anything. We have family reunions from both sides, which are a lost tradition, I'd say.

This generation who raised us, gave us a good work ethic, strong family ties and a deep love for God and country. They worked hard to achieve the American Dream. We are losing this generation but I'm so blessed to still have my parents with me.

If I think of more, I'll come back. Until then, labeling as I see it.