As I sit here writing this column, I think back in time to see what has transpired, and what it has meant to me now. As most of you know , I came from a large family of fourteen kids, that came from the love of two special people in our lives, who we knew as Mom & Dad. We lived in a time when hard work was the game of the day and a full meal in our bellies was the reward. We lived also in a time, when in order to keep warm in the winter, you had to prepare for it in the summer. Dad always kept the coal shed full of coal ,and I don't think I ever remember running out of coal. We kids had to go out and gather up wood and paper, and get it ready for those days when we had to sort of go easy on the coal. It was nothing for us to take the old wooden wheelbarrow or a wagon and go down the tracks, and pick up coal that either fell off the railroad cars, or was thrown off by the men on the railroad. Those guys had a lot of heart, and they knew that the people in our neighborhood could use all the help that they gave us.  And, of course Dad never missed a day of work, because he loved us enough ,that he wanted to keep us and Mom warm. Mom always kept up her end of the road, with those hot meals and plenty of love and kisses. Do you think that this would be possible with the youngsters of today? Well, with some who listened to those who knew, I would say yes, but in most cases, I guess the kids would not hold up, because they don't know how hard it was in those days of the past.

We walked to school about six blocks each day ,and we came home to lunch, and then back to school. In the higher classes, we walked thirteen blocks to school, back for lunch, and back to school and then home. That my friends, is a total of fifty-two blocks each day that we as kids had to do in order to get our education. And remember, that on each of these days, when we got home for lunch and later for supper, we were blessed with a hot meal made by the best cook around, our Mom. Could and would the children of today be able to do this? In my mind, I would have to say that they could not and would not do it.

And you had homework each night along with those chores that had to be done, and you still found time to enjoy some time with your friends. Of course the radio for the early years was the main source of intertainment, but when we got our first television, we made it our main enjoyment on those days, when weather did not permit us to play outside. Of couse, we only watched about two hours of television, because there really wasn't that much on. How many kids today would be content with only two hours of tv?

And, if you are one of those kids that used to sit with us, and listen to Mom playing her piano, or listening to her tell stories of her life as a young lady, then you are very lucky to have been one of our group of friends who had a second Mom. She was liked by all ,and she was respected by all in our neighborhood, because she made you mind and if it took a branch off the tree to do it, that was ok with the kid's parents. How far would  that kind of thinking go today? It is a darn shame to say that you can't discipline anyone today without fear of going to jail.

And back to Dad, who wouldn't stay home from work even though he was feeling bad, because he had to do his part in the raising of his kids. Here was a man who made a point of being the bread-winner in this family, and when he was home, he was the boss because he deserved it. We never went hungry, and we always kept warm because of those two people, who lived thier lives in the only way they knew how to, because the both of them came up in hard times too. Do the children of today realize how much was sacrificed to get them where they are now?

What we went through ,and what our Mom and Dad did to get us through those bad times, was what everyone who lived back in those times did too. There wasn't too many rich families, and even those had to do the same at times. The times were hard on all of us in the thirtys, fortys and fiftys, but what you got out of those hard times, will stay with you forever, such as respect, honesty, sharing, and staying friends with those buddies that were there with you and still have time to come in and talk with you. Just the other day, one of my old friends, Brother Bill ,came into the store and said that he reads all my articles and I tell it like it really was. We got to talking about all the things we did as kids and it was wonderful to do so. Thanks Bill, for being one of my buddies from the past, that remembers how it was and how it is today. Friends are forever and they are always there for you when you need that little lift. I am very blessed with the friendship of my childhood friends.

And so I look to today, and I ask myself if the generation of today has learned anything from thier parents and grandparents who did so much to get them the kind of life they have now. I can only say that as long as the ones who lived in the old days keep telling the kids of today about the hardships of the past, just maybe they will start listening and then maybe they will be able to be stronger for it. I can go into many a reason for those who think that life is a bowl of cherries, that they should make thier turn away from drugs, smokes , cursing, and start giving respect to those who made your life a lot more easier. Uncle Ray loves all the kids in this land and I want to be able to say that I maybe helped in you making that turn for the better.

As always Uncle Ray sends his love to all of you and he wants The Great Father to bless all of you.

you can e-mail me at [email protected]