“Post-Depression Syndrome”
“ Post - Depression Syndrome”—It is not what you may think it is. It is a title I gave our generation who were raised after the Great Depression (of which I am one), who saved everything, because there might not be funds to buy more! We grew up during a unique time in human history.
We lived through WWII. Our young men went to war. We had ration books with coupons in which to purchase such things as sugar, flour, and other necessary items. Actually, I still have my ration book with my name on it, with some coupons still in it!
I have a friend who told me the story of her father wanting to buy her a new pair of shoes to start school, but because he did not have a coupon for shoes, he was unable to purchase the shoes.
Because of the war most things were scarce. Even after the war, my dad was unable to buy windows for our new home. We had Tar paper covering the windows for several months.
Our generation did not waste anything. We did not throw away anything… we might not be able to buy another one! To this day our generation does not throw away things that probable should go out. Our economy today should help us get past that “post-depression syndrome,” but it is how we grew up. I am trying to do some clean out, but it is very hard… it is just how I was raised.
We did not have TV— only a radio. The family looked forward to gathering around the console radio on Saturday nights, and listening to the Grand Ole Opry’s live radio broadcast.
We played outside with the neighbor kids. There was no worry about being out and about. Crime was rare, and kidnapping was non existent. Our world was a much safer place to grow up in. It was probably the best of times in all of history.
Our newspapers were our primary source for information. Ice and milk were delivered to our home ice boxes, as we did not have modern refrigeration.
Shopping meant visiting downtown stores. On Saturday the farmers came to town to do their business. The downtown sidewalks were brimming with people who visited with their neighbors and friends. They shopped in the local stores which stayed open until 10 PM.
Our generation can take pride in having lived through extraordinary times. The world was at peace. We can say “We lived through the best of times that the world may never see again.