Day 100, April 10

Several years ago, Tom Brokaw penned a book entitled THE GREATEST GENERATION. In it, he extolled those individuals who weathered the Great Depression, served in World War II, and rebuilt a nation. My parents were part of that generation. They lived by such old-fashioned principles as self-reliance, thrift, and hard work. There was no whining, no demanding that others do for them what they could do for themselves. In short, they had pride, in themselves, in their country. As I observe current events and listen to news programs, I am appalled at what is happening to our nation. A recent program spotlighted the profession of panhandling, where healthy, middle class people dressed in poor clothes to stand on street corners and beg, carrying such bogus signs as "No food, no shelter." The program followed one woman who "earned" $50.00 per hour, then returned to her well-kept suburban home. While watching this, I could not help but think of my mother, who supported herself while my father served in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. She did not ask for government aid. She did not ask that others work while she did not. Instead, she worked as a secretary, sending money home to her widowed mother. So, for today, I am grateful for The Greatest Generation and the example they set for all of us.