Better Days

"Better Days"

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
Cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And designer love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight's the night the world begins again

I listened to these lyrics this week while I was working and I really liked them.  They are so simple but impacting to me.  I usually don't want a whole lot of things, I do try to live as simple as I can.  Yes, I do have a smart phone, cable, a TV and a pretty nice car (even though it is over 10 years old).  But I don't have my nails done or buy designer clothes or even have new clothes all the time.  For one thing can't afford it and really-- if I did have the money I probably wouldn't spend it on that stuff anyway.. I think I was born with this innate desire to not want a whole lot of things which I am very thankful for because I did grow up so poor and I still don't have a whole lot of money now...  

I have been going through some more of my Mom's photos again and trying to place the dates and the people in them.  When I see someone's face and my mom does have a name on the photo it helps so much when I might see them again or someone who looks like them.  

I remember my Mom telling me that after my Moms' mom gave birth to her sister that she died in the hospital.  My Mom's mom (I think her name is Barbra) had already had James, Harold, Bill and her.  My Mom told me this story that she heard about her Dad when her Mom died in the hospital. When he found out she had died while giving birth that he ran into the room and grabbed one of the knifes on the table and went after the doctor. She never did find out if the story was true or not but she believed it because he had an awful temper. What a crazy story and no-- he never did hurt the doctor, as far as I know.

I sometimes think about how hard it must have been for my mom and her four brothers to lose their Mother and then to lose their Dad to the work of the railroad.  To have to go live with their Mom's--Mom and Dad--must have been so difficult. And the fact that this was during the recession.  My Mom told me that they didn't even have a bathroom in their house they had to go use the outhouse that was behind their house.  She grew up in rural Washington. It is such a beautiful place, even to this day.  There are a lot of more homes and business but it is still a pretty rural place.  

My Mom and her brothers did not get to see their dad very often.  She told me he only visited once in awhile.  How hard that must have been.  When he did come to visit she said he brought a few toys and candy.  Hmmm????  I really don't know what to think of that, but my very first response is-- what a dead-beat dad!!!!  But now that I am older, I realize sometimes that people do what they think might be the best thing at that time in there life unless they are a psychopath or a narcissist.  I want to believe just as my mom and her brothers did that their Dad was doing what he thought best at the time. 

My Mom told me that it was very difficult living with them.  They were strict and poor. They believed in punishment and using switches as a form of punishment. She told me she was hit with a tree switch many times.  How far we have come from that.  But let me tell you how I feel about that.  Actually, I believe in that form of punishment.  The kids these days get away with so much crap.  And most kids control their parents.  The kids who were raised with fear of being punished are extremely respectful.  Anyway, that is my own opinion...  And I know, it is just a damn opinion and it really doesn't matter what I think about stuff like that to most people. But I tell you what---kids who were raised that way have a whole lot of more respect for their elders.  I believe, if I had statistics, it would be 90% of all kids. 

Here are some more photo's of the time frame that my mother grew up in.  This would be the 30's and 40's for the most part.  

As far as I know, this is the only picture I have of my grandpa on my mom's side. I need to go through more photo's but this is the only one I can find right now.  He was 100% Greek. He came to America from Greece like many did back then.  I wish I knew what ship he rode on when he came to America.

I know those are her brothers but the others I do not. Maybe her cousins.

This must be a family reunion.  I can tell in these photos how they must have been extremely hard workers.  I like how the children are holding flowers. 

My Mom actually has on the back of this photo that it is her.  I am glad to see that she was able to have a doll and a carriage for it.

I think by what is wrote on this photo that this is who helped raise my Mom and her brothers.  Grandpa and grandma Giles.

I wish this photo came in a little clearer. I love the dog she is holding and its name-Duke. Cute.. My mom has always loved animals and we always had them. I bet that was a very pretty poke-a-dot dress.  And I am sure her grandmother made all of their clothes.

Well, this is enough for today.  It takes me quite a long time to scan these photos and then save them and then add them to this blog.  Actually, in reality, not that long compared to the old ways of doing things.  I am truly thankful that I can do this at all.  That we have the ability to use this technology for things like this.  It is amazing that we do have all these things to make us get things done faster but for some reason we still never have enough time to get done what we want done.  So weird....