A More Simple Time - Choices

A More Simple Time - Choices - Back Story

Being a child in the 1940s was memorable. Families were especially close during the war. Social activities were also limited to things close to home due to gas rationing. Multi generational households were common. Many kids had lots of family to love and support them. I was blessed to live my first 11 years in my grandparents farm house with 3 generations or sharing a yard with them and 4 years at Ft Lewis within a block of their house. I was a tomboy and a horse lover, but in the 40's all of the kids in my neighborhood played war games. Everyone was talking about war as well as war movies on at the post theater. It seemed natural to have soldiers pick up our garbage at gun point, since they had used soldiers from the post jail to do the heavy work. I remember late in the war they used German prisoners of war and they did not have guns out. When I asked my dad why he said, "They are not in a hurry to leave, since they are eating well and have a safe place to rest and recuperate. They will go home, but they went "without" for so long, they are not considered a flight risk". It was a blessing to be too young to understand the evil of war while it was happening. At 5 my favorite song was,"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition".

In this poem I was reminded of all the things I loved including dancing on a neighbor's yard that always felt like a stage to me. Even that early, I felt like I really wanted a stage. One to dance on but I did not feel led that way later in life. Sometimes I would come home from a new movie musical and sing from that grassy stage. I later loved to sing in choirs, but I was not a soloist. When I found I was good at speaking and loved it, I decided that was my answer to the ever important stage. I dreamed of someday being able to touch people hearts with truth, laughter, poetry and purpose. It is amazing when the dream of a 8 or 9 year child on a neighbors hill can come to be! God is good!