Widows & Widowers Support Group
This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.
Another tough day at work today. I'm in sales. Desperation all around me as people lose homes, jobs, etc. Everybody is scared which got me to thinking: Which is worse? The Great Depression or the Recession we're in now?
There are not many of us alive today that suffered from the first Depression, so I asked my dad and he pointed out something I hadn't thought of. He's 82. Can remember the first one.
Here's his answer: The Great Depression was bad, but back then we didn't have as much to lose. There were no big screen tvs, video games, satelite radio. Not much choice in the grocery store back then. And families were closer. Talking to folks was your entertainment because there was no social networking and no bills to pay for all the stuff that available now.
I think he made a good point. If I had been a widow in the 1930s, I probably wouldn't have had to wonder who would know if something happened to me? People would have called on me, visiting often, bringing food. Probably I would have had a better support system as far as human contact.
So I think dad is right. The Great Depression was bad, but people had each other, not high-tech gadgets to get them through the days. As I say, in my job, I see so much fear of losing everything. Of not being able to buy the things that entertained us and kept us sane. Few know how, or for that fact, are willing to go back to the days of sitting on the front porch talking to neighbors.
Few of us even know our neighbors. When I think of losing my job, I think of losing my lifeline(the internet) to the outside world. I think of being kicked out on the street, homeless. But in the 1930s, I would have had my extended family.
There are not many of us alive today that suffered from the first Depression, so I asked my dad and he pointed out something I hadn't thought of. He's 82. Can remember the first one.
Here's his answer: The Great Depression was bad, but back then we didn't have as much to lose. There were no big screen tvs, video games, satelite radio. Not much choice in the grocery store back then. And families were closer. Talking to folks was your entertainment because there was no social networking and no bills to pay for all the stuff that available now.
I think he made a good point. If I had been a widow in the 1930s, I probably wouldn't have had to wonder who would know if something happened to me? People would have called on me, visiting often, bringing food. Probably I would have had a better support system as far as human contact.
So I think dad is right. The Great Depression was bad, but people had each other, not high-tech gadgets to get them through the days. As I say, in my job, I see so much fear of losing everything. Of not being able to buy the things that entertained us and kept us sane. Few know how, or for that fact, are willing to go back to the days of sitting on the front porch talking to neighbors.
Few of us even know our neighbors. When I think of losing my job, I think of losing my lifeline(the internet) to the outside world. I think of being kicked out on the street, homeless. But in the 1930s, I would have had my extended family.
Family dynamics are very different now. Your dad brought up some very good points. I think we have to work much harder at maintaining a close-knit family and extended family. In this day and age, everyone has their own agenda and it's not foremost in their minds to think of others first. The evidence here on DS seems overwhelming that we widows/widowers are on the most part on our own. There are exceptions, of course, and I'm so glad to read of those in the posts. It brings me hope for future generations. TJ
No one went visiting unless they brought something no matter how small, like a bag of teabags.
There were no unemployment benefits, food stamps etc etc to tide you over for a few months. Income stopped completely.
I like what you say about combining both worlds. That would be good. Both have their pros and cons. When my grandmother was left alone to raise 7 young children, she had a lot more troubles facing her than I could imagine. She had family that helped her but most of it she did alone - working 2 jobs in town, feeding and milking the cow, feeding chickens and gathering eggs, chopping wood, hauling water from the creek, planting, harvesting, canning....all while dealing with her loss. I'm not sure I have what it takes to survive that life.