#FarrisStory: Perspective From The Greatest Generation

"My story starts with a strange connection to Ted. My grandmothers maiden name was Jackson so I suppose if I did the same thing as Ted did with the Farris my cigar would be called the Jackson! Anyway, my grandmothers story is a snippet of the greatest generations story. Born in 1919 my grandmothers brother was accidentally shot when she was a teenager. This event affected her immensely. Not only did this teach her the importance of family, but it also forced her family to move to the area where she would meet my grandfather. He was working fields in Southern Ohio on a farm and used to come to the same well to get a drink of water while he was working. My grandmother used to come to the well to get water for her family. Needless to say these visits to the well increased dramatically by my grandfather and grandmother. Shortly thereafter they married. In 1935 the USA was in pretty bad shape. The main story she always told which inspired me the most was of her and my grandfather working on the farm as newlyweds (keeping house as she called it), and getting paid $6 dollars a week for sunup to sundown labor. My grandma used to say the farmer they worked for liked 'his drink' on Fridays so he made a deal with them which was if he didn't let the cows in the pasture on Saturday morning by 7 am my grandpa was to do it and he would get an extra 50 cents. My grandfather would get up at 5:00 AM every Saturday and watch out the window to see if they were going to get that extra 50 cents. And through it all they remained confident, hopeful and happy. This is a true inspiration. Every time I think about wasting something or spending money without regard I think of them and how they coveted getting an extra 50 cents a week. 50 cents a week. Let that settle in. Also wherever I get up in the morning and start stressing over the things I have to face I think of this and it generally gets me moving a little faster. Truly an inspiration-next time you wake up and are worried about the upcoming day consider the generation of the depression and war and realize we've all got it pretty darn good. Thank someone of that age for what we have today--the world as we know it could be very different. I'm thankful and gracious to them everyday." - Zane from Washington CH, OH