About the Author
A Little More About Me
I was raised in upstate New York from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. Our mom was—and still is a devout Catholic. I ended up a middle child of ten, and the center had its advantages with such a large clan, especially remaining slightly observant. There appeared plenty of dynamics being orchestrated all around me if I remained somewhat alert.
Our dad was an electrical tech—civilian government employee. I suspect he made between eight to ten thousand annually back then. Our mom used to say with ten kids our dad was wired for two-twenty, instead of conventional one-ten wiring. With twelve mouths to feed, consequently, we lived on a small farm with a couple of cows and some chickens.
One of my earliest memories was being about four or five while riding to Church on Sundays. Seems simple enough. My dad drove, and (as fitting) I was a little tyke sitting next to him in the middle. Next to me was my mom, holding the baby. My three oldest siblings sat in a single file across the back bench seat with their seatbelts “buried into the deep.” On top of them sat two smaller siblings balanced on their laps! That far back, life seemed so much simpler.
There’s an old saying: “Ignorance is bliss.” We were (pretty) desolate way back then, but it was Ok because we really didn’t know it. Like your children, try not to be too intimidated by admitting that you don’t (actually) own them simply because smaller kids don’t know that either. Truth be known, it would probably scare toddlers about half to death to ever realize that you didn’t own them somehow.
Born and raised in Upstate New York during the mid-60s through the 1970s, I grew up in a large Catholic family as the middle child of ten. Being in the center came with its advantages, especially the ability to quietly observe and learn from my older siblings. My father was an electrical technician, civilian government employee who earned a modest income of around $8,000 to $10,000 annually, which had to stretch far to feed twelve mouths. Consequently, We lived on a small farm with a couple of cows and some chickens, life was simple yet full, shaped by hard work, faith, and the unique dynamics of character building.
There’s an old saying: “Ignorance is bliss.” For me, this rings true when looking back at my childhood. Life seemed easier because it was simpler. We were pretty desolate back then, but it was okay, simply because we didn’t know it. They made do with what they had, and for me, that experience became a foundation for understanding resilience, family, and relationships in a way few people today can fully appreciate.
However, as this book points out, the world has changed, and so has the meaning of these old sayings. Today, “Ignorance is NOT bliss!” The complexities of today force us to revaluate some of those older sayings.
“My poetry to protect me; I am shielded in my armor’’
