Every generation has its own unique story to tell, especially about its early childhood years. These are the formative years when lifelong impressions are formed, and are dearly remembered as the good old days. These stories are about the families of the Great Depression and World War II generation during the 30's and 40's decades. It is generally the period of the labor intensive low technology era before the beginning of the rapidly developing high technology society that would follow. It's said that out of the mouths of babes come truth and wisdom, and perhaps it's these perceptions that most reliably reveal those simpler yet challenging times. In these adult historic fiction stories the true emotions and concerns of the families are told, but as reflected through the eyes and innocence of the children. Freckles, the little girl from East Hollow, and Buddy, the little boy from the City Limits had much in common due to the similar life experiences of those of the generation of these stories. They had their carefree days at play with vivid imaginations and outrageous adventures, but they also had the responsibility of doing their chores and becoming a contributing member of the family. They may have been naïve, having a lot to learn about life; yet they exhibit in these stories a development of understanding, and the advancing maturity that was necessitated by the times. It was a period when the people's greatest concerns were centered in their own town, on their own street, or in their own backyard so to speak. These concerns were about such things as finding a job, making a living, raising a crop in a terrible and seemingly unending drought, and just finding a way for the family to survive during the terrible economic depression. Nevertheless it was a quiet period of innocence and mutual concern for each other. Everyone was just hanging on as best they could, but with an eternal optimism about the hope for better times to come. Generally people didn't have much, but appreciated what they had and learned how to be frugal due to the dire necessity. People had a strong work ethic and desire to improve their social standing and economic condition. It was a time when men were the wage earners and women were the homemakers and both were proud of their respective roles. Women cultivated their cooking, sewing, child raising, and other domestic skills, and the time was not yet passed when men were proud of their hunting, fishing, and other outdoor prowess. These skills, in addition to their regular work skills, were useful in supplementing their table fare, especially when jobs could not be found. People learned to become as self-sufficient as they could be, but they were often mutually dependent upon each other and quite willing to lend a helping hand. Home gardens were common as were the keeping of cows, chickens, and other domestic sources of food and supplies. Women did a lot of canning, mending, and sewing while the men took care of the home repairs and other pressing matters. The wives and children also helped with all the additional chores that were to be done, and often sought part time ways to supplement the family income. After the country was thrown into WWII, things started to get better. Everyone was very patriotic and tried to do their part to support the war effort. They understood and accepted the rationing, military draft, blackouts, shortages, and other inconveniences. People bought war bonds, made victory gardens, participated in paper drives, and collected metal to be used in the manufacture of war goods. Their sons gallantly went off to serve their country and their daughters did their part at home, sometimes taking the jobs left behind by the men that went off to war. The childhood memories of the generation of these stories may now be no more than a dream remembered for some, but the legacy will remain. It is history and will remain as part of the rich heritage of our past. It is The Way It
About the Author: You ask Mary Kekec for such trivial things as her social security number or a question about their taxes or insurance and you might as well ask the dog. But you ask her about a grandchild's birthdate, a nursery rhyme or verse, or especially about the family's genealogy and you will get a retinue of answers 'toot suite'. Mary loves children and epitomizes the mother/grandmother/homemaker roles; the family matters having always mattered most. She is the inspiration for the writing of these stories, and she now has the luxury to enjoy her selective memory, which is very reliable and has always been useful to her in handing down her family stories. Now retired, she and her husband, John, reside in Bonne Terre, MO. They are both avid readers and writers and are currently busy with their twelve grandchildren and six greats.