Summer Reading Part 1

I've been reading "Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression." It's one of the new memoirs added to the 11AP list this year.

The author, Mildred Kalish, paints a vivid picture of what life was like in a much simpler time. Her family - her mother, sister and two brothers- were abandoned by their father, left to fend for themselves. Young Mildred's grandparents took the family in,gave them a place to live, and a small farm to work. Due to the severity of the winters in Iowa, the children spent the majority of the school year in town, living with Grandma & Grandpa, and summers on the farm, with their mother.

It's interesting to read about childhood in the 1930's. Woodburning stoves, no central heat, only one or two sets of clothes per person was the norm back then. Kalish speaks of everyone gathering in the living room in the winter, as the upstairs bedrooms were unheated. I especially liked the descriptions of what kids did for fun back then, without the electronica we have today: taffy pulls, sing-alongs at an aunt's house, family dinners.

It's a bit nostalgic for me, as it reminds me of how we lived in Alaska 25 years ago. The radio stations went off the air at 10 pm. TV was iffy at best, as we were pretty far away, and aurora borealis often interfered with the signal. And, of course, it was cold.

This week is the first week of my real vacation. Last week was grading, curriculum work, and on Sunday, graduation. Last year at this time, I was in Franconia, NH at the Frost Place for a poetry conference. This year, instead of the White Mts., I'll be going to the Adirondacks with my kayak. Hopefully, the weather will be good.