The 1% Age Group

     Yours truly is a one percenter.

     This group was born between 1930 and 1946. Our age range is 76 to 92. We are the smallest group of children born since the early 1900s. We are the last generation, climbing out of the depression, who can remember the war that rattled daily lives for years. 

     I remember a day in August 1945 when Dad and two uncles were intensely listening to a radio in the living room. Every few minutes, the announcer said, "The war is over." I was goofing around, making noise as kids do, when one uncle looked my way and commanded, "Shut up!" I looked at Dad and timidly offered, "Well, he said the war is over." Like, what else matters? 

     We are the last to remember ration books. Our families saved tin foil and poured fried meat fat into tin cans. We saw cars up on blocks because tires weren't available. Yes, my dad did that.

     We remember milk delivered to our house early in the morning and placed (in our case) by the side door. We knew those who were off to war (two uncles in particular). 

     We are the last generation that spent childhood without TV, imagining what we heard on radio. Without TV, we spent childhood playing outside - hide & seek, riding bikes, climbing trees etc. There was no Little League. 

     I remember radio weather reports for "Western Pennsylvania," which sounded like a very important place. Then I learned that I lived in Western Pennsylvania. On Saturdays, the movie theater gave us newsreels, westerns and cartoons. Awesome. 

     More to come. Based on an email forwarded by a friend.