The Grapes of Wrath...Classic Okie book. (Edmond, Colbert: foreclosure, work)

[Synopsis]

BTW, do you want to listen to one darn good melody? This song is just one of the best opening melodies to a program ever. Sorry to reminisce. It actually brings a tear to my eye because it takes me back to a time that was very important to me growing up in rural Oklahoma. I wish you all the best.

YouTube - The Waltons Intro Theme.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

Hi all,
HT, thanks for the very nice compliment. In my opinion, you are "the dude." You are a true blue, died in the wool okie and that's a wonderful thing! Actually, it was my father and not my grandfather. I had this happen to me growing up all of the time. Everyone thought my dad was my grandad. I know the dates sound weird; I'm 46 years old and my dad was born in 1904 - he was 57 years old when I was born. Pretty unusual. As far as stories, unfortunately I have none. My father died when I was 17 years old and he was closed-lipped about such things. I'm sure he and my mother (who was 42 when I was born) experienced many hard, hard times, even though she wasn't an adult in the great depression. I did hear some stories about how they swept the dirt floors in their home, and how hard it was to get food, but no real details about such things. The big picture I got, I understand that we have so much more today and those people had such a difficult time. In fact, even growing up as a kid we were so radically different in our upbringing that we (our family) really resembled the the type of lifestyle that my father lived through in the great depression. We didn't have an indoor toilet (we had an outhouse) until I was twelve years old. I had to walk through a pasture in the snow (in the winter) to "do my business." All in all my childhood was wonderful because I learned the value of a dollar, and realized what family meant. I didn't take a thing for granted and I am grateful for everything. Think of "The Waltons" and you pretty much have a good idea of what our family was like. Those were GOOD times and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the entire world.
Cheers all.

Todays world is just Botox and Divorce. Video games and selfish spoiled kids. It is really nice to hear from somebody that has the values that I cherish. I have always had great admiration for my elders and to my dismay their outlook on the world is dying....If everyone was brought up like you Synopsis the world would be a normal place to live. Hardships and challenges in life bring a family/society together. It forms people with real character that try to make a difference for the better. People that welcome strangers into their homes and ask nothing in return. Just good samaritans that hope others will do the same in life; At least just once so they too can feel a pulse of what living is meant to be.

[peggydavis]

Jessaka, I don't know why. I have thought it might be because he met some people from Sallisaw while he was doing his research. I think maybe he just believed the stereotype. Sallisaw was affected by the great depression, and many people all over Oklahoma and Arkansas had to leave the area, but Sallisaw is not on the plains.

[eddie gein]

Steinbeck used Sallisaw because most of the California migration came from the Oklahoma Panhandle and eastern Oklahoma. The reason for this is that in western Oklahoma many people were land owners and were willing to stick it out. The ones who had mortgages had problems but many people owned their land free and clear. On the other hand, in eastern Oklahoma there were a lot more sharecroppers who were basically kicked off of their land. They had no where to go but they had to go somewhere.

If you owned your land you could have a few pigs and chickens and a garden and basically subsist. If you were a sharecropper you couldn't raise enough crops to pay your rent and feed your family.

[peggydavis]

I don't know how the people in eastern Oklahoma would get any water during those drought years. Very few sources of water would have been available once the creeks dried up, maybe a spring here and there.

[jessaka]

I even wondered how the Indians faired? Was the Illnois dry?

Interesting story Synopsis. My husband's family were the Cole's and so it was related to the Jesse James and Cole gangs. I was related to Elliot Ness and George Patton. My husband wants to see the hide outs in MS and a cave south of here in OK where James hide out.

[peggydavis]

That is very interesting Synopsis. My husband's dad was born in 1904 and his grandfather was born in the 1850's, but he is 60. Still, that is unusually old parents even at our age. My dad was born in 1907 and I am 58.

My parents never forgot the depression. For the rest of their lives it was always save save save, pinch every penny, use everything up. I am still a penny pincher, scrap saver.

Jessaka, I guess we are in the early risers club. I doubt the Illinois went dry in the 30's, but it may have. Maybe some old timers around there know. Probably the Canandian went dry during the 30's. It was almost dry last year.

[happytown]

Here is a link to a play at OU/Grapes of Wrath.
Articles: The University of Oklahoma

[jessaka]

The Waltons was one of my favorite series. I am glad that you had a Walton family. I always wanted one, well, after seeing the series.

[jessaka]

I just finished the book. One night I had a nightmare from reading it. My husband said that I should stick to nice children's books.

The ending of this book was the biggest shocker. I think everyone should read this book.
Why doesn't Oprah have it on her booklist? Better than any she has put out there.

Think I will read one of my Nancy Drew books next though. LOL.