My Mom’s family was in Austria during the war, her father was nominally in Civil Defense but had a protected job in the coal mines; lost an arm in unsafe conditions fulfilling unrealistic quotas, but begged for a job at half pay, his war was to keep his family from starving.
When I was young I worked with him for a summer, pushing 70 he moved 400# pilings into position with one hand and his knees. If there was nothing to do, he would crawl on his knees on the lawn pulling up weeds where no one else could see any weeds. Never saw him sick, never saw him take a day off, until his wife passed away, then he did nothing but drink his two beers a day and sit. A month later he followed her. If they make them like that any more, they’re not making the papers. Can still remember his sweaty smell on his towel...which towel is Opa’s? Definitely this one ;)
If we only do just the nominal work around the place to
keep ourselves from getting stoved up, we do well. They
don’t make them like our fathers today. - I guess if they
get hungry enough & no government handouts available; that
would motivate them. - The old government “sow” is just
about totally emaciated; but the little piglets are still
latched onto her tits. Husband’s in his 70’s & still works
every day that the Lord sends & I’m nearing 70 and help
any way I can.