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My inlaws were stationed at Hamilton immediately after the war; housing was still in short supply and they had to scramble around until base housing became available.

Their first base as a couple, was here in Kearney Nebraska where a lady rented them her basement because of the lack of base housing. They too considered this some of the happiest times of their lives even though they were as poor as church mice at the time.

You might recognize the guy on the right front as Captain Clark Gable.

Cheers all.

Isnt this something....my parents, during WW11, Loddys inlaws, after the war, and Westy himself, after the war, all stationed at Hamilton, so many, many years ago...and yet here we all are, talking about them, and that time, together...the internet and the world wide web, sure are something arent they...making the world smaller, linking people up to those they might never have met in real life, and finding common ground....

I think, in general, that young couples, of my parents and my generations, took the plunge and got married and started families, without big financial backing...in fact, living from paycheck to paycheck, and being just barely able to mak ends meet, did not seem odd at all...you just expected that with hard work and faith in yourselves, you just knew, that somehow, things would always work out, and you and your family would be fine....

When BigDom and I married, we had not big bankroll, and had Mike in the first year....we were barely able to make ends meet, yet we always did, and were extremely happy....and a few dollars more in the bank, and along came Andy....still, we had enough to be happy...and shortly after that, Dom went into the full time army, and pay was even less than we were making as civilians...

But we were ok, we were able to buy a house, able to take camping vacations, had food and housing and clothing, and the boys had their toys and such and so, not dirt poor, but not wealthy, we struggled to daily provide a life for ourselves and our boys....

And in that struggle, I find, that those years were so very precious...there is much to be said, for going through a struggle and coming out on the other side...

Many of the young people of say, Andys generation, want to be more financially secure, before thinking about getting married and having a family...at least that is what I often see and hear the young people talking about...I wonder, if in opting for absolute financial security, before taking a plunge, they are forfeiting the happiness that comes from having lived through hard times, as well as good...

Or perhaps I am just blowing hot air...there are those, who feel its just plain unwise to plunge into marriage, and parenthood without the proper financial backing....

For myself, I am just glad we did it they way we did...to each his own, I guess...

Just some lazy Sunday afternoon musings....

On another note, its grand to see Clark Gable, doing his military duty...would that the 'stars' of today, feel such obligation...