thanks for the post! very enlightening “Americana.” and brings back memories of my dad.
apparently hobo traveling was a common means, by no means, of travel for my dad’s generation. he used it to do a year at Kent State back before he went to the Pacific as a Marine. funny, told me once he also tried his hand as an amateur boxer in the service. had a few bouts on island venues and gave it up after encountering a “pro,” a guy whom he said was so quick he couldn’t even hit him. said the guy couldn’t knock him out, though.
also a handsome guy back in the day too, apparently he was the poor boy, hired help, at a Kent State sorority house for whom all the girls made a play for before he left for the war.
boy, it strikes me, he’d done more, and had more adventures, before he was 25 then i’ve done all my life. and he was just getting started. greatest generation indeed. or maybe the most fearless generation, nothing to lose generation?
shoot, we boomers better man up after the mess we’ve made of everything. i’m sure my dad is looking down and shaking his head.
I often wonder that so many of my forbears have had such strangely interesting and sometimes exciting lives, while my own has been pretty nondescript.
But maybe some of us are meant to simply appreciate, value, and remember.
The VALUES are what matters out of any generation. Holding on to those - when they are worthy - and communicating them into the future, is a very important job.