Hard work. That was the lesson my father taught me. I fought for everything I got.
Grew up on a farm (my family has owned/operated farms in this country since 1889), we worked hard and were frugal but never suffered and I grew up experiencing freedom from outsiders. This is deep in flyover country and has still got a lot of that attitude.
When I graduated from college I went to work for a privately held wholesale distribution company. Worked for 2 such companies for close to 40 years. Moved away from home in 1971, lived out of state for 25 years. Moved back in 1995.
Spent past 15+ years caring for sick/elderly family members. Lost my father in March, he was 95. I’m 73, have lived a good life and know a lot of very interesting people.
I will die here, when that time comes.
Lost my wife of 47 years in 2018, I remarried in April last year, starting over again. God has blessed me again with a great wife.
We will be moving back to my house at the farm later this year. My grandparents built it in 1946. An addition in th 1970’s. It is a very well built home, I’ve owned it for 10 years, but it has been vacant since my son died 6 years ago. I look forward to being back there.