So I'm taking AP US history, and theres a term project every term and for this last term, we have to interview someone that was a teenager during WWII or the Great Depression, or that at least remembers either. So I asked my dad who he knows, and he said Uncle Fred and Aunt Rose. I did not even consider my Uncle Fried, or my Aunt Rose. My Aunt Rose because she just doesnt look to be anywhere near 70.

My Uncle Fred. He's a young soul. He's young at heart. He laughs all the time. He likes to have fun, and enjoy living while he can. Thats why I would never, ever, consider him being 82!! 82 years of living life. 82 years of waking up each morning. 82 years. Thats like, a long ass time!

So we went to his house out in northeast portland. Yeah, he's a gangster. And while my dad was cutting his hair, we started on the interview. We sat down at this old, vintage red kitchen table, and talked about his life. All I simply said, "So.. what was it like? You know, living during this time?" And he was off. Simply telling me his life story.

He grew up here in Oregon. 82 years ago. He started off saying, "This old man was alive during the time of horsies (yes horsies) and bugees." He talked about how his dad was a millhand, doing lumberwork. Then he talked about how there were close to no jobs during the Depression. Totally understable. He used to pick berries, and pick hops.

He skipped around from time to time. Talking about radios, to food, to war, to money, to jobs, to food, to money, to transportation, etc etc. He took many pauses, to think about what was going on during this time in his life. As he took those pauses I looked at his face, and his hands. Old, wrinkley, saggy. His eyes were a pale blue. He just looked so warn, but yet so.. something. I can't pinpoint it. But after everything he's seen in life, he's still alive.

The main things that concerned me, were the things he got emotional about. 1, was about kids and teachers. 2, was about family. And 3 was WWII at the warfront. War at first hand.

He had talked about how kids these days take education for granted. And how we should utilize the things that are placed in our lap for free, and so easily. And yet some people just take it for granted. Like the kids who come to class thinkin they're hot shit and trying to start shit with the teachers. Coming from my point of view, and having close ties with various teachers, that in itself makes me very mad. But he just blew off on it. He said theres no discipline. None at all. Which makes me laugh, because they made hitting kids at school illegal.

Then he went into talking about how families these days arent close at all. He talked about communities were really communities. They would share the food. They would take care of each other when things were scarce. He said that times have gone from trust, to distrust. And I directly quote him on that. He knew his family. He knew his family. Not very many families can say they really know each family member like they know their closest friends.

Then the main part that got to me really, was when he was talking about war. Going to Europe for war. He was an artilleryman during WWII for the US Army. Two months after we were at Normandy, his unit was in France. He was in 3 major battles. And this is where I wanted to just.. cry my heart out.
He had talked about seeing horrors indescribable. People screaming. Houses being burned down. People begging for help and for food. And nothing he could really do to help.. Then the silence...
And his head lowered.
His hands over his face.
Slow breaths.
My heart sunk when I knew what he was trying not to do.
Then he looked up and his pale blue eyes were misty. And that line of tear was on his lower eyelid just waiting to fall. And he abruptly stopped talking about it and moved on.

The things he said to me.. makes me wonder how I would be if I were to live during those times. It makes me want to know how I would be like. How things like that would effect me...

"When one has everything given to them without having to pay for it, or worry about having to work for having others take care of you.. one loses their self respect in a way to not be able to cope with every day living. In other words they're not able to forge for themself in hard and troubled times. And dissatisfaction, distrust, and unformality becomes their everyday living."

"To me the old times were the best times. As strange as it may seem people didnt have much but what they had, they were appreciative and willing to share with others. There was less greed, and selfishness among others."

"I fear whats going to happen. Life is too easy, people get too greedy."

"School today, from this old man's view, see total lack of disciplane within schools framework. Teachers hadns are more or less tied to the point where not permitted to maintain strict discipline and control of students. Mainly due to the administrative doctrine. Also, unfortunately, many teachers today are there for a job, and could care less as to whether their student has progressed enough to go forward to the next class, but rather to just push them through the doors. The real and hard life comes when you're no longer in school. If you dont learn the facts at school and cant learn or dont want to learn, then in the real world, you're not going to make it."