our gas was turned off regularly (which really sucked when it was very cold in the morning and me and my bro would warm water on the stove (maybe illegal to turn off power for non payment?) and helping each other wash our hair and do a body wash at 0 Dark hundred shivering getting ready for seminary in front of the kitchen sink).

Can't tell you how many times I would call home from school and the phone was disconnected. Tires on autos would wear until we could see lots of metal. Me and my bro were really good at changing flat tires...and well practiced with hydroplaning.

Probably why I am still not embarrassed about my appearance. There were always holes in our shoes and clothes as well as stains. They were always clean, just in bad condition. Maybe why as long as cargo shorts are sold at Costco, I will be wearing them...I just don't care.

We never went hungry. Never. At some point my dad lost everything, including his home. Must have been sooooo difficult for that to happen at age 55. Primarily driven by business going bad and borrowing against the house to save it. I had just graduated from college and lived at home to help by paying rent (helped me too to save for a down payment). Worst moment of all was when my dad had to borrow $5,000 from me for the lawyer to declare bankrupcty. Must have been so awful for him. Big time humble pie. He sobbed when he asked me. I think I had only seen him cry once before in my 25 years of life.

I got married about three months later and my dad gave me a wedding card that was so tender apologizing for not being able to give me any gifts or pay for any of the wedding costs. Gifts was his love language. He was generous to a fault. I lost him 25 years ago. Wish he could have been around longer. He was so proud of his 8 kids.

It was a different world back then.