*The Dust Bowl, part 2, on PBS tonight

[elleng]

[DollarBillHines]

1. I watched last night's episode back-to-back

Got the DVR set for tonight, too.

[malaise]

2. Don't plan to miss any of it

[Little Star]

3. How may parts are there, do you know.....

I recorded last nights and didn't realize there were more parts.

[GentryDixon]

4. Two. Tonight is the finale. nt

[Little Star]

17. Thanks!

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Good programming. Don't miss it.

[Brother Buzz]

6. I loved part 1 ending with Woody Guthrie's "So Long It's Been Good To Know Yuh"

Truth be told, I didn't have a clue about the background of that song. Interesting.

[elleng]

8. Neither did I, great to learn that bit of history.

Posted it here, at the time: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101780547

[DURHAM D]

7. I recorded Part 1 and tried to watch it this am.

I could not do it. It was too painful.

[elleng]

10. It is very painful; I don't blame you, DURHAM D.

[DURHAM D]

15. I am from out there

and it opened with scenes from my childhood. I remember too well the rolling black clouds of dirt and the tumbleweeds that chased you down and tackled you on the playground. I am talking about the period from 1945 to late 50s. I think a lot of people don't realize how long this endured.

I just spoke with my brother and we talked about the time we went to a Sunday matinee and when the movie was over we came out into the lobby of the theater and it was pitch black outside. We could not leave for home for several hours. We could not recall the name of the movie but will ask my sister - she remembers everything.

[elleng]

16. Oh my! Right, we don't realize how long this endured.

Will learn more about it tonight.

[Whovian]

9. DVR is set!

[DonRedwood]

11. Hey Ellen! Thanks again for the headsup! Part one was excellent.

[elleng]

12. YVW, Don.

[KittyWampus]

13. Part One has haunted me all day. The horror of day after day of storms. No ability to get back to

"normal".

No clean clothes... no clean food.

No end in sight.

Darn.

[elleng]

14. Much worse than "Darn," Kitty.

[malaise]

18. Makes me realize that our lives have been so easy

[elleng]

19. Yes indeed, and almost feel guilty for not being aware

or having suffered in such a way (tho Dad etc. lived through Depression and War.) But we, my generation, (Senior here) essentially escaped.

[malaise]

20. Mom was in Europe during a good part of WW2

and dad was there towards the end of the war. Mom's brother was the only one was in the army.
Yes we were lucky.

Still don't you wonder how today ReTHUGs would have responded to FDR during the Dust Bowl?

[elleng]

21. Sure do wonder.

[dsc]

22. Simply astonishing

Makes one wonder what life would be like if climate change doesn't get brought under control.

[KatyaR]

23. Absolutely heartbreaking, I've cried through half of it.

My family was in central Oklahoma during this time period, but I don't ever remember talk about the Dust Bowl--maybe it wasn't so bad there, but I do remember my dad HATED John Steinbeck with a passion, all because of The Grapes of Wrath. He was proud to be an Oklahoma farmer, no matter how hard it was.