I just heard that this is the first time since FDR that

[MLAA]

46. My paternal grandparents were share croppers in North Florida. After many years they finally

were able to buy 40 acres of their own. My dad was in the Army and he had a 30 day furlough and spent that time building them a small house with indoor plumbing. Years later when he retired from the Army first and then AT&T he and my mom built a beautiful home on the property. My dad told my brother he had to go to college, a trade school or the military, his choice. My dad thought I should be an artist or maybe a dental assistant. My brother enrolled in College to study engineering. I thought hell, if he can do it I can as well. Ultimately despite him being 2 years older than I, we graduated on the same day. Dad told me many times how proud he was of me and at first surprised, he never thought to encourage me in the same way he did my brother. Based on his upbringing and the times, it was boys needed to prepare to support a family and girls didn’t. I remember thinking early on I was going to take care of myself and never have to depend on a spouse to do it. Anyway, I’ve had the best of both a long and interesting career and a wonderful husband of 35 years 🙂