I had an experience last night that left me questioning myself.

[yardwork]

15. Our grandparents lived through some things.

I think of my mom's parents. A first-generation U.S. immigrant who didn't speak English until he went to school, childhood helping gangsters smuggle liquor during Prohibition, shotgun marriage to the farmer's daughter when she was 17, parent of three little children during the Depression and WWII, never was a happy marriage, they got divorced in their 70s.

OTOH, grandpa missed having to serve in any war and he did ok financially. Moved to the Bay Area in California in the 50s and enjoyed the sunshine, pool in his backyard, and he loved his orange tree on the patio.

His life arc moved from scarcity and poverty to economic expansion and a secure upper middle class life.

Our kids and grandkids are experiencing the downside of that arc but honestly, who knows what will happen? Could just as easily turn out to be surprisingly good, I guess.