Ain't We Got Fun

Dear Byron,

It won't be long before you'll start talking. We are, after all, about to celebrate your first birthday. And we're all excited. In fact, we've been keeping a photo record of that first year. We in your family believe you'll appreciate it as you grow older. You will look back and laugh with us about all those things.

As you can tell by this time, I love to look back. I think it helps all of us to look ahead. Today again I'm looking back with you at how much things have changed since I was your age.

Here's some numbers from 1930-39, the decade in which I grew up, compared to the present.

Population in the United States

Then: 123,188,000 of us lived in 48 states.

Now: We are over 311,600,000 — nearly 3 times as many. About 6.5% of us are your age, with twice that number over 65. White folks, not Hispanic, are over 60%, but that's rapidly changing. People of Latino origin are over 16%. Black folks are nearly 13%. 

Life expectancy

Back in the 1930s men expected to live to about 58 on average and women to about 62.

Now they tell us you can expect to live over 78 years—if you live in Minnesota where I grew up. Here in Texas we only expect to live to about 76. Hah! I'm glad I was born in Minnesota, because I'm past that. Some say that your GGPa will make it to 82 since I've lived this long. We'll see. That's all in our Lord's hands. Of course, if you ever have a little sister she'll likely live on average to well over 80. Who knows? With all the advances in medical science, by the time you're all grown up you and others of your generation may live to be over 100. 

 Annual income

I think I told you that back in the 1930s people were having a hard time making money. Here's some samples. On average a worker made a little over $1,360 a year. Yup, a year! If you worked in a factory you made under $17 a week. A cook earned $15 and even a medical doctor only cleared about $61 a week. That was less than $3,200 a year for the doc and the cook was lucky to make $760 in the same year. 

Today the median annual household income is about $50,000. It'll be about 3, even 4 times that in your house, because both of your parents have advanced college degrees and work. That'll put your family in the upper 2-3%. The earnings gap between those with college degrees and those with only high school is getting wider and wider all the time. During the past generation (while your folks were growing up) the high school folks' income rose 10% at most, while the income of people with advanced degrees rose by over 30%.

Unemployment

Remember me saying that the 1930s decade was called the Great Depression? Everything was depressed. Unemployment was around 25% for much of those 10 years. No matter how little people made, a fourth of us made nothing at all! Despite all the things the Government did, it was still over 17% in 1939. 

Today we're going through what people call a recession, not a depression. So 4-5 years ago only about 5% of us were unemployed in the United States. Today we still have 28 million unemployed. That includes people who only can get part-time jobs, but have given up finding a permanent one. As I write we still have 9.5% unemployed. In some areas its over 10% yet. We're all praying that somehow that will change.

How much things cost
This part is fun—and strange. Here are the prices of some things when I was a kid

• Quart of milk - 14 cents
• Loaf of bread - 9 cents
• 5 pounds of flour - 25 cents
• Dozen of eggs - 38 cents
• Pound of round steak - 42 cents
• Sweater - $1.00 
• Table lamp - $1.00
• Gas stove - $20
• Portable electric sewing machine - $24
• Heavy winter coat - $28
• New car - $625
• Gasoline - 19 cents per gallon

Yes, Byron, things have changed a lot during the three generations since I was born. In spite of all the problems people had in those days they could still laugh and make fun of themselves. One of those satirical songs was called 

Ain't we got fun 

Bill collectors gather 'round and rather Haunt the cottage next door Men the grocer and butcher sent Men who call for the rent But within a happy chappy And his bride of only a year Seem to be so cheerful, here's an earful Of the chatter you hear Ev'ry morning, ev'ry evening Ain't we got fun? Not much money, Oh, but honey Ain't we got fun? The rent's unpaid dear We haven't a bus But smiles were made dear For people like us In the winter in the Summer Don't we have fun Times are bum and getting bummer Still we have fun There's nothing surer The rich get rich and the poor get children In the meantime, in between time Ain't we got fun? Just to make their trouble nearly double Something happened last night To their chimney a gray bird came Mister Stork is his name And I'll bet two pins, a pair of twins Just happened in with the bird Still they're very gay and merry Just at dawning I heard Ev'ry morning, ev'ry evening Don't we have fun Twins and cares, dear, come in pairs, dear Don't we have fun We've only started As mommer and pop Are we downhearted I'll say that we're not Landlords mad and getting madder Ain't we got fun? Times are so bad and getting badder Still we have fun There's nothing surer The rich get rich and the poor get laid off In the meantime, in between time Ain't we got fun? When the man who sold 'em carpets told 'em He would take them away They said, "Wonderful, here's our chance Take them up and we'll dance" And when burglars came and robbed them Taking all their silver, they say Hubby yelled, "We're famous, for they'll name us In the pepers today Night or daytime, it's all playtime Ain't we got fun? Hot or cold days, any old days Ain't we got fun If Wifey wishes To go to a play Don't wash the dishes Just throw them away Streetcar seats are awful narrow Ain't we got fun? They won't smash up our Pierce Arrow We ain't got none They've cut my wages But my income tax will be so much smaller When I'm laid off, I'll be paid off Ain't we got fun?

Yes indeed, Byron, through it all we can still look up, because we have a faithful and loving Lord who guides us.

Love ya,
GGPa