81 years ago, today, the good Lord brought me into this world, with the help of Dr. Lattimore.

My, how things have changed. Very few tractors, if any, had starters, you cranked by hand, and the tractors weren’t high horsepower, but the farms weren’t big either, 160 acres was average size, down to small acreages. We raised most of what we ate, sold or traded for what we couldn’t raise – salt, sugar, etc.

The cars and trucks weren’t very powerful; windshield wipers lacked a lot to be desired, heat and air conditioning were unknown, in the winter, we bundled up, in the summer, roll down the windows, and hope the car didn’t overheat.

Our homes had little if any insulation. Most were heated with kerosene or butane, some with wood. We were lucky to have electricity. Telephones were few and far between, some of the neighbors might have a phone. In an emergency, the neighbors congregated on the place and helped. Fire Departments were in the towns, the firefighters were mostly volunteer.

My, how things have changed over the years, we’ve gotten spoiled, but our lifespan is much longer.

There’s been three wars – some called police actions, but still wars, seems like our great country has become the police for the world.

We’re a free people, the freedom our forefathers have fought and died for. We can’t let our freedom die!

God bless America!

We stand by our Lord, our country, our flag, and our president! We will never, ever give up!

Jon Cochran Sr.