Great Depression Be Damned

"The Fall in Indiana is so beautiful," remarks my wife. Well from my perspective when I view this picture I see right through the "beauty" for what it really is...... A great deal of work ahead.

"Great Depression be damned." This thought went through my head repeatedly. As I walked out to the front lawn today, rake in hand, carrying trashbags, layered for warmth and ipod set to a new playlist I could not help, but hate the Great Depression. You see I had hours of work and thousands upon thousands of leaves to pick up and I also had a perfectly healthy and capable young son inside. It was the Great Depression that brought an awareness to the public and also brought an end to child labor. My son is almost one year old and can practically walk. So I ask, why can he not be subject to hours of monotonous labor and strife? Raking and picking up leaves is a rite of passage for all young lads. We have all done it and he needs to get himself outside and give Dad a hand. Growing up I partook in yardwork and various tasks. Now I am not trying to say I had a hard or difficult childhood, but I helped and worked my fair share. I mowed lawns, raked, took out trash, bussed tables, washed dishes and even worked on an assembly line for a summer. Bennett, instead, gets to live the life of luxury. His days start with someone getting him out of his bed, feeding him and then helping him get dressed. He then gets to play before taking a nap. Up from his nap he eats a little more, plays and then it is time for another nap. Up from another nap he plays, eats, plays some more and then it is off to bed. As I see it he has plenty of time to help out with the household chores. We are not raising him to be a prince or in this case princess.

So as I gear up, grab the ipod, add another layer of clothes and get ready to start day two of the endless attack against the falling leaves I curse the Great Depression and the lessons it taught America about Child Labor Laws. Because of this Bennett is inside napping, but as I see it he should be out here with a rake and big smile because he is getting the opportunity to help Dad.


This is what we have to look forward to today.