I just finished .. A NEW ENGLAND TOWN, THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS..by Kenneth Lockeridge. This book examines the customs, government, socuial mores and daily life in Dedham, Massachusetts, from 1636 through 1736..
Now, well into HILLBILLY ELEGY..by J D Vance... our Vice President's autobiography. JD's life is truly an inspiring story. He came from one of
the most unemployed, hopeless and now drug addicted areas of the country.
He could have as many did , just ended in a drug addicted, pointless existence. ..But he rose above all of that..even though he was born into a
family that suffered from all the usual problems suffered by many in that region.
America is no aristocracy, and not all who succeed, were born with a silver spoon in their mouth ! Some indeed had roots much like
A Lincoln..born into poverty and almost destined to failure...but the "cream rises to the top"..
A Lincoln for instance had a Dad that was not particularly successful, but after his natural mother's early death, his step-mother must have seen
that there was some greatness, lurking behind that homely fgace..
Similarly, when JD's natural mother was deep into addiction, JD went to live with his "Mamaw' (grandmother), who for all her coarseness, still
retained som eof the most important and positiuve values that lead to hgtreatness.. an dshe passed these on to JD !
