April 3, 2020 (Friday)
Remember the days before the COVID-19 Pandemic? Ah, those were the days, my friend.
I was born in 1931. I’ve lived through almost nine decades. I thought it might be fun to think about those decades from my point of view.
The 1930s. Herbert Hoover was president when I was born. The 1920s were prosperous and he ran with a motto, “A chicken in every pot, and two cars in every garage.” Alas, the Great Depression descended upon the world. Franklin Roosevelt became president in 1933, offering the country a “New Deal.”
The 1940s. In our family, that decade was tumultous. My parents divorced in 1941 and my sisters and I lived with our maternal grandparents for the next 3 years until both parents remarried. We lived back and forth from one household to the other. The first half of that decade was a time of war. Women went to work in jobs that normally went to men.
The 1950s. After high school graduation in 1949, there was college graduation in 1953, and seminary graduation in 1959. Wanda and I married in 1953 and eventually had 5 children (David, 1954; Dan,1955; Debbie, 1959; Dianna, 1963; Dwight, 1966). Baptist convention speakers always brought us new jokes.
The 1960s. The jokes disappeared amid the flag draped caskets from Vietnam and the drug-filled lost generation left behind. For better or worse, our culture changed. We moved to Rockport in 1964. Still there today, although retired.
The 1970s. Our kids finished high school then college during the 1970s and 1980s. We drove several used cars then. They were exciting years filled with activities.
The 1980s. In 1984 I attended a two-week personal and professional growth seminar in Nashville that had a profound impact upon me. I think it helped me and I would like to believe it helped my family and my church. I still feel the positive effect of those two weeks. (Our children married during this decade: David-Janet, 1979; Debbie-Rick, 1983; Dianna-Mark, 1987; Dan-Mary, 1990 [divorced]).
The 1990s. Getting older. Kids getting on with their lives. Wanda’s illnesses got worse each year, but she persevered in directing the church’s music program. Started thinking about retirement more. In 1997, Debbie passed away.
The 2000s. Retired, but still active in other churches, supplying pulpits and serving as pastor or interim pastor. In 2002, Wanda passed away. Life has never been the same since she and Debbie went to be with the Lord.
The 2010s. Continuing in the same vein as the 2000s. Getting older and older. Here in 2020 I’ve reached 88. Unless the virus gets me, I have good health in spite of a few problems.
There you have it. Almost 9 decades. Oh, yes, I had a heart attack in 2002, but a stent was installed and I’ve looked forward to every day of life since.
In 1948, the Lord called me to preach and my life has never been the same since. I am thankful He has allowed me to serve Him.
We thought they’d never end..”
A little extra (song from the Bible book of Ecclesiastes):
(Her guitar was a gift from Beatle George Harrison)
She is on facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/maryhopkin