Being Prepared

Years ago people were self sufficient. Isolated families were living spread out all over with maybe one neighbor in riding distance. The years of 1790-1840 make a great read and causes us to pause and take notice, asking the question, are you prepared for a possible disaster, like Japan. The book is entitled "The Reshaping of Everyday Life," by: Jack Larkin.

It is concerning that calm is the order of the day in Japan, where people are getting on with their lives, ordinarily. I ask myself, do they know what has transpired? Are they less aware than we are as to the frightening events that have and are still happening to their country? Rationing electricity, and goods like food is reason enough for alarm, given the extensive damage and population. It is known to be a middle class country and looks modern and well developed. The question is --are they sustainable? How long can you be cold and hungry? Supplies will run out and rationing will become the norm. Should it happen here, are we? It makes one think, doesn't it?

My grandparents, who lived in the late 1800's were prepared for just about anything. They had farms and gardens and tools, livestock, and their own wells. They would never be out in the cold, utilizing the firewood from their land, and were proficient in processing candles, food stuff, wine, and household items, like lanterns and furniture. They feasted on meat, chicken, eggs and turned out butter and cheese. Recycling everything, they lived within their means. Medicines were grown, dried and hung in their pantry along with other spices and teas. They were secure.

Men had tobacco, smoked cigars and pipes and drank a bit of home brew. They were off the grid, using dehydration methods, for squash and apples and knew how to smoke meat, no refrigeration needed. Sheep and goats grazed the grass, and haying as well as cyclical duties to maintain their lifestyle were taught generation after generation.

Parties and music, games, books, sports and the like flavored their lives when they weren't working. They got along without cell phones and computers. Unlike people today, they knew who their God was and Worship Service was a priority. People loved one another, and depended on each other's talents.

I wonder if any crisis that they had, compared to what we are seeing on the television lately, everywhere you look. The magnitude of which is unthinkable.

My mom used to warn us about getting too big for our britches. Could be, she was right.