The Story of my Life
Louise Virginia (Weir) Frasier

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INTRODUCTION


            Mama wrote the story of her life in 1991.  After I had typed it up and sent it out to everyone she said, “Well, that’s nice, but I really wanted pictures in it”.  At that time I had very few pictures and didn’t know how to put them in anyway.  After Virginia did such an excellent job on the book we did for Mama in the summer of 1996 I decided to try again.  While reviewing the original (longhand version) I discovered additions that mama added too late for the first edition so if you read carefully you may find something new. 

            Mama’s life spans most of the 20th Century, but those of you who expect the story to be a history book about world wars, the great depression, industrial and scientific expansion, political and presidential scandals and assassinations will be disappointed.

             What Mama wrote is a history of the life of most of the people in the United States during this period of time.  The majority of the people lived on family farms where they grew their own food and, usually, a cash crop they could sell so they could buy clothes and other necessities.  Even people who lived in the towns had gardens where they grew their own food even though they had jobs they worked at to make a living.  People who lived on farms also took jobs occasionally to supplement their income.

             It was a hard life for everyone - working from sunup until sundown - never having quite enough of anything – except food and love.  But these were the people who built this country.  It’s not the great events or big tragedies which build a country or a life.  It’s the day to day struggle of everyday people like Mama’s family that build a country and bind the people together.

             During the last half of the Century after World War II the hard working country people began to leave the farm and migrate to the cities where they worked in factories for a wage.  The family farms were sold to huge corporations to finance the move to the cities.

             So this is Mama’s story.  It’s a story of country life and the transition to city life.  It reflects the life of the entire country.  The great tragedy is that a lot of the population of the country seem to have lost the old fashioned values and dedication to family and the country that seemed to have come so easy to Mama’s generation.

             I hope you enjoy the book.  And Mama I hope I haven’t left anything out this time.