24 Comments
User's avatar
Fred Bruning's avatar

Your Mom (and mine) would be proud, Phil.

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Our Moms would have had a grand time together, Gwen.

Expand full comment
Gwen Young's avatar

But your mom would've been able to say (with modesty, of course) that Freddie is such a good boy. I don't think I gave my mother the opportunity to utter those words when I lived with her. Sorry, Mom.

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Ok, you're a good boy.

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Cotton from pill bottles -- Mom would award four stars!

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Food lines focus the mind, for sure, Carol, and we should hope it doesn't happen again and, meanwhile, that we learn.

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Bagel, today, Peter. Thanks.

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Mom would have loved you.

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Ahead of her time. Love/Dad

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Can't miss with Mom. Thanks/fb

Expand full comment
Peter Ruffner's avatar

Our moms and Das weee “sustainable” before there was such a word!! Each of us have many of their traits!! Enjoy the buttery English muffin!!

Expand full comment
Peter Ruffner's avatar

Sorry I can’t spell like my Mom!!

Expand full comment
Lisa's avatar

Ooph, I am that person…like Wink, I reuse the bathroom cup until it leaks, but also will fold up my (used) napkin because it’s not dirty on both sides, and reuse paper plates until they show schmutz. Growing up one of six children in a one bathroom house with a cesspool that often needed a pump along with a dump of chemicals…easy there with flushes…welp, you learn to be economically careful. I haven’t bought packets of artificial sweetener in years 😉

Expand full comment
James McNamara's avatar

Hi, Fred & Mrs. Wink,

Ref the Depression. I wish I could go back and question my parents about the Depression. Yes, we ‘young in’s’ are much luckier than those who encountered the Depression.

Question: By chance, Fred, could you scan/send me a cy of that Manhattan map? If so, I’d be very appreciative.

To repeat, I so often say how I wish I’d asked my parents so many questions about what times used to be like.

Very best regards to you two!

Expand full comment
Fred Bruning's avatar

Same here, Jim. Lots of questions unanswered about those difficult days.

Expand full comment
Jamey L's avatar

Loved this one, Dad! Granny's habits are handed down to another generation. Save those butter pats, extra napkins, hotel soaps and shampoos! Someone can always use them. Mom has taught us well with her recycling habits too. :)

Expand full comment
Carol C. Rescigno's avatar

Such a generation. And such a different way of viewing life from so many of those we know (or know of) nowadays.

Expand full comment
Phil's avatar

Grew up in New York City with depression era parents and Holocaust survivor neighbors - we knew how to appreciate what we had. Live in New England now where they like to say “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

We’re (relatively) wealthy now. Still can’t see any reason not to turn off the lights when you don’t need them.

Expand full comment
Gwen Young's avatar

I loved this column, Fred.

Expand full comment