My family is a source of inspiration for me. Many people complain about their families or cut off ties with them, and I have been guilty of that. As I age, however, I realize how lucky I have been to belong to this family. You’ll find some family stories on my other blog, A Boomer Retirement, but today I would like to focus on my parents, Ken Wallin and Adelaide Axelson. They were born in southwest Iowa in Stanton (dad) and Red Oak (mom) shortly after the turn of the century. My father graduated from high school about the time the Great Depression hit. He refused the education that his professor uncles offered, so he had a hard time getting a job. He left Iowa to live with relatives in Gary, IN and work in the steel mills. The temperature would reach one hundred twenty degrees at times, and he told me he was given salt tablets because he sweated so much. Mom was two years younger than dad, but had already finished high school. Her mother died at Christmas in 1931, so she went to nurses’ training in Chicago, at Henrotin Hospital. They met on a train going home for the holidays. They had known each other in high school, but not well. By 1940 they had married, shortly before my dad had to go overseas. Mom worked as a public health nurse in Chicago while Dad fought in WWII. Dad landed in Italy and fought his way up Monte Cassino into France and Germany, where he liberated Jews from boxcars. He returned home and they immediately had a family, being content with suburban living.
My older brother, John, has been extremely successful in life, celebrating fifty years of marriage this year, and retired from a career in computer science for fifteen years. He has always been someone I look up to, because of his intelligence, compassion and fun. His family is fun, caring, and creative. My younger brother holds several degrees. I believe a B.S., an M.B.A. and a Law Degree. He found a family late in life.
My children are an inspiration as well. My life was not headed in a good direction when my first son was born. I have often told him that having those little blue eyes staring at me made me realize I wanted to change and that change has been profound. He moved from a farm at age 12 and maintained grades while being an athlete, then went to college twice - okay, first time not so great - and did email for missionaries before landing a good job. He is happy programming and has been able to work from home. On weekends, he continues his athletics. This weekend he ran a relay from Milwaukee to Madison.
Son number two is the kind of person that can look at a problem and figure out the solution without necessarily being able to explain how he did it. The change from farm to suburb was hardest for him. He has chosen a spiritual life, also going to college twice - hey, nobody’s perfect - and graduating in computer management. He has created a beautiful family with his wife on a farm downstate.
My daughter was only five when we left the farm, but she not only adjusted to life in the city, she loves the city. She figured out compensatory skills for a learning disability and not only got two Bachelor degrees, English and Vocal Performance, but went back after several years to get a Masters in Speech Therapy with a specialization in Voice Therapy.
These people remind me that anything is possible if you are fortunate to begin with, if you work through struggles, and if you are open to what the universe has waiting for you.
