Christmas Letter 1999

by

Fred McCaleb

Hello out there everybody, sisters, brothere (all gone), aunts (one left),
cousins of all ranks & varieties,nephews, nieces, friends, genealogists and
whoever happens to read this,

I wish you a happy Christmas and new year and new millenium. Decide you are
going to be happy whatever your circumstances. I am happy and thankful that I
got this far. I have come a long ways since 1916 when I was born and 1921 when
my greyheaded and long whiskered g grandpa John R. Hollingsworth who was born
1838 was sitting on the porch at my McCaleb grandparents,pointing his walking
stick at us, and telling me and the other great grandchildren to behave or he
would see that we did. I never imagined getting this far in age. Maybe I will
reach the next milennium if I pull through the next few days. Have attended
schools from the one room varieties to outstanding colleges. I thought a
teacher was old at 30 years when in Jr High school. Had good and bad teachers
and those in between. Found that achievement depends on what you do, not the
capacity of the teacher. Been through the roaring twenties (we had nothing
then) and through the great depression of the 30s and smaller ones since. Got
through them all—if you have nothing adjust your wants accordingly and want
nothing and be pleased to get nothing.

Finally I have been in the age of cheaper and cheaper money since WW2. Everybody
gets more and more cheap money and the loan agencies get what of that they have.
What high priced item the average person doesn’t have he thinks he has to
borrow and putchase it right now at high interest and call it his own
possession. It belongs to the lender. Even teen agers have to have an
automobile and get one one way or another. A great busy, unhappy age trying to
have all the material goods that are out there.

I have come from being proud of my grandpa McCaleb letting me plow his mule
hooked to a cricket turning plow at my age of 9 to operating a computer and
setting up a net page at the age of 83. Great to have come through all this and
met all the varied people of humanity that I have come in contact with. Have
known people born more than 160 years ago and know younger people that may live
past 2070. Time marches on. Best of happiness to all.