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BS: Have you ever been hungry?
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Subject: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Jeep man Date: 31 Dec 02 - 11:16 PM Lots of Mudcatters have been helping me with Tom Rush's song "Poor Man". That song seems special to me probably because I can relate to some of the things "Poor Man" endures. I won't go into my past days but I would like to ask a question' HAVE YOU EVER BEEN HUNGRY? Not just a good appetite, or a missed lunch. But deep down soul gnawing hunger? A stomach that constantly hurts from hunger. I was born during the Depression and have known these things firsthand. I was very young and those conditions did not last long, but I still remember. What do you remember? Jeep |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Little Hawk Date: 31 Dec 02 - 11:30 PM Not in this life. Lonely, yes. Hungry, no. But I am hungry for meaning and purpose... - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: mmm1a Date: 01 Jan 03 - 12:18 AM Sadly yes i have, been homeless as well, I can tell you proverty is and more is is cracked up to be. mmm |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: SINSULL Date: 01 Jan 03 - 12:22 AM Never. Short of cash often but never hungry or homeless. My son, on the other hand, has been both. And throw in wet and cold for good measure. I never take the roof over my head for granted nor the food on my table. I have been blessed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Sorcha Date: 01 Jan 03 - 01:25 AM Yes, but not for very long,and I knew there was a definite end to it when we could find gas and food to get over the Sierra Madres. Never,ever thought I would find tinned sardines in tomato sauce good. Didn't last long, but taught me a valuable lesson. Thanks for the reminder, Jim. We are not all so fortunate.......... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Mudlark Date: 01 Jan 03 - 02:55 AM I have never known true hunger from necessity, but I have fasted for 4 days, so know something of the weird physical and mental changes that take place. I will always be thankful for the 13 years spent in Arkansas, on a rural Ozark farm, where we grew all our food, killed whatever meat we ate, and cleaned up with very little cold water from a small spring, or what we heated on a wood stove, lived w/o indoor plumbing for many years. It gave me some notion of the richness and luxury that so many in the western world take for granted. Not a day goes by that I don't feel incredibly lucky to have what I have. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: The Shambles Date: 01 Jan 03 - 06:18 AM Yes but not what I see in other parts of the world. Breakfast was standing in front of hotel kitchen extractors, and just smelling the bacon. But there are parts of the would where no one has bacon or indeed anything at all. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: *daylia* Date: 01 Jan 03 - 10:39 AM Yeah. Spent some time as a 'street-kid' as a teen ... used to duck out of restaurants without paying when I got desperate enough. It wasn't until a friend got charged with theft for stealing a steak out of a grocery store that we learned, via the judge, that we could get food vouchers from the Salvation Army instead of stealing. I'll never forget that day in court. My friend was 16, pale and sickly, and when the judge asked "Why'd you steal the steak, son?" he finally squeaked out "I was hungry..." The judge gave him an absolute discharge and a food voucher, and we went shopping and MAN the food tasted good that night! Got kicked out of a rooming house I was staying in on New Year's Day that year too cuz I couldn't pay the rent. Had to steal a pair of boots or I'd have got pneumonia ... and I was pregnant, too... I'm so grateful for the abundance in my life today! Thanks for the chance to review my many blessings... HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MUDCATS AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE!!! :-) daylia |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: mack/misophist Date: 01 Jan 03 - 11:14 AM Week old bread, pinto beans, and bacon grease. I don't know where the grease came from, my mother wouldn't say. If I hadn't been a checken thief I wouldn't have had meat but 2 or 3 times a year. Hungry? Not physically, I guess. Every other way, though. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Bobert Date: 01 Jan 03 - 11:39 AM No, not personally hungry but in the late 60's I worked for a Community Action Program (CAP) and was assigned to a housing project in south Richmond when alcoholism was about as rampant as pregnancy which meant a lot of very young kids and babies who were absolutley hungry. I spent a lot of my time beating the bushes (i.e., church food closets, grocery stores and businesses) for food toward the end of every month because the Foodf Stamps and ADC money was gone, gone, gone... Hate to say it, especially since it is New Years Day and we should probably give the current administration *one* day off, but programs that feed kids at schools has been drasticly cut under Mr. Bush and some kids who only got one real meal a day aren't. Yet, Mr. Bush says things like "no child left behind". Yeah, teach 'em to read but don't feed 'em. Hmmmmmmm #1 of 2003? And with an increase of homelessness, unemployment and the massive cutbacks in socail services there are going to be a lot more hunger in America in this new year. I would ask that every Mudcatter than can afford a few extra bucks worth of food, especially canned foods, to drop a bag off at your local Salvation Army or church (if they have a food closet)... Bobert |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: NicoleC Date: 01 Jan 03 - 11:51 AM Yes, a couple of times. I never slid over that brink that I see some people in -- the homeless trap -- mostly thanks to a few friends when I swallowed my pride enough to ask for grocery money. Lesson learned -- you'll never catch me without a larder of dried beans, rice and grains now. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Bill D Date: 01 Jan 03 - 12:01 PM when I was about 7, I remember really liking potato soup, but didn't realize till years later that at times it was all we could afford. But, no...no real hunger. My father had a job during the depression, and we scraped by. Now, I am pretty good at scraping by, so I guess I will thankfully miss knowing real hunger. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: reggie miles Date: 01 Jan 03 - 12:18 PM Homeless Broke and Hungry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Willie-O Date: 01 Jan 03 - 12:29 PM You know, I once hitchhiked from Vancouver to Ottawa with six bucks in my pocket. (From a quick hour or two of late afternoon busking before leaving town). And I don't remember ever really feeling hungry, nor did anyone try to hustle me (not that time). People are kind if you're lucky. Or were, back in the 70's. I try to feed hitchhikers, as well as getting them down the road. You can kinda tell if they need it. W-O |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 01 Jan 03 - 02:04 PM For a few weeks I was close to the state Shambles describes. Nothing worse. Last month I sat in as a Holocaust survivor (Arek Hersch) talked to about 60 schoolkids about life in a Polish ghetto before the war and in Nazi camps later. At the age of 12 (1940) he was marched off to work on railroad construction in Poland (the rest of his family were sluaghtered). Most of the time the only food was grass, which apparently human stomachs could not digest. Just occasionally Polish people in the surrounding countryside would slip bits of bread to the slave labourers (usually they just spat and sneered at them), On these occasions the lucky recipients had to vomit up the grass in order to accommodate the bread. Arek described this experience (1939-42) as the worst of his life, which also included six months in Auchwitz amd five in Belsen. He was 16 at the end of the war and weighed 20 pounds less than when he was 12. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Jeep man Date: 01 Jan 03 - 06:20 PM I guess I am learning that people do appreciate what they have and how fortunate most of us are. Dried beans, rice, biscuits and gravy. I hope never to be without them. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL. JEEP |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 01 Jan 03 - 08:51 PM By the way, one of the reasons I've never been really hungry is my heavy reliance on truly vast amounts of porridge (oats plus boiling water) spiced, when funds allow, with currants. Is there any cheaper sustenance on the planet? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Bobert Date: 01 Jan 03 - 09:13 PM News report on tonight's news: Demand on food banks up 30% and supplies down 10%. Do the math... Bobert |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: open mike Date: 01 Jan 03 - 09:44 PM in l971 our high school did an experiment to see what the planet would be like in the year 2000 (or was it 1984? both seemed far off at that time) in order to create conditions such as crowding and hunger, we piled into a school room for the weekend and though there were some meager rations, most of us vowed to not eat any so we could experience hunger. The crowding was also to role-play the effects of a crowded planet where in the future there would not be enough space or food for all the people. We conducted experiments like testing reaction time, and analized the social conditions which occurred. I was lucky that the school i wnet to would attempt such an experiment. I think some students took it as an opportunity to experiment with other things such as drugs. this was the first time i really felt hunger. but it was on purpose and part of a chosen experience, not due to actual poverty. so there was not the anxiety that must accompany actual starvation....because we knew that on sunday night we would be released home to a big meal....Laurel |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: jets Date: 01 Jan 03 - 10:18 PM I also grew up during the deppresion. We were in a returanrt several weeks ago . My wife asked me .Why do you always leave nothing on the plate.I told here that it was because I remember the days when there were days when there was nothing |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Bobert Date: 01 Jan 03 - 10:53 PM Laurel: Nice story. Something that if every leader of every government on the planet had to go thuough, we would have a much different planet... And geo-politics... Bobert |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: mack/misophist Date: 02 Jan 03 - 10:11 AM I grew up among those who remembered the Depression. Do you remember this? 'Use it up, Wear it out. Make do Or do without.' That was like a theme song. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: chip a Date: 02 Jan 03 - 01:32 PM yup |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: MMario Date: 02 Jan 03 - 03:29 PM misophist - that is a basic creed in New England. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: hesperis Date: 02 Jan 03 - 03:59 PM Yeah... the end of the month is more difficult. But... life goes on, and you can usually stretch things further than you thought you could, especially if you get some help from food banks or friends. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: alanabit Date: 02 Jan 03 - 04:24 PM Never. I have been homeless, but never hungry. At times I have been broke in the middle of Europe. I was born into an affluent age and have always been able to either busk my way out of trouble or to find friends. I have been lucky and I have tried to put something back along the way. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: katlaughing Date: 02 Jan 03 - 04:30 PM reggie, thanks for linking to your song. Can't see for the tears...it is very lyrical and sadly so true. My mom and dad grew up during the Depression and we were expected to leave a clean plate, too. Like BillD, I didn't know mom's milky scrambled eggs, potato soup, or lima beans with a few pieces of fat swimming in them were anything but good food. She stretched out a lot of groceries to feed the five of us plus dad and herself. I am amazed at the waste of food these days. Another thing I remember, we didn't snack muhc, but when we did it was more often on such good things as apples, apricots, etc. as they were available and cheap back then. kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Kim C Date: 02 Jan 03 - 04:55 PM Not hungry in the physical sense. I'm with kat about the food waste. I think part of the problem is the huge portions the restaurants want to serve you. Now, me, I take the rest with me to save for later, and I generally won't order anything that won't still be good the next day. But not everyone has that philosophy, and a lot of food goes to waste as a result. I think restaurants could easily scale back portions and still turn a profit. Ideally the results would be less food waste, and less waist too. Mister and I went to a Mexican restaurant the other night, and split the single fajita plate. We both got plenty full, and it all got eaten. I can't imagine any one person eating everything on that plate. Those of you who have Applebee's in your area - they serve 1/2 salads, and the 1/2 salad is plenty big. We have another independent restaurant in Nashville, the Sunset Grill, which gives you a choice of a small or large portion. Or they used to anyway - I haven't been there in awhile. For cheap eats, I like beans & ham hocks in the Crock Pot. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Lepus Rex Date: 02 Jan 03 - 06:57 PM Didn't eat for a month one time. Made me kind of hungry. ---Lepus Rex |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Rustic Rebel Date: 02 Jan 03 - 07:36 PM I remember walking under a bridge one time, and found a coconut still in it's outer shell. Try breaking one of those when your hungry! I used rocks,a cement piece that was broken off from bridge, finally was the tool to get through all the fiber. I've been so hungry I ate mustard and ketchup from those little packets for a meal. Then I discovered those missions you sang about Reggie. St Vincent DePaul and egg salad sandwiches. Peace,Rustic |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Glade Date: 02 Jan 03 - 07:56 PM Yes, scrounging around Glasgow dustbins with my newborn mixie baby in late autumn and me only twelve and alone to go with it. other times in my childhood, too. My grandmother grew up in the Great Depression and my mama is always on about being raised by someone who grew up in...etc. Glade |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Celtic Soul Date: 02 Jan 03 - 11:31 PM I have gone without real solid food for more than a month on more than one occasion in my life. So, yeah..I know that ache. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: *daylia* Date: 03 Jan 03 - 10:15 AM Reggie, thank you for the song! ... I only wish I could hear you SING it, but if there's a way to do that on this site I haven't found it yet ... Peace and Hope daylia |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Allan C. Date: 03 Jan 03 - 10:24 AM You can be sure that I have ALWAYS made sure to know the source for my next meal! However, there were times when my only meal of the day consisted of a slice of bread and some peanut butter or else a small cup of chile pilfered from a restaurant where I was working. (Food, food everywhere. Nor a bit to eat!) I was fired for that; thus the bread and peanut butter. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Jan 03 - 02:00 PM I remember once complaining of hunger and my Mom, a Holocaust survivor, turned to our friend who grew up before West Africa became independent from the various colonial powers and said, Elle ne connait pas la faim comme nous l'avons connu... (she doesn't know hunger the way we knew it)... made me shut right up, I can tell you that! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Micca Date: 03 Jan 03 - 03:20 PM Stories told of childhood Distant sunny days Comfort foods and Christmases And Happy Birthdays Days of going fishing Twigs and pins in streams And books stuffed with adventures To fuel your later dreams Some remember different Days of rain and sleet Worn out shoes and blankets And not enough to eat Hand-me-downs still warm From someone else's kids And tattered vests revealing Easily counted ribs Now we're old and worn now Nothing left to try Only friends to help us life is slipping by Counting down our friends now As they're laid to rest The Old and cranky slowly First gone are the best tho' the time it passes Still that small young child, Like an tiny island in the stream behind, Hungry still and weeping In dark, and far from Home stands as a reminder Of how far we have come |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Allan C. Date: 03 Jan 03 - 03:35 PM Author! Author! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Jeep man Date: 03 Jan 03 - 03:42 PM Micca, you have said it very well. Jeep |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: katlaughing Date: 03 Jan 03 - 11:19 PM Oh, my Miccaluv! Beautiful! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: Troll Date: 03 Jan 03 - 11:54 PM Yes. troll |
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Subject: RE: BS: Have you ever been hungry? From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 04 Jan 03 - 12:01 AM In their "hunger for other's 'knowledge'"
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