This comment thread is just setting off memories for me like crazy today
My parents were born in the 30s in the bush way up in northern Ontario. They remember living through famines in the late 40s and early 50s. Yes in modern Canada, there are people who still remember surviving famines in the wilderness … some of those survivors are still alive today. My late father said he remembers coming across families in the wilderness that boiled their moccasins to make a kind of soup to try to eat something. Women were so malnourished, they weren’t able to produce breast milk, so they resorted to feeding babies fish broth, when they could get some.
So you are right … when times are desperate … shoe leather is actually delicious.
Wow. I was being a little flippant, sorry. I didn’t really consider that it might literally be true for some people.
Those are some amazing stories / memories. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for your parents and others. Even thinking straight can be difficult when you don’t have food. Add bitter cold to that (right?) and I’m impressed that they survived.
No need for apologies … these silly conversations help us to connect and remind us of our human family.
I share my stories … but it’s also amazing to read the endless variety of other stories from so many other people in so many other situations in so many other times and places.
When you’re cold hungry and tired shoe leather is delicious.
This comment thread is just setting off memories for me like crazy today
My parents were born in the 30s in the bush way up in northern Ontario. They remember living through famines in the late 40s and early 50s. Yes in modern Canada, there are people who still remember surviving famines in the wilderness … some of those survivors are still alive today. My late father said he remembers coming across families in the wilderness that boiled their moccasins to make a kind of soup to try to eat something. Women were so malnourished, they weren’t able to produce breast milk, so they resorted to feeding babies fish broth, when they could get some.
So you are right … when times are desperate … shoe leather is actually delicious.
Wow. I was being a little flippant, sorry. I didn’t really consider that it might literally be true for some people.
Those are some amazing stories / memories. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for your parents and others. Even thinking straight can be difficult when you don’t have food. Add bitter cold to that (right?) and I’m impressed that they survived.
No need for apologies … these silly conversations help us to connect and remind us of our human family.
I share my stories … but it’s also amazing to read the endless variety of other stories from so many other people in so many other situations in so many other times and places.
Thanks for sharing, really lovely to hear the stories!