Conversations with father

Last week was very much of a whirlwind - one day quickly expiring and leading into the next without allowing sufficient time to reflect on what had happened.

Recollections of conversations now come drifting back after the pace has slowed and a normal schedule resumes.

Two such conversations were with my soon-to-be 80-year old father on the changes that have occurred over the generations with the younger crowd.

Seventy-some years ago he started working as a paper boy earning a whopping 5 cents per week. As was the custom during that era, one or two pennies went to his family and he kept the rest.

When I was a teenager, working part time, particularly during the summer months, was about the only way that one could afford to buy their own car (or at least make the required sizable contribution toward one) and fund other expenditures.

Today, teenagers come from eastern Europe by the thousands to work along the east coast every summer because many of the younger crowd couldn't be bothered with slaving away for minimum wage.

Times sure have changed.

Dad also takes particular pride in telling the story about how his son insisted on paying back money borrowed to finish up college twenty-some years ago. At first the elder Iacono refused the monthly remittances but the son insisted on making regular payments for more than five years.

When the story is told today, the listener usually stares in disbelief as freely flowing home equity money has helped to make expensive college educations seem a birthright.

Times sure have changed.