Don’t Cry Me A River

A POX ON ALL OF THEM . . . THERE’S NO FREE RIDE & NO-ONE’S ENTITLED:

There Is No Broadcast With This Editorial.

A POX ON ALL OF THEM . . . THERE’S NO FREE RIDE & NO-ONE’S ENTITLED:

Let Me Tell You Something About Me That Really Isn’t Anyone’s Business.

But First . . . While Reading This – It Might Make You Angry At Me, thinking that I’m a Cold Hearted SOB, who doesn’t Care about the Well-Being of Other People and their Families.

The Media, Politicians & Bleeding Hearts Should Give It A Rest.

I’m not about to Rend-My-Clothes for the Furloughed Government Employees, who are Nothing More & Nothing Less than Pawns played by the LEFT.

OK – They’re Not Working. Or working without getting Paid now, but they will get Paid once the “Shut-Down” is Ended. However, Spin-off Industries are also suffering more than just somewhat, whose People who don’t work for the Government Won’t Get Paid Anything When All Of This Is Done . . .

TOUGH . . . PERHAPS NEXT TIME – THEY WON’T VOTE FOR SHMUCKS!

I’ve been Laid-Off from Work for Whatever Circumstance . . . Without any Expectation of Receiving Missed Salaries. Especially 100% of Missed Salaries.

As A Businessman – I’ve Lost Contracts & Lost Clients . . . And even after doing the Work, sometimes I didn’t get Paid . . . And there was Never Anyone Waiting in the Wings to Cover my Losses, or to Pick-Me-Up when I was Knocked-Down.

I’ve Been Bankrupt . . . because I was Either Incompetent, Made Mistakes or Shit-Happened. But All Of That Was On Me. And I Never Blamed Anyone for my Mistakes or Misfortune. And I NEVER Missed NOR Delayed Paying my Employees 100% of what was Coming to Them (Salaries, Commissions, Bonuses or Expenses), Regardless of what it Took for Anne & I to get them their Money.

And When I Finally Got My Stuff Together & Figured-Out How To Make Money . . . I Helped Hundreds of Montreal Homeless People. I Contributed Significantly to Feeding the Hungry, Including Feeding Thousands of Hungry Montreal School Children.

I Fought (and still do) for Animal Rights. I Created, Organized & Financed a Million Dollar Montreal Campaign to Defend Battered Women . . . And I Went To The Mat Fighting For Freedom Of Expression – Which I Still Do.

SO I DON’T NEED ANYONE TELLING ME THAT I DON’T HAVE COMPASSION:

My Dad Was Born In Canada In 1918, to Immigrant Parents from Russia. And Including my Dad, there were 9-Siblings, all but Two Born in Canada.

My Mom Was One Of 8-Siblings, also born to Immigrant Parents from Russia. She and all of her Brothers & Sisters were Born in Canada.

During WWII . . . As soon as Canada Declared War on Germany, my Dad & Three of his Brothers Signed-Up to Fight the Nazis. My Mother, who at that time Didn’t know my Father, gave-up a good Job, also to Sign-Up and do Her Part.

After the War, my Parents Met, Courted & Married . . . They had three Children, my Older Sister by 14-Months, Myself – Born On February 12, 1950, and a Younger Sister by Several Years.

When I Write That We Were Poor . . . Let Me Tell You About Being Poor.

As A Child . . . Until I was just Under 6-Years Old, we Lived for at Least one Season in an Un-Insulated Country House On Stilts, Miles from Montreal & Miles from any Form of Public Transport.

I Don’t Think We Even Had A Flush Toilet.

In the Winter Time . . . My Father would go Outside with a Steel-Wash-Tub, fill it with Snow, and Warm it up on a Pot-Bellied Oil-Fired Cook-Stove, which was also the only Source of Heat in the House, so my Sisters and I could have a Bath.

MY PARENTS NEVER THOUGHT ANYONE OWED EITHER OF THEM ANYTHING:

My Dad Came Home From The War As A Real Hero . . . But without any Form of Education – He could Neither Read Nor Write, until my Older Sister Taught him when she was in Grade-Three.

The Best My Dad Could Do To Make A Living . . . was to be a Presser in a Montreal Women’s Clothing Sweat-Shop. And Everyday, he would come Home Physically Exhausted & Emotionally Depleted. And I would look at his Hands, which were Deeply Calloused from Running the Steam Iron.

My Parents would Argue a lot, because there was Never Really Enough Money for us to Live even a Modicum of a Decent Lifestyle. For my Parents . . . It Was Non-Stop Pressure.

For Lunch . . . My Mother Often Made Pancakes – Flour was cheap. We would also Eat Cereal for Meals, and whatever Meat, Fish & Potato Dishes my Mother Cooked, which we were able to Afford . . . But We Never Went Hungry.

At One Point . . . We lived in Montreal (my Birthplace), in Several Rat & Cockroach Infested Homes. I remember Rats or Mice Running on the Kitchen Floor as my Mother was Preparing a Meal.

One Day, when I was about 10-Years Old, and my Dad was Finally Able to Read & Write because of my Older Sister, he became a Window & Siding Salesman, Knocking-On-Doors for one of his Brothers, while my Dad was Learning the Trade, before He could afford to Buy a Car and Knock on Doors for Himself.

We Went From Abject Poverty – To what could be considered a Lower Income Middle-Class Family. We Thought We Were Rich. But Also . . . We Never Thought We Were Poor Before Either.

I Got Very Sick When I Was 10-Years Old, with Rheumatic Fever. There was no Government Sponsored Healthcare. There were only Decent Hard-Working Family Physicians who made House-Calls, and had their Offices in their Homes.

Kindly Dr Shapiro . . . came to my Home at Least Several Times a Week over a long Period of Time, Accepting whatever my Parents were able to Pay Him. And when I had to be Hospitalized for many Weeks, I was in the Public Ward at the Jewish General Hospital, which was either Free, or was Charged based upon what a Person could Afford.

I Didn’t Know It Was The Poverty Ward . . . And I Wouldn’t Have Cared If I Did.

At Twelve Years Old . . . I Got A Job Fixing Bicycles at a Small Sports Store, where I worked Everyday after School for $0.75 An Hour. Not only did I Fix Bicycles, but I also washed the floors and did whatever else as I was asked.

And At The End Of Every WeekWhen I Got Paid . . . I Gave All My Money To My Mom, because I was Proud that I was Contributing to the House. And when I Needed some Money, I asked my Dad. And it made him feel Good that he was giving his Son some Money.

I was (and still am) an Entrepreneur. And when I didn’t Work at the Sports Store, I Babysat, Washed Windows for Neighbors, Mowed Lawns and Shoveled Snow.

And By The Time I Was 18-Years Old . . . I was going to University Several Nights A Week, while Working Full-Time During the Day. And when I Wasn’t doing my “Normal” Job or going to University, I was Putting Together Promotions to Sell to all Manner of Companies.

TODAY . . . It’s Not About Merit & Sacrifice – It’s All About Entitlement.

As I’m Writing This . . . I’m Watching the Women’s March on Television with the Sound Muted. I’m Seeing Women from all Ages, with a Message that Screams . . . LOOK AT ME – I’M A PERSONAL EMBARRASSMENT.

I’m Looking At Women . . . Who by their Own Culpability – Are Declaring that they Don’t Measure-Up In Today’s Society. Who are Too Stupid, Bitter, Weak & Incompetent to be an Equal to Anyone who Doesn’t Want to Feel Unjustly Empowered.

If I Had A Son . . . I Wouldn’t Want Him To Marry Any Of These Pieces Of Work Under Any Circumstance. To Me . . . They Are Social Failures. I would Pray that my Son Would Marry someone like Anne, who is Incredibly Strong, Smart, Talented, Capable and a FEMININE Woman . . . Who Neither Asks Nor Expects Anything She Isn’t Prepared To Work-For Herself.

I Would Want My Son To Marry A Woman Like My Mother . . . who was so Strong, that while her Life was a Misery, her Children always Felt Protected, while She Stood as the Rock my Father Needed . . . While He Was Getting His Mental Stuff Together.

To These Female Disgraces & Whiny Politicians . . . You’re Not Worthy!

Best Regards . . . Howard Galganov

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41 Comments

  1. Speaking the light of truth into the darkness of lies – and the darkness cannot abide the light! Well done, Mr. Prime Minister. Well done.

  2. Thought provoking piece. Very much appreciate learning about your humble beginnings and your family life. Thank you Howard.

  3. I could not possibly say anything that would add to or subtract from your message.
    I salute you, Sir.

  4. Well said Howard. I too am sick and tired of all these self entitled loafers. They don’t help their cause, whatever it is, they simply piss off those of us who pay our own way. Keep up the great work.

  5. I agree with you, Howard about the whiny wingnuts. There is a reason why the WWII generation are referred to as the “Greatest Generation” — aren’t you proud that you were born of that energy and determination! Even when looking at the movies made in that era — the actors looked like grown-ups — because they WERE!

  6. Very good read, Howard. I, like you, feel the same way. Nobody ever gave me anything, that I didn’t work for, either!
    These “Non-Essential” Gov’t. Workers is just THAT…NON ESSENTIAL… Get rid of them, and hire private companies to do the same work, get a better “DEAL” out of it, and stop draining My Country DRY! (Besides, most of those they show on TV could “stand to miss a meal or two”!). They seem to have NO Pride, but a LOT of Prejudices…!

  7. Although I didn’t grow up as poor as you did we didn’t have a lot money. As an example I ate fish sticks until I was certain I would grow gills. To this day I won’t even look at a fish stick. The same feelings about Spam. But I must say My daddy worked building bank fixtures 10 to 12 hours a day in a hot tin building and then would come home and work around the house. My mother went to work when I was around 10 as the town clerk, but no matter what we had a hot meal on the table very day.

  8. I was born in 1933 Howard, and my Mom and Dad were a lot like yours. I feel like saying “Been there, Done that, Got the tee shirt! Happy to be alive and healthy, at 85 because I did really work at it.

  9. Howard, your life brought me to tears as I was brought up in very similar circumstances. My dad was born in Scotland in 1918 1939-1945. Bren gun carriers in North Africa. Then pilot flying Spitfires. I was also born in 1950. We immigrated to Canada in 1952 to Pickering, Ontario. We also didn’t have a lot of money, but my parents made a great life for us. I always worked doing many of the same things you did. I was taught work ethic and how to be a gentleman. Thanks

  10. I was born in 1948 and like yourself was incredibly blessed to be surrounded and brought up by parents, teachers, religious leaders, employers, scout leaders and many, many others of The Greatest Generation who taught by example the old school values so lacking in many of the younger generation today. Thank God for them and thank God for those who carry those values on.

  11. Wow, Howard, what a life story you have! Very similar to how my father was raised, as 1 of 10 children in a very poor family and he also served in WWII. And those of us who worked as children in the summers (picking strawberries!) and then put ourselves through college without parental financial help, have a better understanding of economics, life, government excess, etc. And just what exactly are the spoiled women marching for?

  12. It is easy to relate to your younger years.My family was in poverty also, but we never went hungry and eventually thrived. Social assistance was not in existence. During the dirty 30’s they were too proud to accept relief. Now we have the age of entitlement and are much poorer spiritually. It does my heart good to see folks enjoy the fruits of their labor. We have to pay our way and give back for people in less fortunate circumstances. Money can’t buy self esteem.

  13. Quite the background!People who are in their 50’s PLUS appear to better understand what it’s like to make the NECESSARY SACRIFICES which are needed to ESTABLISH themselves!The younger ones, especially the MILLENIALS, feel more ENTITLED in that they DON’T want to make ANY sacrifices.Thanks to our POLITICAL officials, especially the LEFT with their GIMME-GIMMES for INGRAINING this particular LIFESTYLE in America!People have also become LAZY and UNCARING for one another!It will not end soon! AMEN!

  14. I grew up in what we call low middle class. We were not rich but we were not poor either. I am glad that you made a success out of you even with the circumstances that you grew up in, as long as there was love in your family nothing else really matters. In today’s standards most kids are super spoiled. There are still some that grow up dirt poor don’t get me wrong. Today the elites know nothing about growing up like you and I as most were born with a silver or gold spoon in their mouths.

  15. Wooo Weeeee Been in the charity ward as a child and ate potato pancakes because that’s all mom could afford. ( did I say we stood on a bend in the road at harvest time picking up the potato’s that fell off the trucks coming in from the fields ?) You had to be damm fast because we were not the only ones there.

  16. Entitlement,entitlement is rampant in our society not just in politics but also in many of our social causes and even churches. The Liberals in Canada are know as the party of entitlement but I’m afraid it has creeped into our Progressive Conservative party as well.They seem to neither know if they are Conservative or Progressive which really are 2 complete opposites. The most read book in the world says “you are neither cold nor hot but lukewarm and I will spew you out”.Time to be cold or hot.

  17. Your story sounds like an echo of my family’s life, although they were both born in North America. My Dad was cutting Hardwood for $0.35 a day at the beginning of WWll. Mother made our clothes out of bleached flour and sugar bags. Dad and my older brother (14 1/2 years old) Joined the Canadian Army in 1940 and luckily both survived. I know they would be appalled at today’s generation. I have seen too much as I am 85 years old. My parents would be mortified at today’s generation.

  18. Born in Poland in 44 and my father got killed when I was 4 months old. My mother raised the 2 of us and we came to Canada in 54 at the age of 10. We were poor, there were no safety nets. Mother worked on a steam press and brother and I had paper routes, collected bottles and more and gave ALL money to help out. Hard times? Yes but we were happy and learned life values that you get what you earn and we both became successful. I get upset when I see these ‘snowflakes’ wanting things for nothing.

  19. Howard I read your story it was amazing, you and your family were never ever poor, you were ALL LOVED
    Many of us had hard times growing up. I was six months old when WW11 broke out we did with out many things as so many people did But as I said we may have been poor as church mice but by golly we were Loved. All the money in the world cannot buy you that from your mother, father, and siblings. I did not even watch the women on T.V. think they are brain washed with being ugly Loved your stor

  20. Right on Howard! I am tired of hearing the lame excuse that we are a country of immigrants. Yes, we were settlers. Our grandparents came and broke the land, froze, starved and did not look for excuses and handouts. They and their children worked hard for every little thing they had and they loved their new found country and instilled that love to their children.
    This has been lost with the snowflakes that refuse to work and only think that they should be given everything for free.

  21. From your article & the comments after, it seems those of us born before the mid-60s have similar upbringings. My childhood was somewhat better only because we lived on a small farm w/cow, pigs, chickens, and my folks always planted/reaped a big garden (near an acre) for 6 of us. Didn’t have indoor plumbing til my Dad died in 1974 (I was gone & working by then) & Mom used insurance to put one in. But have to say it was a good life because we learned self-reliance, responsibility & thrift.

  22. Another great piece Howard. I certainly relate to you growing up circumstances, you piece made me laugh. All these leftards and too many of the give me or you owe me or I am entitled brigade these days sucking on the ever decreasing money pot…maybe just maybe one day these people will wake up to how much they have been duped and lied to. Yeah maybe then maybe not? Onward and upward Howard at least people of our ilk have an understand the meaning of hard work.

  23. Dad was a low paid school teacher who always worked a night job. We drove very old cars but he was a carpenter also and built us a pretty nice house. Lots of relatives, gardens, killing and plucking chickens. Education was most important and we all were successful. Grandma’s kids all went to college…she sold her cow for that. Her boys played football so they could eat. Dad went with $1.
    We learned to do. We luckily lived in a very close little town in W.Va. All our money went to MOM

  24. Good work Howard I followed the same road only one generation earlier, born 1935 on a 1/4 section dirt farm on the prairie. They will never understand until they go through it themselves, which they certainly will if they keep electing the left.

  25. Terrific piece!! Went directly to the core of our
    problem. These women are complete failures.

    Are you still in Austin? Keep writing and enjoy
    your lives, Anne too. Wish I knew you.

    Thank you!!!

  26. Born 1936, grew up during WWII. My childhood almost a carbon copy of yours, including illness. Dad was engineer, Mom sometimes ran away and I looked after my younger sister. Never believed in Unions, only in myself. I understand some people are born on the wrong side of the street, many invading USA to the South, but many are also scroungers looking for a free life on welfare. Do we really have 50,000 people with SUV’s using food banks in Ottawa? You are A1 Howard, Anne too.

  27. I came from a family of 9, raised in the South. All of us learned the meaning of hunger, cold and going without. All of us children worked odd jobs starting at an early age, we have laws against it now. That is the root of the problem, people make more money and kids want more. Most do not learn a work skill or ethic and they come out of school with little knowledge accept Liberal Ideas. We nee to get back to teaching basics and work skills. We have enough over educated idiots in this world.

  28. My life story EXACTLY other than me being from a broken home. Make America great again? You bet, quit modicoddling and get back to what made America great to begin with.

  29. Howard, when is the book coming??? I want to read it already!!!
    Your fellow Pledge Rider…..and yes, I would like a chapter or two about some biking adventures, especially the Pledge Ride.

    Andy

  30. You’ve told us a great story and I’m glad you shared it. I imagine very few of your readers will fault you for anything you write. And I can relate in some respects: I was fired twice and was laid off twice due to the recession of 2001 and 2010. I got back up and continued on with other jobs. In fact, I’m writing a book on it entitled, “Whenever One Door Closes, Another one Always Opens Up Nearby”. Yes it’s an autobiography wherein I reveal the large number of times this has happened to me.

  31. Howard & Ann, your stories – along with many of your respondents – are right along the lines of those who had to learn by life’s experiences, and got their real education! A lot of these so called ‘university graduates’ can’t find jobs, because their attitudes are skewed to the left – not too many employers want to hire freeloaders. Speaking of the 800k government workers out of work right now, there are just a few more days until they can be permanently ‘laid off’ and will not be re-hired . we

  32. Greetings: The BEST thing about America is and was the GREAT middle class, the MAJORITY of which began as very HUMBLE BEGINNINGS in the ‘30’s, ‘40’s & ‘50’s. Our parents and grandparents WANTED A BETTER LIFE for themselves and for their FAMILIES, and were WILLING to SACRIFICE, work hard and RAISE BY EXAMPLE their children to RESPECT and PAY THEIR WAY! Nowadays, there are still many PARENTS like that, BUT SADLY they’re becoming the MINORITY. I am PROUD to be THAT MINORITY!

  33. Thanks for sharing your personal story. I agree about the “women’s march”. I kept thinking I would love to ask these women who kept shouting “We won’t go back”…….. Go back to what??? By the looks of them, and what they were wearing, they did not appear to have been abused or wanting of anything. Seemed like it was more of an anti-Trump rally that is slowly fizzling. Stay strong President Trump.

  34. I REALLY ENJOYED ALL of your “bloggers'” comments, stories, etc.! YOU DID GROW UP, “VERY RICH”, & THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH US!! You, & your devoted Anne are the “VERY BEST”…..NOT like these “whiney” , “self-served” WOMEN!!!

  35. I was born in 1939 (the second of my parents’ 8 children) in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. My father/other group of men logged with mules and horses…Our 4-room house was barely a roof over our heads. I began walking to a 2-room school in 1944, from which I received an ACTUAL 8th grade education. ..then on to HS. From that I have worked…..not enough space to give all the details here.

  36. WOW, Howard your early life parallels mine in so many aspects too numerous to mention here. This was a very good example of our prior lives and of what younger people need to experience. I will need to write a separate account and E-mail it to you together with a check.

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