Dear Barbara, I'm so glad you shared that with us. I'm glad to know that you petty much figured out the same thing that I did not that many years ago. That you never show your emotions, not even to your children. How sad. Yes nowadays things have changed and you feel free to hug even a friend. I remember when I had to get used to receiving hugs from my sister Norma's mother-in-law but eventually when I started to receive hugs from my niece AND nephew, it felt really good. Now I receive hugs from even my neighbor Ken and my neighbor Dawn. Again it feels really good. Everyone always needs a hug. hugs, vee ----- Original Message ----- From: <Mollbar@aol.com> To: <NYNIAGAR-FOLKS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 11:04 PM Subject: Re: [FOLKS] Resting my head on Mother's lap > Hi Vee and Evelyn > > My mother's generation did not show affection the way we do today. As I > became older and found people hugging more frequently I began to wonder > why that > was. My mother lived with us the last six months of her life. She loved to > read > and the night before she died she asked me to find a specific book for > her. As > I recall the name was "Laddie" written about 1917 I think. A few weeks > later > I sat down to read the book. In it Laddie was leaving by train for the > army. > He was so proud of his mother because she did not cry as he left. It spoke > to > me, making me realize that in that era keeping your emotions in check was > a > sign of self-control and maturity. Nevertheless, I certainly knew my > mother and > dad loved me. > > Recently my bother had some old movies_about 1935 I think_put on a DVD. > Here > are all the family in Pennsylvania shaking hands with us as we are leaving > to > go back to Niagara Falls. No hugging. (As my grandfather shook the hands > of my > brother and I there was always a fifty cent piece in his hand for us.) > > Well, times have changed for the better I think. My family, children, > grandchildren and great grandchildren gets hugs and kisses from us as we > receive hugs > from them. It did take my husband awhile to start hugging his adult sons > but > it is comfortable now and warmly received by them. > > Barbara > > >