Growing Up Poor

Born in 1940, at the end of the Great Depression and the beginning of WW II, the author grew up in a hard-scrabble environment that was influenced by the lasting effects of those two events. In this book, she shares the story of a hard life that was eased by the love and wisdom of her mother, who was in turn influenced by those qualities in her mother and mother-in-law. In the midst of their want, the author and her siblings found love, joy and happiness, growing up poor. Born in the mountains of Western Maryland, number seven in a family of ten living siblings, Loretta contracted spinal meningitis while still a baby. With love, care and prayer she survived, but was a quieter, more reserved member of her family. An early interest in writing was spurred by membership in a local writer's group, but a growing family, and work, put that on the back burner until she retired. Influenced by reading memoirs of other authors who grew up at the same time, she decided to try her hand again. Guest writing a column for the local newspaper, under the aegis of editorial editor James Goldsworthy, gave her the foundation and the motivation to write this book.