My grandparents with some of their children.

[LuckyCharms]

12. I guess times were different back then.

They were VERY catholic, and likely did not use birth control. My grandmother was perpetually pregnant.

My father was very smart even after leaving school very young to help take care of the family, since he was one of the older boys.

At one point, they all lived in the same house!

Some ran successful businesses, some held executive positions.

As I think of it today, my personal beliefs are that it is ridiculous to have so many children, but when I was younger, I viewed it as "normal", because that is what I knew. How I grew up.

I'll tell you a memorable story. When I was in Junior High. one of my uncles ran a corner store near the school. All of my classmates used to walk to that store during lunch. I went in there one day, and my uncle was at the cash register. The store was packed with boys and girls. I was very shy and quiet back then.

So everyone is crammed into this store during lunch. My hormones were raging, as they do with kids that age, and I had a crush on several young women who were in the store that day. Again, remember that I was very shy.

My uncle looks up and sees me. he yells out HEY LUCKY! I said "Hi Uncle Joe". Then his voice got even louder so every one could hear I HAVE A QUESTIUON FOR YOU! I asked "what is it"? He yells DO YOU HAVE ANY HAIR ON YOUR BALLS YET? All of my crushes started giggling. I was so embarrassed, I just said "JESUS CHRIST UNCLE JOE!! I must still be traumatized by that little event, since at age 67, I still think about it!

And when my back is good, I'm not a bad dancer.