Why me?

Well this is an age old question. I'm sorry to say but it may be construed a sort of whining. Let us see if true in my case. When I was 4 years and 7 months old, my father(age 38) was killed in a head on collision between two trains. How could that happen you ask? It occurred in late January of 1945 at 2 A.M. in morning in Eastern Colorado. Human error caused the train collision. They were traveling at high speed around a curve. My father was in the front engine. He jumped and was crushed by a rail car. I remember a white, unopened casket. My father had been a grade school Principal and a Boy Scout Master. He went to the railroad in 1944. He wanted to be of greater value in the war effort. The white casket says a lot.

My poor mother was left to raise 3 children by herself. She worked at two jobs. When I reached age 18, she uprooted us all so I could go to college. I do remember my mother saying that the railroad gave my her a $3000 death benefit(probably about $60000 in today's money). In my mind that was a crime. In any case my mother raised three children by herself. She was a great women and I give thanks.