The Oklahoma days were long and hot. Unbearable even at times. Sweaty workers on the farm each day never knowing what is to come. Everyone worked on the farm, in the fields, fields so thick it was hard to breath. But that was one of the blessings. Being with my family, momma and pop each day, having new chores to do. Bettering the family was all that mattered. My family with many others work hard, day and night to provide for the ones they love. Family is everything. Family is how everyone gets through the hard times. Family is a rock that could never be broken. 

     We were a normal, hardworking farming family. I am the youngest of three siblings, the most hard working, the smartest and the most worrisome.  I work sunrise to sunset, knowing when I got up I would be helping my loved ones, knowing when I went to sleep I did all I could to help provide. That is all that mattered. Nothing else. I worked until momma would holler at me that supper was ready. I loved it when momma cooked. My favorite thing was eating dinner while everyone gathered around the chunky, big, brown, square we called a radio. It did not matter what show we listened to or what station was on. I thought that as long as my family was together, nothing else mattered. I wished it could be like this forever. 

     One evening while working on the farm a sprinkle of rain fell from the bright, blue sky. I felt uneasy, but my family and I thought it was a blessing for the crops. As the dreadful heat of the day continued the clouds start to thicken. A roaring storm intrudes the land that we call our home. By sundown there is a thick, dense atmosphere. Many people were concerned about what is to come in the morning. As the night went on I knew at sunrise it would not be the same. All the work would be destroyed. My family would be devastated. That is what started to happen.

      During the night, dust filled the sky.  Dust blanketed across the land like a mother swaddling her infant. Dust was in everyone’s yard, everyone’s homes, every crack and crevice there was. The dust made it hard to breath. Nobody knew what was to come but what we did know was that we had each other. Side by side we all stood, drawing a blank at a solution to this issue. Anger overwhelmed pops as he has no idea what to do. All the men sitting on their porch and thinking why me. 

     Days pass, but nothing but black has filled the sky.  All of our heart and soul has gone in to that farm. The farm was our passion. Our way to provide for the family. It was a life we were so used to. But the unknown is always there. It just happened to be that the unknown has come and now there was to be a solution. Momma and pop had been talking for a while how there is no money left. Maybe that is why they are worried. They were talking about moving. Why?  Why move? We all grew up on this farm; it is home. Money should not be an issue at this time but it is. The market had crashed momma said pop told us it was bad this time. Nobody needed no crops or supplies. The land was useless at this point. That is why when the dust came in emotions started to fill the air. It is now a time of survival. How were we supposed to survive? Pops said the bank had taken our house and we have nowhere to go. We have one week. Selling everything important. Anything to get money. Anything to survive. Anything to live off of. Pops going out every day selling our belongings for close to nothing. They knew how to play us. They knew they could give us no money for the items most valued by us. Finally pops got enough to get out of this terrible storm. Most families started to flee but only some could afford it. There was all this talk about opportunity in California, but was it true? I didn’t think so, I knew too many people would be going and not enough jobs would be supplied. But we did not listen. We did not need money, jobs or anything. All we wanted was someplace safe for us. But that was it, no place would be safe. Anywhere at any time, people experience hardships. That’s how life goes. And if my family, along with many others could complete such a journey then we can get through anything. Because family is what matters the most. Items will not be with you forever, but family will.