We kids listened together a lot of times over at a neighbor's house..We gathered around the radio and listened with such intensity! I remember it well..We played outside except for a few radio programs unless it was very cold. ..and played or did homework at the kitchen table while the grownups listened to the war news at night.
Mother volunteered at the Red Cross rolling bandages and dad performed some sort of Civil Defense work for the county..
It was the worst of times but for me it all seemed like a good time,too. I felt safe ..just without chocolate and roast beef and gas to go see grandparents as much..My parents were working themselves at a hard pace but I just accepted that..Our refigerator died and there was no replacement available so we had an ice box. We had our own milk, our own big Victory garden to can vegetables..our own chickens for meat and eggs..and a goat for the neighbor girl down the street who could not tolerate cow's milk..
Feeding and watering the chickens and gathering the eggs were my jobs..I hauled the water in a child's wagon down to where our chickens were. My brother took care of milking. I know now how little we had in the way of toys or luxury and if I recall..mother either made my wool coat out of a larger coat or had it made..Seamstresses abounded so one could always find a good seamstress.
I had shoes that were a bit large because they had to be large enough to accomodate growing feet with the rationing of shoes...I remember stuffing cotton in the toes .
Our shoe repair man had so much inventory of resoles I suppose that we in my very small town could get shoe repair done..I never had to stuff card board in my shoes. I also went barefoot all summer!
I still have a sugar ration "book" somewhere. My parents were older than the norm when I was born..and dad was 4F anyway becase of injuries sustained in an accident.so I did not have to face that..I remember the War Bond rallies that we had and how Patriotic we were.
I remember sitting next to my mother at church right after the news of DDay invasion was known. We went to church on Wednesday nights and twice on Sunday...but this was different..People just went to the church with no formality...they just gathered to pray. I was young but I felt the urgency and gravity.
I recall seeing German POWs in a truck..There was a camp not far from my hometown.
My oldest cousin was off at war and the family worried and prayed.
It was a very different world indeed...but some are still gathering around to hear the news ..wondering how their loved one is faring in a country far away..and some still suffer injuries and some great loss..and serve and sacrifice for our country. God be with them.
May God Keep Safe All Who Serve Our Country
I was a very young pup at the end of the war so have no memories of that time, but I do remember sitting around the radio to listen to some of the old shows. Story-tellers of the day painted a picture with their scripts - something I've been accused of doing with some of my stories.
May God Keep Safe All Who Serve Our Country
Amen, MEG...Amen!
Moving to the country in November 1943, on the vast acreage Daddy bought a cow, chickens, Muscovy ducks, turkeys, (nonedible) horses, and we had a man living on the place who did the heavy work and kept a 4-acre garden.
The local big rancher family often gave us beef...lady 'down the road' had a cow and she produced too much, that was churned into butter - Why, she just *had* to place wrapped quantities on her kitchen table so neighbors who stopped by to chat would *help themselves* to one (leaving a $1 for it..:))
We also had friends in Ft. Pierce who had an orange packing and producing plant, with 50-lb. sacks of sugar to make marmalade from the oranges.
It was SO unfortunate that an occasional sack was left on a loading dock and the bottom got wet...by law could not be used by them, and we just *had* to take them off their hands...
Yes, we were 'deprived' in some senses - but we did feel safe from strangers/hitchhikers/vagrants - offering a kind word and food, etc., and/or giving rides without hesitation.
We indeed were blessed.
Oh, yes - we played outdoors all year in South Florida.
The highlight of the week for the radio was at 9 p.m.
when The Inner Sanctum came on the radio!
It was mandatory you sped home and listened to it in the dark,
with the lights out!! - being *brave* when the sign-on
"Squeaking Door" sound emanated from the console radio!
Great story relayed from your past Meg! Until reading that I thought you were much younger...So nice getting to know folks better and better with each post...G'night dear Meg!
MEG33 ~ I remember WWII, I was eleven when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Gasoline wasn't a problem as dad was a farmer and we had plenty of gas and dad gave our meat ration stamps to close friends.