Guess we are the Geriatrics at that, Humidston, and proud of it - we survived, didn't we?!
In the spelling bee, I had just turned 13 that month and placed 22nd, actually.
Unlike some, I hadn't trained for a year - just a month.
My first and last names had 13 letters - was 13 - missed in the 13th round on a 13-letter word!
Just wasn't my day..:)))
I used to go around my neighborhood in Coral Gables, Florida during WWII with Tommy and his little red wagon, and we collected scrap metal and newspapers - and yes, it was my job to cut off the ends of the tin cans and flatten them to turn in!
Gail, rationing was the pits - gasoline, butter, sugar, coffee, etc., and shoes - only 4 pairs per year per person.
Many mothers sacrificed some of theirs for the feet of growing children.
It was the height of pride to have the toes cut out of tennis shoes - holes in the soles of leather shoes self-patched, etc.
Patriotism was unlike anything seen since; even since 9/11.
Boy, would it have been nice to have e-mail - except security these days is shot.
Then, ALL mail going to or from military was heavily censored - anything sensitive blacked out by the hand of the censor.