Letter from Home
We Used to Blame You Boys
June 18, 1943. A letter from Anna to Dad. She reports that the weather back home is “warm and hot but we always seem to be having a slight breeze”. She quickly gets into the news from the neighborhood and fills Dad in on the day to day goings on. She had an opportunity to … Continue reading
That is Better
June 11, 1943. Anna writes a letter to Dad. For the most part she is responding to letters that her brothers Stanley and Anthony have been writing home. Anna assures Dad (Anthony) that his father has made the second quarterly payment on his income tax. She also addresses a comment Dad made in an earlier … Continue reading
A Flower Without Water
May 19, 1943. A letter from Stanley to Dad. There were two letters from Stanley dated May 19th . The previous post covered one of them. It looks like this is the first of the two that he wrote while home on furlough. He tells about the train trip from Ephrata to Albany, noting “I … Continue reading
He Felt Like a Stranger
May 19, 1943. A couple of letters from home. One is from Anna and one is from Stanley who is home on furlough. This is the first letter that Anna writes while Stanley is home. She writes, “We are the same and so is Stanley. It seems funny to include him in our letter because … Continue reading
Gzie jest mama?
May 16, 1943. Anna writes to Dad. She begins with the news that she seems to have developed an allergic reaction to fish reporting that she gets “itches every time she eats it”, and that it doesn’t matter whether it is “canned or fresh or pickled”. She passes along advice to Stanley who seems to be … Continue reading
A Little is Better Than Nothing
May 14, 1943. Anna writes a letter to Dad. Stanley will be home soon on furlough and Mama’s jaw is feeling better as she continues to recover from having two teeth pulled over a week ago. Anna acknowledges to Dad that “even though I am writing this letter to both of you only you will … Continue reading
Blackouts & Service Flags
May 11, 1943. A letter from Anna to Dad. She begins with a quick update on mama and daddy. Their father’s right arm is bothering him, but not “so much as to keep him from work” as a baggage handler at the train station. Mama’s been sick for an entire week since having two teeth … Continue reading
The Blackout / Send Potatoes
May 7 & 9, 1943. Two letters from friends in the choir at St. Cecilia’s. The first is from Henry Gostyla. Henry says that he does not have plans for the summer “except, maybe to get a job.” He reports, “I am still with the choir and I enjoy it.” He also reports “Nothing new … Continue reading
What You Need is a Baby
May 7, 1943. A letter from Anna to her brothers. Although the date on the letter is May 7, it is likely it was written between the 7th and 11th as we already have a letter from the 7th and the next one is dated the 11th and it is very rare for Anna to … Continue reading
Time Flies So Fast
May 4 & 7, 1943. Two letters from Anna to Dad. The letter on the 4th is a fairly short handwritten affair. Anna apologizes for not writing a “decent letter” explaining that “mama had two more teeth pulled today”. As far as mama’s general health “although she isn’t critically ill, she isn’t well either and … Continue reading