Thursday, January 20, 1944

It's a major triumph when you can mail cake across the United States during World War II.  However you do have to go pick it up at the Railroad Express Agency.  Especially if you put the address as just the US Naval Barracks.

"I got a card from the Railroad Express Agency to come down and pick up a package.  It says that it is cake.  I think form now on you had better put my address as Robert Clay Hotel, U.S. Naval Barracks, Room 915, Miami (4), Fla.  I will be sure to the mail right away then.  Just putting U.S. Naval Barracks the mail goes all over the country first and then I finally get it."

In between her letters, Grandma became quite the joiner.  Well she has altruistic reasons but hey at least she's making new friend and getting some exercise like she wants to.  

"I got a letter from Helen Shepard Hinton with the snap of Peggy and me.  I look as fat as I am in that picture and it makes me mad.  I guess I will have to go on a diet.  I am playing basketball on the WAVES' team now so I think I might lose some weight.  I need more exercise.  I am going to join the bowling team too."

Remember Grandma's old roommate Marvel?  Well her boyfriend, Tris Coffin asked her to marry him and she said yes!  

"- he told me that he had a ring for Marvel but he was afraid she wouldn't take it because she doesn't believe in long engagements but evidently she took it."

I wonder what Marvel considers a long engagement?

One of Grandma's new roommates continually tries to convert her to the Christian Science faith.  The best part about this whole scenario is that her roommate's name is Pirtle.  All I want to do now is find a turtle and name it Pirtle.  So I could run around yelling, "Pirtle the TURTLE!"

"My roommate, Pirtle, tried to talk me into going to church with her last night.  I think she thinks she can convert me to the Christian Science religion.  She is always giving me pamphlets to read.  Beverly and I are going to try to get a room together."

Grandma says this move is going to be pretty tough as Miami is filling up with tourists and new WAVES.  I'm going to cross my fingers for her and hope it all works out.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve to all of my American readers and happy Wednesday to my International readers.  I hope you takes the time tomorrow and everyday to let the people in your life know just how thankful you are for them. 

On this day in WWII history

Monday, January 17, 1944

The Navy messed up Grandma's mail.  Technically one of the girls who works in the barracks messed up Grandma's mail.

"One of the girls that works at the barracks thought because I was gone so long that I had been transferred to Northampton and s she sent all of my mail up there.  It was pretty dumb of her so I don't know what is going to happen about my mail.  They might send it back to sender."

Think about how much of a hassle it would be to get that figured out in the present day.  Then subtract the internet, reliable phone service, and add an international war.  It will probably take months for everything to be corrected.

Great-Grandma Shannon apparently chewed Grandma out for not contacting sooner when she arrived back in Miami.  

"I think that I explained to you in that one letter why I didn't write.  I am ashamed of myself but I was so tired then that I didn't care if I ever moved again.  I didn't call the relatives in St. Paul cause we got in there after 12 (the train was late) and besides the train only stops for 15 minutes and you have to go too far to the telephones."

Remarkably, this exchange perpetuates through out generations.  The Mother admonishes the Daughter for not fulfilling her daughterly duties and the Daughter promptly takes a defensive stance but apologizes.  Shannon women are geniuses when it comes to defensive apologizing.

Despite enjoying her new life and freedom in Miami, Grandma does not want to make it her home.  

"I'm not homesick but I still like Montana and wish I were there again.  The next time I come home I hope it will be a one-way ticket."

Pride fills my heart when I discover that Grandma is studying for her 1st Class exam.  Although she did not progress to Officer's training, she still wants to achieve.  She takes pride in her position and does it to the best of her abilities.  

"I plan on trying to get my 1st class rating by the 1st of March.  I understand that we have to wait 5 mos. instead of 4 1/2 so that will be the 1st of March for me.  I don't mind because that gives me two more weeks to study."

In closing, on this week of Thanksgiving I am grateful for many things in my life.  I know I have not been the most prodigious of bloggers, but I do want to play catch up this week.  I publish this statement to hold myself accountable: I am writing 4 blog posts this week in honor of the people I am most grateful for.  Happy Early Thanksgiving and let's do this!

On this day in WWII history

Thursday, January 13, 1944

It's always hard to return from vacation.  Especially if that vacation had you traveling for four days both ways just for 6 days to see your family you haven't seen in a year.

"Well, this is my 4th day to be back to work & I'd give anything to be sleeping late every morning.  It about kills me off to get up early in the morning.  I guess I was spoiled by sleeping late while home.  Now all I'm looking forward to is another leave."

Beverly and Grandma are experiencing the return from leave-itis.  They haven't gone out much because all they do when they get back to the barracks is crawl into their bunks and fall asleep.

"We haven't been doing anything but going to bed cause we are both tired."

Grandma is so tired all she can talk about is going back to sleep and the hair brush she received as a Christmas present.  

"I have been brushing my hair every day 50 strokes.  I surely like that brush."

The 50 or 100 hair brush strokes a day thing always intrigued me.  Does it actually make your hair shiny and fuller?  I researched the history behind it and it worked back in the day when women washed their hair only once a month.  With the advent of wonderful hair care and the ability to take heated showers daily if we want to, it just means that amount of brushing can cause more hair care harm than good.  Sorry, Grandma's letter was so short and I get a little dotty at times that researching hair brushing struck my fancy.  Also, I am listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving.  Judge me as you will.

On this day in WWII history

Monday, January 10, 1944

Happy New Year to Grandma in 1944!  She is back in Miami and is awfully busy.  She hasn't had enough time to send a wire to her Mom and Dad that she is back safely in Miami.

"I'm sorry for not sending you the wire but I was pretty tires when I got in so I went right to bed & slept.  I had a nice trip back but I hated to get here but now I don't mind too much cause I'm busy & I don't think of getting homesick or anything.  I am going to send a wire tonight so you won't worry."

Grandma is going to meet her friend Beverly at the train depot because she gets back into town this evening.  I'm thankful that Grandma has Beverly to spend her time with.  Grandma doesn't get homesick when she's busy at work and is enjoying the Miami nightlife.  

Chicago provides a hub for travel between the two coasts.  Grandma had a layover in Chicago both to and from Missoula.  I miss Chicago at times when I wouldn't have to wear a winter coat.  Of course I miss my friends there and the hustle and bustle of the city.  Grandma on the other hand treasured her last snow frost dusting her coat.  

"They had a snowstorm when I was in Chicago and I enjoyed getting out & walking in the snow for the last time for a good time to come."

Grandma fills her homesickness  with work and covers in a wistful cloak in her letters.

"I had a wonderful time while I was home & I'm looking forward to being there for good before too long I hope.  I'll write more later this week."

Homesickness is affecting Grandma's letters.  They get shorter and are hurried.  It looks like they pick up when she meets my Grandfather.  I know I can't skip ahead to the end, but I want to discover their courtship and what their relationship was like.  Their romance is a mystery to me and Grandma's reaction to falling in love is going to be a hoot!

On this day in WWII history

Thursday, December 9, 1943

Let me take this moment and thank Grandma Robinson, Grandpa Robinson, Grandpa Wyse, and my Uncle Jim for serving our country.  The immense pride and love I have for these people is doubled because of their service to this country.  Thank you to everyone who has and is serving in the Military.  Happy Veteran's Day!

Grandma has mere weeks until she is in Missoula again.

"Just a few lines to let you know that I am still in existence & planning to come home.  I'll arrive in Missoula the 22nd & have to leave around the 2nd.  I am quite excited and the time seems to just literally drag."

She is beyond ready to be home.  She spent the last year away from people she saw everyday for 20 years.  She is about to jump out of her skin. Before she heads home for the holidays, Grandma has to defeat this recurring cold.

"My cold is practically gone now.  I have been going to bed early and taking it easy.  Anything that I can't stand is a cold."

Mom inherited Grandma's hatred of colds.  Grandma says she's taking it easy, but she most likely goes to work everyday and doesn't take a day off to recover just like my Mom.  Mom fights colds by beating the into submission with Vitamin C and working as if she was healthy.  The world doesn't stop turning if they have a cold, so why should they stop moving?  Go to work, come home, take some vitamin C, and go to be.  Wake up and repeat.

Although these two women had no idea how to stop moving, having them in my life is an inspiration everyday.  However, trying to convince my mother that I was sick enough to stay home from school was a fight I lost long before I was born.

Happy Veteran's Day!

On this day in WWII history

Monday, December 6, 1943

Grandma's full Christmas leave is official!  They approved the entire amount of time.  I want to yell at her to just go on leave right now before they change their minds!

"I haven't written to you because I have been waiting for my leave to be approved and there was no use writing and keeping you wondering.  I sent you a night letter today so you will know by tomorrow morning that I will be home for Christmas for sure.  I bet the next two weeks will just drag."

Grandma wants to bring some sort of present to Missoula since she is spending most of her money on the trip to and from Montana.  This is also the first time that Grandma brings up WWII rationing.  Mainly she mentions dates, raisins, and some items that my Grandma's old roommate's mother sent to the old roommate and then the old roommate sent it to Grandma.  You follow that? You remember Marvel?  Her mom is generous and sent items to Grandma.

"they have lots of dates and raisens down here.  I am going to try and get some points to get the raisens.  I will try to send you as many as I possibly can."

"Marvel's mother sent her a box and Marvel and sent me some of the stuff on that her Mother sent for me.  There was a card congratulating me on my promotion to 2nd class and there were peanuts, gum, candy and cookies.  I thought that was awfully nice of her.  I am going to write to her today and thank her."

Despite the rationing, Grandma is thrilled to go home.

"I can hardly wait to pull into Missoula.  Of course I will expect the City Band to be there to meet me.  It will seem good to get away from here for awhile.  I guess you can get tired of any place that you are in.  Sometimes the crowded streets and stores get on my nerves so that I could scream.  I try to get down the street real fast and the lazy southerners are all strolling and it makes me mad."

Grandma didn't realize she would have an entire satellite family of southerners in her brood.  Ok, maybe it was only me who drawled on and on about being a Georgia Peach.  I also had a southern five, loved big floppy hats (still do), and head was a two syllable word.  My family asked me to say head so many times that I grew out of it.  In five minutes.  So I understand why Grandma is eager to return to life amongst the yankees.

On this day in WWII history

Monday, November, 29, 1943

Roy is giving Grandma a Christmas present.  Her old beaux who marries her best friend is giving her a Christmas present!  She also lets the detail slip that she sent him a miniature of herself.

"You said that Roy is going to give me a Xmas present.  I sent him a miniature picture of myself and I didn't send a Xmas present in time and so now I can't.  I feel guilty but I guess it is too late now.  I will write to him and tell him to ask me to send him a package and then I can send it.  I won't let him know he is giving me anything."

What were dating politics like back then?  Grandma goes on a slew of dates with lots of suitors, but she send a picture of herself to her old boyfriend who ends up marrying her best friend?  How odd.  Is that how it was in the 40s or is it still like that today?  I mean my dating history includes several excruciating date in college, an internet boyfriend in high school (don't ask), and my current boyfriend of five years.  My philosophy was and still is I didn't want to waste my time on dating losers who made me feel worthless.  Maybe the 40s approach to dating was different?  My other set of Grandparents met, dated, and married in the same year.  Did you date a whole bunch of people, find one who didn't bug ya too much, and get married?  Anyone with insight please comment below.

Grandma didn't get much of a Thanksgiving, but she is ready to travel home for Christmas.

"On my way home I will stop in Forsyth to meet Peggy so I will get home the same day she is supposed to.  I guess that is about the 23rd isn't it?  I am not too sure yet whether my leave is approved but I think it is and I think that I will be home with bells on."

Christmas is always a big deal in my family.  I hope Grandma receives her full leave.  I think her Commanding Officer is sweet on her.  She'll get her full request.  Grandma is making os many plans to people on her way home and to pick up her sister on the way through Forsyth.  She is thrilled and all I can think of is that Norman Rockwell Poster "Homecoming G.I.".  The pure joy of the Family hits me in the gut and spring t my eyes.  I know that's how Grandma's return to good old Missoula, MT was.  That's how every Christmas should be.  Lots of lights, noise, and open arms welcoming you home.

Norman Rockwell, Saturday Evening Post Cover, May 26, 1945

On this day in WWII history