Before the New Breaks Part II

On the day she recieved the following letters from Jakey, this is what she wrote: May 23, 1941, Soon after, and this morning we drove down to the funeral home.  Zosh and I said good-bye to Stretch.  I touched my cheek to his lips.  He had a beautiful military funeral and Nat didn’t say hardly…

Read More

Before the News Breaks: Part I

While Babu is in Chicopee wrestling with loss, Jake is in Alabama having no idea that he, too, has lost a friend. The letters Babu gets from him are a jarring juxtaposition to what she is facing at home. Was it a welcome distraction? May 21, 1941, Jakey wrote me another letter today and he…

Read More

In Honor and Memory of Stretch Part II

May 19, 1941, Even though I realized Stretch was dangerously ill, I didn’t think of him leaving us.  He died this afternoon.  Zosh and I stayed with Nat all evening trying to console her.  She is being brave.  I haven’t got much use for the army since this happened.  They can’t be getting the right…

Read More

In Honor and Memory of “Stretch” Part I

Unfortunately, this was the start of the end. I am simply to sad to create suspense or to worry about spoilers. May 11, 1941, Nat was angry because Stretch didn’t come home.  However, he’s sick in the hospital and can’t help that.  Ed K. came up and gave me a driving lesson and we picked…

Read More

Babu And Alfred

Please indulge another draft from the vault! How do you feel about Hitchcock?  No, not her boss at the tax office: Saturday, January 25th, 1941 Mr. Hitchcock is going to drive us insane, I think. I mean Alfred.  The creator of such films as The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo, and, of course, Psycho? Friday, October…

Read More

War

But not for us…Not yet. If you would indulge me, I found this post in my drafts bin. I started writing this post in 2018!!!! I’m not sure if I posted something like this already, thus where the indulgence is needed, but I felt it educational to see these passages grouped together on this theme….

Read More

Those spins, though!

I couldn’t believe what I was writing two posts ago. Here I was, showing you this amazing letter where Jake describes how to do tricks in a airplane in minute detail and I’m talking about some lame, vague fortune telling. I’m just kidding, I am excited about it all and I feel no guilt! But…

Read More

Jake’s Base

This is one of a few research posts I’ve been working on. Everything I read about in Babu’s pages and Jake’s letters makes me want to know more. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to do more than a basic google search, but even that can drudge up some neat information. One of my rabbit…

Read More

Fortune Telling and Spinning Planes

May 15, 1941, Ruth, Emmy, and I made plans to go to a fortune teller tonight.  Emmy took me home to supper with her.  We skipped over to see Vi and then went to know our future.  She told me about mother’s throat.  It was alright for me to take a trip.  She could see…

Read More

In Between Letters II

May 11, 1941, Nat was angry because Stretch didn’t come home.  However, he’s sick in the hospital and can’t help that.  Ed K. came up and gave me a driving lesson and we picked up Nat at her home and the three of us went to Hartford to see the stage show “Crazy with the…

Read More

Convicts in the Barracks, May 10, 1941

May 10, 1941, Saw Ernie off on the train and felt lonesome.  Came home and started cleaning my drawers.  Jake sent me another letter and some pictures.  He looks so thin and his hair is clipped short.  Edmund, Johnny Lech, and Eddie came up early and left soon. J.L. came back about 8 and we…

Read More

In Between Letters

Having been on this side of things more than once, the partner left home, I can tell you it’s not easy for either. Basic training, and being away from home for what follows, is no joke. We hear the strain of it in Jake’s letters immediately. But we left at home not only pine for…

Read More