THE WAR IS OVER

THE WAR IS OVER (or is it)

 

My last blog ended with the dropping of the atom bomb and the end of World War 2.

It took time to get the soldiers home. While they were gone their children grew up and their wives had gone to work. There were still shortages and the soldiers didn’t leave the area right away. .

The draft did not end because there was a lot to do to rehabilitate the countries. The senior boys in high school still looked forward to time in the military. My brother was drafted and sent to Germany. He could speak German and was sent to Berlin. We looked forward to his letters and pictures of the ruins. He was part of a group that created youth centers for the children. They became his friends and all wanted to come to America. It was before the Berlin wall but Berlin was surrounded by Russians. Now we had a new enemy. Our enemy was communism and our old friend China was now an enemy.

Meanwhile my generation was still growing up in High School and we were busy with basketball games, dates to the movies, and looking forward to better things. They were good years for me. We could finally buy nylons and no more ration stamps. We took typing, bookkeeping and basic subjects so we would be ready for jobs after graduation. Not many went to college. However the GI bill was created and many who never could afford college after High school were able to get an education.

It was still an age when girls would grow up to be moms, jobs were something to do while you were waiting to get married and raise a family. Our town and high school was pretty conservative and while the boys smoked and drank beer, nice girls didn’t. We didn’t even have sports for girls other than a little bit of softball in the fall and spring. But, Oh, we had music on the radio and the juke box. Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Perry Como, The Hit Parade. There was a little youth center in Aurora called the Skip-Inn. Like a lot of boys and girls, the girls danced with each other and the boys played ping-pong.

One night after a basketball game we went to Grand Island to the Glovera Ball Room. It was still filled with soldiers from near by airbases. I almost got grounded for life, but it was worth it. I might very well be the only one left alive who went that night. While I am writing this, I am listening to an internet radio station playing 40’s and 50’s music. We will always have music!!!!!

We managed to stay out of war through the rest of my high school years and watched the young couples start their families at last and that was the beginning of the baby boom. Everyone was full of hope.

If you are one of my grandkids reading this, your lives are beginning to take shape even if you are past or nearing 30. You have a whole future ahead of you. Try your best to make the best of every minute. There will always be regrets, but many more treasured memories. Thank God He has a way of making us remember the best ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

THE WAR IS OVER (or is it)

 

My last blog ended with the dropping of the atom bomb and the end of World War 2.

It took time to get the soldiers home. While they were gone their children grew up and their wives had gone to work. There were still shortages and the soldiers didn’t leave the area right away. .

The draft did not end because there was a lot to do to rehabilitate the countries. The senior boys in high school still looked forward to time in the military. My brother was drafted and sent to Germany. He could speak German and was sent to Berlin. We looked forward to his letters and pictures of the ruins. He was part of a group that created youth centers for the children. They became his friends and all wanted to come to America. It was before the Berlin wall but Berlin was surrounded by Russians. Now we had a new enemy. Our enemy was communism and our old friend China was now an enemy.

Meanwhile my generation was still growing up in High School and we were busy with basketball games, dates to the movies, and looking forward to better things. They were good years for me. We could finally buy nylons and no more ration stamps. We took typing, bookkeeping and basic subjects so we would be ready for jobs after graduation. Not many went to college. However the GI bill was created and many who never could afford college after High school were able to get an education.

It was still an age when girls would grow up to be moms, jobs were something to do while you were waiting to get married and raise a family. Our town and high school was pretty conservative and while the boys smoked and drank beer, nice girls didn’t. We didn’t even have sports for girls other than a little bit of softball in the fall and spring. But, Oh, we had music on the radio and the juke box. Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Perry Como, The Hit Parade. There was a little youth center in Aurora called the Skip-Inn. Like a lot of boys and girls, the girls danced with each other and the boys played ping-pong.

One night after a basketball game we went to Grand Island to the Glovera Ball Room. It was still filled with soldiers from near by airbases. I almost got grounded for life, but it was worth it. I might very well be the only one left alive who went that night. While I am writing this, I am listening to an internet radio station playing 40’s and 50’s music. We will always have music!!!!!

We managed to stay out of war through the rest of my high school years and watched the young couples start their families at last and that was the beginning of the baby boom. Everyone was full of hope.

If you are one of my grandkids reading this, your lives are beginning to take shape even if you are past or nearing 30. You have a whole future ahead of you. Try your best to make the best of every minute. There will always be regrets, but many more treasured memories. Thank God He has a way of making us remember the best ones.