During World War II all of the nations at war were short of food and resources. Gasoline and metal were in such high demand. Even food items were rationed. England probably had more restrictions than any other Allied nation. However, rationing occurred in both Canada and the United States.
Last fall a friend told me about an incident in his life and his mother's during WW II. Ted Crowther grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. One day his mother noticed that the man delivering the local paper, the Washington Post, had new tires on his car. She asked him about the tires since the ones on her car were badly worn. Where did he get his tires? He explained to Mrs. Crowther that because he had a job with a high priority, he was able to get tires. She responded, "If there is ever an opening for delivering papers, would you let me know?"
Not long after that Ted's mother got a call saying that the Washington Post needed someone to deliver papers going south along the Potomac River. Her route took her past Mount Vernon and down to Fort Belvoir. Ted went with her on her drives to deliver papers. I assume that they always had suitable tires from then on.
At the end of their journey there were frequently military personal who hoped to catch a ride back towards Washington, D.C. with Ted and his mother. One day they picked up two Marines who climbed into the back seat. As they were driving along, one of them said to Mrs Crowther, "I'll just take that money box that is sitting next to you on the seat." Because it was war time both of the Marines had side arms. Ted told me that his mother did not hesitate. She pulled over to the side of the road and told the two soldiers to get out. She said, "I can read the names on your uniforms and I won't hesitate to report you." The two Marines quietly got out of the car and the Crowthers continued on their trip back to Alexandria.
There are always details that I wish I had asked more closely about in stories like this. For example, I have no idea how old Ted was. Preschool I assume. Did they ever pick up soldiers looking for a ride again?
There are so many questions that I wish that I could ask Muriel. I grew up hearing a few stories about Muriel's and Bob's wedding on November 19, 1942. I knew that everyone in their neighborhood saved their allotment of sugar so that Muriel's family could make a wedding cake. She had a beautiful soft flowing wedding gown. And her mother, Ruby, wore a black dress.
Even when I was a child black dresses were not the usual color for the mother of the bride to wear. In fact I can remember my father making jokes about the fact that my grandmother Ruby Harkness Toole was born on Hallowe'en and wore a black dress to their wedding. Of course, I chuckled along with everyone else in the family.
It was not until I was an older person that I realized that in a war stricken country, probably the only good dress that Grandma Toole owned was this one black dress. She wore the best that she had to celebrate the wedding of her dearly loved daughter.
There are a few benefits of age and experience. I love and appreciate my extended family more as the years go by.
Last fall a friend told me about an incident in his life and his mother's during WW II. Ted Crowther grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. One day his mother noticed that the man delivering the local paper, the Washington Post, had new tires on his car. She asked him about the tires since the ones on her car were badly worn. Where did he get his tires? He explained to Mrs. Crowther that because he had a job with a high priority, he was able to get tires. She responded, "If there is ever an opening for delivering papers, would you let me know?"
Not long after that Ted's mother got a call saying that the Washington Post needed someone to deliver papers going south along the Potomac River. Her route took her past Mount Vernon and down to Fort Belvoir. Ted went with her on her drives to deliver papers. I assume that they always had suitable tires from then on.
At the end of their journey there were frequently military personal who hoped to catch a ride back towards Washington, D.C. with Ted and his mother. One day they picked up two Marines who climbed into the back seat. As they were driving along, one of them said to Mrs Crowther, "I'll just take that money box that is sitting next to you on the seat." Because it was war time both of the Marines had side arms. Ted told me that his mother did not hesitate. She pulled over to the side of the road and told the two soldiers to get out. She said, "I can read the names on your uniforms and I won't hesitate to report you." The two Marines quietly got out of the car and the Crowthers continued on their trip back to Alexandria.
There are always details that I wish I had asked more closely about in stories like this. For example, I have no idea how old Ted was. Preschool I assume. Did they ever pick up soldiers looking for a ride again?
There are so many questions that I wish that I could ask Muriel. I grew up hearing a few stories about Muriel's and Bob's wedding on November 19, 1942. I knew that everyone in their neighborhood saved their allotment of sugar so that Muriel's family could make a wedding cake. She had a beautiful soft flowing wedding gown. And her mother, Ruby, wore a black dress.
Even when I was a child black dresses were not the usual color for the mother of the bride to wear. In fact I can remember my father making jokes about the fact that my grandmother Ruby Harkness Toole was born on Hallowe'en and wore a black dress to their wedding. Of course, I chuckled along with everyone else in the family.
It was not until I was an older person that I realized that in a war stricken country, probably the only good dress that Grandma Toole owned was this one black dress. She wore the best that she had to celebrate the wedding of her dearly loved daughter.
There are a few benefits of age and experience. I love and appreciate my extended family more as the years go by.
