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| In World War II, innovation in style ruled! |
by Gayle Lynds
I’m proud to be a human being. I like that whether we’re authors or food servers or teachers or business folks, we have a crazy (as in, crazy like a fox) drive not only to survive but to use what we have at hand to make things a bit better. Or easier. Or even fun.
I have fond memories of my mother in the early 1950s when we had little money (it wasn’t until decades later that we had some money) drawing lines up the backs of her long legs with an eyebrow pencil to mimic the seams on hosiery, which well-dressed women were expected to wear when they went out.
There was no money for hosiery, but a single eyebrow pencil could decorate the eyebrows, the eyes, and the backs of legs. A bargain. And dancing ensued.
Then there was the time Mom brought home a roll of aluminum foil, which I’d never seen before. Giving the whole thing to me, she showed me how to crinkle it, fold it, cut it, and make shapes with it. What a fabulous toy.
With great parental wisdom, she left me alone to create people the size of paper dolls and a boat for them to sail in, and a crown for me to wear. She took me outside, crown firmly on my head, and set me down at the base of our buckeye tree where she arranged my creations around me. Finally, despite my protests, she put my baby sister in my lap. I’d had experience with my sister and knew this was a dangerous (for me) situation.
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| Britain’s National Bread was a staple of World War II |
But mom was all smiles and pride as she took a photo. I, however, screamed. My sister had wet her diaper right through to my summer dress. Mom gave me a lot of sympathy and a clean sundress. As I learned that day, life would go on.
Now in my old(er) age I feel a lot of pride in how so many of us around the world are pulling together to feed, clothe, house, educate, and support one another in numerous ways. These commonsense acts of humanity help to abate the horror and the worry of our times.
One of the latest contributions I find personally wonderful is the revival of Britain’s National Loaf, created in 1942. “As politicians invoke memories of World War II’s ‘Blitz Spirit,’ some of the nation’s bakers are taking a more direct cue from history,” according to NBC News. The National Loaf is “a nutrient-dense whole wheat bread. Today, as was the case back then, a scarcity of ingredients and a concern for public health are challenging the culinary status quo.” And darker bread is better for us, too.
Since I grew up smelling the delicious aroma of my mother’s homemade bread baking in the oven, just reading about the National Loaf brought back wonderful memories.
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| Disney is keeping the magic alive with classic recipes |
At the other end of the food spectrum is dessert. Restaurants, stores, and food companies are revealing special recipes and donating cartons and crates of eaters’ favorites.
“The parks may be closed, but Disney has been unveiling special surprises since social distancing measures were introduced,” says People magazine.
Recently, Disney shared the recipe for its famous fan-fave frozen nondairy Dole Whip, made with only three ingredients that you may already have stocked for quarantine. It’s easy to make, and a sweet way to relieve those quarantine blues.
How’s life for you these days, dear Rogue Reader? Please share your thoughts and experiences. We’d love to know!
Yeah, I got peed on. I spent 3 years in the Army; they peed on us every day!
I am also, frankly, stunned at the amount of effort everyone from celebrities to businesses to parents of small children are putting into keeping people engaged and supported; I tear up at every public service announcement.
On a lighter note, I regularly changed my nephews’ diapers when I was barely out of diapers myself—before disposable diapers were popular! Real cloth diapers with pins and plastic pans, when you had to, um, dump contents in the toilet and then drop it in a diaper pail the size of a kitchen garbage can with a cage inside the lid to put a chunk of solid deodorizer.
Yep. Don’t miss that.
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you, John. Not the U.S. Army! 🙂
Me, too, Lisa. In all of the pubs I subscribe to, there are stories everyday. It's heartening, and really does help to lighten the load all of us are carrying to see that. As for your diaper experience, oy!, at least I didn't have to do that! I am in awe! 🙂 x
I too almost tear up when I watch the news stories about nurses, doctors, all healthcare working – toiling around the clock to try and save lives now. I just had a thought — remember after Nine-eleven when the heroes were firefighters who raced up the stairs of the World Trade Center to try and save lives? After that – firefighters were the heroes in a whole host of novels (especially romance novels). So I predict – that the next raft of novels will portray our health care workers as THE heroes. I look forward to reading them!
Me, to, Karna. They are true heroes!
I love the stories about your mom. It's clear from knowing you and hearing other stories that she had a profound impact on your life. My mom had a real impact on me, too. She was a different kind of mom. She couldn't cook to save her soul, but she could ski. She was an only child, like I was growing up, and loved to surround herself with people. She loved to travel. She couldn't carry a tune but loved to sing and dance. She was mesmerizing. She always worked–junior editor at Vogue Magazine, business manager of the Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra and later as Vice President of Community Affairs for Gannett Broadcasting at their Denver affiliate. She developed (and created) at least 3 of their flagship program–Colorado HealthFair, 9 Cares Colorado Shares, 9 Who Care Awards. She died when I was thirty-two and I still miss her everyday.
What an amazing woman she must've been, Chris. So many of her characteristics … the creativity, writing, and entrepreneurship I see in you. I see her smiling down on you from heaven!