| Dorothy's 1945-1946 Daily Diaries
Today
HAVING REACHED THE CONCLUSION that time travel--like flying cars, cancer cures, and world peace--will most likely not happen in my lifetime, I've therefore attempted here to create (in my mind anyway) the next best thing: a sort of virtual trip back in time. Namely to Monday, January 1, 1945, years before I was born, to follow the day-to-day life of Dorothy, my mother-to-be.
With the help of friends, family, a computer, some fair-to-middling software knowledge, the Internet, and--most importantly-Dot's 1945 and 1946 daily diaries, you are welcome to join me in this sentimental journey back in time. Leave behind the turmoil and travails of our present day, and begin at the beginning.
—Dave (Dot's son), October 2011.
* * *
Prologue
IT ALL STARTED back on Monday, Jan. 1, 2007, when I posted Dot's first diary entry for... Monday, Jan. 1, 1945. Every day during 2007, I added another diary entry.
As everyone knows, the war-weary world was entering a period of transition during 1945-46--from years of depression, death, despair and destruction to a more promising and peaceful yet very challenging era. Likewise, Dot's life was transitioning from her Englewood high school days and crushes on (several) boys, to adulthood and a search for a true, lasting love.
Supplementing the diary, there are lots of her personal photographs, and comments or recollections from me and from Dot's sister Louise (“Sis”). Maps, clips of movies Dot saw, news and newsreel footage, plus sports and sometimes even the weather, add (I hope) a little more context.
A source of inspiration for this project was Jack Finney's delightfully intriguing book, Time And Again. I've sought to create the same experience on these pages.
I hope these pages from my mother's diary might provide a sense of how extraordinary those times were. Not just for her, but for everyone.
* * *
A scrapbook is located here. There are bios and photos of my mother's friends and family, plus pictures of, and background information about, various places within Chicago and Dot's south side Englewood neighborhood.
Please do email me with your comments or questions, or if you have any info to add about the people, places and things contained herein. I sincerely enjoy, and appreciate, receiving feedback from readers.
* * *
MANY THANKS go to to my family--particularly my uncle Lou, my late aunt Louise, my friends Gloria B. and Dan M., and last but not least to the Chicago Tribune and Eric Zorn for showing their interest in what I'd done, and for making their archives accessible.
Thank you very much to everyone who stopped by here, expressed their appreciation, and particularly to all those loyal readers who generously shared their thoughts, photos, and research.
* * *
Note: There is also a post-diary Afterword in five parts which covers the years after October 1946. Please note that it contains spoilers about the events in Dot's diaries.
* * *
Comments? Please send an email or post a message here
|
