Apr 24, 2017

Thu, Apr 24, 1947: an engagement

“Date #98 – a big long talk in North Hall Room 47 resulting in an engagement”

-- Entry in my mother’s diary, Thursday, April 24, 1947, about her engagement to my father.

Apr 15, 2017

Tue, Apr 15, 1947: back together

“called him over in pouring rain to go back together after a miserable day for both of us –”

-- Entry from my mother’s diary about getting back together with my father after a brief break-up, Tuesday, April 15, 1947.

Apr 8, 2017

Tue, Apr 8, 1947: cherry blossoms

"The cherry blossoms are just now coming into their own, and the most beautiful season of the year is upon us.  We went out to Atami yesterday to see the cherries and the most popular sea resort in Japan.  One wonderful thing about the bombings is that they have left completely intact such places as this and Kamakura.  The more you read up on Japan and actually see these places, the better it gets."

--Letter from John Howes, Japan, to my father, Winfield, Kans., Tuesday, April 8, 1947.  He was a fellow graduate of the Navy language program in Japanese.

Apr 2, 2017

Wed, Apr 2, 1947: cut potatoes

"When we got your laundry I thought it was a package for Dad so I opened it and it kind of surprised me.... Last Saturday morning I cut potatoes and spent part of the afternoon planting them."
--Letter from my uncle, Bloomington, Kans., to my father, Winfield, Kans., Wednesday, April 2, 1947.