That’s another reason I’m so anxious to see you – to get out of Brooklyn. (Sylvia) Sept 23-25, 1943

This letter is written over the course of 3 days, with updates from Sylvia as she goes about taking care of Adrienne and filling Alex in on her activities. She’s so cheeky in the letter, she mentions how stern Alex sounded on the phone – making her want to respond to him “yes sir.” She says she’s not going to be a yes-woman to him anymore, though she doesn’t yet know how – exactly – she’s going to disobey his orders. The joy she gets from Adrienne is so beautiful to read, even as we get a peek at how labor intensive motherhood – especially in the 1940s – was. She is making formula and scalding herself on the hot water, she is washing out diapers by hand, and trying to time Adrienne’s naps just right. I only wish I’d gotten through more of these letters while my aunt was here to read about how deeply loved she was. (The guilt I feel about this can at times make it hard to continue this project.) Sylvia delights in things only a mother could, “She’s calling me now – and screaming in the sheer joy of moving her bowels. What a joy she is! I love her!”

It took me a while to understand why she was writing about going to church. I returned to wondering if she meant temple and that she and Alex were more religious than their descendants knew them to be. Then it clicked – duh! – I realized she’s speaking in code. She’s not going to church or offering to keep Alex from straying from the flock. She must have been attending a political meeting, a Communist meeting more specifically, and so mentions it only briefly in the post script.

Lastly, she signs her letter “Puchke” and my Googling efforts have not yieled a clear translation. I’m not even sure what language it originates from – Russian? Hungarian? Yiddish? Polish? Anyone know what it means?

There is so much in these letters that goes unspoken or possibly misunderstood without enough context. Let me know what I haven’t touched on!

September 23, 1943

Sylvia to Alex

Thurs 11:30PM

Dearest –

What’s cooking? The formula! And oh how I wish it were done. 

I’ve just emptied the bottles of the hot water, and dammit, I scalded my wrist and it hurts like hell. Well, let’s hope I don’t break any more bottles tonight. 

What’s new since 7PM tonight? Well, 

1. I bought a dress and it’s pretty nice.
2. I met Charlie Taff who took me out for an ice cream soda.
3. He said he’s seeing “porgy and Bess” and suggested I see it too – a sudden silence on my part. 

4 – I miss you (but that’s no news.)

5 – I love you (that’s no news either)

Friday morning 11AM civilian time

Cookie fell asleep during her breakfast and awakened as soon as I put her to bed. She laughed and laughed as if she’d played a big joke on me. What a devil.

Received your letter telling about receiving my 2 letters and you sound a bit more cheerful. It sort of pepped me up for the day. Mom is busy listening to the Polish news.

She says that since I moved in she doesn’t listen to only the Jewish radio news, but turns to the Russian and also Polish news. Nice going?

Frankie was thrilled about your book – and he wouldn’t let me borrow it to read it – so babe, send one to wifie too, as somehow it makes me feel closer to you, to be a little familiar with the appearance of your camp. 

My cousin says she knows where your camp is – and 

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four hours sounds like nothing at all. But it’s something and if she goes by car, I’ll go too, unless the doctors says no. (I’m seeing him this coming week and am anxious to hear what he says.) I’ll let you know as soon as I hear about her going about what I intend doing. 

Anyway, Cookie, I’m planning a wild life! Once a week I’ll be going out – where I don’t know yet. But it’s away from Brooklyn! That’s another reason I’m so anxious to see you – to get out of Brooklyn. 

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Saturday morning 9/28

Baby – Your phone call was much too short! I can’t get used to speaking to you on borrowed time… And you very frequently sounded so abrupt – as if you were commanding! I guess the navy makes you like that. I felt like saying “yes sir” instead of “yeah.” And another thing, toughie, I’m going to give you some orders myself from now on. I’m sick and tired of being a yes-woman to you! For instance I’m going against your wishes

I have yet to figure out in what! But I’ll do it in something, you’ll see!

It’s not quite ten o’clock, and I’ve already lived up to a promise I made myself – to keep occupied every minute of the day, and not to mope around about you all the time. I’ve already washed about 20 diapers (no more diaper service) made the formula and gone shopping. All before I made any breakfast. Cookie was forced to go to sleep at nine o’clock so that she’ll be awake for her breakfast.

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She’s stirring now, and I’ll be feeding her soon. It will be a battle to see what will go into her mouth first, the spoon or her fist. 

Annette just came in with another weird haircomb! Golly, what creations that kid thinks up! 

10:45

The baby has just finished breakfast. She’s going to be an actress. She tries to galmorize herself by putting egg yolk all over her head and cereal all over her face.

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She’s actually wearing a mask when she’s finished eating. She’s busy now – pulling the beard of the billy-goat daddy sent her. Occasionally she makes a conscious effort of trying to reach for it – and it’s wonderful to see her concentrated on trying to reach it. (I got her to bed just in time – otherwise she’d not only have farted in my hand but crapped too.) She’s calling me now – and screaming in the sheer joy of moving her bowels. What a joy she is! I love her!

I’ll be going to church again very soon, but I don’t suppose that you’re too far away to miss its holy influence. If you feel that you’ve strayed from its path, dear, let me know so I can try to keep you in contact with it and you won’t be a lost sheep anymore. 

I’ll probably write you again later int he day – but if I don’t, don’t be disappointed, as I’ll write again tomorrow. There was no mail from you today (Saturday). Also, 

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By the way, Wanamakers did not have the chess set, but they expect it early this week. I fit comes early enough, I’ll mail it to you, otherwise, I might bring it with me if I go down. By dear – and lots of love and warm embraces and kisses from

Adrienne and me

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P.S. I meant to ask you over the phone what part of training you’re doing to receive – and are your teeth being fixed? I’m [page wrinkled] call again Friday? And od you need any money?

Love, Puchke