Impatient wife and daughter are we! Sept 29, 1943 (Sylvia)
Ohhh, Popeye – a reference I get! A short and sweet note written in three parts from Sylvia about Adrienne’s new clothes and rattles, and her dreaming about Alex’s furlough. … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
“At least with my people, we were trained to help each other when needed.” Sept 23, 1943 (Alex)
Alex responds to Sylvia with answers to her questions about where his camp is located, whether she can and should visit, and asking his family for baby clothes for Adrienne. … Continue reading
Sept 21, 1943: Dependency doesn’t become me.(Sylvia)
A letter from Sylvia with some neat little details about life in 1943, including the fact that she cannot find Alex’s training base on the map she was given (and … Continue reading
Sept 21, 1943 Alex to Sylvia: “I hope you won’t develop some of those yenta attitudes, you know how I hate that.”
Sometimes the tones of these letters are so strikingly different because they keep getting the wires crossed (literally). Sylvia last wrote to Alex to say how thrilled and excited she … Continue reading
Sept 19, 1943, Al Kotin (Sylvia’s Brother) to Sylvia “Where’s my sense of humor gone to? Woe is me – Al ”
Today we have a letter from Sylvia’s brother Al Kotin to Sylvia. The somewhat morose tone highlights just how optimistic Alex’s letters sound in comparison. After the war, Al became … Continue reading
Sept 20, 1943 (Alex) “You can’t worship a goddess in rags”
This loving and detailed letter feels like the first one where their distance is more prominent. Alex goes into detail about his life at the camp (which he corrects is … Continue reading
Sept 20, 1943 “Your call knocked me off my feet” (Sylvia part 2/2)
This was a complicated letter to put together, transcribe, and get translated from multiple languages. But we get multiple perspectives of the day and many voices assuring Alex that all … Continue reading
Sept 20, 1943: when I’m alone I get morbid. Will write you what I do and when, if ever. (Sylvia, 1 of 2 parts)
Sylvia is waiting with Adrienne for Alex’s parents and siblings to arrive. Adrienne is all dressed up for the occasion and this letter is mostly her idle observations of the … Continue reading
Sept 17, 1943 “They come of course from the city and are more alert.” (Alex)
I was really torn about whether to title this post with the quote from this letter: “this is the flap that goes down when you want to use your dickey.” … Continue reading
