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
Sept 17, 1943. The woman stuck in the toilet seat (Sylvia to Alex)
I am going back to the early letters now and trying to approach this story in a more organized fashion than I have in the past. It’s interesting to see … Continue reading
Dearly Beloved S.O.B.!
Happy holidays! Today we’ve got a letter from the strange liminal week between Christmas and New Years. This letter from Sylvia is great because it’s interrupted by some visiting neighbors … Continue reading
Think of all the ugly things about me
I love that in this letter Sylvia warns Alex not to idealize her. She has imposter syndrome about her relationship! It’s an interesting side effect of correspondence and prolonged absence: … Continue reading
Why should I develop those horrible bourgeois traits!
Happy Thanksgiving! Today, in honor of the chaotic consumerism that is Black Friday, we have a letter from Sylvia written the week after Thanksgiving expressing some jealousy of her neighbor’s … Continue reading
Tonsorial Operation [aka Haircuts!]
A short letter from Alex about keeping your head up, waiting, and haircuts. Nov 8, 1944 Dearest lover of mine, Another day has gone by and we still are here … Continue reading
Thursday will now be a word of magic for me
Happy Thursday! Here’s a sweet letter from Sylvia who sounds a bit giddy from playing with Adrienne and having talked to (in her words, “kibbutzed”) with neighbors all day long. … Continue reading
