Debbie, Blake and Amber visited this past week and we really enjoyed it. Amber was full of questions about when we were young, and it made me realize how little we can imagine about 70 years ago when we are 13!. I grew up in the War (World War 2 that is), which in Great Britain raged from 1939 to 1945. I grew up with rationing (1 egg, 1 oz. sugar, 1oz flour, etc. per person per week) and blackout (heavy drapes that had to be pulled at night so no light leaked out from the homes). I was a kid, so I had a special ration book which allowed me to have 1/4 lb. of candy each month - I waited excitedly for the 1st of each month to come. I was 8 when the war was over and they turned on the street lights again. They terrified me. I had to walk to and from school in the dark in the winter and with the lights my shadow would 'follow' me as I passed the light and I always thought it was someone creeping up on me. Funny how I had walked to and from school from 4 years on by myself in the dark and not be afraid until they turned the lights on. We would hear the German bombers go overhead everynight on their way to bombing Liverpool. The sirens would sound and we would sit and wait for the 'all clear'. There was a real fear of gas warfare and everyone was issued gas masks. Mine was made to look like Mickey Mouse - to make it less frightening. We were cautioned to never touch anything metal that we might find on the beaches - it very well could be a mine that had floated up. I can remember the day the European war ended, just like it was yesterday. My mother and I were returning from shopping on a bus, it stopped at a bus stop and someone jumped on shouting The War is Over, The War is Over. There was dancing in the streets. The town band went on the Promenade by the front sea and played until the small hours of the morning while we danced. I was allowed to stay up. The next day, they had street parties where tables and chairs were pulled out in the middle of the road (no cars in those days, since no petrol (gas)). All the women pooled their sugar and flower supplies together and baked cakes and muffins. Hard to think that way now - with my cupboard full, my home safe and only money preventing me from buying. But I'm glad I experienced it. Keeps me ever vigilant on the cost of freedom.