The Pandemic Era
June 29, 2020 by orvietoorbust
When this global pandemic is finally over, the repercussions will be felt for a very long time
My father was born in 1917 and was drafted into WWII in his mid-twenties. He fought in North Africa, Italy, and Sicily.
- My dad (left) and his best friend, Chick, at Santa Cruz boardwalk
I saw my dad as someone who played his cards close to the chest. He built his world around his family and friends, and if you were lucky to be part of his inner circle, he had your back. He never talked about the war, but you could tell he was the kind of guy you wanted with you in the trenches—on the shores of Anzio or when you fell and scraped your knee.
My mom came into the world in October of 1929: two weeks before the stock market crashed on “Black Thursday”. Her childhood spanned the depression years and she was on the cusp of adolescence when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
- RN Nancy
She was a registered nurse until her third child was born. I don’t think she owned a credit card until I was in middle school, and even then she paid the balance each month. She believed if you couldn’t afford something, you shouldn’t buy it. Mom taught herself how to sew so that she could make my school clothes. Every week we had a left-over night and camping trips were our family’s vacations.
As a survivor of this difficult period in history, how do you think today’s pandemic era will change you?
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Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments
Orvieto or Bust: 
Your childhood sounds like mine, Toni. Handmade clothes and camping vacation trips. My very first trip to Europe was with my parents in a VW Camper. My parents saved money for two years for that trip. And, my goodness, you look just like your mother!
Hi Sarah. Yes, simple times. Happy times! See you in the not-too-distant future. xxo Toni
I’m still not completely sure how it will change me. I do know one thing, I have come to know a lot about friends and family, all very surprising, some good and some very disturbing.
I don’t need anymore stuff. No more clothes, no more household stuff. NO more stuff.
I know that I long to return to Italy, my heart yearns to go back as soon as it is safe. ( I have loved ones to worry about so it may be awhile)
None of us can anticipate the effects of this crazy time. I know how much Italy means to you, but priorities should be with those we love. Be well, Sue. xxo Toni
I think how much the change effects you will depend on your age. As a woman who recently turned 70, I am left with the knowledge of the time left. How much time to heal? When you are younger, like my children and grandchildren, there is more time to heal, recover and return to normal. It is a bitter pill the older you get. I remain optimistic – always – as is my nature. Our home in Italy and trips there have been put on hold. If we did not have our dearest family members here, we would be there in a heartbeat. Not only because of the virus but all the political implications. Need I say more….
No need to say more… It’s so true that young people will bounce back easier than us “old folks.” My lovely neighbour upstairs remembers life in Orvieto during the bombings of WWII. As much as I feel traumatised by this era, she must have been through so much worse. I see her from time-to-time and she seems serene, always smiling like she knows something I don’t know. 🙂 Be well and I hope you will be able to come back to Italy sooner than later. Toni
I thought of my father-in-law immediately after reading your post. During WWII, he fought in Africa and Sicily, helping secure Palermo in 1943. After the Allied invasion of Sicily, he was transported to the southern point of mainland Italy. From there, he marched 361 miles to Monte Cassino. With today’s improved roads, it would be a six-hour drive. He was part of a costly series of four assaults by the Allies lasting 123 days. Ironically, the Germans engineered moving the abbey’s treasures to the Vatican and Castel Sant’Angelo ahead of the approaching front. After WWII, my father-in-law moved on, working as an engineer up and down the Atlantic seaboard and for ten years in South America. he became fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Like your father, he kept most of his recollections to himself, at least until his final years. After the destruction of Monte Cassino, we felt he came full circle when he moved into a community in Maryland with a beautiful Renaissance-style chapel that rivals duomo interiors my husband and I have seen in Italy. He lived to 96 and had many peaceful hours in that chapel.–Karen Scott
What a lovely tribute to your father-in-law. He had a very full and interesting life. Thanks for sharing. Toni