Mary Schmich: When a Chicago cop finds a stash of old letters in the trash, he's transported to Chicago during World War II. And vows to get the letters back to the family
CHICAGO - One day this summer, in the midst of the pandemic, Eric Wolforth took a walk to the store to buy milk and diapers. He followed his usual route, west along Catalpa Avenue, then a right turn into an alley.
A few doors up he spotted piles of junk around a cluster of garbage bins. Knowing that Chicago alleys often contain discarded treasure - he once salvaged a fancy stroller - he headed toward the mess.
On top of one garbage bin sat a small box. Poking from the top were red and blue stripes he recognized as the marks of old airmail envelopes. He pulled out several letters.
In the upper left corner of the envelopes was a return address for Mrs. Leo Paul Lee at 5506 Glenwood Ave. The letters were addressed to LT (j.g.) Leo Paul Lee aboard the USS Broome, stationed in New York. They were postmarked 1945.
"These look interesting," he thought. He tucked the letters in his reusable grocery bag and resumed his trip to Jewel.
That night in his basement, where as the father of a newborn and a toddler he spends a lot of time doing laundry, Wolforth, a Chicago police officer, began reading. The earliest in the batch was dated January 6.
Dearest angel,
Gosh, hon, I am sorry that I made you sad. ... I didn't think I was writing sad letters to you.
The writer went on to lament Chicago's weather ("so cold"), to say
