Falling In Love

By John Ehret

Dorothy May Ehret née Armstrong, aka Denni. Charles Frederick Ehret, aka Chuckie. This is their story of Falling in Love, 1944-1945, written from my mother’s point of view via her correspondence with my father during World War II.

Dad saved everything, including these treasured love letters, which were discovered shortly after Mom passed away on February 11, 2009.

“I’m so glad you’re feeling so wonderful, Chuckie! I’m very happy too. In fact, I’m always happy, except for those times when I’m sad.” – Denni, 11/ 27/44.

This is the SECOND EDITION of the eBook! ***Second Edition Now Available on Lulu and Amazon (iBook/iTunes coming soon)*** 2nd edition pdf version also available now! (see below)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312501942

Book preview

Falling In Love

Falling_in_love

1944-1945

Compiled and Edited by John Ehret

                                                                            with Julia Ehret-Granton Buckley

Prologue

Dorothy Mae Ehret née Armstrong, aka Denni.  Charles Frederick Ehret, aka Chuckie.  This is their story of Falling in Love, 1944-1945, written from my mother’s point of view via her correspondence with my father during World War II.

Dad saved everything, including these treasured love letters, which were discovered shortly after Mom passed away on February 10, 2009.  [Dad passed away 2 years earlier, on February 24, 2009]

When they were very young, Denni and Chuckie grew up on the same block on Crotona Avenue in The Bronx.  The Armstrongs had three girls; Jeanne, Dorothy and Marian.  The Ehrets had two boys; Harry and Charles.  The elder Ehrets and Armstrongs often played bridge together and were life-long friends.  They kept close ties even after the Armstrongs moved up to Westchester County; Denni knew the Ehrets as ‘Aunt Hattie’ and ‘Uncle Harry’. But the boys and girls were indifferent to each other – that is, up until Denni and Chuck were reintroduced in the spring of 1944. 

I’m so glad you’re feeling so wonderful, Chuckie!  I’m very happy too.  In fact, I’m always happy, except for those times when I’m sad. – Denni, 11/ 27/44.

John Ehret

Cast of Characters

Denni, Dottie

Chuckie, Charlesey

Harry and Edna

Jeanne and Bill with

Danny

Marian

Mother

Pops

Aunt Hattie

Uncle Harry

Uncle Frank

Aunt Marian

Cousin Grace

Aunt Tess

Uncle Al

Aunt Mabel

Clara Masoni

Sister Claudia

Dot McCabe

Beverley

Bubbles

Fran Schiller

Johnny Bow

Bugs

Sal

Georgie

Bob Lockwood

Mr. Lockwood Barr

Kenneth Messner

Eddie Byrnes

Florence

Harold and Carol

Margie

Dick and Eddie

Lew and Liz

Pussy Thompson

Georgine Schiller

Jean Knapp

Paul Daly

Joan Saunders

Arnold Connady

Hope Buist

Mrs. Hone

Mr. and Mrs. Hague

Mildred Landrey

Jean O’Neill

Mr. Carl Drepperd

The Frenchmen

The Armstrongs

Dorothy and Jeanne Armstrong

Dorothy and Jeanne

Dorothy, Marian and Jeanne (below)

William (Bill), Dorothy, Marian, Jeanne, and Jeannette -

aka Bonnie, aka Nana

The Ehrets

Charles, Henry (Uncle Harry), Harry

Charlie, Harriet (Aunt Hattie), Harry

Uncle Harry, Aunt Hattie, Harry, Chuckie (below)

Uncle Harry, Aunt Hattie, Charlie, Harry

February 1944

A Valentine for You

2-14-44

Dear Charlie,

"Good luck and happiness

All the year through –

Are my Valentine wishes

For no one but You!

Love,

Dot

Hi!

Rec’d your letter yesterday.  Sounds good!  That quip on genealogists is right on the beam.

Here’s an idea.  Could you get a date for my girlfriend Dot?  She’s loads of fun and adds to any party!  She’s 5’6", blond, cute, fun.  Try

Love,

Dot

Portraits

February 16 -1944

Wednesday morn.

Dear Charlie,

I must just tell you that Dot McCabe is all tied up this coming weekend (Saturday) and so, forget about getting her a date.  Some other time, perhaps, all right?

Thank you for the sweet valentine.  I recognized your handwriting!

Such troubles I have.  One of my pen pals sent me his dog, for he's shipping out very soon - and I just can't keep a dog because of my family.  Such excitement, I was in tears, almost.  She's such a sweet little dog.  I guess I got her 'cause she's my namesake.  Her name is 'Lil Denni' - she's a German Sheperd, 4 mos. old.  Denni is my nickname.  Did you ever know that?  It is.  My friends call me that.  So you must too, hm-m?  Only the family calls me Dot. 

I'll tell you all about it when I see you.  In a hurry now.

Denni

Pictures

March 1944

1944(small greeting card)

March 9th

Dear Chuck

Very best wishes on your birthday.

Denni

March 20, 1944

Monday morning

Dear Chuck

Hi there

Spring is getting off to a flying start.  It snowed all last night, and all morning so far.  Promises to turn into a freezing rain shortly.  I like that - when the seasons show a little temperament!

Over the week-end, I saw the picture A Guy Named Joe.  It was tops.  Just simply out of this world.  Have you seen it?  Gosh it was good.

How are you making out, Charlie?  Loosing any weight - need any pepping up, or such?  I dont suppose you have much spare time, now that you are all the way into things, down thataways.  I know you will make out good.

I think Joanne and I will take up that invitation your mother issued, to come down and see them.  It would be nice.

I'm having my midterm at Columbia tomorrow night already.  I don't see how time can go by so quickly.  It's so very intensified, I guess that's why.

I'm off to get some lunch now, and will post this lil' letter in the interim.

Just,

Denni

March 26, 1944

Sunday night

Dear Charlesey,

That's a darn funny cartoon - no!  I haven't quite aroused my boss' wrath that much by wasting time.  It seems I make up for lost time when I do get going.

I like the pic the old man took too.  We were both laughing in it, and I saw the old man on you.  That he got himself in it is really a trick in photography.  If we ever see him again let's give him a print.  Why did you only receive four?  I got five.  Your work sounds very interesting.  You're already treated like officers, aren't you.

Your descriptions of Georgia sound lovely.  Today was one of the very first springtime days and it was just so beautiful that Dot and I walked 'most to White Plains, along the river pathway.

The story of the lil flying squirrels is fitting, coming from you who took me to the zoo and gave me a plausible explanation with answers to a lot of dopey questions re the animals there.  It's easy to see you're a nature lover.  you are, aren't you Chuck?

Here's what I been doin - just going around happy-go-lucky like!  Went to Greenwich Village three times in one week, never having been there before.  Quite the sinister atmosphere.  I think it's exciting there don't you? 

What do you think of the song Poinciana - Isn't it just out of this world?  m-m-m I love it.  Do you have any favorite songs besides Show me the way to go home?  Hm-m-m? Tell me them. 

G'nite, Chuck,

Denni

Your number of your company changed!

March 30, 1944

Thursday nite

Dear Chuck,

Hi fella!

Goodness, the things you do down there!  Sounds like fun.  And I tho't you'd be a bookworm all the time you were to be down there.  My mistake!

Say, don't you like the song They'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin, la de dah ----

How did you ever do it - I mean, where did you get the courage to dive into that icey water (bet there were ice cubes bobbing around on top)

Oh, midterms - well.  I got a B.  Can't seem to get anything but B's.  Are you disappointed in me?

One evening last week I was going to visit some friends down in Mount Vernon for supper - when I was suddenly averted by the sweetest little dresden figurines in the window of an antique shop.  So I went right in and bought both of them - a little girl gathering wood and a little boy chimneysweep - made in Germany about 65 years ago.  Are they ever sweet - they're about two inches high.  Won't they make nice nick nacks?  Such lovely things were made years ago.  Truly exquisite.

Now as to that polygamy you spoke of...I tho't they only did that years and years ago when the women raised vegetable gardens and each man had to have more than one wife, so that enough food could be raised for them to survive at all.  Those were the hot countries.  INDIA

Then in the cold countries ICELAND each woman had several husbands, for it took their combined efforts to work hard enough to support themselves and her too.

Wasn't it something like that?  You can see there was some necessity for it in such cases - but in this day and age of higher civilization it doesn't seem practical.  I for one am gonna be the possessive kind of wife when I get married - are you?  No - I guess you won’t be a wife when you get married...

I wrote your mother a little letter t'other day.

Tell me, Chuckie, is it true that the boys down in Georgia cry out in utter abandonment Sa-woon! - sa-woon!  at our national idol singer?  If so, they are after my own heart!

Aren't I a good girl this time?  Oo-ooh what I said.

Your old and new friend,

just Denni

April 1944

(greeting card)undated

Easter Greetings

To Chuckie

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN ALL THE WORLD

IS HAPPY AS CAN BE,

THE LITTLE BUDS HAVE COME UNFURLED

ON EVERY BUSH AND TREE;

(inside)

AROUND THE LITTLE COTTAGE DOOR

THE PIGEONS BILL AND COO,

AND IN EACH LITTLE TWO-BY-FOUR

THE TERMITES DRILL

AND CHEW;

THE LITTLE HORSEFLIES

HORSE AROUND,

THE BUMBLEBEES

ARE BUMBLING

AND TO AND FRO UPON THE GROUND

THE TUMBLEBUGS ARE TUMBLING;

THE ROBINS SING A SONG

OF SPRING

IN ACCENTS LIGHT AND GAY,

AND THE BUNNY RABBIT

COMES TO BRING

THIS WISH

FOR YOU TODAY!

HAPPY EASTER, DARLING!

All my love,

Dottie

April 5, 1944

Wednesday eve.

Dear Chuckie,

We had the most beautiful snowstorm today.  Yes, actually - between Palm Sunday and Easter.  You've been telling me of beautiful June-like days in Georgia - and now I can counter with visions of northern winter scenes - truly out of this world.  What did it look like --- I've got it - looked like whipped cream - fluffy whipped cream all over everything.  Luscious!  Picture five inches of fluffy white snow everywhere - even on every twig of every tree and bush...breathtakingly lovely!

My girlfriend, Beverley, was married last Saturday.  She's the first person (of my clique) who is really close to me, who has this far gone and got married on me.  I'm dazed - don't suppose we'll ever be as close girlfriends as previously...life goes on, tho'.

Come to think of it, you're right of course about it not being the place where you are, for enjoying oneself - but rather the company you’re in.  That makes all the difference in the world.

That was a very lovely Easter wish you sent me.  Happy Easter to you! 

Mother is chasing me to bed - toodle-oo.

Denni

Think your folks are coming for bridge Saturday or next Saturday.  Daddy is teaching me...do you play it?

Study of a fence.

Cat(drawing)MEOW

I think pretty, the song:  I'll Be Seeing You.  Do listen for it.

Be seeing you,

Den.

April 12 - 1944

Hi there,

Mother was quite horrified this evening to see me join Daddy with drinking a wee bit of BEER.  So I informed her that I learned how to drink the stuff the nite I went out with my pal, Chuck.  It doesn't taste good 'atall anywhere but in the G.A. tho'.

Glenn Millers arrangement of Moonlight Cocktail is actually playing.  I 'member when I just gasped over that masterpiece!

That was awfully nice of you to send the dogwood.  It arrived in fine shape (tho' flat).  First time I ever found flowers in my mailbox.  Originality I go for.

Hope July will hurry up and roll around for your furlough.  I'd like to see you.

I know you were kidding about that Polygamy angle.  But I just happened to pick up those facts a short time previous, and that tho't I'd give out with it.  My Boss was tracing some person's genealogy and we came across a man who outlived four wives (one at a time, tho').  I naturally has a remark to make over that and so he told me - Four wives, that's nothing - - - .

There was absolutely no reason for my Fence Study.  I just merely felt artistic.  That's all!

I love to read French even tho' I understand not a word except Bon soir fe t 'em beau coup and a few such phrases come from knowing some Frenchmen, from France.  What was it you realed off may I ask?  (Best way to learn is to ask questions!)

I thought your middle name was H for Horatio, or some such!  Please don't ask me mine.  I hate people who do - they torment me.

I love my antiques - the three things that I have.  They're very beautiful.  No remarks!  Mother again is chasing me to bed as it's midnight. 

Cheerio - Denni

P.S.  Don't Sweetheart me.  - Do write.

April 22 - 44

Saturday nite

Dear Problem Child,

I was beginning to wonder if