October 23, 1944: Sugar Pies and Bad Teeth

Letter from Opa to Grandmother: October 23, 1944

October 23, 1944

 

Margie darling,

          

Your package got here today, and it was so much fun to open it. The slide rule is just right; exactly what I had in mind, and, of course, cookies and candy were exactly right, too. Fortunately, some more boys had packages today, so not the entire barracks “assisted” me in doing away with them. The cake was awfully good too, and was less broken up than I had expected. I saved some of the cookies to give them to Phil and Johnny tonight, but neither one of them came down to the Service Club tonight, so I guess I’ll eat them by myself. It’s too big a temptation. Thanks a lot, honey; such a package just means an awful lot. 

         

Tonight after supper I had to go to the dentist’s again. He filled two more cavities, gave me an X-ray, and told me to come back Friday. My teeth must be in pretty poor condition.

         

We had rifle training today, and a big talk about our past in combat. Also, deconstructions of what they call “field sanitation”, i.e. how to take care of water in the field, how to build latrines and urinals, how to improvise showers and de-lousing plants, and similar stuff. It was dull, but simple stuff.

         

It’s getting late now, honey, and I wrote about all important things yesterday. It won’t be long now till I can see you!

 

With all my love,

Tom

Opa’s teeth man. He didn’t grow up poor but I think the conditions in his teenage years may have prevented him from getting regular dental care. I know after his parents’ divorce and the Nazi takeover, he and his sister moved with his mom into smaller and smaller homes. Rumor from some of my interviews of Opa’s cousin was that August (his Dad) didn’t keep up with alimony/child support. I am not sure how true that is, or at least if it was true, whether or not it was intentional negligence. Times were hard. Period. At the very least, Opa likely didn’t get dental care from the time he left home (1938) til now- which is six years. So even healthy teeth struggle after that long. 

Luckily my sisters and I had the benefit of good dental care (military health insurance for us too), access to good dental supplies, and I have to believe good genes that did not come from Opa. My older sister had a similar time when she didn't go to the dentist for about five years (not due to war, no, just pure negligence) and there was absolutely nothing wrong with her teeth - no cavities, nothing. That's the quality level of our teeth genes. We probably get it from my mom's side.

Grandmother sent Opa a care package with treats… she was a great baker. My sisters and I grew up eating her apple and cherry pies, fighting over the “sugar pies” she made us with leftover dough, butter, and cinnamon. I don’t remember her making cookies, but our mom makes amazing cookies so maybe Grandmother did not want to compete! 

I want some sugar pie now…