1945
The first atomic bomb, dropped on Hiroshima, led to the end of world
war 2, celebrations for the victors, mass grief in Japan, mass mourn-
ings along borders everywhere. Doris Day sang Sentimental Journey
to Big Band sounds while British troops liberated prisoners in Bergen-
Belsen concentration camp and Mary Lindell, nurse and resistance worker,
imprisoned in Ravensbruck (another concentration camp) led women
onto Swedish White Buses to what they (and we) hoped was recovery.
Helen Mirren and Bob Marley were born. Percy LeBaron Spence invented
the microwave. Meat, jam, biscuits, cheese eggs, milk, and dried fruit
were still rationed and in towns and cities people grew vegetables
on allotments. In the countryside people had always grown their own.
The school leaving age was 15. Animal Farm was published. It warned
of the danger of men in power; it warned to be free, equal and happy
is elusive if not impossible. Just when we needed hope.