June 1945. The Reclassification Road Trip.

  We only have Betty's diary entries after May 1945, but we get a sense of what life was like for Ang and Betty as they begin their post-war life. As service people returned home, they would live with family members, which is what Ang and Betty did. For many, there was the possibility of being sent to the Pacific, but Ang was among the "lucky" ones who got reclassified and did not stay in the Army.
   In her diary, Betty relates their trip to the Army's Miami, Florida reclassification center. Road trips with Betty became a recurring theme of our lives. My last road trip with her in 2008 was her last road trip. My brother and I drove her to her Uncle John Henderson's 100th birthday. An epic 700 miles in an RV, with Mom in her wheelchair!

Mom, Betty Adams, on her last road trip to her Uncle John Henderson's 100th birthday in 2008.

   Many people came into and out of Chicago during these days. Betty's mother, Margaret, who was visiting, returned to Los Angeles. Her sister Peg, leaves too. I believe she goes back to L.A. too but I'm not sure. I'm also not sure if Betty's aunt, Ann, who is Margaret's youngest sister, is coming or going! When she mentions "Mom" she is talking about Ang's mother. John and Jen are Ang's brother and sister. "Gram" is her grandmother Anna Henderson -- her great-grandmother Elizabeth Harrington died in May.

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Ang and his sister Jen. This photo is in an old scrapbook. Caption saying" before trip to Miami Fla. I think this may be the car Ang and Betty bought and drove down to Miami.

Friday, June 1. Washed this A.M. Jen went with us to say goodbye to Mother. Waited for Bud but he didn’t show up. Bed late.
June 2. Dark and rainy looking. Left about nine. Very nice driving. Stayed in Evansville - nice hotel. Early to bed.
June 3. To early Mass then on our way. Cloudy again but very comfortable. Stayed in Chattanooga. Seeing a lot of the country. Late.
June 4. Warmer today and sunny. Sure went through some mountains. Stopped at Waycross, Ga.
June 5. What a blister of a day! Golly! Can tell you're getting south. Stayed in Ft. Pierce, Fla at a tourist camp. Very nice!
June 6. Up very early so we could get here before it got too hot. Checked in about noon. Nice hotel but not the best. Bed late.
June 7. Breakfast early with Ang. Ironed in A.M. and read all P.M. Just loafed all evening. Typed some for Ang. Bed late.
June 8. Up early and breakfast with Ang. Read all A.M. Took some laundry in after lunch - then to beach. Both burned. To movies.
June 9. To beach in P.M. But just for little while. I went in the water but not much fun. For ride in evening. Read papers. Late.
Jun 10. To 9:00 Mass at Post Chapel. Very warm. To beach in A.M. Laid around all P.M. To dinner then for a ride and to movie. 
June 11. Ang classified for discharged? Almost seems impossible. Ang gone all PM. To beach by self. Just loafed in evening.
June 12. Ang busy all day at one thing and another. I went to Beach, but didn’t stay long. Marches in for awhile in evening. Bed 10:30
June 13. Had letter from Peg. Donny had a nasty fall. Called her in evening - he’s better. Thank goodness. To movie. 
June 14. Sent Peg some money. Ang is so good about it. My tan progressing.
June 15. Same routine today. Had supper a the Shoremeede and had to eat meat. To movie in evening. Habit forming.
June 16. No entry.

Postcard showing the Shoremeade Hotel. I assume this is the place Betty mentions.

June 17. To 9:00 Mass. Sure warm. To pool in afternoon and home and read. After dinner to a movie. Again!
June 18. Breakfast with M[??] To pool in P.M. Read in PM. To dinner and then to movie in town. No orders yet. Late.
June 19. Breakfast at 10:00 then drive Mohrt{?] out to field. Napped in PM. To dinner at 6:00 and to movie. Drink with LeMay.
June 20. Coudy again today so couldn’t go to beach. Orders were in when we got back. Some laundry and packed.
June 21. Met Marshe for breakfast — also saw Morhts for minute. Rainy and warm. Got started about 4:00. Awful tire trouble — Daytona Beach.
June 22. Didn’t get started until 10:30 - because of tire. Rained awfully hard all afternoon. Went into Macon.
June 23. Got started early again. Stopped in Atlanta and got another tire. Drove until almost midnight. Stayed at Evansville.
June 24. To early Mass and on our way again. Very warm. Arrived about 3:00 PM. To Peg’s in evening. Then out with Adams. Rainy. Cooler.
June 25. At Peg’s all day helping her get packed. Mother called about Peg’s luggage. Ang came about 7:00 - stayed a while.
June 26. Took Peg’s luggage down then up to Grams after lunch. She left about 5:30. Hope she makes it ok. Ang to Ft. Sheridan. Home late.
June 27. Ang to Ft. Sheridan very early. I washed at Grams. Very warm. Drove Marsh downtown. To movie with J & J in evening.
June 28.  Up with Ang, but back to bed. Marsh here for lunch. Downtown shopping for Ang. 
June 29. no entry
June 30. Didn’t get up until late. Picked up Ann’s luggage for her. Then down to pick up lamb for tomorrow. Read in evening and bed early.

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