On Jan. 23, 1943, my uncle, Frank Ebner Gartz, (photo in uniform, above) reported to the draft board in Chicago to start his training for WWII. So began the correspondence between him and family & friends, comprising almost 300 letters going both ways. I’m posting many of these World War II letters, each on or near the 70th anniversary of its writing. To start with his induction, click HERE.


This blog began in Nov., 2010, when I posted a century-old love note from Josef Gärtz, my paternal grandfather, to Lisi (Elisabetha) Ebner, my paternal grandmother, and follows their bold decision to strike out for America.


My mom and dad were writers too, recording their lives in diaries and letters from the 1920s-the 1990s. Historical, sweet, joyful, and sad, all that life promises-- and takes away--are recorded here as it happened. It's an ongoing saga of the 20th century. To start at the very beginning, please click HERE.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Dear God, please let it come true!

We're following the budding romance of my parents 70 years ago. (Click on Falling in Love and Betcha he won't call to see the first diary entries) 


My mom, then Lillian Koroschetz, had a fabulous evening of dancing and chatting away  with Fred Gartz on May 11, 1941, but was convinced that he wouldn't follow up: "I'll just betcha he won't call!" she wrote. Well, things were looking more promising about a week later.

May 20, 1941 Tuesday 11 pm 

Quite a thrill awaited me when I came home tonite. Fred had sent me a card from Turkey Run, Marshall, Indiana, reading, 

“Hy-ya Lil - Have substituted hiking and horsing for the rhumba for the time being. This place is grand, especially the food. Nun, auf wiedersehen. Fritz” 

I can remember distinctly only two other occasions when I got such a thrill out of something. (and she relates two other boy-related incidents) I must be in love with the guy and haven’t even gone out with him. Somehow I now have a glimmer of hope he’ll phone. Here’s hoping! Sat.,  

July 12, 1941 

Just did my nails - Cutex Butterscotch - and having had a most complete week, am so tired I must go to bed without putting down what I intended [in the diary]. “Lil-no-romances-in-the-summer-Koroschetz” -- that’s me! I don’t even have time in the summer and that’s no alibi, believe me!  

Thursday Aug 14 

Finally - I heard from Fred Gartz. He wanted me to go to some German movie with him tonite. However, I had a date to go to Hapsburg for dinner and teach Ruth how to drive. So changed the date to tomorrow night. Am I glad! Now I have it to look forward to instead of having it all over by now (11:00 pm) I hope and pray this will lead to more and frequent dates!

Friday August 15, 1941 

The evening I have been waiting for a long, long time has now been realized. Fritz and I went to a little German theatre on Lincoln near Fullerton, then walked in Lincoln Park on this beautiful night, arm in arm - held hands in the show. Then to Sieben's [a Chicago outdoor brewery with great ham sandwiches] where we had some beer. Then back to the park and I think we both knew why we went back. We sat on a bench hearing the lions roar and the quacking of a duck. Oh it was heavenly! He knows all the little innuendoes of kissing and I ain’t so bad m’self, if I do say so.
[She switches to writing with indecipherable Pitman shorthand for a few lines, clearly wanting to keep this part censored! Then goes back to regular writing] 
And he enjoyed it too, I’ll say. We kissed for about an hour and a half. I hope and pray he will phone me again. I can’t really believe it happened!! Tonight was like a page from a story book and he definitely is the man I want to marry. Dear God, please let it come true!!  


Please click on "post a comment" (red, small print) at the bottom of this entry. I'd love to hear your thoughts! And please let me know if you have any difficulty commenting. lindagartz@gmail.com

18 comments:

Marian Kurz said...

I'm getting a little hot and sweaty myself just reading about this...forget the romance novel, this is the real thing!

Kathy Goldmann said...

Having known your mother as your mother, this has me looking at her in a whole new light!

Anonymous said...

It must have been steamy as a jungle that night in Lincoln Park-- such restraint! 1-1/2 hours of just kissing! Your Mom is no slouch as a wordsmith- e.g. "innunendos of kissing". Good that the shorthand could be deciphered!Katy

Adrienne said...

I'm with Lil. Anticipation is a great sauce for any dish.

Linda Gartz said...

Katy, This was certainly a different era! "Hook-ups" were not the norm; in fact, hardly thought of. Just think how much more exciting all that kissing was--delayed gratification, for sure. Kathy--so great to hear from you! Right. We all know our parents and friends' parents as grown-ups after life batted had them about! I knew Mom had a very emotional side, but these entries even took me by surprise. Adrienne, the anticipation is the essence of romance back then -- and Lil's desire to wait for the date -- savoring the thought. Marian -- yep! I think romance novel aficionados would enjoy

Nancy C said...

Are you sure this is Pitman shorthand? I'm thinking it's Gregg...

Debi Austen said...

LOVE IT! I especially love that she thought she was pretty good at kissing.

It would be interesting to know what the shorthand says. Although some things are better off left unsaid. :-)

Linda Hoye said...

Hi Linda
Thanks for visiting my blog and following. I love your site! I'll be back often!
Linda

Linda Gartz said...

Linda, Great to see your comment.

Sandy Arnone said...

Thanks for sharing a hot story. I thought it cute that she switched to Pitmans shorthand. I know Pitmans so I'd have no trouble reading it...

Shirley said...

You used a great hook in your Twitter update for this post, and it did not disappoint! You must be having a blast with this work.

Anonymous said...

Hey, like mother, like daughter. I like kissing Lil's daughter. I think she may know some of them innuendos too.
Bill

Linda Gartz said...

Hello, Hello. Say Nancy, I'm quite sure it's Pitman -- Mom often referred to it by name. I learned Gregg--three decades later. And Debi, I've got some feler out to decipher the Pitman secrets! Shirley-glad the hook brought you here! And Anonymous 2 --shhhh.

Elisabeth said...

Good to see you at my blog Linda. i too enjoy trawling through the archives and reconstructing the stories of those who come before. Yours/your parent's is a terrific story.

Candace said...

Linda, these are wonderful. Don't you wish you could decipher the shorthand?

Lisa said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Linda Gartz said...

Some blog gremlin was at work and deleted this nice comment from Lisa -- but claim the author (I assume that's me) did it. So I'm reposting from my email notification. Lisa found the nail polish color - which looks like the same color Mom swiped right into her diary:

Lisa has left a new comment on your post "Dear God, please let it come true!":

Love these articles. I was curious to see what colours her nails might have been: http://www.amazon.com/Lollipop-Butterscotch-Remover-Original-Advertisement/dp/B004GNXSVU

Kathy Reed said...

I think you struck a chord with this post. I'm the 18th comment! What I wouldn't give to have something like this.