Chapter 1 - Prologue

I never really know how to start these things off. The home nurse tells me to just think of the memories of it and they will find their way to the pages. Not so easy for an 72 yr old woman, but I'll give it a try. With the exception of my late husband Fred, my fondest memory is that of my dear friend Nora who was lost quite long ago. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I've enclosed some photo's that I had restored with color. But goodness, I'm getting ahead of myself! My name is Betsie Warner, and I am writing down my memories for my friends so that once I have passed on they will remember me and my tale. I've never told anyone about any of this, but seeing as how I'm not sure how much time I have left, now is as good a time as any. 

If there is one thing anybody knew, it was that Nora Bracford and I were the very best of friends. Like sisters some would say. Our families were close as well, and we spent much time together growing up. I first met Nora when I was 9 years old. She was a skinny gangly girl with mousy brown hair and freckles, but my word, what a personality. My parents had perished in a horrible automobile accident and I had been sent to live with my grandparents, Clyde and Agnes Linder. They were wonderful people, and so in love! Other than my parents, I couldn't have asked for anyone better to raise me. 

Our neighbors, the Bracford's met under interesting circumstances. Marion Wilsburg had traveled to France on holiday and it was that summer she had met Herrice Bracford. Impressions must have been made, because wouldn't you know it, the following year Herrice immigrated to America. After he received his citizenship, they were married shortly after. They had only one child, little Nora Grace, and settled in northern Delaware. 

My grandparents had lived there many years and were all too excited to have new neighbors. Then I came along and we all spent many fun filled happy years, celebrating birthdays and special occasions together. That is until the war. Fortunately my sweet grandfather Clyde was past the drafting age, but poor Mr. Bracford was not so lucky. He was called off to war, and things weren't quite the same after that. The war changed so much in our communities, and many families were torn apart, their lives never to be the same.

I have had these journals for many years now yet they are constantly filled with new information. These journals belonged to Nora, and now I pass on her recollections to you, through her eyes...