“Sugar” with Ration Stamp | Grandma’s Stories

Jun 3rd “Sugar” with Ration Stamp

Several times I have heard a story – each time similar and it is regarding the present condition of our would situation – today, here in America. (below I just got carried away with writing – so will pick-up tomorrow from here – with what I was going to write)

When I was a kid and our country was at war – WWII – during those days every body seem to be in the same “boat” – just plain poor – with a real struggle to make ends meet! Each family had so many “ration books” allotted per members in the household. To buy a Pound bag of ‘sugar’ – you had to have that “ration coupon” or no sugar.

Which reminds me – I may have been “6 years old” and the oldest child in the family – and as “luck ” goes the one sent to get whatever was needed as I did know where the different stores were in our area. Do you know where the “Lin dell Theatre” on North Grand Avenue is? Well, they had a Sale on “Sugar” and I was given instructions – ration stamp – money and how exactly to go! Now, do you know where “Carter and Linton Avenue are? Look it up on a map and remember how old I am?

I made the trip and brought home a bag of “Sugar” – but it had a hole in the cloth sack – You guessed correctly – I was sent back and with a “NOTE” from my mother to give me a bag of “Sugar” with out a hole, a full bag was expected for the full amount of money paid! So, there I am walking back and my walk takes me straight through “Fair-grouds Park” for a round trip – two more times!

I did return home, and with a good and full bag of “Sugar” – and with all of that walking – I guessed you thought I would be tired – but I wasn’t – since we were a family that did a lot of walking! If you wanted to get somewhere, you walked or you didn’t go.. Remember the “war” effort took all the fuel and for you to buy fuel for the “automobile” you needed ration stamps! You could call those days “the days of the hand-me-downs” and be grateful you had whatever you had. We were all blessed for everyone was doing without a lot of what they may have wanted – just so our “Soldiers” would win the war!

Remember the story about “Ice Cream” I am the same person – that went for that – also!