Nylons

Share This Post

Nylons

Keep it Real Wednesday

July 3, 2019

As we gather as a nation to celebrate the 4th of July, I thought I would ask Rosemary to share her favorite memory about the great American holiday. What evolved was a story about WW2 – and well – nylons…

Nylons were introduced in the early 40’s and quickly became a staple for women’s clothing. But as quickly as they entered the market, they were suddenly rationed because nylon was in short supply and desperately needed for the war effort to make parachutes, ropes and netting for the US Troops. So, most women resorted to leg make up and an eyebrow pencil to draw a line up the back of their leg to look like stockings. Very crafty.

After high school, Rosemary worked at Fisher Brothers in downtown Cleveland in the office. One night some of the girls she worked with decided to go to the East Side and have dinner and she met Hal, a friend of one of the girls. Apparently, Hal took a fancy for Rosemary right away and offered to drive her home, so she would not have to use the streetcar. Rosemary rode with Hal and together they exchanged informal information about each other. She learned he was studying to be a mortician and he talked in depth about what he was learning and how they get the deceased ready for funerals including dressing them in their best suits, dresses, shoes and nylons. Nylons? But, they are rationing nylons and women everywhere are using make up on their legs? Her wheels started turning.

At the end of the night, Hal asked Rosemary what it would take to go out on a date and Rosemary blurted out NYLONS! 

 And so, it started…after the family viewings and funerals, Hal would carefully remove the nylons from the deceased and squirrel them away for Rosemary. It was a dirty little secret no one knew – not even her mother – especially her mother.

Once Hal started getting serious, Rosemary knew it was time to cut it off. The charade had lasted long enough. It was time to say goodbye to Hal and her supply of nylons.

It was back to leg make up and eyebrow pencil.

Goodbye Hal.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

View Our Other Stories & Blog Posts

"Blogging is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you're gonna get."

Fortitude

On Sunday, April 23rd, we delivered a bike to Angela and her 5-year-old son Jax.  Angela and her parents greeted us warmly as Jax sheepishly

Care Map

Keep it Real Wednesday May 24, 2023 Care Map In 2018, Wade and I attended a “caregiver conference” to navigate the waters before us to

Well…

Keep it Real Wednesday May 17, 2023 Well… Keep it Real Wednesday is all about keeping it real. The REAL truth is I didn’t prepare

"Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving."

-Albert Einstein

Copyright © 2023 – The Blessing Bike, 501(c)(3) nonprofit – All Rights Reserved

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x