From Maclay to Zama

Betty tells some stories from her childhood. We find out how Don and Dan feel about John and Helen getting married.

Betty tells about the famous people she has seen and some more about Emmett's childhood and family.

This episode contains information my grandmother (Bern and Peg's sister, Betty) wrote down in the 1990's in response to questions that I asked about her life. There is also one letter from their brother, Don to his father in 1926 when he was a freshman at Penn State.

This episode includes the final three letters that Bern and Peg wrote from Japan. There is also a letter from John asking about what kind of party they want to have for welcome home.

Bern has a car called The Green Hornet that apparently was in a near collision- she is looking forward to relearning her driving skills when she gets home! In this episode we learn everything there is to know about cormorant fishing. It is going on my bucket list!

Peg gets to dance and have some fun. They are busy packing now for the trip home and buying last-minute presentos! They have a huge family and say that everyone will receive 3 or 4 items- which explains how so many items from their time in Japan have survived for 71 years!

TI&E has a big goodbye party and lots of fun is had by all. Passports have been obtained and social activities are winding down.

Passports are being renewed and paperwork is getting processed. The best news is that Peg's birthday pretzels have arrived (a month late).

Pretzels disappear, Easter arrives, more trips and shopping for Bern and Peg while they prepare to turn in their resignations and pack for home!

This episode let me on a field trip to the Bisanar's Company to learn all about pearls! It ended up with Peg celebrating her 27's birthday and them both planning on their trip home!

Some snow and rain has turned around the boredom that has dogged Camp Zama! Now Joe is back for some fun dates, Bern has a new job, several people are getting married and they might take a plane home in July!

Bern gets a new job! Joe and Peg make up and Mieko and Jason get married (wonder if that was a good idea?)

Apparently it is a boring January when all Bern and Peg can think about is getting home! John and Helen are planning to move from Maclay Street.

Happy Thanksgiving! In this episode it is January in Japan and Peg's love-life has hit the skids again. Oh well! More shopping, another earthquake and talk of moving from Maclay Street!

Christmas sounds good. The new club opening was quite the event, but then New Years was a bust. Boring companions and a sick kid doesn't sound like much fun!

In this first episode of season 4- it is all about Christmas. Sounds like every day in December they are receiving packages and gifts from PA. They both are enjoying their jobs and Peg is dating a new guy. The story about the puppet show is hilarious!

EZ pop popcorn must be a new invention, and the girls received some from their Aunt Pete. I can just picture them giggling while they figure out how it works! They have had their last Thanksgiving in Japan, received their Christmas box and Peg was introduced to a 4-star General. Great 50th Episode!

A Peg quote from this group of letters "I still feel that looking at a typewriter for 8 hours a day is 20,000 times better than looking at some silly man for 50 years!" Wow Peg- how did you really feal about marriage?

Bern visits a lovely resort (Kanaya) and the temples at Nikko. She sees the famous "See No Evil" monkeys, rants about cheating officers, Peg talks about "hush-hush" war games called "Texas Ranger" and their friend Kathy leaves for the States.

Their friend, Kathy is breaking her contract and going home to San Francisco. Bern describes a typical Saturday at Zama in great detail. Their Christmas gifts are on their way to Pennsylvania and they include an article explaining how schools run in Japan.

So the diet didn't provide the "metamorphosis" they wanted- just hallucinations. The typhoon season was harsh but they made it through and this episode contains one of Peg's funniest letters ever!

Peg downplays the effects of one of the most dangerous typhoons to ever hit Japan- "we are OK", MIGs shoot down a jet, and Labor Day festivities are a bust.

Gladys provides us with a detailed description of the Mount Fuji climb, there is a spat of some sort going on back on Maclay Street, and Bern actually breaks the rules (sends home a picture taken at work)..

The Aunts go on a diet (which is very successful it seems)! Peg weighs in on the political climate and Bern describes a lovely night in Atama. There are two typhoons to deal with "Grace" and "Helen" (which Bern never mentions....).

It is finally time to climb Mt. Fuji! How could Bern miss this adventure?