Brittney Zamberletti

Cray War Grandma

America has been improving more than ever compared to how it was back in
the 1920s. My family and I had just moved into our new two-story house in the
suburbs thanks to the G.I Bill of Rights! Who would have ever thought that
President Roosevelt would pass a bill to lower the housing costs, giving us an
opportunity to have a beautiful home today?
Not having enough money was hard, especially for my children. They
did not have the privileges compared to those who are being raised in wealthy
households. I wanted the best for my children and I knew at the rate that we
were going, we weren't going to get far. I honestly hated the fact that my
children could not receive the education like those rich kids. However,
President Roosevelt made it possible by lowering the school funds.
With money being tight and the risk of being on the streets, my husband
was in desperate need of a job. He was starting to lose hope and to be quite
honest, so was I. I wanted to help in any way possible, but I knew there was
nothing I could do. Then our prayers were suddenly answered when my
husband was told he would receive an unemployment check for a year, giving

him enough time to look for new work. I can't help but feel extremely blessed to
have an opportunity like this to help get us off our feet.
Our family is the happiest we have ever been and all the families around
us seem to have the exact same glow. Our neighborhood is filled with kids
playing together outside every day. Almost every house on our street has a new
born baby; theyre staying that this decade has the highest rate of babies being
born so far. Theyre calling it the Baby Boomer generation.
A year after the war ended, my husband got a new job where he makes
about 4,500 dollars; more than enough to support our family. We received our
very first credit card and television. Talk about being wealthy; we are definitely
on our way to the top! My husband came home one day and told me I dont
even need to work. My job is to stay home and take care of the kids. Even
though I love taking care of the house, I feel like I should be doing more for our
family, because there are women out there who are starting to work. Then
again, their husbands probably dont even care for them like my husband cares
for me!
Just as everything was going dandy, a new talk came up into town.
Lately, theres been a lot of talk about nuclear war and I really dont know how
to handle it. So many questions go through my mind like what will happen to

my kids, my home, my husband, and my life!? Russia has tested nuclear

weapons, the same weapons we had!
I blame the Rosenberg couple. Shoot, there has been rumors saying that
they were Russian spies. Of course, America found out the truth and they were
for sure spies! They were convicted for sending atomic secrets to Russia.
However, they werent the only people accused of being communists and
working for Russia. The Red Scare had this country accusing people left and
right. The fear of communism struck our country and on February 9th a group
of people were listed as communists who worked for the USSR. All I know is
that if both Russia and the U.S own these atomic bombs, the possibility of a
nuclear war is getting more and more realistic, but they wont tell us what they
are doing. They want us to believe that neither of them have anything atomic
going on. It is terrifying to me because we are supposed to trust our nation
right? Are we not supposed to feel protected? Yet they arent being honest with
us, so we dont know what is true or not. However, we all put on a smile and go
on with our days.
It seemed as war was a never ending topic in our daily lives. The more
we were progressing, the more war became prominent. It wasnt too long until
the nation came face to face with the cold war. I never really understood why it
was called the cold war, but as time passed, I learned that it wasnt because of

the weather, but the simple fact that there was no direct fighting. Regardless,
our armies and theirs were armed and ready for destruction.
Political and military tension rose. Truman who was now our president
believed that the best defense was containment causing our defense spending
to rise. He encouraged atomic weapons. Let me repeat that, ENCOURAGED! As
if I wasn't already questioning our safety with the government, they want to
pull this. I had a talk with my husband about this during dinner one night,
and we both agreed if you do not want a nuclear war, why the hell would
encourage nuclear weapons. Dont get me wrong, preparation is key, but
couldnt he have at least done it low-key so Stalin doesnt do the same? The
deadly armed race has begun!
You can feel the anxiety throughout the nation. Talk about an atomic
bomb came out, and not just any bomb, the hydrogen bomb. The
SUPERBOMB! It was like red alerts going through everyones minds. Bomb
shelters were being built in backyards, and I am not going to lie, I was one
those people. I wasnt ready to die and neither was my family. I was scared out
of my mind, but I couldn't let my children know that. I had to put on a brave
face and be the mom that wasn't afraid of anything, not even a superbomb.
Practice drill attacks became our new norm. Cold war was our new reality.

Films were being made, constant reminders of the day that could easily be
considered our last, if and only if the cold war became the hot war.
The Berlin wall became our nation's symbol of the cold war, preventing
food, materials, and supplies from arriving to West Berlin. Our nation had to go
out of our way to help these people, and I thought my family and I had it bad.
My heart went out to those families that had nothing to do with the war. I
could never imagine my kids having to go through such a dreadful experience.
Of course we were affected, but not as bad as those in West Berlin. I mean it
got to the point where America had to airlift supplies to those in West Berlin,
which is known as the Berlin Airlift.
Time has passed and it seemed as if things were getting worser and
worser by the second. When was the Cold War going to end? When would our
lives go back to normal? But then again, what is normal? My biggest fear was
losing my children and the person I love to a bomb. God forbid!
Nixon came along and thankfully turned the idiots idea around. He took
a new approach. He decided that if military implements were not working,
might as well try the diplomacy approach. Lord, now are you telling me all we
had to be recognize the Communist Chinese government as a government? As
we all thought the war was all over, Reagan decides to bring up this ridiculous

idea again. Reagan what the hell are you doing?! Let them be free! Just put an
end to this nightmare. Let my family and I sleep in peace!
Well yall, it is finally 1991, and the Soviet Union finally, and I mean
FINALLY falls apart. The Cold War ends, and it is about time!

Grandma, I thought you were going to tell us a bedtime story.

Oh my... I thought I was given a lecture to my college students. Oh
dear

Grandma, we are only 7.

Well Brad and Chad, tomorrow is yall big day! Get some rest!

What the hell are you talking about grandma?

Boys, do not talk to your Commander and Chief like that! DROP AND
GIVE ME TWENTY!

GRANDMA!! Snap out of it!

Oh dear, what is going on? Oh right, boys tomorrow you are being
deported to Iraq. Get some rest. Love you both.

TOMORROW IS SATURDAY AND WERE ONLY 7!

Brad and Chads grandmother turned off lights, left the room, and shut
the door behind her. Poor boys, whoever knew grandparents could be so out of
their minds?