This blog is the story of Joan and Harold, told by themselves (and a few supporting characters) in their correspondence.  The backdrop is World War II.  Action begins in Essex, England, offstage.

Joan is an English woman, 21 years old.  Harold is a “Yank”, an American bomber pilot, 25 years old.  Joan lives in Sawbridgeworth with her parents in the house where she was born.  Harold is stationed at Stanstead, then an American Army Air Force base near Bishop’s Stortford.  Joan and Harold meet, and fall in love.  Then they are separated by Harold’s redeployment to stateside duty, and begin a regular correspondence.

This blog will consist mostly of the letters that Joan and Harold wrote to each other through their two-year separation, during and after WW II.  It’s obvious that they will eventually get together again (this blog is the work of their children).  The letters will be posted as nearly as possible 68 years (after September 1945, 70 years [and after January 1946, 77 years] – due to distraction of the editor from his task) after they were written.  Although Harold and Joan have both passed, their love has not. This is a work of historical fact, using real names and places.  In addition to the story of the protagonists, it contains much interesting social and political commentary and gives a first-hand picture of the privations brought about by this terrible war.  While the characters are ordinary people, they are not “average” – they are themselves.  They have big thoughts (and small ones), big ideals, and big plans.

The work starts slowly, as Harold begins to explore the idea of a long-distance relationship and the difficulties of communication.  Some of their letters have been lost, either to military censorship, the mail system, or housekeeping (but not many, as you will see).  The letters themselves are presented verbatim, complete with spelling, grammar and punctuation idiosyncrasies (and yes, errors).

In a garden in Sawbridgeworth, England