Both my grandmothers spoke of the enforced stateside blackouts during WWII. Women were sent grass skirts from husbands and brothers, and during the blackouts, the women would light candles once the curtains were drawn and do 'hulas' and other improvised dances to entertain the kids and each other. Upon my mother's passing, I found among her possessions letters, postcards and images from her mother and father, aunts and uncles--all long dead now--chronicling their experience in all the theatres of war: Europe, Pacific and home.