Reunited with Her Husband

“I think it was the happiest day of my life when we finally got together after eight years of separation forced by the war. I kept thinking how lucky we were that we still liked each other. But he still found me interesting and attractive and he was the only person that I really loved. I lived with his pictures for almost nine years, you know? And now we have been married sixty-three years.”

The Blessings of Marriage

“We are both willing to work, make things go. We love each other and we are best of friends. He has a different perspective on things. We don’t argue, we don’t fight. Where the children are concerned I was very lucky to have another child. I have a Latin daughter and a Yankee son. So you know, I felt very lucky. And you don’t throw things away.”

The Blessings of Work

“All through their hardship and exile, my parents had working ethics and their determination. I always saw them working and being happy. I never looked upon work as something horrible or undesirable. All my life I felt I was lucky to have a healthy body and a job. When I worked here in West Seattle, we had a shop and the people would come in in the morning, and ‘Oh, I’m so tired Mrs. Sondland, I would like to sleep a little bit more.’ I used to admonish them. I’d say, ‘Be happy you have a healthy body and a job to go to.’ I think work is something that helps you over bad times, over good times, when you do something well and you are recognized. You feel a certain pride.”