Doris Dennis, Dorchester
In this interview, Doris Dennis, a longtime foster grandmother, tells Brittany Christian, a student at New Mission High School, about her life as a military wife in the 50s, from the racism on military bases to the posting she still misses to this day: Japan.
Below is an excerpt from their conversation, which also includes Doris’ thoughts on all the things she’d fix in the world, plus how much she loves a good occasion to dress up. Read the longer, edited transcript here.
Doris: Thank God, I’ve had a wonderful life, I couldn’t ask for a better one. I lived in these countries, going from one place to another. I’ve been to every island that they have. I’ve lived in California. I’ve lived in Michigan. I’ve lived in Alabama. Georgia. My kids was exposed- they’ve been to Berlin. So I’ve had a good life, thank the good Lord.
Brittany: Wow, that’s a lot of places.
Doris: Can’t too many people say they’ve traveled that much. But back in the day, you could travel and enjoy. And I remember one time I was going down Florida with some people I lived with in Bulgaria--this goes way back--they told the lady that I was with that I couldn’t eat in the dining room, but I could have room service (laughs).
Back then it didn't matter, cause I was young. But now you think about it and, you know, that wasn’t nice. But things have changed. But in some places, still got the same problem.
Back in the day, people didn’t even think nothin’ about that. They just figured that’s the way the world was like. White was better, and you had to do this, you had to use the back door, and you couldn’t mix in, or you couldn’t drink at the same fountain and stuff like that. And you know, they fought for it as the years went by, but lookin back, it didn’t bother me cause I didn’t know any better. You get older, you learn, and realize that wasn’t nice, you know.
Brittany: At all!
I like your stories. They’re really interesting. I like how you traveled all over the place.
Doris: Well, you know, it’s nice, but I think after this is over, not too many people’s gonna do much traveling. Cause I think it’s gonna take a long time for this to subside, for people to be comfortable.
My daughter, we used to take a vacation July, September, October, back to back, but now I don’t know. You don’t want to get in the hot tub and stuff ‘cause you just don’t know. You’re not gonna be comfortable and enjoy. You just have to take one day at a time and see what happens and trust in the Lord.
Brittany: Okay, so I know these questions might be hard to talk about, so this will brighten the mood: What was one of the best days of your life that you didn’t want to end?
Doris: Oh, dear! The best day of my life was when I lived in Japan.
Brittany: What did you do there?
Doris: Well, let’s put it this way. I had servants, you know. I had a maid, I had a registered nurse, I had a seamstress. Everything you could think of, I had that kind of service.
Brittany: Oh, you were living your best life!
Doris: That was the best part. And you know, to this day, you’re not gonna believe it: I feel like people should wait on me! And most of the places I go, for some reason, they wait on me or help me do things. But if I could have that life again…
The How We Got Through project connects elders with younger Bostonians for recorded phone conversations during the pandemic about life, and how the elders got through tough times. The project is designed to ease loneliness for all involved, and to amplify the voices of our elders, who have always been our guides in life.
To nominate an elder to be interviewed, or to get your young people involved in the project, reach out to us at: hello@everydayboston.org
