<Begin Segment 18>

TI: Okay, so that, did you notice any differences between...

MS: You know, when you're young, you don't. I think if I were a teenager now, I would be different. But in those times, you're pretty innocent. And you came from a very secure and sturdy community, and you just sort of take it for granted that's going to continue. So we didn't... and my neighbors, my neighbors were very nice. So that as far as the parents, I didn't see much difference because I didn't hang around with the parents because I didn't hang around with a lot of folks. But you know, you got into the activities, and there wasn't any school at the time, but I joined a choir and worked at the recreation department. And what was happening, too, is you're getting ready for Christmas, and you knew there wasn't anything that you could have for the kids. But it was amazing because we got there in late October, I guess, and by the time we're settling, and so forth, or maybe August, or late September, October. And by the time you're trying to get your place in order, people were stealing the lumber that was supposed to be for the school, and really trying to make things comfortable. There's no way, how are we going to make curtains for your windows and that kind of thing? And so a lot of time and effort was spent in making physical comfort, and then working as I was and having the kind of activities. But end of November, we were beginning to figure out what we were going to do as far as a celebration of the holidays. And people began to send in all kinds of toys and things to be distributed from the outside, which is wonderful. And then, of course, I was going to the choir, and we really practiced a lot. And the lady who was the wife of one of the administrators was very kind, and she gave me some private lessons. And so we had really quite a concert that year, and that was interesting because it was so cold, the wind would blow, and you'd see these tumbleweeds going, tumbling across. And the one thing I noticed about Heart Mountain was you didn't hear any birds, not a bird. Because it was such sagebrush country, and there really wasn't much life. And so I didn't hear any birds, but years later, when I went back, I'm commenting, said, "Oh, my god, there are some birds," and somebody said, "What are you talking about, Marjorie?" I said, "I'm saying this because we didn't have birds when we first came." And that was how desolate it was.

Anyway, that Christmas concert was really very amazing. We had, in the mess hall, the ceilings are kind of low and it's hot, and people came. And we sang, and I sang a solo and it was wonderful. It was continuity; something that we knew about at home, and we really needed that to be able to feel something that was familiar. And we had the mixture of our valley people and other people. And then on Christmas Eve, we had dinner and then we had a party at our own mess hall. And up to that point, it had not snowed at all. And as we were coming out from having a party, and that was the first time that we heard "White Christmas," and as we came out, it began to snow, so it was interesting, the feeling of having snow.

TI: And was this right before Christmas, too?

MS: That was Christmas Eve.

TI: Christmas Eve, first snow, you heard the first time, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas."

MS: "A White Christmas," uh-huh. It was the first time that we were hearing it. And then as we finished, it was snowing.

TI: So in some ways, it's a very beautiful scene, but yet you're in...

MS: In camp.

TI: In a concentration camp.

MS: Yeah, yeah.

<End Segment 18> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.