Several years ago I received five dozen copies of 1940s and 1950s era Life and Look magazines, courtesy of a good Big Lake friend who purchased them at a Wright County estate sale.

The 1950’s I can remember, as they were in my elementary years youth; the decade prior was diapers, etc.

But the subject matter - the stories and advertisements which appeared in those beautiful old weekly magazines were something to behold.

I remember reading a story about President Josef Tito of Yugoslavia in 1951. He had brought his country out of the ravages of WWII and they were suffering again - from the ravages of a two-year famine. His people were starving.

He made the plea for international aid, and our America, which had fought against the Nazis friendly to the Yugoslavians, made a couple of quick airlifts to the stricken country.

Keep in mind - the Yugoslavians and President Tito were not friends of America. They were taken over and controlled as one of six Red Soviet sattelite countries.

Two large cargo planes stuffed with food hit the ground and were quickly unloaded to help their people.

President Tito was quoted in that magazine story.

They had received foreign aid before - but it was always in the form of guns and ammunition.

From America - came food.

He was heartened by the international show of support.

Something our journalism group learned when in 2003 visiting Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzgovina, Serbia-Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia) President Tito was a reverred leader of that country until his death in the 1970’s, I believe. And he was the one Satellite country leader most supportive of American efforts in Europe for the decades to come. In fact, the Russians had contracts out on his life. He just happened to be on a different plane when one blew up.

You can access these magazines and their wonderful stories and old-age ads via the internet. But if you’d like the smell and feel of a 70-year old magazine bringing old life to life, give me a call.