Finding Mrs. Post – Chapter 2: The Call That Changed Everything

Mrs. Gene Post was a fiery redhead. And how do I know this when all the photos I've found of her are black and white? Keep reading...

Because every clue I uncover, every trail I follow, keeps painting a clearer picture of a woman full of passion, strength, and no-nonsense determination. And trust me, in her home, when Mrs. Post spoke, you listened.

Budd, Mrs. & Mr. Post

Take Budd, for example.

Budd Post was the only son of Harry and Gene, born in New Jersey on August 25, 1924. From an early age, he was smart, disciplined, and clearly shaped by his mother's strong personality. Gene gave him a journal and told him he had to write in it every single day. And Budd did. Thanks to that lifelong habit, we now have an extraordinary record of everyday life in Miami Springs during that time. He wrote about everything, from school and social events to neighborhood changes and family milestones.

Budd became an Eagle Scout and there's a great photo of him with his proud parents that captures that moment beautifully in the book. This detail hits close to home for me; my own son is a Life Scout currently working toward his Eagle Project. So, yes, I now feel even more connected to Mrs. Post, not just through history but through shared experiences.

I will share more about Budd, his military career, his marriage to Jeanne (yes—same name, different spelling as her mother-in-law), and successes in a future blog post. But, I was deep in my research when I realized Budd had a son, and so I came across Jim,  Mrs. Post's grandson. I learned that he was living in the famous Key Largo house that Budd built, and I found his number (How? Let’s just say, if you enjoy digging online, you can find anyone’s number). I held onto that number for a bit, wondering how this would unfold. Would he answer? Would he even want to talk to a stranger asking about his grandmother?

Harry & Gene, summer of 1939 from the book, A Man Named Budd

On Sunday, June 22, I decided to go for it. I left a voicemail: "Hi Jim, my name is Milly and I'm the President of the Miami Springs Woman's Club. I'm trying to learn more about your grandmother Gene… please call me." And to my biggest surprise… Jim called back.

We were on the phone for almost an hour. He was warm, animated, and more than willing to engage in conversation. And that's when it happened, he said his grandmother was "a redhead. A real firecracker."

I told him how I wanted to write everything down and share it with our community. He didn't hesitate. "Why don't you and your husband come down to the Keys?" he said. "You can interview me, record it all. I'll start looking around the garage for my grandmother's things." I was beyond excited. "Yes, yes, and yes!" I said.  

I ran to tell Fabian, my husband, and our club's historian. His response? "That's my birthday."  So, like any good marketer, I gave him the pitch:  "This will be a birthday to remember. This is history happening in real time. You're the club historian! This is serendipity. And who better to share this moment with than you?"

Sold.

We're on our way to meet Jim. Stay tuned. The next chapter takes us to Key Largo… and I have a feeling Mrs. Post has a lot more to say. We're deep in this rabbit hole together now, so there's no turning back. And please, don't call me trying to find out more. I won't give it away. 😉