Epilogue
We were both much happier now with our band new marital status. Everyday was literally filled with hugs and kisses. And a lot of work. We put in two separate gardens. One next to our house and one next to the closest house to ours. We had talked it over and had decided that it might be somewhat safer to do it that way and it caused us very little extra work as it was only a short walk between the two places.
In spite of our inexperience both gardens grew well enough over the summer. The produce was canned using supplies gathered from the four houses in our area. Some produce was dried using instructions found in our seed box provided by the government.
The radio actually was having some good news to report with those left alive in the nation banding together to help their neighbors. The garden seed box distribution from the government had apparently been a huge success in most areas. Naturally there were exceptions caused by Mother Nature in the form of flooding, hail, or to a lesser extent, drought but overall people had worked hard for themselves to use what was provided to grow their own food supply.
Canning supplies like lids and to a somewhat lesser extent jars caused some storage issues but again neighbors helping neighbors helped a lot to make the situation workable.
Gradually the nation healed and production of all goods and supplies returned. Like in our history our nation grew and built what was needed on American soil and very little trade was needed or even wanted with other nations. Naturally there were a few things that just could not be grown or made here but these things were few.
The End