I hate to even admit this, but I was born during WW II and for many years during and afterward, the war was a common topic. Not so much for those who fought it, but for those of us who were around during it. It was just part of a way of life.
I had forgotten about the milkweed floss and the life jackets until I saw a clump of milkweed growing along the roadside recently. I usually take the interstate and miss out on all the good stuff.