Tigger

I think I appreciate this letter more because I am mother. Had I started reading the letters ten years ago when I first received them, I would not have understood my grandmother’s cautious reporting in regard to Mark’s newest urges.  Now that I have children constantly asking and begging for things, I completely get it. My uncle Mark sounds like so many children I know, including my own. Mark’s attention is constantly changing and moving on to something else. With a modern eye (and my own experiences of living with loved ones with ADD/ADHD), it makes me wonder if Mark was just an energetic child or whether he had ADHD. Since ADHD is a modern diagnosis, I am certain that we will never know the answer to that question. Of course, ADD/ADHD is considered to be hereditary.

So why did I include a picture of Tigger? Tigger is the perfect example of the energetic, and possibly ADHD child.Tigger constantly jumps into things, no matter the consequences, and is always full of life and gusto. He is the one who is willing to try anything, even if he isn’t any good at all. When he gets bored, he finds something new to hold his interest. Does that remind you of anyone you know? I obviously never knew my uncle as child, but only as an adult, the father of three children and a respectable attorney. Regardless of who my uncle actually was, as I read the letters, I am beginning to imagine him as a pint sized tigger.

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Aug 31-1941 [sic]

Dear Daddy-

The last day of August and hot and sultry. This morning it was cool & foggy but after the sun got thru it is so close I feel so stuffy. I am still in bed. Feel pretty good as long as I keep quiet. I called Dr. C. and he said if I didn’t get any better in two or three days to come to St. E. so he could check me over-so I am going to see how I get along the first of the week and if I can’t get up will have Bob take me down about Thurs and see if anything can be done

(page 2) However it won’t be long now. Clara M. is working for me this week and next and I think I’ll write Mother & see if she wants to come up-if not Ruthie will come over. We will get along so don’t worry about us. The boys are good help and can do a lot.
The new music teacher is organizing a new band in the grade school and Mark is to be in it. He is so thrilled he can hardly wait to get a horn. I am not too optimistic about how well he will get along but since he wants to be in the band so much maybe he will try harder than he did on the piano. I wish he would get interested in a horn and really work on it.

(page 3) I let him ride once this summer but that is definitely over now. I am not going to let him ride anymore. Jimmy Simons was riding in the pasture Sat. and fell of the horse and got a bad head injury. Clara was telling the boys about it this morning so I think Mark is ready to give up riding. His latest urge is for a bicycle. He wants one about as bad as he wanted his wrist watch-and now he doesn’t even wear the watch.
Dorothy & Lucile came out this morning but didn’t stay long. Dorothy is going to put some peaches in the locker. I think if I can get some that aren’t so expensive I’ll have Clara get a dozen boxes ready for us. The shipped in peaches are so expensive-I think in a week or two they will be more

(page 4) plentiful and not quite so high.
Link came over yesterday and cleaned the furnace out some. Mark had been taking out a few but I couldn’t get down to see how much he had done so thought I had better get someone who knew what to do.
Louise Krull is home at present. Franklin has finished his job at Decatur and is to be sent either to Okla. or Australia. Louise says she is going along wherever he goes. Mrs. K said if they went to Australia they couldn’t take the baby-but I don’t know who will have the final say.
It is about time for the boys to come home for lunch so I must get this finished so Mark can mail it.

Love

Mother