Home Again

Letter transcription:

Oct. 4 – 1965

Dear David & Bonnie –

Here is a check which was opened by your Dad. He didn’t look at the name, I thought you might be able to use it.

Dad came home from Rotary and has been going thru junk mail and magazines which accumulated while we were away. He is in the living room half way watching the program – or the coverage of the Pope’s visit. I have watched it in part. I wanted to see the Michelangelo statue at the world’s fair which was shown during the Pope’s visit to World’s Fair Vatican Pavilion, but as usual our T.V. wasn’t behaving too well. We didn’t go to Rome on our trip so didn’t get to see it there. That should be a good excuse for us to visit Rome.

I have been so busy trying to catch up with desk work today. I haven’t made much contact with anyone. I did call Mrs. Myers, I promised her I would stop and see her tomorrow. We bought Becky a doll in Disneyland and the Indiana with a drum-like the one he has worn out – for Kirk – and I want to take that doll for Mrs. M. to see. It is for Becky’s birthday and the Indiana is for Kirk’s.

While in Champaign John took us to see Cat Balleau. That was very funny and if you get a chance and haven’t seen it do go. Also the scenery in Lord Jim is beautiful – and although the movie has changed the story it is worth seeing. If you haven’t read Lord Jim it won’t bother you. The pictures which we took in Cambodia are the same as some of the background used in the picture. That is something else – the locus of Lord Jim is Indonesia. The Georges saw Lord Jim and when we told them we were in Cambodia when the picture was being made, they said that explained a few things. Nell said she knew that couldn’t have been made in Bali but there was a funeral scene just like some of the pictures we have and like they also have.

Our vacation was really wonderful. We stopped in San Francisco (Sebastapol), Los Angeles, Reno, Odessa, Tex., and Beaumont, Tex. for visits and really enjoyed seeing friends and relatives, and we felt they were all glad to see us. Everyone insisted that we come to the west coast (except Juanita) to retire (now). Juanita said they were going to Laredo, Texas, to retire.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/15/home-again/

Texas

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Sept. 27-1965

Dear David & Bonnie –

As we ride along toward Houston I will write and if it gets unreadable I will have a good excuse. We left El Paso yesterday a.m. (6:00) because we wanted to stop and see Juanita and they live in Odessa, but were leaving in the afternoon to go to Alpine where Ralph works, and we figured it would make less driving for us to see them in Odessa than in Alpine. I hadn’t seen Juanita since your grandmother passed away when you were 13 months old. All these years I have always thought of Juanita as being much younger than myself but she is just 9 years younger—the same difference between you and Mark. She was quite pleased that we stopped to see them. I called her on Sat. night from El Paso and she could hardly believe her ears when I told her “Aunt Gladys” was calling. She said they plan to go to Laredo to retire—said they could never stand the cold weather in the north.

We plan to attend a game in the Astrodome tonight. We have reservations in a motel near there. We plan to go on to Hattiesburg Wed. evening and visit the Georges. We hope Debbie doesn’t kick up too much trouble in that area. The weather has been delightful where we have been—after we got out of the cool northwest in Gila Bend, Ariz. It was 104 the day passed thru. I remember Clint Youle, the weatherman in Chicago was always giving the high reading in Gila Bend.

We will pass thru Johnson City this a.m. also Austen on our way. This is very interesting country—but as I told Dad, as large as Texas is, everything should be here. We have seen mountains, farm lands, oil wells, sand and rocks. I told Dad there is so much land not being used in Texas, there should be plenty of room for some time to take care of the population explosion. Texans probably would not appreciate my comment. Juanita says in the 16 years they have lived in Odessa it has grown from a small town to a fair size city. We just passed a sign pointing toward the L.B.J. Ranch.

We have driven more than 6,000 miles so far and we have to cross the rest of Texas and then over to Miss. And then north, so as you can probably figure we still have a few miles to drive, but we have really enjoyed seeing the good old U.S.A.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/14/texas/

Hearst Castle

1 Reply

[Postmark September 21, 1965, Lost Angeles, California]

Happy Birthday. We went to see this place this morning. Having a grand time.
Love – Mother & Dad

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/13/hearst-castle/

Sebastapol California

1 Reply

[Postmark September 16, 1965, Sebastapol, California]

Dear D. & B. This same view continues along Calif. coast. We have just come over a highway like the Million Dollar Hwy in Colorado but this time I wasn’t the least bit afraid. We are going D.A. Mercurio – 3490 Frei Road Sebastapol—just a few miles from where we are eating back now. We may make a trip over to Reno to see Wingfields, then down to L.A. to see Aileen & Tom. We really enjoyed the coast of Oregon. We took our time and picked up rocks & agates along the way. Our vacation has been very enjoyable. Happy Birthday in case I forget to send you another card. Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/12/sebastapol-california/

Oregon Coast

2 Replies

[Postmark September 12, 1965, Astoria, Oregon]

Dear David & Bonnie we have found a perfect place to spend a rest day. Our room overlooks a bay and it is a beautiful sight. Tomorrow we start down the coast of Oregon, then will go to Reno, Nev. and then to San Francisco. Last stop for visits on the coast will be L.A., then we will start back east. Dad is watching a ball game on T.V. and I am writing, a good way to loaf. Did you remember Becky’s birthday Sept. 10? Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/11/oregon-coast/

Black Hills Passion Play

1 Reply

[Postmark September 9, 1965 Spokane Washington]

Dear D. & B. We have traveled a few miles since seeing the Play. I am under a dryer in Spokane Wash at present. Forgot to bring my dryer along. We will see Grand Coulee Dame today, then head for Oregon coast, then down to San Francisco & L.A. before starting back to Indiana. We are really seeing the U.S.A. and I must say we have some very beautiful sights. Took a picture of Romaine’s “little” house when in Des Moines. Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/10/black-hills-passion-play/

Yellowstone

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Sept. 7 – Waiting at Yellowstone for Old Faithful to erupt.

Dear David & Bonnie – We spent last night at Sunset Motel in Cody and drove here this a.m. We plan to drive on to Livingston, Montana, to spend tonight, then go to Glacier Int. Park next day. The scenery out this way is very grand, then we drive though some of the towns and see such heaps of junk and lack of zoning (So much for philosophy). We are wearing heavy clothes because the weather is quite nippy. We were bundled up Sunday night when we attend the passion play at Spearfish S.D. Dad even wore a pr. of wool sox. After putting on several layers of sweaters and our car coats, we took blankets along and wrapped ourselves so we kept warm. We were warned when we bought tickets to dress as for a ball game. We saw all kinds of blankets and other warm wrappings. Since we are going on to another Nat’l Park I decided I needed wool slacks so bought a pair in Cody this morning. Also found a sweater to match the skirt I bought at Loebs—the cranberry red. I have yarn to knit one, but bought one to use until I get the other one made—

We saw Old Faithful give a spectacular performance and then drove to Livingston Montana where we will spend the night. Tomorrow we will drive to Glacier International Park then on to Grand Coulee Dam, then over to the coast and down. I called John last night. He was getting ready to paint the inside of his house. He had purchased a garbage disposal & dishwasher. The last time

[page 2] we saw John he had just purchased his bedroom furniture and kitchen table, stove & refrigerator. We plan to stop there on our way home to see his place. Will drop you a card once in a while.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/09/yellowstone/

Should Have Known Better

4 Replies

Letter transcription:

Dear B & D:

After you left, I noticed the garage door was open, so I went to close it and found these screws, so thought you might like to have them when you put your bed together. Also found the knife which I will return to Sears tomorrow.

After resting a while I started the washing of sheets, etc., and before coming to the office was about half through.

I was wondering what to mail these screws in, when I found the box from the calendar which you received from LeBeau.

When I came to the office, Arvella said someone was going to “catch it”—and he did. A patient had taken a cast off because it was too hot. Dad put a tension bandage on and dismissed him. I told Arvella this was

[page 2] the wrong day for him to have done that—and she replied any day would have been the wrong day for such a thing. I heard Dad tell him he was an adult and should have known better than do what he did. I sure will be glad when we get started on vacation. I will be glad to get away for a month.

Good luck in finding an apartment.

Love Mother

8-16-65

Mary Poppins and Lord Jim

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Aug. 3-1965

Dear David & Bonnie—

Last week (Sat.) I went to Lafayette to take the leased car to the Cadillac garage, and while I waited went to Loebs and bought some shirts for Dad. The shirts were on sale so I can’t return them, so sent the two which didn’t fit to you. I hope you like them—since they require no ironing and also hope you can wear them.

I went to Champaign last week to see Lord Jim. Spent the night with Lea & Bob and came home Wed. PM. Lord Jim is coming here but I don’t know when—probably while we are away. I took Mrs. Myers to see Mary Poppins Sunday afternoon, then brought her out here for dinner. I took her home a little after 8. She really enjoyed being “out in the country”—she said the air smelled so fresh. We had had some rain so it did seem more refreshing than she has been used to—what with so much dust

[page 2] this summer.

I worked for Edna yesterday a.m. She is going to the Risk Dental Clinic for new dentures. The ones Dr. L. made for her have never been satisfactory, so she (after some persuasion on my part) decided to try Risk. She has to go back Wed., so will have to work for her again tomorrow. I am trying to get a few things done—like disposing of accumulated items of no value—however, I won’t throw anything away I think you may want.

The United Church Women of Kentland elected me to the office of Secretary and I have a few chores in that office to take care of before we leave on vacation.

I also have to take the Cadillac back to Lafayette Friday for further repairs—so I won’t get any sorting done that day.

See you the 13^th.

Love Mother

Exploding Coke Bottles

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

July 20, 1965

Dear Bonnie & David

I hope Bonnie has overcome her indisposition of Sunday evening—also that David didn’t sustain any extensive damage from the exploding coke bottles. Same thing happened to a woman here in Kentland yesterday. Here is a page from a Sears Catalogue. I suppose you would have to place a sheet of plywood on the frame for a support for the foam rubber. What

[page 2] Dad has been thinking about would be how low your bed would be unless you had something the width of the springs to bring it up—but that is something for you to figure out.

Last Friday night we had one of those electrical storms that really tears things apart. I didn’t hear a thing—since that was the day we (Norma & I) had returned from School of Mission and I was tired enough to sleep thru anything—since the storm didn’t awaken me. Dad said when the lightning struck the light pole

[page 3] on the corner it really came thru on the intercom. Our telephone was put out of order and also elec. sec’y, but both have been repaired.

I taped the lectures on Acts at School of Mission. I have borrowed Rev. Watson’s recorder and have made one copy and working on another. When some people learned what I was doing, they wanted copies. I told anyone wanting one to pay for the tape and I would make a copy. I am getting to be somewhat of a mechanic (not really). I really enjoyed my week at Greencastle.

[page 4] We are deep in plans for our trip west. We have all the books and maps we need. I will be glad to get Dad away again. The county at present just had 4 M.D.’s. The Dr. from Morocco is in Mercy Hospital (in Chicago area) (psychiatric case).

We missed seeing the pictures Lord Him when it played in the loop in Chicago. It has been in Indpls. But tonight is the last night. We have missed it again it seems. Dad says maybe it will be on T.V. sometime, but we should find it somewhere in our travels.

Love Mother