Letters to My Children – Star Wars

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This is an occasional series in which I recollect my own memories and attempt to share them with my children (or whomever will listen!). For more information about the purpose and scope of this series, read my introductory post.

November 2015

Dear Sea Turtle and Penguin,

It is a cloudy and wet Saturday. In many ways, the rain is a boon that we are all enjoying as it has been dry for months. California is experiencing a drought of epic proportions. Autumn has finally begun in Northern California. The temperature is dropping and we have turned our clocks back for the winter. When you are older, you may remember the years of the drought. But this weekend, as we are stuck inside, between laundry, grocery shopping, and other chores, we watched two of the original Star Wars movies: Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back. We are just over a month away from the release of the newest chapter in the franchise – The Force Awakens. But today, as we engaged in our typical banter over unrealistic plot points, we discussed which characters were puppets (Yoda), inhabited by dwarves (Jawas/R2D2), or giants (Chewbacca). I lectured over the CGI effects which were added into the digitally re-mastered versions from the 1990s. Sea Turtle, you are much like me in my love of fantasy books and films/shows, but you have never bought into the Star Wars hype. I feel that I have failed in passing on my nerdy ways to you in this respect. Penguin, I love that you are enjoying the Star Wars universe. Your Uncle J was almost your age when the first Star Wars movie came out in 1977 so it is wonderful to watch your joyful energy as you take in the stories.

Today, in 2015, the Stars Wars universe is almost 40 years old. It is already a firmly established part of popular culture. But I remember a world where Star Wars did not exist, even for a brief time. Up until then, science fiction shows like Star Trek and Doctor Who had limited special effects. We laugh at how pathetic those special effects seem today. Star Wars was a whole new ball game in 1977. People lined up around the corner of movie theatres to see the next showing. They also went back, again and again.

The Empire Strikes Back came out in 1980. Of the three original Star Wars films, I think this one is my favorite. There was a lot of anticipation in the three years between the first two movies, but even more so between the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The last film was released in 1983. In the 1990s, George Lucas digitally re-mastered the three films, adding CGI effects that had not been possible only a decade or two previously. Your dad and I went to see these “new” old films together, as well as, the three new movies that comprised the prequel trilogy: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. I shall refrain from giving my opinion on these three movies.

David with Deborah, circa 1978, Mt. Wachusett

Star Wars became part of popular culture and it hasn’t really ever gone away. Uncle J and I had the soundtrack to the movie which we played over and over again. Our favorite piece was the background music for the cantina in Mos Eisley. We loved to listen to it on the record player. We owned Star Wars themed t-shirts, toys, sheets, legos and so on. Even today we have Star Wars items around the house from Han Solo (frozen in carbonite) ice cube trays to the Darth Vader mask and light saber toys. And, of course, we have all the movies in our DVD library. For Christmas this year, I am fairly certain there will be at least one Star Wars themed present.

Memory is a funny thing. When the first Star Wars movie came out in 1977, many of the big fast food chains sold drinking glasses. They had colorful decals on the outside with cartoons or other popular characters. In July 1977, a few weeks after Star Wars was released, McDonald’s was investigated by the FDA for having too much lead in the decals on their glasses. Uncle J and I owned several of these glasses and they were thrown away as a precaution. We loved those glasses and like typical children we were devastated. In my mind, those glasses were Star Wars themed. However, after examining several old newspapers, it does not seem possible that the glasses were Star Wars after all. Burger King won the bidding for the Star Wars franchise and began selling glasses in 1980.

The Berkshire Eagle, 9 July 1977, p. 1, col. 1-2. Image courtesy of Newspapers.com

I am looking forward to seeing the new movie in a few weeks. The anticipation for this movie is incredible, especially after seeing many of the trailers over the last few months. The original stars (Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford) will have parts in the new movie and that brings back quite the feeling of nostalgia of a time long, long ago…

I hope you enjoy the new movie,
Love,
Mom

Genealogy Tip:

When interviewing a family member, bear in mind that memories are fallible. Record what they remember, but do some research. Can their memories be backed up with contemporary sources? Until I tried to find evidence about the glasses that were thrown away in 1977, I firmly believed that they were Star Wars themed. Now, I’m not so sure….

Sleeping Partner (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: February 1, 1944 envelope

: February 1, 1944, p. 1

: February 1, 1944, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 1, 1944

Dear Mother,

It’s really mail time but nothing as yet has shown up but it could be late. My last letter being Jan. 12 makes this a pretty long mail famine again.

We were looking at the ads in the paper today and their wording is different than ours and we get a real kick out of some of them. One I remember in particular was a business in which a partner was wanted. And instead of saying a silent partner they called it a sleeping partner. There were others which weren’t so funny but we were in a funny stage and laughed more than much about most of them.

The mail just came and your v-mail of 1-18 and 1-20 arrived. The one on the 20^th told of Tommy B. saying I had called from San Francisco – He surely can stretch stories

[page 2] for that one reached for miles. Hope it isn’t for such a long time.

I didn’t get to send Mark’s money order today because I find they don’t sell money orders every day so I’ll get one the first day they sell them and it should still arrive in time.

It seems as if D. is still very much an active boy and giving his mother plenty of running to do. Maybe I don’t get the ruder side of life but I’ve never heard of him getting a real old fashioned spanking – Yes you have mentioned about slapping his hands. Maybe he is good enough that he doesn’t need any more severe punishment.

Some hours later – It seems I was detained by supper and a stage show which I wouldn’t class as too good but it was pretty good entertainment. I think I’ve told you all about those Tue. Evening shows before and they are about all alike. They make have a habit of singing old songs. A favorite I believe is “For Me & My Gal.” That one has been used every week since I’ve been here. Well time to turn in –

Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/11/sleeping-partner-roscoe/ ‎

Furnace Dirt (Gladys)

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: February 1, 1944 envelope

: February 1, 1944, p. 1

: February 1, 1944, p. 2-3

: February 1, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-1-44

Dear Daddy –

The first day of Feb. – Yours of Jan. 21 came today. It was unusually warm for Feb. 1 –

Took David for a walk. We went to Jimmy’s and then we all walked again. The boys enjoying playing or riding together. David won’t leave his mitten on, then J. gets a similar idea so we are busy putting mittens on. we came from our walk, Mark, D. & I went to Sheldon to get a supply of meat and our fresh lard. Harold Portteus (just out of the hospital, just recovering from hernia operation) called today to say we could have

[page 2] half the beef they have ready to butcher, so we will have a new supply T-bone steaks, etc. I brought some strawberries and lima beans from the locker. We had some berries for supper. They weren’t thawed enough – as far as I am concerned I would just about as soon eat chunks of ice. The boys enjoyed them, so that is all that is necessary. The berries I bought last year weren’t so good for freezing – they did very well in the preserves.

Mr. Z. went to Indpls. for his physical today. Several were going from here. I think Jr. Morton was in the bunch. Mr. Z. is registered at Brookville but asked to go with the men from here.

[page 3] Davie Diedam is here this evening playing with Mark and the electric train. Our David likes the train too.

Mary McGee Arnott is visiting in Kent for a few days. She had a bunch of pictures of her baby and a picture from her husband, somewhere in England. He was standing by a jeep on which was pained their baby’s name, Marylin Sue. He had to leave before their baby was born. She didn’t know where he was when she was in the hospital, but she did send a cable to his A.P.O. number.

We are getting low on coal again. I called Chet Harlan and he promised us some when the next load comes in a week or 10 days.

[page 4] I washed the chair cover last night and got them ironed and back on this afternoon. They show up the furnace dirt more than anything else because their light background – Everybody who burns coal “gripes” about how dirty it is this year, but I suppose we should be thankful to have coal at all.

I was appointed by the woman’s club on a committee for Post War Planning. The first meeting is Thurs. evening at the High School. I don’t have the slightest idea what they intend to do but will give you the “dope” after the meeting.

John is working on his essay. You remember he won second prize last year writing in competition with high school students.

I am about out of paper.
Love Mother

P.S. another picture of D. enclosed.

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/10/furnace-dirt-gladys/ ‎

Another Month All Used Up (Roscoe)

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: January 31, 1944 envelope

: January 31, 1944, p. 1

: January 31, 1944, p. 2

: January 31, 1944, p. 3

: January 31, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 31, 1944

Dear Mother,

I’m writing before mail time again and hope. Of course, mail came only two days ago but it wasn’t such late mail. Just a little over 2 wks. and generally we get the latest in just a little less than two weeks.

Notice the date another month all used up and then we go into the one which we hope has a meaning but which isn’t too promising I’m afraid, however. One never knows.

I forgot to tell you – about 3 days ago I had a woman patient.

[page 2] The wife of a U.S. service man. I was so excited I hardly knew what to ask her – She is going to have a baby and came in for her first prenatal check up. A patient with that diagnosis is an unusual thing for me. That here isn’t my usual work, but since the usual Dr. who takes care of that was busy he asked me to pinch hit. No I don’t mean that. I didn’t pinch or hit the lady either one. Anyway we got the little lady taken care of.

One of the Dr. here it seems run low on white shirts and has laundered one himself and hung it on the fence outside my window and I’m watching

[page 3] it with interest because it might blow off. Maybe I just want it to blow off or something. I don’t think it can now because one sleeve is now well anchored on the barbs of the upper strand of wire. He will probably have to med mend a hole if the wind blows hard enough to tear the thing.

Just saw a bus go down the road and noticed something I don’t believe I’ve mentioned before. Baby carriages on the back. That is very common. In town there are hooks on the front of the street car for the carriages and one often sees 4 or 5 of them there. When Mother and babe

[page 4] get off the car, the conductor gets out and takes the carriage down and away they go. I mean the mother and babe. I can’t imagine that at home but maybe with gas shortage, etc., thinks have changed there.

I’ll get a money order tomorrow for Mark’s birthday. I can’t send money because we don’t get any American money anymore but we can use this to buy money orders. At first we were paid with New Zealand our money and then could get it changed but now it’s all foreign. It doesn’t matter because one finally learns how to make change, etc.

Well, I guess I’d better do something else for a change
Love Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/09/another-month-all-used-up-roscoe/ ‎

Letters to My Children

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As a genealogist, I spend copious amounts of time tracking down long dead ancestors to glean vital clues about their lives. But, what if I had a time machine? Like most people, I would jump at the chance to go back and find out everything I possibly could. One of the first things any new researcher should do when embarking on their genealogical quest is to interview living family members. Many of us regret that we didn’t ask those questions or care about listening to the family stories until after those family members are gone.

But what if you could do something today to help the future generations of researchers? This is a topic which has been swirling around in my head for awhile now. I have two school-aged children, and while I occasionally bore them with stories of my life, research shows that children who know their family’s stories are better adjusted and able to deal with challenges and adversity. A few years ago, I participated in a project called the Book of Me. Participants were given a weekly prompt to use to write about themselves. While I wrote quite faithfully at the beginning of the project, I lost interest. Perhaps the topics were too contrived. I cannot say for sure. I think the project has a lot of potential (and I recommend it to anyone who wants a way to record their story). I gained several friendships with fellow genealogists while I was participating. If you are interested in reading some of my Book of Me posts, you can find them archived under the My Ancestors tab at the top of the page.

So, how DO I go about writing my stories, beyond the standard genealogical birth-marriage-death vital statistics? I think the answer to the question is different for everyone. I have always been in awe of my father, diligently writing his life down in his journal everyday (a habit which he acquired in the weeks after my birth). I have attempted to keep a journal at various times in my life, but it is not a habit that I have found addicting. I have been thinking of solutions to this dilemma. How do I record ME for my descendants and future generations? Transcribing daily letters for the past three years has made a mark upon my psyche. In the back of my mind, I have been keeping a notebook of ideas of things and events from my life that I would like to write down. Potential topics range from foods that I ate as a child to the social history of events that I lived through.

I have tentatively settled on the format of writing letters to my children. Each letter will focus on a different topic. Posts may be sporadic as the urge to write comes over me. Topics will definitely not be chronological, and may jump around on my timeline. To protect as much as possible the identities of my children, they will known as Sea Turtle and Penguin, animals which they love and have been affectionately nicknamed. While these posts are mainly for myself and my children, I hope, dear readers, that you enjoy reading about my life. Stay tuned for my first letter!

Fashion Moments – Overalls

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Welcome to my weekly fashion blog post. Each week I will discuss a female garment, fashion trend or influencer from the age of photography (1840s through the 20th century). My goal is to educate family researchers and genealogists about the clothing worn by our ancestors. Dating photographs is an issue we all struggle with as family archivists. Additionally, anyone who writes about their family’s history should be aware of the environment in which their ancestors lived. Period clothing is an important part of that environment from how it affects a person’s movement to their overall lifestyle. This week I introduce you to the humble overalls.

Overalls

One of the most ubiquitous articles of clothing may be overalls. It could be argued that this garment is the single most important piece of clothing in the working class wardrobe for the past few centuries. The consensus of research shows that the modern overalls evolved from an earlier garment called “slops.” However, “slops” were more like trousers than actual overalls. During the 1700s, only working class people wore long pants; a gentleman wore breeches. [1]

Carl Morris mural, 1942-1943, Eugene (Oregon) Post Office. Commissioned by the WPA Federal Works Project

By the first part of the 19th century, the garment was beginning its evolution into what we would currently recognize as overalls. Up until the 1850s, overalls were homemade, sewn to fit the individual needs of the worker. Originally, the garment was a coverall, worn over another set of clothing for protection. Eventually, it became the worn-alone, bib fronted garment we identify as overalls today. U.S. patents from the late 19th century show a variety of “overalls” from specific occupations. For example, the illustration below shows a pair of overalls patented by Eli F. Stacy and John H. Stacy from Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1872. They were developed for fisherman, in an effort to “secure a smooth front, free of buckles, buttons, or straps where the cloth comes in contact with the rail of a vessel.”

Overall patent, 1872, for use by fishermen

Many patents advertised themselves as improvements to the overall. Two years later in 1874, Alfred Rosenburg of Bridgeport, Connecticut, patented a series of hooks and eyelets which made overalls adjustable “to fit persons of varying sizes.”

Rosenburg’s 1874 patent

The exact date of the mass production of overalls is unclear, but many companies, such as Levi, Lee, Carhartt, and Oshkosh, began marketing overalls around 1900, although they may have been manufacturing them for several years or decades previously. [2] Overalls are unique in many ways because they have been marketed to men, women and children. They have been used as a patriotic tool in both world wars, as a symbol of everyone laboring for the common cause.

We like to think of our ancestors as dressing up for those rare photographic moments. For many of our ancestors, overalls were a wardrobe staple, a tool of their trade, their daily uniform. Below are a few examples of my ancestors being photographed around the farm as cameras became more accessible.

John H. Yegerlehner, wearing overalls on his farm, during the 1910s

Ralph and Raymond Yegerlehner on the farm in 1915

McCammon, Lydia & Jesse with Minerva Metcalf

Jesse & Lydia McCammon with Minerva Metcalf, haying in the 1910s

Sources

[1] “The History of Overalls,” Blair Mountain Reenactment Society, 10 May 2011 (https://blairmountainreenactment.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/the-history-of-overalls/).

[2] Ann Revenaugh Hemken, “The Development and Use of Bib Overalls in the United States, 1856-1945,” 42-45.

Images

Carl Morris mural (1942-3) at the Eugene Post Office. WPA Federal Works Project competition winner, posted on the Oregon Secretary of State website.

Overall patent illustrations are from Ancestry.com‘s database “U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, 1790-1909.”

War Gardens for Victory. 1939-1945. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Reproduction no: LC-USZC4-4436

The photographs from the Yegerlehner farm courtesy of Karen Kline Brand. The photograph of Jesse and Lydia (Foster) McCammon with Minerva Metcalf courtesy of Geraldine McCarroll.

My Fountain Pen (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 31, 1944 envelope

: January 31, 1944, p. 1

: January 31, 1944, p. 2-3

: January 31, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-31-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 21 today. Another warm Jan. day. I will have to cover the tulips. This warm weather is bringing them up fast. There was a shower last night. The weather prediction is for colder weather soon.

My sinus condition is better. Yesterday about 4 PM my nose started running and I spit for several hours, besides holding a tissue to my nose. By bedtime it seemed to have cleared up and I slept soundly last night for the first for 3 nights. I felt stiff this AM. I had slept so soundly. My throat wasn’t so irritated this morning as it usually is from the night drainage. I don’t believe it

[page 2] will be necessary to go see the Dr. unless of course it gets worse and I don’t believe it will the way I feel now.

David is taking his afternoon nap. He likes to watch Mark’s train, now that it is working again. He seems to understand so much we say to him, but he doesn’t improve in his toidey habits. I told him this morning as much as he understands he could tell us when he needs to go the bathroom. He is learning to feed himself. Still wants to turn the spoon over before he gets it to his mouth, but did a pretty good job eating his dinner.

You wondered what the dividends from J. Hancock meant – instead of deducting those from the polic prems.

[page 3] they sent us checks for the dividends and I paid the prems. as they appeared on the notices. I would say the long way to do it, but we got the benefit just the same, or, I should say deductions.

Today is tin can day. I open all the cans, flatten and put in a box for collection once a month. Sat. the scouts collected paper, so we are rid of cans and waste paper today. Bun hauled the clinkers last week so we feel very clean, with all the above disposed of. If we could just keep the basement clean, but that is out of the question. The coal isn’t treated this year and the dirt from the stoker is bad. I keep thinks straightened but in a few days the coal dust on the floor is thick enough to write in.

[page 4] Lucile came out with J.E., for a little visit again today. We were in the nursery talking and David came into the dining room. I called to him and he had my fountain pen and ink bottle – the lid wasn’t on and you can see what happened to the paper. Should see the floor. I have most of it up but ink goes right in this floor. I had been filling my pen and hadn’t fastened the lid down enough. I didn’t spank – I should have had the bottle tightly closed. I know he shouldn’t take things but I am working on that all the time. Maybe I haven’t spanked hard enough when I did spank. Just so he doesn’t do any more damage than spilling ink. I must get this finished and see if I can get D. quieted down – he is on a little rampage now.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/08/my-fountain-pen-gladys/ ‎

Open House (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 30, 1944, p. 1

: January 30, 1944, p. 2-3

: January 30, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-30-44

Dear Daddy –

This being Sun. evening, we are all sitting in the living room listening to the radio – Charlie MC is on now. John and Mark are studying, in a way – but I believe the radio has the most of their attention. We had the Zells come to dinner today. I was going to have them remain for some supper, but they had company come and had to go home before supper. Mr. Zell has to go to Indpls. Tues. for his physical. He has to go thru all the formality but he may not have to go. Purdue is trying to keep their county agents home. You know P.U. is really “boss” of the agents and should have enough to say about such matters to carry weight. We will see. Mr. Z. will go if he has to – he isn’t the kind to try for deferments, but if is kept home thru his employment, that is another matter. Lucile says Ed won’t ask for deferments but the company has had him deferred so far. His last one is about up and

[page 2] he may have to go. Lucile said she thought she would stay on here for a while even if Ed does go. She was out a while today with Jimmy Ed. He and David are about the same size. D. is just about an inch taller and a lb heavier. David at present takes everything away from J. Everything J. gets D. wants. I think in time J. will correct that situation.

Dorothy & Nick came out for a while this P.M. Since they have their Sundays off are at liberty to go out together. I think they do a lot of sleeping on their days off.

Mr. Z. and Ed Johnson worked on Mark’s train and got it in running order again. They set it up in our bedroom this afternoon (Mr. Z. & Mark) and we had a lot of noise until David’s bedtime then Mark had to quit for the evening.

I told you about taking Sulfa for my throat. I am allergic to said sulfa and this morning I noticed

[page 3] my right hand was a little swollen and thumb showing a few water pimples so the sulfa is out and my sinus is still draining like a sugar tree. No need to worry as long as it drains, just so it doesn’t get worse. If it isn’t better in the morning I’ll go down and have Dr. M. give me a treatment.

The warm weather last week brought the tulips up so I’ll have to get out and cover them up because Feb. will surely bring colder weather. I knew it was very warm for Jan. but didn’t think it would bring the tulips up.

I sent you some more pictures taken around David’s 16^th month. They are all very good of D. and not bad of the rest. I just reflected when I looked at those pictures about David’s smile. He is smiling in most of his pictures. We were discussing the difference between J.E. and D. this afternoon – David is so spontaneous with his smile that he will smile or laugh at

[page 4] most anything but J.E. is more conservative and sober most of the time. They had some pictures made of J.E. last week and Lucile said they couldn’t get him to smile in but one picture.

Irene was here a few minutes – Jimmy came over to see Mark’s train and she came to get him. I didn’t get to talk to her much. Dorothy & Nick came before she left. She did say she went to see the Dr. in Chi. Yesterday, but I didn’t ask her any questions. I don’t know whether she is working at the factory or not.

It sounds like we had open house today. I don’t know when so many different ones have been here in one day. Don’t suppose it will happen again for days.

Will write again tomorrow and since no mail goes out on Sun. will put both in one envelope.
Love Mother

David, January 1944

Officer’s Club (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: January 29, 1944 envelope

: January 29, 1944, p. 1

: January 29, 1944, p. 2

: January 29, 1944, p. 3

: January 29, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Jan. 29, 1944

Deat Mother,

Just another of those lazy Sat. P.M. and I can’t see why it should seem any different but it does. Tonite we are to have an unofficial opening of our officer’s club and I suppose there will be some who drink too much or at least plenty and I might be one. Yes, you are right you’ll have to take me in hand but don’t get alarmed I’m not too bad.

Yesterday in the first part of that letter I think I sounded

[page 2] a little sarcastic, disgruntled or something but I didn’t mean to do so. It’s just that one sorta gets fed up sometimes at nothing in particular. Just like any human whatever the circumstances so don’t pay any attention be me as Sister used to say.

Your air mail of Jan. 12 just came and your v-mail of Dec. 23 also came – Mark’s thank you v-mail came also. The 5 above weather sure sounds cold. In all possibility it will not get as cold this year as last at least for not such a long period.

This being Sat. I’ll conclude on Sunday and get the two together –

[page 3] Sun Morn.

The officer’s club opened and it wasn’t so bad nor it wasn’t so good anyway I don’t have a hangover and that is something.

Today is the regular time to write the folks but I don’t believe I’ll mention the officers club etc. They might not understand.

Chow this noon will be chicken instead of beef. Personally I prefer beef because it’s the big thick steaks but I guess they don’t ask me what they will serve.

Just happened to think. You mentioned Irene in your letter – I don’t think as I told you before she has anything

[page 4] organically wrong but she is just not cut out to do work of that kind – She needs plenty of activity but not responsible every day grind type, but again that is a long distance diagnosis. She must be pretty desperate going from one Dr. to another. Why white about her when it’s you I’m interest in? Hope you can get along the next few months as well as you have this winter so far. And I hope you can have your own private Dr. If hoping does any good I’d be there now I “betcha.”

Love Daddy

Stitch in Time (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 29, 1944 envelope

: January 29, 1944, p. 1

: January 29, p. 2-3

: January 29, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
1-29-44

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Jan. 18 & 20 came today. This is a lazy Sat. a.m. John isn’t taking a music lesson. He stayed home from school yesterday with a cold. I gave him sulfamerazine and the cold is about gone. He still coughs, but so many do. David still coughs too. David is so full of pep he can wear any of us down. I got a little throat bug yesterday – so started sulfamerazine and feel better. It is down too deep to have it swabbed so thought the best thing to do was take something to nip it before I got something in my sinus. I could hardly go to sleep last night my throat kept filling up, but that is better now. We really don’t take sulfa all the time. This is the first John

[page 2] and I have taken any since last fall but rather than let anything get too bad thought a “stitch in time” would be better than waiting for something worse to develop. It was sunny and windy out yesterday and I hung clothes out on the line and think I got my throat irritation when out in the high wind.

Again I’ll repeat that the taxes was the gross I pd. One quarter I quit paying after that because we don’t pay taxes anymore that is while you are out of the states. Service people don’t have to pay any gross and when you get back home we can see about the Federal.

Irene is home from the hospital but I haven’t seen much of her. Link took her job at the factory so I don’t know whether she is working now or not. Your diagnosis seems to be correct. One day I went to see Coke about

[page 3] some knitting and she brought up the subject of Irene’s condition. I wasn’t going to say much but Coke said she thought the thing Irene needed now was to see a psychiatrist. She also said I wouldn’t be sick or think she was sick so much if she had a husband like Red. She said if Irene didn’t think she was ill every time she had a little pain, etc., etc., etc. She really sized the situation up pretty well. She said she told Mrs. James she thought Irene need[ed] to see a psychiatrist. Red told her she would get herself in trouble if she wasn’t careful, but in her opinion it was time for someone to say something. Dorothy said Link told Nick the Dr. said there wasn’t anything the matter, all in her mind. – Well so much for that. The way I got started

[page 4] was the remark you made in your letter.

We have had lunch and dishes washed since I started this, besides baking a cake & 7 dz. cookies. John wanted me to try a cake receipt he saw in a magazine.

The Myers twins & Bob Wilson made the paper this week. The twins are in training at Pensacola and Bob is a Lt. in the 13^th A.A.F. in the S. Pacific. Mary & Al Myers have moved to either Whiting, Gary, or some city around Chicago. The Josserands are living in the Myers house now. V. is still going around as usual but doesn’t have many friends, it seems, I see her so often by herself or with her little Susan. There is a Horn family living here and she does go around with Mrs. H. some.

Had a letter from Dolores – her husband is back in Cuba. She is hoping he will get another furlough in the spring so they can go home together.
Love – Mother