I have intended getting a letter off to you but have been ill & have done nothing. I will write a letter soon as I can. Your Mother & Mark came to see me yesterday after the big party at the gym. It must have been a lovely affair. They also had a carry in dinner for them at the church yesterday. Your mom looked so pretty. Mark said the kids are all sick with flu. I am simply devastated without your Dad & Mom. How I miss them. You seem to be working too hard – both of you. I love your letters.
Much love to you & Bonnie
Grandma
[Editor’s note: This is the last letter from Ruth Myers to David in the collection. The big party at the gym is one of the retirement celebrations the town of Kentland gave to Roscoe and Gladys when they moved away. Roscoe had accepted a position at Purdue, attending to the medical needs of the university’s students and they moved to West Lafayette.]
The book which you so kindly purchased for me arrived, and can’t tell you how grateful I am for your getting it to me, and also, I hope you will forgive me for asking you to purchase your own Christmas gift, but you don’t know what it meant to me. I am enclosing check, and I had thought it would be more.
I have a gift for Bonnie, and your mother is going to include it for me in a mailing to you both before Christmas.
I am at home alone today, very disappointed because I wanted to see baby David, whom I have not yet met. Your Mom invited me for Thanksgiving dinner, and Mark and Shirley and the kids and Lea and her husband, and John. Last night about ten o’clock Gladys called me on the phone and said that both the little kids had broken out with chicken pox. Becky had had it a couple of weeks ago and they thought the two little children were not going to get it, and when they arrived in Kentland your Dad discovered they were in full bloom. So of course, my never having had it, they did not think it wise for me to come. Gladys brought me my dinner, which I am going to eat in a short while. Mark, Shirley and the children were returning to Indianapolis this evening because Mark must work tomorrow.
The day is very gloomy and overcast, but not cold. Looks as if it might do something. There are so many things I would love to discuss with you, but I do not have the strength to write what I would like to. I look forward every week to your letter, and you will never know how I appreciate it. I know your time is very precious to you, and it is wonderful thing for you to take part of it to write to me.
My very dear love to you and Bonnie, and I am sure she is thrilled to have her folks here.
Always your
Grandma
P.S. Gladys said she would write you about the Nizer book. Your Dad does not have it, but you will hear from her about it.
I hope you are not thinking that your Grammaw has become senile, but I really have been quite ill, and am just now beginning to feel stronger. My fingers are quite stiff, but will try.
David will never know how I have appreciated his wonderful letters, and how I have looked forward to them. I love the pictures and thank you so very very much for them. I also appreciate your Hebrew messages, and my wonder at your ability to do such, leaves me helpless to express myself. You two are so wonderful, working so hard and accomplishing so much it makes me proud to know you.
I was quite touched with your story of your visit to the museum, and it jolted me into realizing that I owe you some money, which at this time of year becomes something to think about. I am making the check for $8.00 which I hope will cover whatever tax you had to pay and maybe postage if you care to mail the album. If not just bring it, either way you wish.
Your mother tells me she is getting a new record player. She took the one she had to the office, as something went wrong with the radio. She invited me to have Thanksgiving dinner with then, and I had looked forward to it, but when the day came I was unable even to get dressed. I spent the day in bed. Mark & Shirley and the kids were there, also John and Lee and her husband, and your Aunt Ruth. She stayed several days. Gladys brought her to see me. She drove to get her and also took her home.
I hope you put some leftover turkey in your freezing section and you can have it for Easter dinner. Your mother has been doing some shopping for me and she is so good to me. I am not even attempting to mail cards this year. No David, I hardly every stay up to watch Johnnie anymore, I just get too tired.
Thank you again for your dear letters, and will be anxious to see you.
Much love
Grandma
Forgive me for my seeming procrastinating. Taint so. There are days are such that I cannot do much. I thank you so very much, you will never know, how I have loved your letters. I am so thrilled about your Hebrew. I heard Dann Thomas sing (chant) Kohl Nidhr. It was beautiful.
Please buy the $7.00 record for me to give to Gladys. We did that last year and she loved it. I will send you a check the first of next week including tax and postage. I am so thrilled about your teaching, and so is your mother. She came in to show me a doll she had brought for Becky from Disney Land.
Thank you for your grand newsy letter. You will never know how much I enjoyed it. I am so happy you are comfortably settled and so interested in all your new purchases. Have not heard from your Mother & Dad as yet. It is dry and hot today and the dust is impossible. Have the place closed and fans on. When you have time I will be thrilled to hear from you.
It seems too bad to start out with asking you to forgive me, but I must. First I want to thank you two darlings for the dear little spinning wheele. I just adore it, and please accept my belated thanks. I just love it.
At the time of my birthday, Aug. 4th, we had a heat wave to end all heat waves. Back in the old days in Mattoon we used to have much higher temperatures, but I guess this was the first time I have been 75 years old, and I did “suffer with the heat” this year. Then, I have had company, you know the woman I told you about who is a real democrat, my husband’s cousin. Then I had another, my own cousin, who is one of the few relatives I have left, and she became ill while here, and I had to employ a man and wife to take her home. She lives in Pekin, Ill. and is a friend of Everet Dirkson. I have been having a little more than I am able to cope with.
I want you to know how much I did appreciate your two letters David, more than I can say. You and Bonnie are very dear to me, and I hope you will forgive me for not writing to you.
David, you have always been a bright spot in my life, and I miss you this summer. I am so thankful you have your dear Bonnie.
I find it hard to sit in a straight chair to write letters. I had Harold take me to Dr. Curtis this afternoon to have my glasses adjusted.
I feel the same as you do David, about Goldwater, but it hurts me to have you cast your first vote for a dem., but I can’t blame you. This time I am thankful that I have lost my right to vote. Please forgive my poor typing, my hands are very crippled. I am so confused about the political situation; I don’t know what is right.
I would love to hear from you when you have time, and please I want you and Bonnie to know how much it means to me to hear from you.
Please, please, forgive your delinquent Grandma. I loved your letter, and have read it many times and while I cannot comment on all you have told me, I appreciate every word of it. I am so very happy that you are on the Dean’s list and your Mom and Dad will be there next May.
I had a nice letter from Bonnie about the book, but David, I am so thrilled about the work you are doing. I hope you will let me know about the Boston School of Theology.
I did not go to the hospital, but I have not been at all well, and the simple mechanics of living have taken all I could do. I can prepare what little food I eat, and keep myself reasonably well groomed, and of course I have to have help to clean my apartment and I do not get out except to get over to Mildred to get my hair done.
I have been in a sort of lethargy, and don’t seem to have strength enough to write letters or do so many things I used to do. When your Dad gets home we will check on me.
I had Doris take me down to see Dr. Stahl about my hip, and he said there was nothing he could find that would be causing unusual pain, which I had been having, except of course, advancing arthritis.
I am so proud of you and the work you are doing, and am very happy about your moving into Dr. King’s residence. It must be a very nice thing for both of you. I should think they would be very happy to have you a part of their household. I am sure the home cooking is a pleasant change for you. I suppose Bonnie is back in Bloomington by now.
I have had some very interesting cards from your mother. The last one was enroute to Jerusalem. I wonder if they were not in Athens at the time of King Paul’s funeral. The pictures they will bring home will be something to see. She said they had been able to buy more film.
Please forgive my seeming delay, it was not from the heart, I will be so anxious to hear about Boston School.
Dearest love to you and Bonnie
Grandma
March 18, 1964, p. 2
(over) David, You will probably get this on Sat. March 21st, which will be my 50th wedding anniversary. I was married on Sat. afternoon, March 21, 1914. I hope you and Bonnie may spend your 50th together.
Dave Dear – Thank you for sending the album. Talked to your mother yesterday. She tells me you [are] just slightly busy. We are having real jingle bells weather which means I am housebound. I do hope all goes well with you and Bonnie on your journey.
David, My Dear: I am getting this ready to give to the postman on his rounds in the morning, the only way I have of mailing letters now. I am so glad to be able to tell you that the hotel is sold. Harold Funk bought it, and is taking Dick Ryan in as a partner to run it for him. I think they plan some changes. They will take over on Oct. 1st. I have been filling in at the office now and then. Probably this Sat. for the last time. It seems queer not to be in business after almost 50 years, but good.
September 20, 1963, p. 2
[page 2] I hope you are not completely swooned after all your activities and will be able to settle down to a more routine way now, although I realize how little time you will have.
Your mother stopped in a few minutes a few days ago. I will be anxious to hear all about you but don’t worry about writing when you don’t have time. I understand.
I will be thinking of you on your 21st birthday, and wish I could bake you a cake. It is a history making day for you. Give my love to Bonnie
I hope things are going well with you during your last lap of school year, and that you are enjoying it. Your mother was in several days ago and brought me a copy of LIFE which published your letter. Hurray for you, how true and well put. Hurray for you, how true and well put. I’m proud of you. I do not get LIFE and therefore did not read the letter on which you commented, but I had read about her and her activities in other publications. Her children are to be pity and I hope they are able to think for themselves when they grow up.
Your mother also told me about your trip to Indianapolis with Bonnie, and I had good report on Bonnie also. When she comes home with you I shall look forward to meeting her.
The deal which was hanging in the balance regarding sale of the hotel has not come through and things seem at a standstill. Also Pronger has been very slow in getting the apartment ready, but I am going into it as soon as it is finished, whether the hotel is sold by then or not.
We are having summer today, and I hope it remains so there will be no more big fuel bills. There will be one for April, certainly, it was so cold most of the time.
By for now
Love
Grandma
Editorial letter in Life Magazine (May 3, 1963, p. 21)
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