Tag Archives: Irene (James) Staton

John’s Fifteenth Birthday (Gladys)

3 Replies

August 22, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

8-22-45

August 22, 1945, p. 1

Dear Daddy –

Wed. a.m. and John’s birthday. Your gift to John came in the mail along with a letter from Uncle Wes. And the radio tube which doesn’t help the radio. Also a card from Clingenpeel – he is coming to tune the piano the 28^th. John has an appointment with Dr. Ade the 28^th – so I’ll have to send John down on the bus – however, his appoint isn’t until 3 PM so I don’t know yet what I’ll do. I don’t care to make the trip – don’t like the idea of tire trouble between here & there. Uncle Wes said they were going to C.C. in Sept. I am going to ask them to bring those evergreens back if they will have room.

We got 20 qts. of beans canned yesterday in the pressure cooker. I took the last four off at about 8:30 – also put 6 qts. peaches in the locker. There are some ready to put in today. The peaches are very nice. I wanted to get another bu. To cold pack, but John says to put more in the locker. We heard yesterday that the point value would be reduced about 2/3 on beef & veal – in Sept. and possibly taken off a little later. Mrs. Zell gave me about 180 pts. Monday. We have had hamburger & have a steak put back.

August 22, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] I haven’t contacted Loughridge yet, but intend to before mailing this.

John wants a choc. cake with choc. frosting for today. He was looking for ice cream receipts but decided to buy some.

Traffic has stopped up on 41 noticeably. Ed took John out Sun. afternoon for about an hour. He said he did fine. I had John run the car in the driveway last night – I had backed it out so the coal truck could back in – Chet sent some black yesterday. Its holds heat – I mean fire better.

Mark is to take a music lesson this a.m. at 10 – Gertrude said she thought John should go into Chicago somewhere for lessons. I want to talk to her today. I called her yesterday and made Mark’s appointment.

The Koon’s took the Statons to play golf yesterday. Mrs. K. said she would come out and pay the rent today. I hope she does – it will save me getting a ck. cashed. Irene is still having trouble with her left foot. She said the only help she could get is to play golf – getting up a good ‘sweat.” She is going to a specialist in Chicago for diagnosis.

David is being a little unhappy about something – keeps wanting money – but he looses it and I told him he couldn’t have any more.

– 3 p.m. I have tried to contact Loughridge, but have had no success. Should I try Sears for an estimate? I don’t like to deal with people who don’t care enough about business to go after it. We are having ice cream & cake for the neighbor children.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/04/11/johns-fifteenth-birthday-gladys/

Trip to Lafayette (Gladys)

1 Reply

April 28, 1944 envelope

April 28, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-28-44

Dear Daddy –

Just back from Laf. Got my glasses welded (75₵). Got John a suit and a few other odds and ends. Took David along but he was “nasty” most of the time. Dorothy didn’t have any shopping to do after she saw the Dr. so we started home about 3:30. She said she had only gained 3 lbs. the past month and seems to be in good condition. She is to take Marie Steinbaugh to Chicago next Wed. and said the last time she was there the Dr. told Mrs. S. that one lung had collapsed. She isn’t very good.

Two letters came this morning. You told about the $250.00 house. I wonder how they think Navy Doctors can pay that much rent.

April 28, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] I feel the same as you do about moving up. This is too near to be so far, “or something.” If you find any place at all that will be suitable, take it and we will move up.

Spring is in the air. Gardens and fields are being plowed. Mr. Z. is working on the garden we had last year. Someone disked (?) the corn field across the way, this morning, so I suppose there will be another corn field. If we aren’t here to look at it guess it doesn’t make much difference to us.

I see Jimmy S. playing with the Z. children. Jimmy & Ma have been to Monticello this week. I have a good guess the Ma worked on the cottage this week. I should be working on this place but I run out of pep so soon after I get a good start.

April 28, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] I certainly appreciated the things you went into detail about our sons – but I suppose those are the things other people think about when they rent. But at the rental prices around there they could refurnish after renting out a few months.

Mr. Z. is using the Turnpaugh horses and Mark is going out with him when he takes the horses home. He (Mark) wants to put out a little garden. If he could just keep some of the enthusiasm he gets when he wants to start something. This morning I cleaned up one of his messes he made in the basement. I burned a bunch of trash he had let accumulate. He was so quick to go buy the airplane for Bobby and start building it but it isn’t finished yet and I have to

April 28, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] remind him every day to work on it.

I hung out two washers of clothes this morning and they are still hanging so must go take them down. I’ll take D. out and let him run around in the yard while I work. John is going to town to get the paper and mail this.

Dorothy said Harold F. went to the clinic in Chicago yesterday. I don’t know what the findings were.

I can’t think of any news right now. You will have the news I am anxious to hear.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/02/06/trip-to-lafayette-gladys/

Tired (Gladys)

1 Reply

April 13, 1944 envelope

April 13, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
4-13-44

Dear Daddy,

Just bathed David and taped up the thumbs. John took him up to bed and now John is doing homework and Mark is drying dishes.

I am very tired this eve but thought I would be able to sleep better if I am really tired. I don’t feel quite as low as I did this morning. I started cleaning up as soon as you left. Got the dining room back in order. After lunch I cleaned the kitchen floor and put a washer of clothes in. I was so tired by then thought I should rest. I took a short nap then hung out the clothes. David took a nice long nap. After I finished hanging the clothes I came in and dressed him and took him out in the sunshine. I thought I would sit on the step & read the Dem. but D. kept running around the house. Jimmy and Bobby came over and visited a while,

April 13, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] but they got into a bad quarrel and Jimmy went in the car with his Mother & Daddy. While sitting on the step Bobby said they might get a stone driveway. I asked him “where.” He said where the cement drive is now. I must have looked like I didn’t understand what he was talking about, and he followed with this, “Mommy & Daddy haven’t said anything about it, but I think we will have a stone driveway.” He said he liked the hills on both side of ours. After Mark came home I turned David over to him and Mark said Bobby got in trouble and his mother made him stay home. It was so warm today I hung the clothes out after 3 P.M. and they got dry. The water was very hot so thought I would take advantage of it & the sunshine. I got the clothes line up but it was quite a pull.

I just heard David and I think he is working on a thumb so will go up and see. He was looking out the front door and I said, ”See the robin.” He said “obin.”

I wrote a letter to Ruth M. and John took it to the P.O. I told them they could find a recruiting office either in Joliet or Chicago.

I was looking at the new evergreen tree. It is still damp around there from the recent rains but the tree is beginning to look brown around the edges. In a day or so I will water it if it doesn’t rain. I won’t mail this till morning and if there is any mail or news will add a line.

Love Mother

April 13, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] Fri. a.m.
It is about time for Mark to go to school and the mail hasn’t been delivered yet so no news. It is cloudy and looks like it will rain. I am glad I got one washer of clothes done yesterday. Slept like a log last night but still tired. Going to try and get this mountain of ironing done. Mark tries to use the belt you left but it is too wide. David is full of pep and

April 13, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] going strong. I worked on John’s face last nite with soap & wash cloth & washed his hair. He looks pretty good this a.m.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/01/11/tired-gladys/ ‎

Death of Rev. McCloud (Gladys)

1 Reply

February 20 & 21, 1944, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-20-44

Dear Daddy –

Another wintry Sunday P.M. I was going to take David out for a walk but a fine snow is coming down – so fine it is almost a rain, so unless it lets up we will stay in or go in the car. I thought we might go out to the greenhouse. Rev. McCloud died yesterday and I would like to send flowers. Rev. McCloud suffered a heart attack last week and I understood he would have to be in bed for sometime but he was up getting his breakfast yesterday morning when he died. As active as he had always been I never thought about him having heart trouble. He used to play tennis every summer –

The snowing stopped so I walked for a while with David & Mark then we came back and went out to the green house and ordered flowers to send to McClouds. Then we stopped at Plummers. Mr. P. was in bed – had been sick with near pneumonia. They won’t get to go to Fla., because they were to go about the time he got sick a week ago, and he isn’t able to be up yet. I think Mrs. P. is rather disappointed because they can’t go. She has been working pretty hard since he has been down, taking care of the chickens, furnace, etc. Then they got a quarter of beef and she canned it. I hadn’t seen her since Christmas eve and didn’t know about Mr. P. being ill. I thought

February 20 & 21, 1944, p. 2

[page 2] they would be in Fla., but saw the flowers in the window so knew they were home.

We came back home and listened to the radio all evening. David Diedam came about 7 P.M. and played with Mark a while. Mrs. Z. came over and invited us to eat fried chicken with them tomorrow evening. They have kept chicken in their refrigerator since the middle of Jan. We had baked chicken today that we put in the locker almost a year ago.

Mon. A.M. Yours of Feb. 8 & 9 came today. Had a leak in the upstairs bathroom. Had to call Mr. Monroe – The leak was from the flush box. It had run out on the floor and soaked down on the ceiling in the dining room before I discovered it but it is fixed now and not much damage done. The other side of the dining room ceiling has water marks from the bath tub. I hope to get some painting done this spring & cover the water marks.

It is nice out today. Sun shining and snow melting. I want to take David out after he wakes from his nap. He was a little busy body this morning. Wouldn’t stay put anyplace – just kept going from one thing to another, getting into things he knows he should stay out of. He is beginning to talk more. When he wants to do something to get attention, he gets your picture and says “Da.” He knows he won’t get scolded

February 20 & 21, 1944, p. 3

[page 3] for that. He has been saying Ma-Ma the last two days. We are trying to get him to say mother. He can say John & Mark, not quite plain, but we know what he is saying. I have to keep the bathroom door closed (downstairs) to keep him from playing at the lavatory. He climbs up on the clothes hamper and does things.

Irene borrowed some coffee this morning – Said her mother is away but I didn’t ask any questions. I suppose she has gone to Ft. Wayne to stay with Margaret. Irene isn’t working now – Dorothy said Irene was to rest a month before she goes back to work. I can’t imagine Irene staying home and doing hum drum house work. Not that it is that to me – but I am geared differently from Irene. I imagine she will return to the factory.

I have been wondering what the men getting married in foreign lands will do about their wives when they are ordered back to the States. Will Bob be able to bring his bride back with him if he is sent back here before the war is over? He won’t mind staying down there now but what a situation to be ordered back here soon and have to leave his wife. Of course it isn’t any worse than your situation but it would seem a little ironical if he got traveling orders now when that is what you want. I think I hear little David getting awake.

February 20 & 21, 1944, p. 4

[page 4] I knitted a suit for James L. – I want to get it mailed today. I wanted to send it for his birthday which was in Jan., but I didn’t get it started in time. I made this suit in dark blue. I want to make one for David in red. He still has dark brown hair and his eyes are so dark they almost look black, so he should wear red. D. & Jimmy make a good contrast. Jimmy is so fair and his hair is so blond it is almost white.

–Pause to take D. up and set him on the toidey – it worked – saved a diaper. He is busy now playing with a box – much more interesting than a toy – Toys are something to throw down and leave on the floor while a good box is playing with.

I am afraid this letter has been rather jumbled, but I started on it so many times & I didn’t have a very good train of thoughts any time I started.

I want to start planning flower gardens for spring. I haven’t thought much yet about a vegetable garden. It is nice to have vegetables all summer but almost more work than I care about. If the boys could carry on without my supervision, but they couldn’t last year. John doesn’t like gardening and Mark won’t work consistently unless he has someone with him all the time – It is almost compared to getting blood out of a turnip – except that he can work but doesn’t care to.

Love – Mother

: February 20 & 21, 1944 (envelope front)

: February 20 & 21, 1944 (envelope back)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/19/death-of-rev-mccloud-gladys/ ‎

Ten Letters (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: February 12, 1944 envelope

: February 12, 1944, p. 1

: February 12, 1944, p. 2

: February 12, 1944, p. 3

: February 12, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Lieut. R.S. Yegerlehner USNR
USN Base Hosp. #4
Navy 133
F.P.O. San Francisco Calif.
Feb. 12, 1943 [sic]

Dear Mother,

I wrote in yesterday’s letter that I would add a P.S. in case any mail came – well it came but I got so interested in reading I forgot to add the P.S. There were ten letters from you, 2 from the folks and one from Ruth M. Yours ranged all the way from Jan. 7 to Jan. 29 with the Valentine from the boys included. That was what I call a real mail call. There was also a Christmas package from the Brewers for which I’ll have to write and thank them – It was a mixture of things: tooth brush, tooth paste, peanuts, cheese tidbits, English walnut kernels, two hankies and a pocket comb. Everything was in

[page 2] pretty good condition. The cheese tidbits were a little crushed but not bad and there was also two packages of cigarettes which were pretty badly crushed.

Now to your letters. I’m sure D. must have a slight throat irritation which probably won’t amount to much and so long as his temp. stays near normal I wouldn’t worry too much although it pays to be careful with those things in kids. The pictures were good but the one of D. has not arrived as yet. The clipping did however and I wouldn’t say that it was very good of him, but paper pictures are generally not too good. Chet V.’s picture was good but Art. K. looks like he was messed up like a dog’s breakfast.

The comments and the condition of Irene was a foregone conclusion even before I left there as I look

[page 3] back on the situation now. Maybe the Funks, the Statons and the Yegerlehners should take another vacation in Wisconsin. I’m sure it would help the Yegerlehners. It’s almost fate that another member of that group should need the benefit of a mental psycho analysis. I still feel that interest in family over and above finances. That applies of course to the latter. The former seemed to be a case of religion running away with family and I’m not being irreligious when I write that.

Watch your knitting – I don’t refer to the last paragraph. I mean actual. You wrote of how much you were planning on making and I’m afraid that might cause a few of your headaches especially at that certain period. If your breast is worse at that time I’m not so much

[page 4] worried but don’t let size be a factor in treatment. Have it checked on rather frequently and another biopsy if the Dr. thinks necessary.

I’m writing this letter later than usual because I had the duty and couldn’t write until I was off the desk. That makes me have the duty 3 times in one week. Twice for myself and once for Bob the bridegroom. Tomorrow I’ll try to reread your letters and write some further comment on them.

This being Lincoln’s birthday we had some little extra for noon chow. Grapes and nuts and I’m still cracking a nut now and then.

Well Dear your letters sure are a very good builder upper and I’m so tickled to get them –
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/12/04/ten-letters-roscoe/ ‎

What’s the Matter with Irene? (Gladys)

2 Replies

: February 6, 1944, p. 1

: February 6, 1944, p. 2-3

: February 6, p. 4

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
2-6-44

Dear Daddy –

Sun. evening – listening to the radio and sitting by the fire. John and Mark are out in the kitchen eating cake. They went to youth fellowship and didn’t have time to eat before going. I have the radio tuned in on the Henry Ford Sunday evening church service – it’s held in the early American village Ford had rebuilt. John wants to listen to Charlie MC so he has the kitchen radio tuned in on that. David is in bed and I hope asleep. He does something new almost every day. Yesterday, Betty Zell showed him how to talk over his telephone. Now he acts like he is talking over the phone. I took him to church this a.m. He didn’t do

[page 2] as good as the last time, but J. & M. sat with us and I think he is better when they aren’t with him.

Zells asked us to go out to see Portteuses this afternoon. When we got near their place discovered they had company. Five or six cars were parked so we drove on past. We drove down past the new Kirkpatrick house. The old one burned to the ground and they have a very modern looking new shingle house. Mary P. said some time ago that it is a well planned house. They could only get a certain amount of material but must have made good use of what they could get.

I saw Irene and Link get into their car this morning with a traveling bag. I suppose

[page 3] Irene is back in the hospital in Chicago. She certainly looks the picture of health. She also looked like the latest word from Vogue. You might think I am being a little catty, but I think if her mother would quite over there and leave her with the responsibility of Jimmy and everything else she wouldn’t have so much time to think of herself. So many people say, “What’s the matter with Irene? She doesn’t look sick.” If ever I have seen a case of imaginary illness, she has it, but I believe her makeup is such that she craves attention and she goes thru different phases to get it and I think this is a phase. I wonder what she would do if Link had to leave and go into the Army – Maybe if she had to buckle down she would. I think I have philosiphised enough for the present.

Mark has a scare since the rabies in Krull’s dog. He is afraid

[page 4] to go out. I allowed him to remain home from school Fri. because he was so upset. He was talking a little while ago about being afraid to go to school tomorrow. I told him he has a bike and most of the children don’t have. I think he will get over this as time goes on. I just hope this will help get rid of stray dogs but that is a lot to hope for. The people who own dogs are ordered to keep them in but the stray dogs are still at large. The Town Board should take care of the strays but they won’t do that – you know what I mean, Bang, bang, dead dog.

The pin in the stoker broke today. Had to rebuild the fire and told John to watch it while I was gone but he didn’t so had to take the coal out and start the fire again. I have a bucket of coal & clinkers mixed. I will have to feed in by the door. I think there is a little Ind. coal mixed in that was on the floor when the better coal was put in. That Ind. coal is hard on pins.

Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/11/22/whats-the-matter-with-irene-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

Sniffling Sunday (Gladys)

1 Reply

: January 23, 1944, p. 1

: January 23, 1944, p. 2-3

: January 23, 1944, p. 4

Letter transcription:

1-23-44

Dear Daddy – Sun. P.M. Have been indoors all day – David didn’t have any temp. today and felt pretty good. Still coughs some but no sign of breaking out with measles. Must have been irritation from his diaper. It was so nice out today I wanted to go out with him. I stood him in the doorway and took some pictures, this being his 16^th month – Lucile came out with Jimmy, but didn’t bring him in – just stopped to see about D. She was taking J.E. for his airing. He is fully recovered from his attack of flu. David

[page 2] must have had bronchitis (sp?). That’s what Dr. M. said. John was sniffling this a.m. so he didn’t go out either. I gave him rhinitis all day & he went to bed early. Mark spent the afternoon with Buddy and they came out this evening. Buddy just went home. Dorothy was out early this afternoon to see David. She said Link told Nick the last Dr. in Chi. She consulted told them her ailment was all in her mind. Said she probably had someone in their family somewhere she takes after. Link said she has one such aunt. Mrs. James said one time Irene is like her aunt.

[page 3] I have knitted today and now have a headache from too much. Also my glasses need to be straightened. I want to go to Laf. Tues. with Zells and go have my glasses fixed. David broke one lense – I mended it with airplane glue but it is not straight.

Zells are getting more chickens. They sold off the last batch, cleaned out the brooder house and now ready for more.

Virginia spent the afternoon here helping me entertain David. I think he was tired watching J. & M. build block towers – He seemed to enjoy

[page 4] Virginia’s for a change.

Mark is begging to sleep with me tonight. He got that habit way back when, I really can’t put my finger on the exact date but sometime last summer. I think it all started when he had his tonsils out. Last night I put D. in our bed because he was so restless and coughed a lot, I knew I would have to be up all night trying to keep him covered, so to save the getting up & down, didn’t put him in his own bed. I didn’t sleep much so am going to turn in now & try to catch up.

Love Mother