Mary Portteus | Genealogy Lady

Letter transcription:

May 24, 1967

Dear David and Bonnie:

Last weekend we went to Centerville and had a very enjoyable visit with Louise and Mac. We also visited with Grandpa and Grandma. We both think it is remarkable the way Bonnie’s grandparents continue to be so well and active. We enjoyed a steamboat dinner and now Dad is trying to figure how he can make a steamboat. Knowing your Dad, you know he will get something produced in time. Today I attended a luncheon at the Union Building and a Layman’s meeting in Loeb’s Theatre. After the Layman’s meeting I came home, but saw Rev. McClure and a few other people in the lobby before leaving. This week Dad has been attending meetings and I have two more to attend (he has been going to dinner meetings) so we won’t get much done in the way of packing. We plan to go to Kentland Friday evening. He wants Dr. Logan to do some work on his teeth, and he plans to have office hours on Saturday. We plan to go to Danville and meet John, Lea and Bob at about 6:30 for a smorgasbord dinner, then on to John’s to spend the night. We plan to come back home Sunday evening.

Tomorrow is our 38^th wedding anniversary and this afternoon when Dad came home I started to get something out of the refrigerator and saw a green sack with a decorator bow on it (I don’t know where he got the bow – but the sack was definitely not for gift wrapping) and of course, I knew it was for me. It was a pair of opera glasses. When we go to programs at the Music Hall and I take the binoculars along he thinks they are too clumsy to handle on such occasions – hence the gift. I had gotten a gift for him, so got it out and gave it to him. It was a book about building fences and gates. There is a spot at 118 Juniper Court where I thought he could put a fence – hence the book. We were there this afternoon and after inspecting what Mr. Walker has in that particular spot, rather think my book will not be needed. We do hope you get home this summer to see the new house and lot. The woods back of the house is getting so thick now and the patio back of the house looks like a good place to spend a lazy afternoon, and no lawn to mow back of the house. Dad is going to sell the riding mower, because we only have a lawn in front and there isn’t much side yard. When we get the new addition on, there will be less. We should be hearing from the contractor with all those pretty figures. I said if the living room was larger, we wouldn’t do anything to the house, but Dad says we need another bathroom. The only bathroom in the house is rather tiny and I agree with him, we need another if we ever have company.

Last night John called us about meeting them in Danville and he was wondering if you had definitely decided to come home. He says he would rather you would come to Indiana first, because Lea and Bob are planning to go to California and you will get to see them before they leave if you come here first. Also he was wondering if you knew anything about getting accommodations. Besides being hard to get, the going rate is rather high. Floyd and Ruth want to go and they were talking about the rate being more than $20 a day for a room. Give a thought about the suggestion to come to Indiana first.

As I mentioned before I am attending the Annual Conference – not in its entirety, but just selected meetings. Since we are going to Kentland Friday evening I won’t be able to attend Sat. and Sun. I noticed on the program that there will be an ordination service at the closing service Sunday, but I presume (know) there are those every year. They keep talking about the preacher shortage – it makes me think of the talk about the Dr. shortage. I saw Mary Portteus yesterday, a delegate from the Raub church. I said something about staying healthy – and she said she had to, there was no place to go. I also told her what Dad tells anyone who laments his leaving Kentland – to enroll in Purdue and he will take care of them. I am to attend a luncheon for Christian Social Concerns today. Dorothy Nicholson (they live just back of us) is having a coffee

[page 2] for me this morning for me to meet some of the people who live on her street. If I can get away in time, I will attend a session – Bible Study by the Bishop, at 11:15.

The weather here has finally turned to spring. Yesterday was the warmest day (according to the news) since one day last Sept.

Do you want me to save any of the books I am about to give away? I have not had time to sort them yet, but I rather think the ones I want to get rid of, you wouldn’t want. Let me know.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/05/38th-wedding-anniversary/

: October 3, 1943 envelope

: October 3, 1943, p. 1

: October 3, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Oct. 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

We are in Laf. again today. Glen & Pauline want to start home tomorrow so we all came down. J. & M. came along to help take care of the babies. David makes so much noise I didn’t want to bring him in. Mother just seems about the same – only weaker. She didn’t eat anything yesterday except a little breakfast and ate only some broth at noon today & a little ice cream – Says she doesn’t want any supper. I think she is having pain in her abdomen now. She moans some & that is so unnatural for her to do any like that. She had a B.M. a few minutes ago. For no more food than she takes her bowels moved pretty good. Her abdomen is quite swollen today.

I was able to find enough flowers in my flower beds to bring a nice bouquet. The marigolds don’t smell good but make a pretty showing. I was thinking about the frost not bothering them yet. This time last year we had had snow. I was in the hospital in Sept. & there was snow on Sept. 25. It is a little chilly today but the sun is shining. I hope G. & P. have nice weather for their trip home.

I am going to put D. on pasteurized milk if you think I can give it to him without boiling it. If I have to boil it will just keep him on carnation. I was checking over a baby manual given me when he was born. He was ahead of nearly all the things he was supposed to do at 3-6-9 months – however

[page 2] at 12 mo – the questions were – walk alone, ride on a kiddie kar, climb steps – He doesn’t walk alone yet, doesn’t ride a car but he gets around and one day I sat him on the stair way to put his wraps on and he started upstairs on high. I think he is doing alright. He was much more advanced in everything than J.L. at the same age. The only thing J.L. does that D. didn’t or rather wouldn’t do was hold his bottle. Of course D. doesn’t get a bottle now – drinks out of a cup.

I saw Bill Funk yesterday & he said he was going to write you another letter. He has taken your address several times – Took it so he could write you while on vacation, but I’ll bet he didn’t write then.

Zell’s finished the outdoor fireplace Parr’s started and had a hamburger fry last night. They asked J. & M. to eat with them. They have canned meat & don’t use many of their ration stamps so can have extra meat for company. Mr. Z.’s father lives on a farm & furnishes them with most of their meat. Portteus’ are going to butcher a hog soon & Mary said I could have half of it. If I can get enough points we’ll take it. I used 988 for the beef which took several weeks ahead. However, when buying meat in quarters or half, the point value is lower. The beef should last us until after we have points to use again.

While in Laf. I can hear planes going over all the time. They certainly are getting lots of practice all the time. Mark watches planes & identifies every one he sees. I don’t know whether he knows or says he does. I think his tonsillectomy was the best thing he could have done. He still isn’t much heavier but has a good appetite & isn’t nervous.

Love Mother

P.S. – Something new has been added – I see interns in the hospital again.