Tag Archives: Russell Zell

Golden Wedding (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Jan. 3 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Dec. 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 came today. Also a letter from Geo. Wingfield. He is in San Diego now. Said some mail just caught up with him and a letter from you asking him to write me. Said after the war we would have to visit Reno and fight the war in retrospect as it should have been. He spoke very highly of you, and I believe he was sincere. He mentioned the flowers so he must have been the one to send the roses in Sept.

I hadn’t had any letters for several days and getting five at one time helped the old morale. I do hope you are getting all mine and hope the pictures I had made of David for Christmas

[page 2] get to you soon. I am sure they will give you a lift. David was rather cross all morning, but I think that one tooth that has been trying to push thru for so long is pretty responsible. One point is thru now so he should feel better soon. He seems to have more cold but can’t “hack & spit” like his mother (tho he tries to imitate me) and can’t get rid of the mucos, only as it runs down his nose. He has no temperature and wasn’t so cross if turned loose, but I was busy trying to work so penned him up in the nursery and he didn’t like that. I handed him a toy and he threw it down as quickly as he could. He has quite a bit of “spunk.” He is so used to being admired – yesterday Mrs. Zell was here and I had David on the toidey – when he had finished I put his pants on and turned him

[page 3]  loose – He walked away from us a few steps then turned and looked at us, as if to say “don’t you think I am cute?” with a merry twinkle in his eye. I told Mrs. Zell, or rather asked, who could ask for a girl when they had a boy like D. She said that was always the way she had felt about their girls, but Mr. still wants a boy. I said, really I don’t think it would have made any difference to you whether we had boys or girls. However, having had all boys I don’t know the real answer. Mr. Z. wants a boy so much after getting three girls he wants to try again. Mrs. Z. says she thinks she has all she can take care of and now since fathers are being taken Mr. Z. may have to go. I wrote you that Bob Shurtter had enlisted in the Navy, but evidently his commission didn’t go thru because he is waiting to be called to the Army. He is registered in Laf. and his number was about up when he enlisted or

[page 4] tried to enlist. E. Wilson got a 3 mo. deferment and unless he can get another when it is up will have to go if passes the physical. The new law provides $40⁰⁰ for each child, so anyone with 3 children will get $120. Doris is due to have her baby soon, so that will make her allowance 160.

The A.D. Washburns are celebrating their golden wedding tomorrow. They will receive guests informally at Howards from 2 to 4:30 and 7 to 8. The announcement was in the paper but I received an invitation. Did I tell you Howard bought the Canine farm? The moved some time ago. Mr. Tackett, the new coach moved to the place Howard vacated.

I am upstairs having dried my hair. I hear David. He has been taking his nap downstairs. He didn’t sleep too long, so may be a little touchy.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/16/golden-wedding-gladys/

First Sunday (Gladys)

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1944-01-02 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
1-2-44

Dear Daddy – The first Sunday of the new year. Weather clear but temp. around 45°. I took David out for a few minutes – He hasn’t had any temperature for three days, but has a little cough, sounds like it is right in his throat. He has lots of pep and loves to go bye bye – He hadn’t been out all week so thought some fresh air would be in order. Mark had gone to the pond to skate so I walked over to see how he was getting along. He had been out about 2 hrs. so had him come home. He had a cold the first of the week, so thought he shouldn’t stay out so long. John as usual stayed in and listened to the Sunday musicals. Mr. Zell brought home most of a freshly butchered hog and Mrs. Zell had to can home of it – I helped her a while – She has her hands full. Betty came home from her grandma’s with flu and with Virginia still in bed, and fresh pork to be canned, Mr. said if it were sub zero weather they wouldn’t have to hurry with it. They gave us a nice big roast out of a ham. They are going to put some meat in our locker. The new locker here is going to be put in right away. John heard it is to go where the Ford garage has been. I suppose center doesn’t have enough business to stay. Marg Kruman is getting ready to go to Fla. Also Mrs. Plummer says they are trying to go in Feb. this year.

“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/14/first-sunday-gladys/

New Year’s Day (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Ind.
Jan. 1 – 1944

Dear Daddy –

This is my first letter this year. Thought I would write your Mother & Dad, but yours first.

Mark is getting ready to go skating with David Diedam. I just stopped to help him pull on 3 pr. of woolen stockings, and see that he had his coat buttoned and cap down over his ears. We haven’t had so much sub zero weather but it has stayed cold enough to keep the pond frozen.

John was listening to the Opera but got a headache and turned it off. We ate dinner

[page 2] with Mrs. Zell & Virginia (Mr. & two younger girls having gone to Grandpa Zell’s for New Year’s day). I didn’t want to take David over to Zells because the Dr. said it is important that she doesn’t get a cold and David still has some. I stayed here with D. while J. & M. went over to eat, then John came home to listen to the opera while I went over. Mark stayed a while then he came home. I stayed to help with dishes, then John came over and said he had a headache, so I gave him one of Zell’s aspirins. I came home so Mark could go skating and John stayed to play checkers with Virginia. Buddy Krull just stopped to see Mark and I told him Mark is at the Pond. He took his sled and went over. Buddy hasn’t learned to ride his bike and when he is here

[page 3] and Mark has to go to town, Mark rides and Buddy trots along beside him. I told Buddy he should learn to ride so they could ride together. Buddy got a chemistry set for Christmas and now Mark says he wants one for his birthday, John said “No, we don’t want the house blown up.” Mark decided the best birthday present he could have would be for his Daddy to come home. John said it would be better if you came home before Mark’s birthday. I agree. I can’t think of anything better. – – David is loose and it keeps me busy jumping up and getting him out of things, so I decided to put him in his bed until I finish this. He started to climb the stairs yesterday. We watched him and he went right up like an old hand at the business. That is the first time he had tried. I think one reason he hasn’t been attracted to the stairway is

[page 4] he likes to watch himself in the mirror door and play with the mail box. Now I suppose I will have to get one of those folding gates to put across the bottom to keep him from climbing up any time. He has always had a tendency to play in the front hall when I have to be busy elsewhere.

Alma Walker’s brother who has been in the Navy, has a medical discharge and is home. His wife has a baby and there has been trouble there – You remember them – you drew the blood for their marriage. Seems she wanted to run around after she got over having the baby and kept the family on needles & pins. Dale has the same trouble Mabel has and when that was found out he was honorably discharged. The young wife hasn’t taken very good care of the baby and Alma says he was broken out from lack of care and formula that didn’t agree with him. Now that Dale is home maybe he can keep her in line.

David is raising a fuss so I think I had better get him his orange juice & cod liver oil.

Another Happy New Year & Love – Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/13/new-years-day-gladys/

Last Day of 1943 (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-31-43

Dear Daddy –

The last day of 1943. Received yours of Dec. 18 & 19 one day this week, but no letters today. I mailed you the financial statement I made out for 1943. Since you sent the $300.00 I think I’ll get 3 – $37.50 bonds today and that will make #243.75 put into bonds this year or one over our $18.75 a month. I just came up from the basement and do I feel dirty. That Ind. coal certainly did mess things. I need to mop the entire floor, but not until I have plenty of pep. I did sweep up the furnace room which isn’t any good for my sinus.

David hasn’t any temperature today but his nose is still running and his bowels are moving good. I think nature

[page 3] is helping him eliminate his cold. I have kept him in his bed all day except for meal times. He has a pretty good appetite. When we say something to him he often responds with “bah” – I hardly think he knows just what that means but it sounds cute. I dug out the little chairs John & Mark used to play with but couldn’t find all the table – I’ll look again because I think it was all in one place. They are in pieces but I think they can all be put together again. I am sure he will enjoy playing with them.

John has been helping me wash today. He is reading Tom Sawyer again. He is old enough to catch Mark Twain’s humor which he thinks is very good.

Mark has been building on a $1.00 model I gave him some time ago. He hasn’t done much else today, but I want him to rest as much as possible.

[page 3] He went to Buddy’s to play yesterday, stayed for supper and went to a movie last night with them.

I dismantled the Christmas tree last night. It had been up since the first of Dec. and was very dry. I like to put them up but always anxious to get them down & things put away again.

I see in the paper that Jack Dye lost a leg and has been discharged from the Army. He will soon be sent home. He was awarded the order of the Purple Heart.

Mrs. James Illingsworth died this week – You remember her I am sure. Old Mr. I.’s wife – they lived in town.

Tony Schuh was operated on for gall stones before Christmas. While he was in the hospital, Bill was taken there with pneumonia. Tony is home and able to be around. I suppose Bill is too by now.

[page 4] The locker plant has been approved for Kentland. They are to start building as soon as possible. I don’t know who will run it but no one from here. A John Eilts of Crown Point will install the locker – There are 300 paid subscriptions. We have $10.00 in that. Our locker rent at Brands is just pd. for 6 mo. (to Feb.). Maybe the new locker will be ready by Mar. 1. I hope so then we can come out about even.

Mark got his electric train out but couldn’t get it to run, so Mr. Zell took it and is going to see if he can get it running. He went to Kokomo (his parent’s home) to see his (only) nephew, who is in the Navy and soon to go places. Took the train along – Said his nephew had all kinds of electric trains he used to play with. Thought both of them could work on it. Mark hasn’t had it out this winter – I hope they get it repaired so Mark can play with it again. I believe David would enjoy watching it too.

Happy New Year & Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/11/last-day-of-1943-gladys/ ‎

Christmas Eve (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
12-24-43

Dear Daddy –

Christmas Eve and the usual going round and round. Lucile wanted to go to Sheldon and get their turkey out of the locker. I got several things out too, a chicken, a few steaks and strawberries. I took a package of T-bone to Bud Kruman. I want to give Virginia a box of strawberries. I haven’t been up to Plummers yet but think I’ll take her a steak too. I am still saving back some Porterhouse steaks – I noticed there were still several packages of both sirloin & Porterhouse yet. On the way back we stopped at the greenhouse and got wreaths to take out to the cemetery. I stopped and got Dorothy at the Restaurant and she went with us out there, after we had left Lucile & Jimmy out at home.

Jimmy gave David a nice toy. It has pegs and a mallet – he likes the mallet – I imagine he will find lots of places to hammer with it. We gave Jimmy a toy & waterproof bib. They are going to Monticello tonight, so Jimmy had his gifts this morning. He had several nice things and seemed to like the toy David gave him. It is a small one – a duck with a cart attached – something he can handle easily.

[page 2] Mark is so anxious to open his gifts he is counting the hours – and so is John. Dorothy wants to see David get his gifts so I am going to keep him up until she can come out about 8 o’clock.

The weather having changed for the warmer and no snow in sight we are planning to go to Wilmington tomorrow & stay over Sun. I wish we could go to C.C. but with the furnace to take care of, it’s too far to go for just a day.

Statons went to Ft. Wayne, Foulkes are going to Chicago – Nate being stationed at Great Lakes and on duty 24 hrs. a day. They are going there to be with them. Zells will remain at home without company because of Virginia’s condition. Funks will be home – Arlene may go to the hospital – Dorothy said they would go to her mother’s since we won’t be here to take dinner with them.

Must get this finished so can get it mailed.
“Love Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/27/christmas-eve-gladys/

Cracked Skull (Gladys)

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1943-12-21 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
12-21-43

Dear Daddy – Two letters came today (Dec. 8 & 9). I had five yesterday up to Dec. 12. Also your cable greeting. Sorry we can’t return a cable but sent a regular greeting and some extra good pictures of David and hope you get them this week. Lucile is bringing Jimmy out and I am going to take care of the two boys while Lucile goes to club – she is on the committee and should attend. It is so nice out today I want to keep the boys out in the sunshine a while. Dr. M. gave Zells the report on the X-ray – Virginia has a crack in the back of her head and he says all they can do is keep her quiet. She has been very ill from the fall and is just beginning to eat, after a week since the accident. I stopped to see Arlene – she hasn’t gone to the hospital. Bill has the flu and Dr. C. told her if she got it to go right to the hospital. She hasn’t any help yet – Louise got the flu and being pregnant hasn’t recovered very rapidly. Dienharts have another baby (girl). I think it came a little too soon. Betty had to have a section done for the first baby – I see Jimmy & Bobby out playing together. The Zell girls are not out today. Betty won’t have to go to school this week – the first & second grades were dismissed until vacation is over due to so many being absent with cold, etc. So with Virginia home, all the Zell girls are home. It’s about time for Lucile to come.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/08/21/cracked-skull-gladys/ ‎

Lafayette and Back (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Dec. 10 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Just back from Laf. Took Lucile down to shop and purchased a few things too. John wanted records for Christmas so got him “The Nutcracker Suite.” In case you don’t know what it is, it’s from an operetta. I was going to take David and Lucile was to take Jimmy and we would leave both babies with her sister, but David still had some cold and I didn’t want to have him around Jimmy – so I got Clara to come stay with D. and also she got all the venetian blinds washed and windows while here, so I got some housework down even tho I wasn’t here. I didn’t want to take David away from home while he has any cold. He slept last night without coughing and didn’t run any temp. today but coughed quite a bit all day. He is asleep now and

[page 2] seems to be resting very good. I called Dr. M. wed. about giving him sulfadiazine and he said give him ¼ tablet every 4 hrs. I did that 36 hours then stopped. After I got back from Laf. this evening I went down and talked to him about d. He said if he continues to cough to give him sulfa again in two days. This cough seems to get so many people. I don’t know how contagious it is but know of no one being close to D. that had a cough. Ed Johnson has had it for several weeks but he hasn’t been close to David only out of doors – last Sun. he took some pictures but it was in the yard, I didn’t take D. into their house. At any rate it hasn’t made him feel bad and so far he isn’t running any temp. He is not as bad as he was yesterday, so I suppose I will just have to keep him in and keep him warm. When I came home this evening he was walking around the house having a grand time. I fed him and put him to bed, then I went

[page 3] to see the Dr. Mark said he would go along. After seeing the Dr. decided to get my supper downtown – I was hungry and didn’t like the idea of coming home and frying eggs – (meat frozen isn’t easy to work with) so Mark & I ate at Krulls – the first time I have eaten out for weeks – but eating in Laf. is quite out of the questions with us – We try to eat before we go or after we come back. Sometimes we have stopped at the Triple X on the hill and get a sandwich and drink. The Krull children were going to the ball game at Remington and asked J. & M. to go along. I come home as soon as I finished eating so John could go. I am here with David now, trying to catch up with my correspondence while it’s nice and quiet (except for the stoker).

I saw Phyllis M. downtown and Art is soon to be traveling. He is to go to some eastern port for 8 weeks, then, who knows where. The Emmet Millers have a baby boy. Born just shortly after Emmet was sent out.

[page 4]  They were somewhere in the South – he was sent to N.Y. and she came home one day and had her baby the next. She made the trip part way by plane, so you can understand why. James William came 3 wks. early. She was in the hospital in Laf. but I didn’t try to see her today – I figured she would be home by now.

Mr. Z. had been in Laf. attending something at Purdue since Tues. Mrs. Z. was going down today to get him, but Virginia took a cold and Mrs. couldn’t go, so Lucile and I brought him back with us. I was going to take Alma today but she had another one of those terrible attacks last night and wasn’t able to go. She has been doctoring with Rumkorf since you are away. Jack told her to either go see him today or have him over but I haven’t talked to her this evening so don’t know whether she did either.

Yours of Dec. 3 came today – not bad, eh. Just hope you get mine as fast as you have been. If 18 months mean anything – oh well, you know the answer. Thanks again for the check. As I said before it will help a lot, as we are a little low.

Had a letter from Juanita and Ralph was going to be drafted so he joined the Navy, so you see the pre-Pearl Harbor fathers are being taken –

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/28/lafayette-and-back-gladys/

Chicken Frys (Gladys)

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1943-11-28 (GRY)Letter transcription:

MRS. R.S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
11-28-43

Dear Daddy – Sun. evening – John is practicing – Miss S. gave him a new piece Sat. and he has been working hard on it. Doesn’t work so hard on the oboe this year due to the absence of a band teacher. Mark isn’t in band at all due to the above mentioned reason. Mark is building a model plane for Bobby at present. David is in bed asleep. He took such a long nap this afternoon he wasn’t quite ready to go to sleep when he went to bed. We had dinner with Zells today. They had the first of their Sept. flock. They want to have them all sold off by Christmas. I want to buy a few to put in our locker. Took David to Sunday School again. He likes to go very well now. Tried to sing and did a pretty good job making a noise most of the time. I think he should be able to go with the little tots by spring, but at present he is better with his mother. He isn’t the quite type like J. & M. were about going to meetings. He distinctly doesn’t like [to] sit on laps long at a time. He likes to move around the most of his waking hours. So far we haven’t had much cold weather – no really cold spells yet. This time last year we had had a heavy snow and the cold had set in for all winter. We are still using the 2 tons of Ind. coal I got the first of Nov. I think we still have half of it. Chet said he was definitely promised Va. Coal in Dec. & we could have a ton, so I think we will get along with our coal supply in good shape. The furnace is working very good now with this Ind. coal. Here’s another wish for a Merry Christmas. Yours of Nov. 9 rec’d yesterday.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/02/chicken-frys-gladys/

Army vs. Navy (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nov. 27 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Nov. 19 came today – making almost as good time as at your last station. Just hope mine gets thru as quickly to you. Sat. P.M. & the football game tuned in and John listening. It’s Army & Navy playing today. Mark is building a model plane for Bobby. Bobby stays in a while then says he must go out & play with his kidlets meaning Jimmy & Martha. David is asleep. Mark took him out for an airing and a little sunshine after lunch but it was so cold I brought him back in after about 15 minutes. I hung a few things on the line and they froze so brought the colored things back in and John hung them in the basement. With my throat & sinus being so sensitive this year I figured it wasn’t worth hanging clothes out and take the chance of making my throat sore. We went to Laf. yesterday and took Mark to see Dr. Cole. He gave me a prescription for Sulfamerazine and I brought it here to be filled. The drug stores here haven’t merazine so had to call Laf. to get it. Mark just has a slight head cold but those things can grow into something worse and I know Sulfas nip those cold bugs but I don’t like to give sulfa without Doctor’s instruction. I kept Mark home all week from school due to signs of nervousness. He, I think, has been playing too hard since school started and I hadn’t been making him go to bed early – however there is a new ruling for Mark – he goes to bed at 8:30. I think with plenty of rest and not so much strenuous play he will soon be himself again. He is taking Vi Delta now too. I didn’t give either J. or M. the oral cold shots this year. I can understand how he would get a cold bug – with my throat & sinus bothering me all fall.

I saw Dorothy this a.m. She was in Chicago with Marie Steinbaugh yesterday & Marie fainted. If you rec’d all my letters you know Marie had one breast removed some time ago and has been taking X-ray treatment all fall. However the clinic had dismissed her. Dorothy took her to Billings and she had an X-ray made but couldn’t stay in the

[page 2] hospital – no beds – They are going to write the clinic for her first X-rays and she is to go back to Billings later.

You remember the Couch family – you delivered the 8th baby. Mr. Couch died this week. I was told his trouble was his blood turned to water. He was in St. E. Hospital then was brought home just before he died.

Just now on the radio there is a broadcast from a Navy Sub (Capt. Steve Basket) & Army Bomber (Col. Ed Garbarge) – two former Army & Navy football players carrying on a conversation about the game they played in several (20) years ago. This conversation was brought into the broadcast at West Point.

I talked to Dr. Cole yesterday about Mother’s illness. He said the cancer was in the head of the pancreas and had probably been there a year. I didn’t get a written report on it but didn’t think it was necessary, after he explained it to me. There was a partial obstruction, due to the growth.

The Zells are having their first fried chicken from the flock they started in Sept. and we are invited to dinner tomorrow. They are all “sold” on David. They want a boy so much and they have been very much interested in David since his arrival. Of course you have been informed from different sources about David’s personality and can understand his popularity. Mrs. Zell says their children didn’t have good appetites when they were babies, and David does a very good job of eating, and they enjoy watching him eat. I am giving him hemoganized (boiled) milk now. Have to get it from Bans.

My new lenses seem a little strange today, but the man at the optical co. adjusted the frames so they fit better.

I have to write a letter to Pauline. She asked me to buy some sleepers for James L. She couldn’t find any out there in “those wide open spaces.” I got two pr. and must send them out to her today so she will get them soon. IT sure takes a lot of time to keep up my correspondence, but I like to receive letters so must write if I receive.

I will again wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you get the boxes we sent. This is one time you will have to overlook the smallness of the gift and remember the spirit it was sent in.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/07/01/army-vs-navy-gladys/

Happy Thanksgiving 1943 (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Nov. 25 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

One more year your birthday comes on Thanksgiving Day. Hope you cards have caught up with you by this date. Mark said “life begins at forty.” I said that may be true for Daddy, only I am hoping yours will begin again for your family soon after 39. That may be put crudely, but I think you will get what I mean.

It’s after 4 P.M. and David and his mother slept from 2 till 4. I kept him out in the warm sunshine until he got cross, then decided he should have his nap. He used to take a nap after his bath, orange juice & oil at 10 a.m. but won’t go to sleep any more at that hour so we wait until afternoon now. It has been sunny the past few days so in order to get him out during the best of the sunshine take him out right after lunch. He will stay in his Taylor Tot a while then wants to get out & walk around. His 8th tooth is almost through.

[page 2] I didn’t want to go into the locker because of my sinus & throat condition – which seem pretty good today – so Link said he would be going over. We wanted a chicken for dinner but Link forgot all about going. He had told me he had to go for them. So we had beef roast instead. I made dressing, baked potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, raw carrots, celery, pumpkin pie and tea. I think we fared well enough. J. & M. kept referring to the meat as turkey. The Zells ate with Shirks. Chafee won a 16 lb. turkey at the raffle and couldn’t find anyone to dress it, so Mr. Z. dressed same then Shirks invited Zells to dinner. The Shirks & Zells used to live in Brookville at the same time. Johnsons also won a turkey and dressed it and put it in our locker for Christmas. So far I haven’t planned much for Christmas. I don’t want to plan on going to C.C. I think that is too far to go with D. in cold weather. We may possibly go to Mutch’s or have them come over here if Earl can get the gas. If not we can just remain home. I suppose R. & F. will go to C.C. If it gets as cold this year as it did last I would much rather stay home than try to go visiting. After all with the four of us we can make merry right at home. Of course we would

[page 3] enjoy being with the family, or having a part of the family come here.

I’ll mention again in case those other letters do not reach you – I rec’d two bouquets of flowers. Lt. Palmer wrote a nice letter to Bergens and they passed it on to me. He was very complimentary about you. But why shouldn’t he be – you deserve it.

I rec’d a letter from Dolores. She sent me some pictures of her & Steve. I think he is a nice looking young man. She didn’t mention his present location. He must have had several days off when they were married – she said in her letter she went back to work the day after Steve went back to camp.

I have to make another trip to Laf. to get the lenses for my glasses. I had planned to go Tues. but Mark was home and I couldn’t get Clara to come and stay with Mark and David, so was going to have Arlene get the lenses for me, but they have to have my frames to drill the holes in the right places, so we plan to go tomorrow. School being out J. & M. can take care of David in the car. I will try to do a little Christmas shopping but I know I won’t do much. The stores are jammed and the stocks are low.

[page 4] There seems to be three or four persons to any article for sale. The stores are short of clerks. I don’t like to buy anything I don’t have to. You can hardly imagine the change in business conditions. I want to buy gifts for Jimmy, Bobby, Donald, & the Zell girls and frankly I am “stumped.” The prices on toys are high and the toys offered this year are nothing compared to former years. I am not complaining. It’s just a natural condition arising from circumstances – Just wish I could find something to give that would do as good as toys. I suppose I will if I think hard enough. I told J. & M. I am going to give them money. Of course I will get something else – probably some clothing & wrap it to put under the tree. They have been wanting to know what to get me. That is as much a problem as any, but we will solve all these by Christmas and try to have a Merry Christmas.

Last Thanksgiving was a week earlier than this year and it turned cold and stayed cold all winter. I remember we hung clothes out on the line & they froze. We didn’t hang clothes out today but it was nice & warm.

It’s five o’clock and I have rambled on without saying much but hope it will take up a little of your time
“Love – Mother”

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/06/29/happy-thanksgiving-1943-gladys/