All the bases covered

June 9, 1964

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well, here I am, late again.  Hope you had a happy anniversary.

We've been having winter weather.  It really rained yesterday.  But it was really needed.  Snowed up in the mountains.

Took Dale to the doctor yesterday for his physical.  They strongly recommend that all kids have a physical before starting school.  I'm very glad to say he is healthy in every way.  Mary was amazed by the whole process.  Dale had to strip to his shorts and she wanted to take her clothes off, too.  After
the nurse took his temperature she said, "My turn, my turn."  The doctor was real nice.  Talked to Dale all the while and put him at ease.  The kids both got the Sabin oral vaccine.

We had a nice letter from Aunt Ethel.  She said they had gone to the Alumni Banquet and saved Gabe from getting the flowers again.  Have they quit sending out cards about the banquet? I sure would like to get back to one of them some day.

Ever since we got back from Aunt Irene's I've been going in circles.  Seems like I'm busy all day, but I still don't get anything done.  I should be doing some real good cleaning of closets, shelves, drawers, etc.  But never seem to find the time.  Guess I'll just have to set a certain day to start and do it no matter what else needs doing.  Can't say I'm looking forward to it very much.

I'm getting an itch to do some sewing again.  I have a shirt for Dale and a dress for Mary (the same material) all done but.  But haven't felt like finishing them.  I haven't even done any work on my afghan lately.  I don't know what I do with a day.

Sure hope it clears up today.  The kids are just about out of underwear.  I can hang clothes in the basement, but it takes about 24 hours for things to dry.  Especially things like underpants.

I'm afraid my visit to L.A. sort of ruined my weight losing.  All that delicious food and easy living and I gained back nearly everything that I'd lost.  Not that I had lost much, but at least I had made a start.

We got a letter from Bill last week.  He didn't have too much to say, but he sounded in better spirits than he must have in your letter.

Nancy said Lloyd was home.  Is that for good or just a leave?

I didn't get to see Ramon while I was in L.A.  Just happened that he was out to sea at the time.  After all the weekends that he's been in and then he has to be gone just when I'm there.

Tom is coming along this summer isn't he?  Judy and Trina wanted to know.  They said they were going to try and save the bus fare and come up while you folks are here.  I sure got a bang out of those two.

Raymond said he was coming, too.  To see Dale.

Well, I really must get to work.

Love, Gary, Greta, Dale and Mary

Mom sure got a lot of things talked about in this letter.  From what she said (not my interpretation at all), she may have been avoiding things like cleaning by writing an extra long letter.  I know that is what I would be doing.

I am guessing the Raymond that was coming to see Dale was Raymond Jones since Mom would have probably referred to Uncle Raymond as . . . Uncle Raymond.

The photo was developed in 1964, obviously from a visit to Nebraska.  I'm using it for two reasons -- it is likely close in time to the letter and it is one of my absolute favorite photos of all time.

Don't like one answer, try someone else

June 11, 2002:  Missed hair appointment.  Hot weather.
June 12, 2002:  Nothing much happened.  Attended Book Club meeting -- read an article about the history of the flag to the group.
June 13, 2002:  Called Lois -- Myrtle still in hospital -- not sure how soon she'll be home.  Called Frances C.  She's moving in with Dana and wife.  Called Myrtle after dinner -- she doesn't know when she'll be home.  Has therapy every day.  Tom came for supper.  He did the laundry.  I showered and we played Rummikub.

Did Grandma not like Lois's answer to the question as to when Aunt Myrtle was coming home?  In all reality, it may have been that Lois thought Aunt Myrtle would know more later in the day, but it reads that Grandma maybe didn't like or trust her information and wanted to go to the top.

I think I can speak for the group and say that we had a grand time at Lois's yesterday for the 4th of July gathering.  Not as large a crowd as other years, but sometimes you get to visit better with people that way.  In any event, a fine time was had by all.  And cream pies were present.

Here's a photo from a 4th from the past.  I am thinking 1999 or thereabouts, but I am not sure.  Some were there, some were absent, and some are gone from us.

Horn tooting

"May 27, 1995:  Nancy came in morning.  We went to greenhouse in Wakefield for plants in p.m.  About 5:00 p.m. we had heavy rain with some hail.  To alumni banquet in evening.  The class of 1975 honored me -- paid for my dinner and gave me a corsage.  After Greg L. introduced the class, Brian W. said some nice things about me -- I got a standing ovation.
May 28, 1995:  From Friday evening until this morning we had over 5 inches of rain -- the rain gauge ran over.  To Dorothy Jo's in p.m. to visit Ronnie, Sheryl and Kristine, also Marjorie C.  Ronnie and Marjorie had come for class reunions in Laurel."

I do not think I am mistaken in saying this is one of the very few times I remember (I guess remembering is the key word here) Grandma tooting her own horn.  But it seems this was a well-deserved occasion to do just that.

I am glad May is almost over as I keep typing Mary instead of May and having to go back and correct.  I may have missed a few, but I don't want to know about it.

Semi-appropriate to what Grandma wrote about, here's a photo of Ronnie in or out of the basket, and Lloyd and Mom in the box

Gadding about

May 16, 1995:  Helen and I Scrabbled.  Delmar J. put on screens.
May 17, 1995:  Has been sunny and no rain since Saturday night when we had a shower.  Busy Bees ate dinner at Prengers.
May 19, 1995:  Pinochle Club at Elsie J.'s.  Arlene R. gave me a ride.  Greta came after work and planted garden.
May 21, 1995:  Greta took me to church.  In p.m. to Norfolk -- Helen, Dorothy Jo, Greta and I.  We shopped first and then went to Bonanza's for Monte's graduation party."

My spellcheck like "gadding".  I guess I never was sure if that was a real word or not.

I found a box of 'stuff' and it's a bit of a treasure trove as far as this blog goes.  It is going to be difficult to not use it all up all at once.  First up, I just have to use this undated letter.  It made me laugh.

'Dear Marian,

We are busy writing to you, Dale, Mary and me.  They decided to make you a picture and I should write a letter to you I was told.

I read stories for two hours straight this afternoon before they would let me quit.  One I had to read twice.  We didn't get to the mulberry trees this afternoon.  We went outside awhile and Lloyd let them have his duck and goose calls to blow for awhile.  That lasted quite awhile.

They sure are good kids to mind.  If I say what I want them to do or not do firm-like they just mind.  I sure like kids that know how to mind.

We are baton twirling with our pencils.  Mary can do it without dropping it.  Dale and I can't.

Hope you are feeling much better.

Love,
Myrtle"

I wonder if both Lloyd and Aunt Myrtle went inside during the duck/goose calling demonstration.  That had to be most unpleasant for them, but totally delightful for the two of us kids.

For some reason I am not able to add a photo right now.  I will post anyway and try a bit later.

Mary out and about

"March 26, 1993:  Pinochle Club at Ella M.'s.
March 27, 1993:  Rick and Mitch here in a.m.  Mary had gone to Kearney for a meeting of day care ladies.
March 28, 1993:  Went to church for a change."

I remember a few of the daycare conventions.  Mainly I remember that one of the providers in our group fell in the hotel swimming pool once.  As for the speeches and workshops, well I don't recall much about that.

The one TOPS gathering (I forget what they call them exactly) I remember best is the one when I was first pregnant with Mitch.  I was excited to be having a baby and so was thinking about that and truly did not get much out of the events going on around me.

So in that spirit, and even though they are not baby babies, here are some young folk....Lloyd, Mom, Ronnie.

Found the book!

"June 30, 1992:  Norris, Vicki and Ann N. visited here in p.m.
July 3, 1992:  Nancy came at noon.  We fixed food for tomorrow -- played Manipulation in evening.
July 4, 1992:  Picnic at Dorothy Jo's.  Those present:  Norris, Vicki, Ann; Ramon and Linda; Myrtle, Gaylord, Lois, Mark and Jeff; Irene; Bernie, Carol, Kris and Ryan; Marvin, Betty Ann; Linda and Christopher; Gary A., Jennifer and Karen; Kevin and Mary; Betty Jo; Rick, Mary, Mitch; Greta and Lester; Helen and John; Nancy; Howard and I; Bob, Mary and Michelle.  Lloyd in hospital for tests, an irregular heart beat."

Grandma had a new line in her book for each family unit so her list looks more impressive.  But it was still a pretty good-sized bunch that year.  And we just had our early 4th this last weekend.  Wunnerful.

I have pictures of Christopher from this particular 4th, but I gave them to Linda a while ago.  And of course, I don't know where the photos I kept are at the moment.  This photo is of a different branch of the family tree and may or may not have been taken on the 4th but I simply love it, so I am posting it.  I don't care if I've used it before or not.  Love it!  Love it!

Appendectomy

"November 12 and 13, 1990:  Quilted at church.
November 14, 1990:  Ladies Aid meeting
November 16, 1990:  Pinochle at Laura J.'s.
November 21, 1990:  Helen had emergency surgery -- an appendectomy."

Good heavens.  I know Grandma wasn't making this stuff up, but once again here is something I don't remember.  Was I so self-absorbed with the upcoming birth of my little babe that I blocked out everything else?  I am guessing my lack of memory is maybe a good thing; that Aunt Helen had an uneventful surgery and recovery.  Certainly I would have some memory if that was not so.  I hope I sent her a card or something.

Since I don't have a lot to work with here, I will go to the back of this particular journal of Grandma's for some black walnut information.  This page has "1999" at the top and "Howard's record of black walnuts" and then the following list.  I am assuming then that all of these walnuts were given out during that year.  I don't know that they were all cracked that year, but I know Grandpa had oodles of black walnuts to crack so I guess it is possible.  Here's the list:

Greta - 1 pint
Jean - 1 pint
Myrtle - 1 pint
Jenny - 1 quart
Tom - 1 quart
Wilva - 1 pint
Duane T. - 1 pint
Randy J. - 1 pint
Arlene R. - 1 pint
Herb J. - 1 quart
Marcella S. - 1 1/2 pint
Dwight O. - 1 1/2 pint
Greta - 1 pint
Hazel (Wahoo) - 1 pint
Gaylord - 1 1/2 pint
Claire B. - 1 quart
Greta - 1 quart
Duane T. - 1 quart
Barb L. - 1 1/2 pint
Lynn - 1 quart
Helen H. - 1 pint
Mary - 1 pint
Jenny - 1 pint

My quick count gives 32 pints.  Egads!  I don't know what a pint of shelled black walnuts weighs, but I know they are fairly pricey per pound.  I am guessing Grandpa didn't take a dime for the walnuts, even those given to people outside the family.  I wonder if Jean was in town to get hers or if they were mailed up to her.

I have no particular reason for this photo.  It is of Lloyd, Mom and Ronnie back when none of them probably gave a hoot about black walnuts.