March 3-4, 1968: The trip home

As Mom stated in the last letter she wrote to my grandmother during our stay in Los Angeles, she and I flew from L. A. to Dallas the evening of Sunday, March 3. Here is what I have been able to piece together regarding our final days in L. A. and our trip home based on a few of my memories, some pictures, and hearing Mom talk about it years later.

The picture of me standing in front of The Brown Derby restaurant (well, standing in the landscaping), which was previously posted with the July 25, 1967 diary entry, was taken the last day we were in L. A. There are several other photos in that same part of the photo album that were likely taken our last weekend in L. A., although their captions don't state that explicitly. Here are a few:

This is the Ambassador Hotel, which was located at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, less than one mile from our apartment. This hotel opened in 1921 and hosted the Academy Awards six times through 1943. It was the location of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, which was frequented by many celebrities from the 1920s into the 1970s. (If you zoom in on this picture you can barely see the large signs for the hotel and the nightclub.) The Ambassador Hotel is also where presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in June of 1968. It closed to guests in 1989 and was then purchased by a real estate developer who proposed a 125-story building for the site. The developer lost a long legal battle with the Los Angeles unified school district after the school board tried to take the property via eminent domain, and a school was built on the site after the hotel was demolished in 2005.

[Fun Fact: That real estate developer went on to become President of the United States.] There were a couple of pictures in this part of the photo album of the building where Dad worked on Wilshire Boulevard, a few blocks west of the Ambassador Hotel. Nothing special about those pictures so I won't post any here.

Here is a picture of a bar called Thirsty 30s, which was somewhere on Temple Street based on the street sign I zoomed in on.

Mom's caption is: "This was just an old bar that we passed many times. Loved that sign." I was unable to find anything online about the bar or the Fred M. Atkins Tire Company next door, which had been doing dependable retreading for over 40 years at the time this picture was taken. (Atkins Tires and Wheels was established in 1997.) The last L. A. photo in the album was the Bull 'n Bush restaurant, which Mom mentioned in the next to last letter.

Mom's caption on this one is: "An eating place where we ate with Hansens. Loved the prime rib there." According to the description of a Flickr photo of the Bull 'n Bush taken in the early 1980s, it was open from 1956 through 1985, and Jack Webb (Sgt. Joe Friday from Dragnet) used to hang out there. It appears to have been on the southwest corner of 6th Street and Kenmore Avenue, based on the tall white building behind it in the photo from the photo album.

As you know, since Mom was so far along in her pregnancy there was a slight possibility she could go into labor during our flight home. I must have been at Mom's last doctor appointment in L. A. because according to Mom, the doctor told me that if she started to have the baby my job was to collect shoelaces from the other passengers. I honestly don't know if that was just to keep me occupied so I wouldn't be in the way, or if the shoelaces might have served a purpose such as tying off the umbilical cord. (I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies!) In any case, I allegedly took the instructions from the doctor very seriously and I was prepared to do my duty.

Although the flight to Texas was my first flight, I really don't remember anything from the flight itself. No, Mom didn't go into labor. She always liked to tell the story that I was so excited about flying I went to the bathroom three times before the flight took off. I do have one flashback memory of being picked up at the airport in Dallas, though. (At least I think this is from when we were picked up.) Uncle Wayne and Aunt Linda picked us up, and Mom and I sat in the back seat of their car. I remember Aunt Linda holding my cousin Steven, who was almost four months old, over her left shoulder in the front passenger seat, and him looking at us in the back seat. I guess since I had been hearing about Steven for a few months, and he was the first newborn in the family I was aware of, I thought it was really neat to finally see him. We'll pause here and cover the days after our arrival in tomorrow's post.

February 23, 1968: Doctor, doctor, gimme the news

Letter postmarked February 23, 1968 (Part 2, written the afternoon of February 21): In Part 1 of this letter, Mom's doctor (Dr. Danno) informed her that the baby might come early and she might be having twins, so he referred her to a specialist (Dr. Wright). Let's see what the specialist has to say.

Results from Dr. Wright: (1) He gave me a thorough examination and says the baby probably will not come for another six weeks. (2) He also thinks I should fly home end of next week or first of following week (3) No twins - in fact, this doctor was able to tell me that the baby is now about 11" long and weighs 4 lbs. I really did like this specialist and I'd give anything if I'd been going to him all along. I could talk with him easily and I really have confidence in his opinion. I will see him the day before I leave to come home just to make sure everything is alright.

[So the twin scare is officially over. That's something else I don't recall Mom ever mentioning. Dr. Wright's prediction is delivery in about six weeks, so that puts the anticipated delivery date in early April. We shall see.] [The fly vs. drive home decision appears to be settled now, too, based on Dr. Wright's recommendation. Mom and I might be outta here within two weeks. The end is nigh . . .]

Dave thought I might get depressed over going home early and no twins (we both were disappointed) so he took me over to the Hansen's. We all ate out together and wound up yakking until midnight. Gee, we're going to miss them. They have asked us to come and visit them in Denver in June. Barbara and Erland love Denver and really know the town well so they could show us a good time. Of course, we can't plan anything because of the baby, but it's fun to dream.

The Dirrs left Tuesday morning. I do not miss them as yet and I rather doubt that I will. They just aren't our kind of people. A favorite expression of theirs - used about me in my condition and used quite frequently to describe Suzie herself - was "drop a kid" instead of having a baby. Have you ever heard anything so crude? Every time I heard it, I'd wince and see myself as a cow.

[The Dirrs were in L. A. less than four months, and although they weren't "our kind of people" they certainly made our stay there more interesting and kept Mom from being as bored as she was the first couple of months there. Overall I'd say it was a positive that our paths crossed.]

I got your letter on Monday so I'll answer your questions, statements, etc. I swear I just don't know what to think about Sara. She just goes from bad to worse. In a way I feel sorry for her and in another way I just get disgusted. We might as well face it - she'll never get old because she just never grew up.

[Well, Aunt Sara turned 99 on Christmas Day of 2017, so Mom's prediction of her never getting old turned out to be somewhat inaccurate.]

I know I wrote you about our big weekend so I'll let that pass. Surely you've received that letter by now.

Dave and I haven't made any definite plans on my leaving. As I said before, Dave tried to show me a good time last night so I wouldn't be depressed (He succeeded!) and we really didn't have a chance to discuss dates. I know Dave will arrive on the weekend in the car - either March 9 or 16. I know I'll stay here this week and possibly all next week (February 25 - March 1.) If (and that's a big if) Dave will let me, I'd like to stay over that weekend with him and leave Sunday night, the third. The reason I'd like to stay the weekend with him is so he won't get lonely. I don't worry about him during the week because he'll be working, but the weekends may be rough on him alone - Barbara and Erland won't even be here then as they are leaving March 1.

David Wayne and I will be coming in at night rather than daytime. There is a night coach from L. A. to Dallas that costs only $55. Then it'll be around half of that for David Wayne, so it won't cost much. In fact, we figured that the price will be about the same with me flying - Dave won't have to rent a trailer which was $55, the motel won't cost as much with just one as it did for the three of us, and buying two meals a day for just one person is cheaper than 8 meals for three (Dave doesn't eat breakfast.) Also, I think Dave will be able to drive it in two days instead of three - he can get earlier starts and probably drive a few hours longer at night and the stops won't be as long.

[Well, darn. I don't get to sit in the front seat with Daddy on our drive back to Texas.]

Whatever happens I will let you know as soon as our plans are complete. I can hardly wait to see everybody and David Wayne is beside himself. Dave hates to see me go, but he is really relieved and I can understand why. I feel better knowing that he'll get home before the baby is born - I just didn't want him to miss that!

Well, I'll close - I'm just rattling anyway. Hey, see if you can get that baby bed before I get home. I will start work immediately on the nursery. That will give me a lot to do so I won't miss Dave so much. Can't wait to see you!

Love,

Linda

[No, this was not the last letter. I'll let you know when that one's posted.]

February 22, 1968: Double trouble?

Letter postmarked February 23, 1968 (Part 1, written the morning of February 21): The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 27.

Dear Mother and Mike,

Did I surprise you with the phone call on Sunday? I said something to Dave about calling you Friday night (after I had visited the doctor), but the Dirrs were coming over and I didn't have time. Saturday, Dave told me to call, but I was sorta depressed (the weather mainly, as it was just a dreary day.) Sunday I felt great and I just couldn't wait.

[Ok, it sounds like Mom visited the doctor on Friday, February 16. She wanted to call my grandmother with some news regarding that appointment, but she didn't call until Sunday, February 18. Let's see what happened at that doctor appointment.]

I probably confused you, but good, about the twins bit.

[I'm confused, too. Please explain.]

I'll try to explain better. I went to the doctor on Friday (just a regular visit). I told him I'd been urinating more frequently. (One night I went every 15 minutes - Dave timed me.) He took a urine specimen and said I might have a bladder infection. Then I told him there was no burning so he didn't think I had one then - he said it meant more pressure on the bladder. He took out his little tape measure, put it around my tummy, and said, "Good God, you just may have that baby here!" Next, I sat down while he gave me a map of the closest hospital.

[Ok, that might impact the departure schedule a bit.]

Then he went over with me again the date of my last period - July 3. No, no, no! - I have not made a mistake on that. Dave and I both are sure about that - it was the day Dave drove to Tyler by himself and came back. Even my neighbor Patsy remembers because she came over that day and I was sick. The doctor figured and re-figured, then said there was just no way - two weeks early, yes, but not a month early unless . . . then out came the stethoscope. That's when he asked if there were any twins in the family - I guess he heard two heartbeats and twins usually do arrive early. He said there was an x-ray that could determine for sure but that he didn't like it (it's a good thing. Dave said absolutely no x-ray to the baby or me) and that it is very expensive. Then he told me to go and see Dr. Wright, a specialist and the one that would deliver the baby if I had it in L. A.

Now to bring you up to date thus far. I called Dr. Danno yesterday and I have no infection. Then I called Dr. Wright and explained the situation to him. He told me to come in today at 2:30. So I'll finish this letter this afternoon. But if he tells what I'm afraid he will, you'll be meeting me at the airport before you get the letter.

[Now that you know a little more than my grandmother knew after the Sunday phone call, this seems like a pretty good place to end Part 1, don't you think?]

January 31, 1968: Checking the check

Second letter postmarked January 31, 1968 (written January 31):

The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 22.

Dear Mother and Mike,

Sorry I was so long about getting the last letter mailed to you but I was out of envelopes and stamps and just couldn't find time to get them.

Monday I surprised David Wayne by taking him to a special kiddie show, "The Wacky World of Mother Goose." He had been seeing it advertised on TV, but hadn't said anything about going. (It was only shown for three days.) I did not know, though, that on Monday all schools in Los Angeles were closed so guess what all the kids did - right, went to the show! Boy, was it wild - parking impossible, standing in line to get tickets, problem finding two seats together, no way of reaching concession stand for a box of popcorn, and the noise was unbelievable! I really felt like a martyr when we finally got home. The show was delightful, however, and David Wayne did not mind the inconveniences at all.

[According to IMDB, "The Wacky World of Mother Goose" was an "animated feature film based on Charles Perrault's stories and nursery rhymes. It features Humpty Dumpty, The Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe, and the Crooked Man." It was a Rankin/Bass production.]

I can't remember what all I wrote you in the last letter so I hope I don't repeat myself. I believe I wrote you that we didn't do anything over the weekend so no need to say any more about nothing. On Sunday we did try to find Angels Flight - the world's shortest railroad, 355 feet long. We didn't find it but Barbara told me yesterday that she knows where it is and that children can ride on it. I'm going to try to find it again so David Wayne can take his first train ride.

[Angels Flight is a small funicular railway, meaning it's on an incline and it has two tracks, with the two trains connected such that one goes up when the other goes down. It's in the Bunker Hill district of downtown Los Angeles. When we lived there it connected Hill Street and Olive Street. In 1969 it was removed due to redevelopment in the area, and then it reopened in 1996, connecting Hill Street and California Plaza.]

Well, we had our big luncheon at the famous Brown Derby yesterday. I was not too impressed with it, but David Wayne wanted to go so badly that it was worth it. Before we ordered we had a cocktail and your grandson had a "Roy Rogers" - it was just 7-up with a cherry in it, but it was served in a regular cocktail-type glass. Now, David Wayne thought he was really a big boy - imagine his first cocktail at five years old! I couldn't get a child's plate (they did not have any on the menu) so he got the biggest plate of spaghetti I've ever seen and he ate more than half of it.

Here comes the good part: I think I wrote you that we were letting David Wayne "take" us to lunch, so he was to pay the bill. Well, the bill came and he picked it up off the little tray and got his money out. At this point, you must picture everyone in the place watching "that cute little boy who is acting so grown up." He kept looking at the bill so finally, figuring he didn't know what to do next, I said, "David, you put the money and the bill back on the tray for the waitress to pick up." Loudly and clearly he replied, "But Daddy always checks it over first to see if it's right!" It really broke the silence of the dignified Brown Derby and I can imagine that the story is all over Los Angeles as those businessmen probably had the time of their life repeating it when they went back to work. I've never seen Barbara laugh so hard (she was wiping tears from her eyes) and I bet I was fifteen shades of red! And that husband of mine was so damn proud of David Wayne when we told him about it. He said, "That's right, son, always check over that bill." Never doubt that Dave has a terrific influence over David Wayne! From now on I plan to pay the bills myself.

[This is another one of those memories ingrained in my brain, much like being picked up by the monster at Universal Studios or making that comment about the south pole melting when we drove by the globe fountain near Disneyland. I do recall getting quite the reaction, and Mom always liked to tell that story. As I remember it, my actual quote was, "I'm looking over the check like Daddy does."]

I know it's a big relief for you to get all those folders graded. Thank goodness the weather is better for a change, also. I hope Texas winter will be all over by the first of March. We just haven't had any cold weather this year.

Mike's car experience really scared me so I know he must have been petrified. It is really getting bad everywhere from the standpoint of safety. I wish he didn't have to make so many out of town trips - I trust Mike completely, but all those other fools and maniacs!

I still haven't answered Joan's letter - isn't that terrible? Every time I get started on it, I just bog down, don't know what to say or where to begin. But I will make an effort to finish one today and then I'll send you her letter. I really don't know why I find it difficult to wrote to her.

[I hope we get to see Joan's letter soon. It must have really been something.]

Did you see "Valley of the Dolls?" I hope you can forgive me for taking David Wayne to that show. I know it wasn't a fit show, but I truly wanted to see it. I want to take him to "Dr. Doolittle," but it is shown exclusively at only one theater and the tickets would cost $5 or $6 and you have to make reservations weeks in advance. I've also wanted to take him to "Sound of Music" which is showing at several theaters - all miles away from here! The closest one is in downtown L. A. and the parking problem would be terrific. David Wayne certainly takes after me and you about his love for movies. He enjoys them so much that it is a pleasure to take him. During the "Mother Goose" movie he got most upset with all the children that were misbehaving.

Barbara and Erland Hansen have come to the conclusion that David Wayne is developing "total recall." After explaining it to us, Dave and I agree with them and we're not trying to brag. We go someplace one time and the next time he remembers how to go. (This is on streets he's never seen before - like going to the Sivell's.)

[I'm sure my wife is cracking up after reading that part. I have definitely lost that ability. If I don't have a mental map of the area in my head already, I don't even try to keep track of where I am or what direction I'm going. I'll admit it. GPS navigation has made me lazy. But I can still read (and fold) a map, so I have that going for me.]

I read his "Jungle Book" funny book to him once or twice and he now can read the entire book, almost word for word. On Sunday mornings I read the funny papers to him once and then he sits in the floor and reads them out loud word for word. It's the same on other books and stories I read to him - he doesn't read them word for word, but he retells them exactly as they happened. Really, it's kind of scary and I don't feel qualified to handle this situation. He gets most upset with me if I'm telling a story and don't retell the dialog exact.

[See the story about the Brown Derby above. Now I'm sure I have the dialog correct.]

It also comes in very handy - as when Barbara and I park in a big parking lot, we tell David to note the aisle number and he remembers (she and I sometimes forget). Also, when we are going somewhere and need to know an address, Dave tells David Wayne the address and when we're ready for it, he tells us. (Saves us a lot of writing down addresses.) He is always remembering little, insignificant things that happened two or three years ago. Spooky?

[I think I've always had a pretty good memory, which is part of the reason I did so well in grade school.]

I just came back from the doctor and everything is fine. He had sent a blood sample off to a lab and it came back fine so no more pills, shots, etc. - or excuses to feel bad! He said it would be alright for me to travel in a car going home and to stop and rest if I got tired. He's also sending a medical history along with me so in case of trouble I can just call a hospital, ask to see a doctor that delivers babies, and he'll have any needed information. The medical history is also for Dr. Tatum - he said he trusts me not to open it.

[Dr. Tatum was Mom's doctor in Texas. So now it looks like we may all travel home by car.]

Well, that's all the news for now. I've got to get busy and wash today since Dave wore his last clean shirt today. It's been threatening to rain for several days and there's snow in them thar mountains, but the sun shines on Normandie Avenue - maybe that's because we're all coming home soon together! No actual packing yet, but Dave said he'd help so I'm not worried. Take care and write often.

[Can you tell Mom's getting excited about coming home?]

Love, 

Linda

January 18, 1968: Giant doctor

Letter postmarked January 18, 1968 (Part 2, dated January 17):

This is the second part of the January 18 letter. This part was written on January 17.

Well, I just got home from doctor.

[At this point I am redacting two sentences that aren't really that big a deal and we're all grownups, after all. But it's some medical stuff people generally don't broadcast and I'd honestly rather hear Mom talk about bras than what she said about this doctor visit. You're welcome.]

He also checked the iron count - says it's better and I took my last shot for that. I told him I'd been getting dizzy - he said it's natural and I might have it more so because of anemia. I go back the 31st of January.

I'm enclosing a couple of pictures - neither one I'm proud of. The one by the "Jolly Green Giant Footprint rug" is where he's wearing the outfit you sent him. He was feeling really silly that night.

[The date on the back of that picture is January 13, 1968.]

[What, me silly? I guess I grew out of that eventually.]

[We have another decent view of my bed in that picture. Also, I had forgotten about this picture when the Jolly Green Giant Rug was mentioned a few letters ago.]

The other one shows the pants and belt that Linda and Wayne got him. It is blurred because he was hopping around - had to go to bathroom. Can't you almost see him doing a little dance?

[We've seen that picture before, in the August 25, 1967 diary entry. Now we know why I had that awesome pose.]

[The pictures included with this letter explain the 10 cent Postage Due stamp on this envelope. Mom must not have had a postal scale. Also, I noticed that the amount of postage on these airmail envelopes went up from 8 cents to 10 cents at the first of the year. I did find confirmation on the internets that first class postage (regular mail, not airmail) when up from 5 cents to 6 cents on January 7, 1968.]

Must go as I'm about ready for a nap. Take care and write often.

Love,

Linda

December 28, 1967: Iron and ironing

Letter postmarked December 28, 1967 (Part 5):

Here is the 5th and final part the letter Mom started writing the day after Christmas in 1967. She started writing this part of the letter the afternoon of Wednesday, December 27.

More bad news - I went to the doctor this morning. He took one look at my pale cheeks and eyes and then gave me a hemoglobin test - I am anemic! If you could see me, you'd laugh, but I guess the test doesn't lie. I knew I was tired but I thought it was just from spending Christmas with a five-year-old. Anyway, I have to take iron shots twice a week at least for three weeks.

That's not all - he had me bring in David Wayne. He thinks he might also be low on iron but he will send his test off to a lab. Then he poked and prodded around on David Wayne, gave him a tubercular scratch test, took a urine specimen, weighed him, etc. I don't know whether the good ol' doc needs to pay his Christmas bills or what but he said something about checking the urine for kidney trouble (scared me after the way he looked at his eyes.) If I know my husband, he'll be so upset that he'll send us back to Texas.

[More medical drama for both me and Mom. That's just what she needs on top of being pregnant.]

[The remainder of the letter was written Thursday morning, December 28.]

I am closing this letter quickly so Dave can mail it for me. It's turning into a diary!

This has been and will continue to be a busy time for us until next week sometime - 'tis the season to be jolly! Last night we were invited to Dave's boss' house, tonight we're going to the Hansen's, and Friday Cliff, wife and two daughters are coming for the weekend. My house looks like a tornado hit it, we have no clean clothes or linens, and our dead Christmas tree is falling down all by itself! And it is an effort for me to put one foot in front of the other - all I want to do is sleep.

[It looks like the busy holiday season for Mom and Dad continues through New Year's Day, and Mom has to deal with anemia on top of all that. Well, at least things aren't as boring as they were a few months ago.]

I will try to call you soon if I get the chance - probably next week. I hope you and Mike enjoyed Christmas. We're going to have copies made of pictures, so you'll get those later. By the way, did Mike get his money stocking in time?

Love,

Linda

P. S. Save the best for last - my favorite gift was the story you wrote about "Rowdy." I read it out loud to David Wayne and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I've also loaned it out to Barbara - I don't think Suzie would appreciate it. Thank you so much for sending it.

[I'll let you read the story of Rowdy after the letter covering New Year's Day.]

November 30, 1967: Cafeteria fish and newlyweds

Letter postmarked November 30, 1967 (Part 5):

This is Part 5 of the letter postmarked November 30, which is the remainder of the letter not covering any specific days of our Thanksgiving trip to San Francisco.

Now to answer your letter. It was in the mailbox when we got home late Sunday night and as tired as we were we couldn't wait to read it. David Wayne loved his special letter - especially the Peanuts stickers. Dave enjoyed those articles on politics, especially the one I'm sending back to you.

[The article Mom sent back is a column someone wrote about Ralph Yarborough, who served as a US Senator from Texas from 1957 to 1971. The columnist did not have a good opinion of Senator Yarborough. The article primarily pokes fun at his response, as well as the response of many other politicians, to the damages along the Texas coast due to a recent hurricane. At the bottom of the article, in someone's handwriting other than my mother's or my grandmother's, is "This was cut from an independent paper in Birmingham." Assuming that's Birmingham, Alabama, I have no idea why a column about a Texas senator would appear in an Alabama newspaper. But I do have a theory on how my grandmother came across the article. After her divorce from my grandfather, she remained in close contact with his mother (my great-grandmother) who lived in a rural area in northwestern Alabama. My great-grandmother wrote the occasional political piece for the local newspaper, so I suspect she came across this article and sent it to my grandmother in Denton. My grandmother, in turn, must have added it to some political articles she had been saving for my dad.]

David Wayne did enjoy his Halloween, but we haven't been to see the baby in No. 9. He has been several times to No. 6 to see the old lady's fish though. She even tried to give him some.

[The old lady's fish? What's that all about? I'll refer you back to the August 28, 1967 diary entry, where Mom recounts a trip to the beach. I caught some minnows on this visit to the beach and brought them home, but they died. One of my comments regarding that diary entry was, "My desire to observe fish will be revisited later on, I hope." And here it is. There was an old lady who lived in our apartment building who had a large aquarium. (Well, it seemed large to a five-year-old, at least.) Reading between the lines I'm guessing we discovered this lady and her aquarium while I was trick-or-treating on Halloween and she let me come into her apartment and watch her fish for a bit. She must have told me (and my parents) that I could come back whenever I wanted to to watch her fish, and I did. I don't know if Mom would call her first to ask, or if I would just ask Mom if I could go, but I would just knock on her door, ask if I could watch her fish, and she'd let me in so I could stare at the aquarium for awhile. (Yes, "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" comes to mind.) I don't know if I did that the rest of our stay in Los Angeles, or if the novelty eventually wore off and I stopped going.]

The Hansens have already gotten him a Christmas present and so have Gene and Suzie. On Monday, Barbara and I took David Wayne to eat in a cafeteria - it was his first encounter with one and he was fascinated. I had never even realized that he didn't know what they were. I just wonder if I'll be able to give our new baby the experiences that David Wayne has had. I doubt it.

[Fascinated by a cafeteria. Fascinating . . .]

Suzie and Gene are going to be contestants on The Newlywed Game. It will be taped the 8th of December but won't be on television until the 16th (Saturday night). Now don't miss that as it should be very exciting. Tell Mike that it will even be worth his time. You may not want to ever admit you're from Texas again, though.

[I do remember watching that episode of The Newlywed Game, which would have been the original version starring Bob Eubanks that aired from 1966 - 1974. Hopefully Mom will mention it in a letter after we watch it.]

We haven't been back to the Sivells for one reason and then another. I have asked Dave to invite them over this weekend so I'll let you know. I did tell you that they invited us to eat with them on Thanksgiving - I appreciated that.

My "gloomy" letter did help me, but I was afraid (later, of course) that it might upset you. I'm glad you understood that it wasn't permanent. Our trip to San Francisco pepped me up and also the night Dave took me out to eat at the French restaurant. Both of us needed that shot in the arm.

 As for Dave's diet, he couldn't wear any of his clothes and that made him feel bad. He hasn't stuck to it rigidly lately and that helps. Really, I'm proud that he still wants to look nice for me after being married a whole year - it's kind of a compliment to me, I believe. 

I felt some movement recently and my last trip to the doctor turned out fine as he could hear heart beat, etc. And I am getting bigger, so something's bound to be growing. I better warn all of you that Dave is going to be a different type of "first father" than the cartoons show. Now, he will be proud and happy, yes, but he won't be beaming or showing off "look what I did!" He just isn't the type. Neither do I expect to get any help on feeding, changing diapers, cleaning up messes, etc. With Dave, the family will just have to not criticize or be surprised and I will know that he is happy. Besides, I'll get the biggest help knowing that bills will be paid and the child will be loved and taken care of. That is another reason that I would like to see Wayne because I doubt seriously that we will "see" it with Dave. 

I will answer the rest of your letter another time. It is just about time for Suzie to come so we can go to the show. I am really excited about seeing "The Sound of Music." Take care of yourselves and write often. 

Love,

Linda

 P. S. - I mailed another package for you - just sort of a novelty gift. Let me know if it gets there. Now I have finished all shopping except Wayne and Dave.

[I guess Mom got brave enough to mail another package to Texas. Let's hope this one arrives undamaged.]

Letter postmarked (and dated) October 27, 1967: Late night shots

Letter postmarked (and dated) October 27, 1967:

The CCZCC remains at zero due to an incorrect zip code on this envelope.

Dear Mother and Mike,

It was really good to get a letter from you yesterday. I had told Dave that morning that nobody loved us any more. Mrs. Jennings has been pretty busy with her job, also, and hasn't had time to write either.

As for flying home Christmas - impossible. Dave only gets Tuesday off from work. I didn't even know that until last night. Dave never tells me any bad news unless he just has to. Of course, he said David Wayne and I could go without him, but I don't think that's a good idea, do you? Our place is with him - especially since he feels so guilty about us not being home for Christmas.

[More evidence that our not being back in Texas for Christmas came as a big shock to my parents.]

Don't worry about sending me and Dave any Christmas presents. We know how much trouble mailing packages is - too much for a working Mama! Dave, laughingly, told me to write you that he wears a size 32 in underwear. Seriously, the only thing he could or does need is a sweater (button in front type) to wear at night. He left his in Carrollton. I guess he would wear about a 38-40 size, whatever that means. I could use a maternity slip (size 34?) If time runs short on you, just wait until we get home (what a sweet word!) and we can celebrate then - Christmas in February, March, April? David Wayne would love the service station. He has the following cars: cattle truck (#37), ice cream truck (#47), car transportation set (#G-2). He would love to have the greyhound bus from Knucklehead - he still talks about Mike riding one. And I bet Wayne would love to pick out some of the antique Matchbox cars for him. The only trouble with that is that he would play with them so much, Linda Kay would have to sneak them away from him to get them mailed. The antique cars are more expensive than the others, too.

Personally, I'm having a ball shopping for all of you out here. I'm trying to get everyone something from California - different like. I really enjoy picking out things for people - it's just that when I get home I get depressed, knowing I won't be there to see you open them up. Next week I'm going to Knott's to see if I can find anything for Wayne. That should be fun. I'm going to try and get matching kimonos for Judy and Tracey.

[Mom did enjoy watching people open their Christmas gifts, that's for sure.]

I got the food warmer for Linda and Wayne's baby. I will mail it today. If she already has one it won't be any problem. She can keep it there for our baby and I'll send her my green stamps to get what she needs. No problem at all with two babies on the way - right?

[Ah yes, S & H Green Stamps. I vividly remember my mother and especially my grandmother accumulating those in books. I liked how there were different denominations of green stamps (like coins), such that you had to use a little math to fill up a page in the book correctly. Here's a link to the Wikipedia article for you youngsters or citizens of the future: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%26H_Green_Stamps]

Speaking of babies, I went to the doctor yesterday. I had gained half a pound in over two weeks - good, eh? I had eaten pizza the night before, too. My blood test is fine - said he would give me some iron pills later maybe. He had me get some vitamin pills with calcium because he said some "damn dentist will blame me for cavities later on if I don't." I asked him about traveling in case we have to go home during the 7th or 8th month and he said it would be okay - just don't drive several hours at a stretch without stopping and stretching my legs. He said that the "no riding in a car" was just for some patients who got sick easily. He told me that I could go anywhere I wanted to go. The real blow was when I said I might have the baby here and he told me he wouldn't be the one to deliver it if that happened. It seems that he must have heart trouble or something and he can't do any night work so he cut out delivering babies. He said that a young doctor - a specialist in that field - does that for him. And I won't even repeat the price he quoted me. That's some bad news I'll save for Dave - two can play that game. I'll tell you this much - for the price he told me I could have twins by caesarian section and complete blood transfusion in Texas!

[It sounds like we're still unsure as to where this baby's going to be born. We'll see if Dad gets his way and Mom is back home to Texas in time to avoid having a foreigner in the family.]

I wish you could have seen David Wayne getting his flu shot. He was really a little man about it. He walked right in and rolled up his shirt sleeve for the nurse. Everyone in the office just died laughing at him because when the nurse finished David Wayne said, "Ha ha! I'm through with my shots and Daddy still has to get one." The nurse went through her purse and gave him a toy because she said he was her favorite patient and the bravest little boy she knew. Even the doctor comments on how well-behaved he is and he talks to David Wayne more than he does to me. It seems that when other children come in the office, the nurse spends all her time keeping the medicine away from the kids. From what I've seen of the way parents control their kids - Jungleland, etc. - I would hate to teach here.

Speaking of Jungleland . . . I read in the paper this morning that the president or owner of that place got his foot snatched off by one of the lions. He had put his foot close to one of the cages to tie his shoe and the lion's paw went through a bar and just clawed his foot off and part of his leg, too. He was showing the animals to prospective customers - bet he didn't make a sale that day.

[Wow, Jungleland really did have some serious safety issues, didn't it?]

I laughed about you and Fran at the show. I still haven't seen that show. I thought David Wayne and I could go to see it here, but I found out from Barbara Hansen that decent people just don't go to the show in the afternoons here - that's when the sex perverts, hippies, and nuts go. It would be kind of dangerous - especially a woman and a little boy. We are going to Grauman's Chinese Theater (it is expensive enough to be safe) to see "Jungle Book." This afternoon would be a good time to go, too, since our neighbors upstairs are still hammering and banging furniture. They are driving me nuts, they're so loud.

[Fran was my grandmother's longtime friend Fran Dolcater (sp?). She would sometimes visit my grandmother when we were up there visiting. All I remember about Fran was that she smoked cigarettes non-stop, which filled up my grandmother's tiny living room with smoke. I guess my grandmother just learned to tolerate that since she didn't smoke.]

["The Jungle Book" was released on October 18, 1967, and I do vaguely recall going to see it when we lived in Los Angeles. I recall being a little confused about how they got all those elephants in the building. I guess when I was watching shows on TV I knew it wasn't real because we were in our apartment, looking at a box in the room. But when we went somewhere else (a movie theater in this case), that line between reality and fiction became a little blurry.]

I'm sorry Mike's grades aren't better. (Dave thought they were great and he couldn't understand why we were upset.) I know Mike could make better, but I also know that at his age you couldn't tell him anything. I hate to see him out so late at night - I know he's behaving, but it just doesn't look good and it isn't good for his health. I sound like an old mother hen, don't I?

[Uncle Mike's late nights out while in high school were simply training for his future life as a musician. I'll withhold comment on whether or not he was behaving.]

David Wayne laughed about not being able to get Mike out of bed. He said he could have gotten him up - and I bet he could, too. Just out of the clear blue sky this morning, David Wayne said, "You know, that was good of Nana to spend all that money on buying me things when she was here. Anything I wanted and you two wouldn't buy me, she got it for me." He's pretty observant.

[Grandmothers are awesome, aren't they?]

Thanks for the cake recipe. It got here just in time for Dave's diet. I better wait awhile before I cook it.

[This was my grandmother's infamous chocolate cake recipe Mom requested in the letter postmarked October 6, 1967.]

I will close for now. If the smog clears up, I may go to Farmer's Market and then the show. Probably, I'll just stay home and listen to the people upstairs.

Love,

Linda

September 26, 1967: What an invention!

Letter postmarked (and dated) September 26, 1967:

The CCZCC now stands at 3.

"Dear Mother,"

"Just a note to inform you of our latest buying spree. A Polaroid camera - less than $100, but not much less. Dave is just like a kid with it and says over and over, "What an invention!" David Wayne is still a big ham and he is really enjoying the posing. I am enclosing a picture of David Wayne with his bank collection and his turtle, Snappy. We all are enjoying the camera even if it is expensive. Oh well, we needed to go on a diet anyway!"

[Too bad I don't have that picture Mom sent in this letter.]

[Ok, let's assume Mom was exaggerating and the price of the Polaroid camera was only $70. That is still about $511 in 2017 dollars. Every $10 above that in 1967 is an additional $73 in today's money. So, wow, Dad really spent a lot of money on that camera, like spending between $500 and $700 today. It sounds like he really enjoyed it, so that's good. And I know for certain it was put to good use.]

[I don't know how long Dad had that particular Polaroid camera, but it seems like he always had one while we were growing up. I know he had a Polaroid at least into the mid 1980s because whenever one of my sisters would be picked up at the house for the first time by a new date, Dad would take their picture together. Since it was a Polaroid camera, they had to wait for it to develop so they knew Dad had a picture of them before they left the house. Just in case . . .]

"Speaking of weight . . . I went to the doc yesterday and I hadn't gained an ounce. Dave looks more pregnant than I do or even will in seven months. A big flu (Asian variety) epidemic is in store this year, so the doctor gave me and David Wayne a flu shot and Dave has to get one, too. My infection looks a lot better so the good doctor says. The flu shots will cost $30 so it's about time I had some good news."

[I guess the Asian flu is nothing new.]

[Yes, my dad always seemed to have a belly on him, not real big, but a belly nonetheless. You may have noticed it in some of the pictures already posted. But he definitely wasn't a big guy by any means. I guess all his extra weight was just concentrated in one spot.]

"Keep Mike in line, work as little as you can get by with, and write soon."

"Love,
Linda"

"P. S. - I bought a photo album this morning, but I don't think I can put the pictures in as fast as Dave takes them! I also bought David Wayne a world globe this morning. He is having a good time with it and can already find Los Angeles and Dallas."

September 25, 1967: Shots

Diary entry for September 25, 1967:

Went to doctor. Infection is fine, but I had to take a flu shot. So did David Wayne. Then David Wayne and I went to see where Dave worked. That night ate supper at Sizzler. The food was good. David Wayne had another nightmare at night.

Incidentally, Dad worked at Pacific Employers Insurance Company which was located at 4050 Wilshire Boulevard, at the corner of Wilshire and South Norton Avenue. It was 1.5 miles from our apartment, so about a 30-minute walk which Mom mentioned doing earlier during our stay. Based on some pictures in the photo album it was about a ten-story building.

At historicaerials dot com the building is still there in 2004, but it's a construction site in 2005 for what is there now, which is Wilshire Park Elementary School.

Hmmm, another nightmare for me. I don't think I ever heard about these, and I definitely don't remember having nightmares, so I guess I stopped having them soon after this.

Another fancy night out on the town at Sizzler. Mom didn't complain this time. Maybe the pregnancy is affecting her appetite.