Letter postmarked January 15, 1968:
The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 17.
Dear Mother and Mike,
Boy, it sounds like you are really spoiling Miss Taffy - ham and eggs for breakfast, candy treats, sleeping in front of a fire, etc. I bet she's one in Texas that is in no hurry for us to come home. I appreciate you letting her stay in while the weather is so cold, but what are you doing about the dog hair? David Wayne certainly gets a kick out of your letters about Taffy - especially the part about sitting in Wayne's lap!
I'm sorry that you didn't hear from us for so long, but really the mail service was at fault, not me. Can you believe that around Christmas it would take five or six days for an airmail letter to reach us? I didn't get any letters from anyone for nearly a week at one time and then - wham! I got three or four letters in one week just from you. If I had known you would "hop a plane to L. A.", though, I wouldn't have written.
I can hardly wait to see what you and Mike are sending David Wayne. I wasn't going to tell David Wayne anything about another package because he gets so excited, but sure enough, I forgot and read that part of the letter to him - yep! He's just as excited as I predicted.
Let us know as soon as you get the new heating unit as we, too, are concerned about the gas heater. I don't know how you are surviving without heat in the cold weather - 14 degrees! I guess Dave and I will just miss out on any winder this year and from reports, this was a good winter to miss in Texas. I couldn't believe the reports in papers about the temperature, but when everybody writes us about it, I know it's true. Yes, by all means, an air conditioner is just what you need at this time.
Dave and I haven't been doing much since the "joy to the world" season. We stayed home all last weekend except for eating at the Sizzler Saturday night. Monday, David Wayne and I ate lunch with Barbara Hansen and spent the rest of the afternoon just talking and relaxing with her - I can relax with her because I don't have to be getting on David Wayne all the time like I do when Suzie's around. Barbara was having company on Monday night and David Wayne got her feather duster and dusted her whole apartment for her and picked up trash. He loves to help her. Tuesday, Suzie and a Virginia examiner's wife came over and asked me to drive around with them. I declined because I was tired and so was David Wayne. But Barbara also came by (to return David Wayne's Batmobile that he left at her apartment) and you should have seen the way I picked up. Tuesday night Dave vacuumed the rug and David Wayne mopped the kitchen and bathroom and cleaned tub, commode, etc. All I did was wash the dishes, but I was tired from watching them work.
[It's time for a confession. I don't think I ever told Mom this, but when I was putting the Hansen's feather duster back in the closet or wherever it belonged I broke the handle somehow. I didn't want to get in trouble so I just put both pieces back and didn't say anything about it. As far as I know Mom never found out about it, so I'm guessing Barbara Hansen never told her because she didn't want me to feel bad. That's one of those weird little flashback memories that has always stuck with me for some reason.]
Wednesday I went with Suzie and Sam (Virginia examiner's wife) to Olvera Street. Sam wanted a "shoplifter's bag" like mine - a gigantic straw monstrosity I bought there to carry camera equipment. Also, we ate lunch there as Sam had never - yes, never - eaten Mexican food. She loved it and I really enjoyed being with her.
[I checked, and there are Mexican restaurants in Virginia now.]
Thursday I decided to go and buy a dress with the money you sent. (Also, I had my babysitting money, $20.) I had told Dave Wednesday night that I planned on going shopping. That night he talked in his sleep and I plainly heard him say, "Now, don't spend all that money in the same place." Mother, I just about fell out of bed laughing and Dave is dying of embarrassment so I am telling everyone. And Dave doesn't deny it because he admitted dreaming about money that night.
[That's pretty funny yet certainly believable regarding my dad's sleeptalking comment.]
Well, about the dress . . . I bought a green wool jumper with a darker green sweater type blouse to go with it. I am in love with it and Dave likes it, too. I don't look the least bit pregnant in it - just stylish! It was not a maternity dress and I bought it in a regular dress shop - so I can wear it even after the baby comes. I will get Dave to take a picture of me wearing it so you can see it. Next week I plan on getting some new shoes and bag with the rest of the money.
[Alas, if a picture of this outfit exists I have not run across it yet.]
Thursday night we had the Hansens come over. We had been to their apartment several times and I wanted to return the invitation. We thoroughly enjoyed having them and the time passed so quickly that before we knew it - it was 11:30. Barbara and Erland both apologized for staying that late, but really no one realized it was that late. David Wayne was excited all day about "our party" and he made cookies and when I put out snacks (potato chips, dip, peanuts, etc.) David Wayne got a bowl and put Lifesavers and Dentyne chewing gum in it - this was what he was serving for the party. I'm sure the Hansens are not wild about unwrapped Lifesavers, but they ate one and really bragged on them - David Wayne just beamed. These poor people have the misfortune of being favorites of David Wayne.
David Wayne gave Snappy a bath this morning in the bathroom sink - also, he was teaching him how to swim. He really enjoys that turtle. We bought distilled water to put in his bowl because the tap water had so many chemicals it turned his shell white. I guess that's all old Snappy got from Santa.
[Although I liked playing in swimming pools at that age, I didn't know how to swim so I'm not sure how I was teaching Snappy to swim.]
While I slept this morning David Wayne copied the alphabet in small letters and capital. It was very good. I also listened to a song he made up: 2+2 is 4, 2+3 is 5, 2+4 is 6, 2+5 is 7, etc. I have no idea why or how he stumbled on this, but it makes me very proud. His first grade teacher will hate me, but truthfully I have not consciously "taught" him all these things - he just sorta picks them up. Next on his list is learning how to spell and I haven't figured out yet how he is planning on doing this.
I am still pondering the question of coming home to have the baby instead of staying with Dave. He wants me, David Wayne and the new baby to have good - the best! - care and I guess he doesn't feel capable. It would be hard on him and I would have the worry of who was taking care of David Wayne. I really feel sorry for Dave as he was really looking forward to being with me and seeing the baby firsthand. Dave says he thinks that you would be more helpful to me than he ever could - sounds like he's passing the buck, Mother. You better watch him!
[That must have been awful for both Mom and Dad to try to decide what to do about the upcoming birth. Although I know what happened I'm still looking forward to reading about how it all unfolded.]
Since I've used all my paper up, I better close. I should try to play with David Wayne since I slept almost all morning. I feel that I'm doing my little five-year-old an injustice by sleeping so much, but I just can't help it. And, he's smart enough to connect the sleeping with the new baby. I am feeling better than I was, but I still need to rest. David Wayne is most considerate when I do sleep - he colors or looks at books and he has never made a sound to wake me up.
Take care not to freeze. Keep your fingers exercised and warm by writing lots of letters. I'm sorry Mike may come down with the flu - I understand it's almost an epidemic. This kind of flu can realy be bad so do keep him at home - he can miss all activities for awhile.
[A flu epidemic? Seems like I've heard that term recently.]
Love,
Linda
Letter postmarked January 4, 1968 (Part 3):
This part of the January 4 letter covers Sunday, December 31, 1967 and Monday, January 1, 1968. (New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.)
Sunday we went to Knott's Berry Farm. The girls wanted to go to Disneyland, but there just wasn't time - I had to be home by 7 o'clock to get ready for our New Year's party. The girls were supposed to meet us at a certain time and Mary just turned them loose. (Yes! I kept David Wayne with us.) Well, they didn't show up until about 40 minutes after the appointed time which made everything very rushed for me (like I didn't have time to change clothes, comb my hair, or put on lipstick for the party.) But our day at Knott's was a lot of fun and we even had one of those chicken dinners out there - delicious again!
[Yet another trip to Knott's Berry Farm. Here's a fuzzy picture of Dad and Cliff sitting with some women other than their wives.]
[And here is a picture of me standing next to a snowman that probably wasn't made out of real snow. This is one of those rare photos in which my clothes appear to fit and you can't see that growing belly of mine.]
[Before we cover the New Year's Eve party at our apartment, here is a picture of all of the guests except one, I think.]
[The people in the back row are Cliff, Suzie Dirr, Gene Dirr, Hartford (Christmas Eve guest), Barbara Hansen (red dress), and Erland Hansen. The people in the front row are Ginger and Lynn (Cliff's stepdaughters), and Mary (Cliff's wife). I'm pretty sure Hartford's girlfriend was there, too, because in the same area of the photo album there is a picture of him and his girlfriend sitting on our couch, and she isn't mentioned in the letter describing Christmas Eve.]
[In that group photo it looks like Erland may be holding a camera in his left hand. The table is set up for serving a lot of food, so I'm sure everyone had a great time.]
Now for the party, which was a complete bust!
[Well, maybe everyone didn't have a great time.]
Mary allowed her girls to stay up for the whole thing and they were so loud and silly that they were the whole party, much to everyone's disgust (except Gene and Suzie). I've never seen kids behave in such a manner and get by with it. To top that - The Dirrs brought their puppy.
[Oh good, a one-bedroom apartment with 13 people milling about, plus a puppy that isn't housebroken. Let the fun begin!]
We couldn't believe it. After several new puddle circles on our rug and shooing it away from hosiery, I blew! I told (not asked) Gene to take the damn pup home and not bring it back. Dave backed me up all the way, bless his heart. Does that sound like me? Gene took the pup home, but unfortunately, he and Suzie stayed - she in my bathroom crying and he making a general nuisance of himself. As I said before, the girls and the Dirrs were so loud and silly that no one else could talk. That was our party - "The Sandbox Crowd." Everyone stayed until midnight and we ate (food was good - ham, potato salad, black-eyed peas, cornbread) then all left and I didn't blame them one bit.
Monday morning I just said, "To hell with it!" I stayed in bed until 10 o'clock, fixed only coffee for breakfast (except the girls and David Wayne had Toast'Em Pop-Ups), and I wrapped up ham, bread and potato salad for them to eat and just sent them on their merry way. The rest of the day was spent with relaxing and just talking, talking, talking.
[Can you tell Mom was a little upset? That late trip to the airport on Christmas Day made it the best Christmas ever, and now the puppy and the loud young girls made it the best New Year's Eve ever. I bet Mom and Dad breathed a huge sigh of relief when our company left.]
[This concludes Part 3 of the January 4 letter. I'll post the 4th and final part on January 4.]
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.]
Letter postmarked December 28, 1967 (dated December 26) (Part 1):
The CCZCC extends its record-breaking streak to 13.
This letter, which Mom started writing on December 26, 1967, covers Christmas Day and a few days on either side of it. Other than the beginning of the letter it's written in chronological order which makes it easy to divide into sections for posting over the next several days.
Dear Mother and Mike,
Well, Christmas has come and gone and we are completely worn out. In fact, I'm really too tired to even take pen in hand so please forgive any grammatical errors, misspelled words, etc. , etc.
[Mom left an "m" out of "grammatical" in that sentence.]
We tried to call you on Monday, but every time we dialed the number a little recorded message told us all lines were busy because of the Christmas rush - so sorry, but we did try! I was terribly disappointed that we didn't get to talk to you, be we still had a good Christmas.
["We're sorry. All circuits are busy now. Please try your call again later." I think that was a semi-regular occurrence back then, especially around holidays or Mother's Day. Thankfully the progress of cell phones means it can now happen at seemingly random times.]
I suppose our "celebration" began Friday afternoon as Dave had that part of the day off. Of course, I wasn't able to greet him at the door because I was busily fighting the traffic at the airport. (Remember? I played taxi cab driver for the Dirrs last week.) Anyway, Dave invited four of the men he works with over that afternoon. I enjoyed meeting and talking with them and one of the men had met Wayne in Austin a couple of years ago. Another one of the men - a bridge playing bachelor - was having a party Friday night and we were invited. We didn't have a babysitter so we took David Wayne, planning all the while to just "drop by" for a minute and then come home. As it turned out, we had a wonderful time, met lots of interesting people (including a doctor who said he'd write me a special permit to fly home), and David Wayne behaved beautifully - everyone commented on how nice he acted. We got home pretty late and all three of us were tired on Saturday, but it was a good kind of tired.
[You don't often hear an unmarried adult male referred to as a bachelor these days, and it would certainly be odd to hear one referred to as a "bridge-playing bachelor." Anyway, I don't know if it was this particular party but I have a vague recollection of going to a party at an apartment complex where there were a lot of people and I didn't know anyone there. I recall being very bored since I may have been the only child, and I think I mostly just hung out outside the apartment with the partygoers who were out there.]
[You probably noticed that Mom mentions flying home in that paragraph. Given her due date and the unknown end date for Dad's assignment, they may have been considering having Mom fly home to avoid giving birth to a foreigner.]
[That's the end of Part 1. Part 2 will cover Christmas Adam and Christmas Eve.]
