1988 Catherine's Letter -Dec.30

Friday December 30, 1988

1:25pm

Dear Mother & Dad,

Hi!  I thought I'd try Faxing you another letter!  I'm pretty sure this will be the last letter you get from us this year!  There's something about knowing that you will receive this so quickly that adds to the motivation to send something.  I wonder if this is how they felt when Pony Express began?

Wendy and I went to see "The Nutcracker" put on by Arizona Ballet at Symphony Hall yesterday.  We had great seats – in the second row with no one in front of us.  We got there about half an hour early which was interesting as the guy who played Herr Drosselmeyer (sp?) was on stage at a make up table turning himself into the character.

The holiday dinner came out well but required more hours than I really wanted to spend in the kitchen.  Wendy likes the planning part and taking the credit but it seems like I get stuck with about 90% of the work.  The corn pudding came out perfectly.  I did approx. 1 & 1/2 the recipe as I had a large bag of frozen corn.  It took alot longer to cook though – I figured 45 minutes and it probably took an hour.

Gerry has to work all day tomorrow but then is off until Tuesday.  He has to do inventory of the parts department today and tomorrow as their fiscal year ends.  He is not real pleased to do this because this is a change of fiscal year ending (previously it was August 31) so he has already done inventory once in the last few months. 

Wendy's perm came out real well.  The hairdresser said she has lots of wax build up on her hair though . . . . as it gets longer and causes it not to appear as curly as it would otherwise.  So . . . we have to look for some special kind of shampoo the next time we go to the store.

I just called Roberta & Sid to see if they had any news for me to pass along.  Sid said Roberta had gone down town and he wasn't sure when she was returning but "Happy New Year" from them also.

Santa Claus was good to all of us!  Thanks for the things you contributed to the cause.  I'll save the details for the next letter when I might not have as much else to fill the page.

Business has been busier at the library this week as lots of people are on vacation and we see whole families here together  It'll be a few weeks before we can put the books in storage back out though.  Our storytimes start again Jan. 10th so that will make a big difference.

Well, we certainly hope you have a Happy New Year!  Are you going square dancing or anything particular?  Glendale is putting on Fireworks at the Park near the library so we should have a fine view from our backyard if we can stay awake long enough.  Wendy won't have any trouble but Gerry and I . . . .

Love, Catherine, Gerry & Wendy

1968 Catherine's Letter -Dec.30

December 30, 1968

Hi!  glad to get a letter from Serena and one from you all today.  I'm enclosing the write up of since I left to the middle of yesterday.  I'm waiting for January 1 so I can use my new diary.

Thanks for forwarding the mail.  I guess I'll be leaving here Wednesday afternoon on the bus.  If I go straight through I'll get in Kalamazoo on Saturday so I'll have a whole extra day if I decide to stop over somewhere – like Salt Lake City.

I'm really pro VW – they're just the right size, not bad driving, the gasoline does go a long way, they don't require any antifreeze and they squeeze into small spaces.  However I'm anti bad weather: snow, sleet, rain, fog, etc.  Ugh!

Hope I don't have too much trouble readjusting to the time change!

I was really pleased with the grades.  I was a little worried about the studying, working, and social combination but it came out better than I expected.  Next quarter is going to be rougher though.  German will probably require alot more time – especially if I get into the honors class.  And I doubt if history and psych (if that's what I end up with) will be easy.  Only 70 some days until finals!

I'll send you some post cards – I still have some stamps.

Love, 

Catherine

1968 Catherine's Trip to California Diary -Dec.21-29

12/21/68
11 AM - first stop - Marathon Gas Station, New Vienna - [odometer] 42306.  Arrived at Mary Beth's house for lunch.  Spent afternoon decorating tree and house.  Nice to see all – Jeanne, Bev, Marti.

12/22/68
Left Burkholders about 7 AM - 42419
Rationed out the food as follows:

• cheese 200 miles
• eggs 800 miles
• apples 480 miles
• tangerine 800 miles 
• cookies 300 miles

I doubt if we will starve but we sure won't gain weight!

A gas station just gave us a box of taffy and a box of peanut brittle – enough for a piece every 88 miles.  What a treat!  Everything went fine until about 5 PM when the car started gradually slowing down until it wouldn't go over 50.  Ardy thought it was the timer which had gone bad before so we stopped at a bunch of gas stations but none of them had the right tools to fix a VW.  By this time the car sounded worse than a truck, it wouldn't go over 30 and it smelled like the engine was burning up.  

We bundled up (the temperature was about 10º and the wind was blowing about 50mph) locked the car, and started the 3 mile stint to the nearest gas station.  We'd gone about 100 yards when a truck stopped and offered us a lift – we immediately accepted and he took us to Concordia, Missouri.  My left contact became dislocated from all the wind and I thought for sure my eye was going to pop right out.  I couldn't see a thing but I knew I hadn't lost it 'cause it was causing so much pain.  Ardy called AAA who said they could tow the car to Concordia but it would have to be towed to Sedalia (40 miles) to be fixed.  There was a motel right there but we figured it would cost us more than we wanted to spend.  A man at the gas station finally told us about a Mrs. Becker and her son who had a spare room.  She gave us the room, fixed us some supper and breakfast and it cost us each $1.50.

12/23/68

The tow man hauled us to Sedalia where we found out the clutch was burned out.  They fixed it and at about noon, mileage 43055, we started west again.  Car still won't move very fast so we found a VW place in Kansas City, Kansas.  Nothing wrong.  Interstate almost all the way through Kansas except last 30 miles – made really good time.  Called Sue when we got about 40 miles from Denver (10:30 PM - MST).  Got to Sue's house – great to see her family again.  Ardy went to bed, I stayed up and talked to Sue for awhile.

12/24/68

Got up at 6.  Mr. & Mrs. Steusloff were both up and had delicious breakfast (real food, even!) waiting for us.  Left about 7 with mileage 43764.  Back before we left I called home.  The Colorado mountains were really beautiful and the roads were good.  But then came Utah where the weather was good but the roads were terrible.  We went around Salt Lake City just as it got dark so didn't get to see the Great Salt Lake.  Stopped in the first town in Nevada at a Casino – cafe for coffee.  Hard to realize that gambling is legal.  The radio is getting a little repetitious every half hour we hear the same news stories about Apollo Eight and the Pueblo Crew.   Between news casts we hear the same Christmas Carols only each time we sing them louder to keep ourselves awake.  As the night went on we hung our imaginary stockings and made an imaginary fruitcake out of our food: cheese, tangerines, apples, oranges – all held together with taffy and the peanut brittle on top.  We celebrated the coming of Christmas in Ohio, Illinois, Colorado, and finally Nevada.  We stopped twice more for coffee and in the meantime the weather is getting increasingly bad.

12/25/68

(just a continuation of 12/24/68 – we drove straight through.)  Arrived in Reno about 5:30 AM – roads are just covered with snow and ice and when we finally got in California (where they confiscated our remaining apples and tangerine) we were told we couldn't proceed any further until we had chains put on the car.  Had to get off the road and make our way to the gas station to get the chains.  

Back on the road where it is snowing even harder.  Thank goodness it is divided road so we didn't have to worry about the cars coming the other way.  We were doing fine until it began snowing so hard the windshield wipers wouldn't work.  I rolled down my window, put half myself outside the car and scraped the snow off with the ice scraper.  That worked fine until I froze and Ardy thought the road curved where it actually went straight so we plowed into the snow bank.  The snow was up to the hood on one side.  We pushed, pulled, and spun the tires but nothing helped.  

Finally, after we had almost resigned ourselves to spending the rest of our lives in the snow, two cars came along.  The men got out and helped us push and pull until we eventually got the car dislodged.  We just followed the blurry taillights of the car in front of us which worked fine until they went faster than we could go.  Back down went my window but this time I just kept Ardy posted on how far we were from the snowbank to our right.  Then came that blessed sign "chains no longer required," the snow turned to rain the roads were clear, and we zipped on our way.  

[Although it seemed like an eternity had passed it was only 9:30 AM when we got out of that stuff.]  We stopped to see Ardy's friend Mary in Berkeley and arrived at Ardy's house at about 1:00 with the mileage 45069, making a total of 2763 miles between New Vienna and San Mateo.  We had two oranges and 5 pieces of taffy left.  Her family got home shortly thereafter, (Mother, Father, and sister Dell) Ardy opened her presents and at 3:00 we went to bed.

12/26/68

Woke up at 6, but that was about the soundest 15 hours of sleep I ever got.  All my stuff came through fine except my German book which is completely soaked from the melted snow which collected under the seat.  We went to visit Ardy's sister Janet who lives in an apartment in San Jose.  She is 2 1/2 years older than Ardy and just came out of the convent last summer.  Then we went to see her friend Joyce who she used to work with, go to school with, and they went to Hawaii together before our bicycle trip last summer.  We stopped and I got some postcards and then we went to her sister Roberta's house, who is married and has a little boy Chris.  Roberta is the second oldest daughter, Maureen who is older yet is in the Convent.  Back to Ardy's I found a letter and a card from home, and Christmas cards from Linda Popp, Marcia Chappel, and Micky Roussere.  Joyce called Ardy and she's having a party on New Year's Eve.

12/27/68

Messed around all morning.  I finished writing my postcards.  We exchanged some Christmas presents at Macy's and Hatfield's then took the car to a Body Shop in San Carlos to have the trunk fixed which the towing co. in Concordia had broken.  While it was being fixed I got something to send home and to the Steusloff's.  Also bought a bus ticket from San Mateo to Kalamazoo.  Got the car and drove down to San Jose – went through Palo Alto and got a glimpse of Stanford.  Saw San Jose State where Ardy went to school.

12/28/68

We went to San Francisco and saw alot of the sights – Nob Hill, Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower, Fisherman's Wharf, Cliff House, Point Lobos, Golden Gate Bridge, the Golden Gate Park with the Japanese Tea Garden, museums, etc. and can't forget the cable cars.  Met Ardy's friend Cheryl who has an apartment on Ashbury.  We all went out to dinner at Que-Lai a Chinese place – very inexpensive and the food was delicious.  We went to the ACT theater where they have a student standby plan.  The seats on the edges of the sections which don't sell by curtain time are sold to students cheaper.  We got $6 orchestra seats for $2.  Saw "A Flea in Her Ear" a really funny French farce which K put on just this past fall.  Stayed all night in Cheryl's apartment.

12/29/68

Had breakfast at Cheryl's and made it to 9:45 mass at St. Ignatius (sp?).  Picked up Ardy's oldest sister Maureen at the convent and then back home.  Found some mail – grades, . . . .  [continued in a letter dated December 30, 1968.]

1968 Catherine's California Trip Pictures -Dec.21-31

1968 Ardy & Catherine - Leaving New Vienna for California -Dec.21

1968 Ardy & Catherine - with bicycle trip friends, one of them is Mary Beth Burkholder

1968 Catherine in Colorado trip to California -Dec.24

1968 Ardy & Catherine - Arrive in San Mateo CA -Dec.25

1968 Ardy & Catherine - New Years Eve party in California

1968 Catherine's Postcard to John -Dec.27

Stanford University postcard -mailed 1968.  Captioned: Quadrangle from Palm Drive

12/27/68 [San Mateo, California]

Hi!  It's lovely out here.  The grass is green, and the sun shines when it isn't raining!  Ardy has a real nice family and I'm enjoying my stay.  How's your vacation?  Did you get any more News-Journal tips?  Thanks for the dictionary and the lint remover – they will both come in handy.

Love, Catherine

1948 Jean's Letter to HH -Dec.29

Wednesday

Dec. 29, 1948

My darling husband,

The time has really dragged by with you not with me and I'm anxiously counting the hours until Sunday.

We got a Christmas card today from Japan – a girl I knew slightly in library school who is an Army librarian there now.  We also received a long letter from Catherine Smith Foster (her father married us, remember?) and she knew another girl in Willow Village, Michigan whose grandmother and aunt live in New Cumberland – Mrs. Eliza Porter and Miss Mary.

Catherine also enclosed a picture of "Betsy" – Elizabeth Ann – her 2 yr-old daughter and she's really a darling – in blonde pigtails.  Obviously she wrote the letter before Christmas but she never was one to mail her letters before they aged a week or two.

Mother and Daddy got a crate of oranges from the Loughs.  Do wish you'd come up to bring them in.  I got them down at the express office.  The station-master put them in the car but they are too heavy to lift out.  Jack Farr will bring them in when he comes.  Daddy has been downstairs today but it has poured continuously so we won't let him go outside.

Sarah Jean is still here.  There are six of them upstairs – have been all afternoon – playing school and putting on plays.

Virginia and Jim want us to come up and spend a quiet New Years with them.  We haven't decided definitely but may go up on Friday & return Saturday.  Of course, if we don't go Bobby Brown will spend the night with us.

Mother has made a cherry pie and there's plenty for you if you're interested.  Cousin Maude came over for dinner and brought more than half of a custard pie.  She brought you and me a beautiful hand embroidered centerpiece which her mother had made and also a hooked-rug which she herself made.  It has very pretty colors in it and will look nice in our apartment.

Since I began writing this, the box from Florida has been unpacked.  It was full of huge oranges (Temples), grapefruit and kumquats.  There will still be plenty here when you come so I'll be looking forward to halving a grapefruit with you.  I do hope you don't have bad weather on your trip back but I'll be so anxious to see you.  Throckmorton is already plenty of company and getting more active every evening.  Mother and I are on our way to take him for a walk.  The family are doing their best to fill your place while you're gone.  You're always in my thoughts and I hope I'll soon be in your arms.

With all my heart & love,

"Snick"

1968 Catherine's Postcard to Serena -Dec.27

   Coit Tower & Golden Gate postcard -Mailed 1968. Caption: San Francisco from a helicopter.  High atop Telegraph Hill is the towering Coit monument from which one may enjoy a panoramic view of all San Francisco. 

[postmarked Dec 27, 1968]

Hi!  Vacation's going pretty fast don't you think?  Michigan's going to seem like the North Ple after this.  Thanks for the diet book – is is very practical!  Have fun!

Love, Catherine

1948 Jean's Letter to HH -Dec.28

New Cumberland

Tuesday

Dec. 28, 1948

My darling,

I have thought of you constantly since you left and hope you and Mrs. Horton [Aunt Mary or Bill's mother?] had a nice trip down to New Vienna.

I was at the beauty shoppe til almost one o'clock and then had a nice "walk" over to the bus station.  There I met Mrs. McGonagle waiting for the Cumberland bus so we had a nice chat the whole way up.  She told me more news about things that have been happening in New Cumberland than I have learned the whole time here.

She also told me that her daughter, Doris, who is married to the Jewish doctor, is expecting a baby.  This was quite a surprise as Doris is in her middle forties so we all hope things go well for her.  Of course, she will have excellent care and Mrs. McGonagle hopes she will have another child real soon if everything is alright for the first.

I got home before two and had a lunch which I'm sure you'd approve – vegetable soup, hard boiled egg and lettuce salad, milk and bread, butter and jelly.

Mother and I went up to see Frank Yount.  He doesn't seem anxious to do much for himself – loved to be waited upon by everyone.  Someone had given him a large box of candy and he kept demanding more.  Really I had only one piece (which was very good) and he must have had at least eight – demanding them – flat on his back & wanting his wife to feed him.  You see how easily I could be spoiled.

Mother stopped to see Mrs. McGonagle and I came on home.  Daddy was up and showed me the article on Cleveland which appears in the new Saturday Evening Post.  I read it and enjoyed it very much thinking how interested you would be in it.

Mrs. Eleanor Wares [?] Stewart and her sister Miss Lois Evans came over this evening and just left a few minutes ago.  I racked my brain to think what Mrs. Stewart had given us for a wedding gift and as yet I haven't been able to think.  Perhaps I could have taken a chance and just slurred over the word "tray" or "luncheon cloth" and hit it.  She's going back to Philadelphia tomorrow where her home is.

I do miss you very much and am anxiously awaiting your return.  It is nice for you to be with your parents and gives us both a chance to collect our thoughts.  I realize even more what a wonderful, wonderful husband I have and how anxious I am to have him back. Do hope you found all your family well.  Please thank them for me and give them the best wishes for a happy new year.

All my heart and love, "Snick"

1968 MV's Letter to Santa

 Hopefully Santa was able to interpret the secret code used in writing this letter.  I like the "How's your wife?" question on the envelope.

1988 MV's Letter -Dec.26

12/26/88

Dear Mom and Dad,

I just wanted to thank you again for such a nice Christmas.  It was good to be with you, Serena and John.  I'm really looking forward to Christmas '89 in Phoenix.

Thanks for all the gifts, too – the magazine, sweater, briefcase, necklaces, key [?] covers and of course the raisins!

Inventory at the store is Thursday night, but they have professionals come in and do the bulk of it so it shouldn't be bad.  It was busy today but not as bad as last week.  Lots of exchanges and returns.

Thanks again.  Always appreciate hearing from you.

Love,

Mary Va.

1978 Catherine's Letter -Dec.26

Tuesday afternoon

December 26, 1978

Dear Mother, Dad, Roberta, Serena, and Mary,

Hi!  I was glad to get to talk to you yesterday and hear that you made it to Arizona OK.  There is a National Car Rental System both here in Madras and in Redmond.  I called the place here in Madras and tentatively reserved one for you on January 20-28.  There rates are 17$/day and 17¢ a mile.  I didn't know if perhaps you wouldn't need it until later or what?  At any rate you can let me know what you want to do.

Wendy is not doing too well.  She didn't feel good yesterday and today she seems to be worse.  She won't eat, she won't drink, and even if I hold her she still cries.  I am about to give her some more of the liquid aspirin and perhaps that will help.  We thought it was teething yesterday but today we are wondering if it is a reaction to her measles/mumps, rubella vaccine.  It is supposed to take 10-15 days for a reaction and she had the shot on the 14th.

I was wondering if you get to a bookstore if you could get me a book called "Dare to Discipline".  Wendy seems to be entering a difficult age and I need help!  Yesterday I was talking to Fred's daughter and she said that is a very good book.  She has a 14-year-old son and she also teaches elementary school.  She said the book covers children of all ages so I would appreciate it if you could find a copy and see if you think it is worth getting.

I meant to tell you on the phone but forgot – Gerry got a homemade ice cream maker (electric – 1/2 gallon size) from the Co-op for Christmas.  We were very pleased with that.  Last night we made strawberry frozen yogurt.  It uses ice cubes and regular table salt.  We'll have to try it while you are here!  Also if you get to a Pic & Save you could get me some stationery if they have some!  I realize that doesn't fit in with the rest of this paragraph but Wendy is sitting on my lap now and my mind seems to be wandering.  DeeDee just distracted her by playing with her toys but we can't seem to keep Wendy too interested in anything today  She's had quite a bit of excitement in the past few days!

Well, I'd like to get this off in the afternoon mail so I will close.  Mother, we look forward to seeing you real soon and I await your further instructions concerning the car.

Love, Catherine, Gerry, DeeDee & Wendy

1978 GHU Letter -Dec.26

12/26/78

Tues. Morning

Lake Worth, Florida

Dear Family –

Christmas is now past history for this year so we can enjoy the week of vacation.  At least to-day we will not be doing very much cooking & to-morrow we have signed up for the Wed. evening church dinner.  Larry's 4 can eat for $5.00 which hardly makes sense to me.  A family can eat for the $5 one child or more.  There are not many people there who bring Kiddies.  Larry is returning home by plane Jan. 1st & later in the month of Jan will fly back to L.W. & the family will return home by car.  Zoe & Corey left yesterday evening.  We also had Cris & Lorna & Aunt Sarah for dinner yesterday.  We had a nice Christmas day with cloudiness.  Santa left gifts for all & every one Happy.  Thanks a lot for your package of Books & the pin will work nicely with the scarfs etc.  As time goes along I will enjoy the reading material.

Since this is some what a family letter, Roberta you are included so will tell you not to hurry with what ever you are doing that you wanted to get off before Christmas for it will be received gratefully at any time.

If John is still in your midst, we were glad to receive his card & hope he has a good trip all the way around.  Serena should enjoy a little warmer atmosphere in Ariz than she has in Colo.   The weather can be changeable at times.

I felt badly when I read in the paper that the Rankins had lost their baby girl.  I am sure it was a great disappointment to them.  But there are many things in life we can't understand it seems.

Thanks Jean for taking care of the picture situation.  They really did turn out real well & any one selected was alright with me.  There surely was a bill for same so please let me know the amount so I can repay you.

We enjoyed all the clippings.  Bill made the remark that he wondered why the toy shop (name?) didn't quit business before this fall, as they were losing money by the business reports.  He thought it would do the shop good.  Marianne had a toy made in Japan or China & I think it is now broken.  It was a paddle ball affair.  It looked pretty but – no good for lasting.  The youngsters simply had too many things.  They did enjoy the foot Balls for we gave those to them on Sun.  They seem to like to play ball with them.  At least they are still in one piece with no rip.

Roberta I am sure you will enjoy your sewing machine.  There was a little sewing I had planned to do on Aunt M. machine but it does not sew for some reason & when things don't work here, it seems to be a problem to get things fixed.  The washer has been acting up for the water doesn't spin out good.  The refrig – freezes things that it should not & ice cream is always soft.

We heard from Joe last week & his Art show went off nicely & was well pleased with the money he took in.  Paid better than teaching school.

I am enclosing a picture for Roberta, Serena, John & Mary Virginia (Did I miss anyone?) just send on if you know where or return to N.V. in the future.  I have sent one to Catherine.

Time to be doing something in my room.  It needs to have things replaced.

With a Happy New Year & Love to All –

Mother & Grandma

We thought about calling by phone yesterday but after Cris & M. called we gave up the idea because they had a hard time getting through & then we couldn't hear.

1988 Catherine's Letter -Dec.23

To: Harold & Jean Uible
From: Catherine Gerry & Wendy
Date: Friday December 23, 1988, 11am

Dear Mother & Dad,

Hi!  I thought I'd try Faxing this to you today so I'll be sure you get it before Christmas.  Thanks for your letter which we received yesterday.  Thanks also for the check!

Gerry had a nice birthday last Saturday.  Our dinner out with Roberta & Sid at Rosario's was good.  They came over for cake and ice cream afterwards.  Then Gerry and I went to a Christmas Party at the house of the sales manager for Robert Crist.  It was a full day.

Gerry has to work tomorrow morning but then is off until Tuesday.  We are planning to go over to Roberta & Sid's tomorrow evening (Christmas Eve) and they are coming to our house for a holiday dinner Monday evening.  Wendy has the menu for the dinner all planned out:  Ham (which we are getting as a Christmas present from Robert Crist) with two kinds of sauce, Potato Casserole (which has a fancy name I can't remember), relish tray, homemade cloverleaf rolls and Cherry Berry on a Cloud.  We also want to have Corn Pudding but I don't think I have your recipe.  Can you give it to me over the phone when we talk to you in the next day or two?  Wendy got her menu plan from the Christmas Cookbook which Mary V. gave us for Christmas a few years ago.  We are thinking of going to Kings Table for our dinner on Christmas Day.  They are having a special Holiday Buffet from 11-8.

Wendy has an appointment to get a perm on Tuesday morning.  she is still letting it grow out so it will be (semi) long and curly.  I got mine done right after Thanksgiving so I've got a few more months before I have to worry about it again.

I told Roberta yesterday I was going to Fax you a letter to see if she had anything to include but I haven't heard from her yet today.  She was going this morning to take Dorothy (the black lady) to visit her mother who is in a Alzheimer hospital in south Phoenix somewhere.

Gerry is going to put his birthday money toward some new golf clubs which he has been wanting.  The Christmas money will probably go toward a bookcase for the living room.  We've got our books all scattered now, in closets, boxes, and all over the Etage which makes it look very cluttered.

Business has been fairly slow at the library the last few weeks as everyone has been returning their books before the holidays and not checking new ones out.  We've had to put 40 shelves of picture books into storage until the holidays are over.

Well, we certainly hope you have a Merry Christmas.  Our love to you both and to Serena, John, and Mary Virginia.  Why don't you all plan to come to Arizona next year for the holidays???

1:45pm -- I've been trying to send this (off and on hitting redial) since 11:30 but found out when I went home to lunch that the number in your letter said 987-2619 but the original # you gave me was 2819 so now I'm ready to try again.  At any rate, I hope you get this today!!!  How often do you check the Fax machine?

Love, Catherine, Gerry & Wendy

1988 Family Letter -Dec.18

December 18, 1988

Dear Family:

We have had a quiet day at home today putting up the final Christmas things and "completing" the card letters.

Yesterday was one of six Saturdays that your Mother meets with the Emmaus group in preparation for their "journey" the last weekend in January.  We drove down to Lebanon to Golden Lamb (what a crowd) tho the tow of us got seated fairly quickly.  Walked around the downtown plus a brief visit to the Goodwill Store, where we bought a few books and also a stop at the library.  By the time we got home it was supper time and then went to the Hillsboro Square Dance.

Last Thursday night was our own square dance pot luck dinner and dance which ended on a sour note as two people could not find their own purse, tho it had a happy ending for it turned out that two other people had taken them with so many bags of food, dishes, etc. etc.  Only two more weeks and our term of office will be over.

Daye's Hardware Store building is now a furniture auction site.  The new Walmart store in Wilmington is to open the last of January.  It is reported that there is also to be a drive thru Yogurt Shop in this new mall.  We are so amazed that Cluxton's are still open in New Vienna.

We have gotten more good out of our Wells Fax line than we anticipated . . . our number is 513-987-2619.  One of our customers "demanded" that we get one.  The sending and/or receiving of an order, etc. is about as simple as making a copy on the copying machine.  Also buying a machine that will put an inner seal on our soap bubble bottles and the best price we have had on the caps is from a concern in Phoenix AZ. 

[Love, etc.]

1958 Uible Christmas Card

Wishing you a 

Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

Roberta (7), Catherine (9), John (14 months), and Serena (3)

1978 Catherine's Letter -Dec.18

Monday afternoon

December 18, 1978

Dear Mother, Dad, Roberta, Serena (?), John and Mary Virginia,

Hi!  Thanks for remembering Gerry's birthday.  The card arrived on Thursday so it was here in plenty of time.  Thanks for the checks – I think he is going to write you a thank you note for the birthday money.  We aren't quite sure about the Christmas money.  Your suggestion about the movie camera is appreciated, but . . . .  It is not something that we would probably choose to get.  I can see why it would be nice to have though.  So we really haven't decided what to get.  Gerry did look at some movie cameras that he might be able to order through the co-op.  There are quite a few things we can get at a discount that way.

We got DeeDee at the airport on Saturday.  We had heard that the roads were very icy going by Mt. Hood so we went up through The Dalles and then into Portland on I-80 through the Columbia River Gorge.  It is about 50 miles further but the roads were fine.  We went to a shopping center for an hour or so to do some shopping.  We went to the Lloyd Center which everyone we had asked here in Madras said was about the best one.  However it wasn't an enclosed mall and you would think that in a town that has weather like Portland, it would have been.  It was very crowded – probably more people in the shopping center than in all of Madras and we're not used to the crowds anymore.  We got what we wanted fast and got out, arriving at the airport in time to have a little snack before DeeDee's plane arrived.  It came 10 minutes early which seemed unusual.  She is doing fine and we had a leisurely drive back to Madras, stopping at a restaurant in The Dalles for supper.  The food wasn't too good but they had a very inexpensive children's menu.  DeeDee had the child's hamburger plate (79¢) and I had the adult version ($2.25) and the two plates were identical!  Wendy had pancakes and bacon also for 79¢.  I forgot to mention that DeeDee also got chocolate pudding for her 79¢ and I did get a slice of tomato with mine which she didn't get!

At church yesterday the Sunday School put on their Christmas program in place of the sermon.  It was excellent – they did an abbreviated version of the folk musical – "Sam" which is basically the story of the Good Samaritan.  We all enjoyed it and they had such a crowd they had to set up at least two rows of chairs in what they call the narthex which is separated from the main church by some glass but they kept the doors open.  Afterwards they had a coffee hour (the once-monthly affair) in the fellowship hall of the church.  Perhaps you will be here for the one in January.  I think it is usually the third Sunday.

On Wednesday night of this week they are having a carolling party followed by a chili supper – the church furnishes the chili and we bring crackers or vegetables to munch on.  That is preceded by a Red Cross Blood Drive which is also held at the church (the church is across the road from the hospital) so we're going to go early and give blood.  Supposedly the Red Cross comes to Madras about every 3 months.

Wendy has been super excited since DeeDee arrived and has been having a good time playing with her.  It is hard to get her to settle down for her nap or at bedtime.  Of course we got her way off schedule on Saturday by driving all over the countryside.

DeeDee fixed pork chops for Gerry's birthday dinner and we had chocolate cake with 7-minute icing.  Wendy still likes the ice cream better than the cake – she must take after her mother!  DeeDee also made us some home-made cheese pretzels yesterday afternoon which were real good.

This morning I babysat for two kids – the blind baby and her older brother – while their mother went to get her driver's license.  And then one of my new friends came over with her little boy who is a month older than Wendy so we had a houseful of little children.  Wendy is very jealous of the baby though and is always trying to stay between her and me.  I may go into the part-time babysitting business later on to bring in a few extra dollars so Wendy may have some adjusting to do.  Maybe Roberta mentioned to you that we have also applied to be apartment managers of the new apartment complex that is going up here in Madras but as yet we haven't heard anything.  It would be a few months yet as the apartments aren't completed yet.

Well, we're hoping we may get to talk to you sometime around Christmas Day.  Fred (you remember him, he Gerry's boss, the Co-op manager) invited us to Christmas Dinner at his house at 2:00.  I thought that was nice of him.  They have two children who are around our age and have small children (we haven't met any of them) so it should be interesting.

I'll start this paragraph out with something other than "well."  Here are some pictures we just got back – most of them taken during the month of November.  We got a nice card from the Bruces and they asked for Roberta's address.

Hope to hear from you soon! 

Love,

Catherine, Gerry

DeeDee & Wendy

1968 Kyung Ho Kim Letter -Dec.17

December 17, 1968

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Uible,

How are you getting along?  I hope this letter will find you in good health and happiness and prosperity and your family ever prosperous.

We are very delighted to inform you that our second daughter In Young was born Dec. 5, 1967 and also very recently long awaited [by my] parents – grandson was born Dec. 14, 1968.  Now we are altogether fine big family already.

For your information, I left Korean General Foods Co., Ltd. which are to manufacture and supply Korean-style C-Rations, comprising of Kimchi and other essential native Korean foods to our military forces in Vietnam, a couple months ago, and I joined Daeyle Yanghaeng Co., Ltd. as a Planning Manager.  We are a Korean concessionaire legally authorized by U.S. Armed Forces Procurement Agency, PACEX/VIETNAM, which are presently conducting business in Vietnam providing services of Soft Ice-cream sales operations for U.S. Armed Forces stationed in the Republic of Vietnam.  We do operate approximately thirty mobile soft Ice-Cream vans so far.  Of course, these mobile vans are made in U.S.A.  I might have a chance to visit Saigon next month or so.

My father is still Dean of Graduate School, Kon-Kuk University.  He went to Saigon a few days ago to attend the 2nd World Anti-Communist League Conference (held from Dec. 16-22) as a Korean delegate.  After this conference, he is planning to take a short trip to Rangoon Burma where my elder sister's family is living since last spring.  My brother-in-law is a Consul General of Korean Consulate General in Rangoon.

Please forgive our (my) silence.  No particular reason – I am just lazy and no good boy!

I was so glad to receive your kind Xmas card and lovely pictures.  Oh  boy!  Everybody is so changed!

Enclosed please find our family picture and Mie Young's (she is Mary Virginia's age).  She will enter the Kindergarten in next spring. 

May God richly bless you and your family and to the anticipation of meeting you again in the near future.

I wish you good health and have a very Merry Christmas and many joys in the bright coming year which my wife joins.

In Christ our Lord, Friendship is forever!

From your old friend,

Cordially yours,

Kyung Ho Kim

1968 Roberta's postcard to CJU/GHU -Dec.

Caption: The GOLDEN LAMB, Ohio's oldest Inn where ten presidents, Dickens, Clay and other famous guests have stayed.  Lodging rooms furnished in antiques, five dining rooms, party and meeting rooms.  The Black Horse Tavern, and the Shaker Village Gift Shop.  Halfway between Cincinnati and Dayton on US 42, 7 miles off Interstate 75, and 3 mi. west off Interstate 71.  The Warren County Museum, Glendower State Museum, and Harmon Golf Course in historic Lebanon.  Fort Ancient nearby. 

[postmarked Dec. 1968]

Hi!  Here for Lunch.  Having a big old time! 

I can't wait till Christmas.

Happy New Year!

Love,

Roberta

1978 Catherine's Letter -Dec.12

Thursday, December 12, 1978

Dar Mother, Dad, and Mary Virginia,

Hi!  Your letter arrived yesterday.  It must have taken its time getting here.  Of course, it is getting close to Christmas so perhaps it is getting a little bogged down.  I guess next week I will probably mail your letter to Phoenix.  Glad we got to talk to you on Saturday and hope you had a nice birthday, Mother.

We had a busy day on Sunday.  Breakfast with Santa was at 8:30.  They were set up for about 100 people and I would guess about 130 showed up.  Fortunately we were there in plenty of time so we didn't have to wait for more tables to be set up.  They had cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs with bits of ham, and hot chocolate.  Wendy didn't eat much as there was so much excitement and she couldn't be bothered.  We sat at a table with the church organist and her husband who we found out is the Superintendent of Schools.  He started out as a music teacher and she said he "worked his way up."  They have two sons in their 20's and an 8-year-old daughter who was there.  After we'd eaten Santa came and all the kids got to talk to him.  We thought Wendy could wait until next year.  After that we went to church and then made a quick trip home to change our clothes and meet this other family that we went with to get the Christmas tree.  We took Justin, Judy's (Gerry's secretary/clerk) 7-year-old with us.  We went to the Deschutes National Forest – about 40 miles southwest of here.  It costs $2.00 per tree for a permit.  We got a nice one – about 10 feet high – so it had to be trimmed before we could get it into the house.  Justin also cut one about 3 feet high for himself as his mother has an artificial tree.  There was about 8-10 inches of snow on the ground there and Justin had brought his sled so we stayed for a couple hours playing around in the snow.  There was one little incline Wendy could slide down just in her snowsuit since it is made out of nylon she slid real well.  She really seemed to enjoy it.  We were sorry we hadn't taken the camera to get some pictures.

We had a snack at a restaurant in Sisters and then came back to Madras and went to the open house at the parsonage.  They had lots of goodies – Christmas breads, little pecan pies, horns with whipped cream, etc.  Perry (as the preacher likes to be called) said that the institute he is going to in January in Wisconsin runs the 15th through the 26th so he probably won't be here when you are here as he plans to return on the train.  I told him how disappointed you would be.  He said that the Methodist Church here is so much less traditional than in the East that you might be the ones who were disappointed.  I told him you were very open-minded!  He also said that the bishop here is Jack Tuell.  Do you know him?  Oregon and the part of Idaho south of the panhandle are in the same conference.

Wendy gets a little steadier on her feet every day.  We went outside for about 1/2 hour this morning and she was standing up and walking around most of the time.  There is a concrete slab about 6' x 8' directly outside the kitchen door.  That is our patio of sorts.  She has a hard time walking from the grass onto the cement and vice-versa but other than that she does real well.  There is sort of a cat-in-residence here who is very friendly and Wendy likes to follow it around.  She can say "What's that?" plainly enough now especially since she points her finger at the same time.  She has also started using her spoon to put food into her mouth.  Before she was just banging it around on the high chair.  Anything solid she still uses her fingers though.  She goes to the health clinic this Thursday for a measles shot.  They have shots for tots the second Thursday of every month.  We should have our latest pictures developed by next week so I'll send you some at Roberta's.

Love, Catherine, Gerry & Wendy

1948 Jean's Letter -Dec.12

1296 W 25th St 

#522

Cleve 13, Oh

December 12, 1948

Dearest Mother & Daddy,

We received your letter and also card with money and gift of a setting of silver – all of which we appreciate immensely.

Thursday evening or rather late afternoon while I was attending the last of my ten pre-natal classes, Harold unexpectedly found a visitor at our doorstep.  Bill Horton had brought up some furniture, rugs, etc. for us from Mother & Daddy Uible.  He has to come up about every 10 days or so to Sandusky to pick up rubber balls for the jack sets and so he combined the trip & brought some things to us:

• Harold's desk
• Wicker chaise lounge with mattress
• Wicker chair with cushion & pillow
• 7 throw rugs various sizes
• 1 small table which H. had made
• 1 library table
• 4 varnished chairs
• 1 cot with mattress
• 2 sheets
• 1 blanket
• 2 pairs of curtain rods
• also cuts of "wandering Jew" & some other reddish purple flower

It really did alot to make us look more settled.  We finally were able to get curtain rods and have had them up since Tuesday.

We also bought two little cardboard chests which we are using in the bedroom with a mirror we had made (11x44) to stretch across them – to make a vanity – real classy looking.

Harold took back the card table & 2 chairs which we borrowed from Frank & Laura Uible & so we are using the library table & 2 of the chairs in the kitchen.  Last Sunday we got the card table which I had taken to 101 ft. [St?].  We planned to use it in the kitchen but its entirely too wobbly.

Saturday after a quick lunch we went downtown, did a little necessary shopping & then up to see "Hamlet" for which Harold had gotten tickets.  It was really excellent – Laurence Olivier in the English movie version of the play.  Be sure to see it if it hasn't been to Pittsburgh yet.  Later we looked at Christmas decorations in the stores & then went out to the "Rosemont" where we had eaten dinner a year ago last night.  The waitress that I had always gone to made a big fuss over us & told us to be sure and bring our new member of the family over for they often have children & babies there.

When we got home last night I opened my packages & it really seemed like Christmas.  Harold had gotten the silver setting from the Post Office & had saved it.  He gave me 2 real pretty pairs of flowered flannelette nightgowns and a pair of scissors which I had been needing.  Mother & Daddy Uible sent me a beautiful brunch coat which I had tried on in Cincinnati thinking it was a gift for Mary.  It is pink, cerise, gray & black in sort of a modernistic print with pretty black tie string at the neck & a black sash.

Today with the aid of a typed map & guide we toured the "Flats" of Cleveland really seeing the industrial section of the city – all the steel mills, blast furnaces, lumber yards, oil plants, docks, bridges, scrap glass plant, distillery, and many other interesting sights – where Moses Cleveland first landed, the old Ohio-Erie Canal, the original sight of Cleveland University and also Vallee-View Housing Project which doesn't compare to ours in any way – location, outlooks, actual materials used in building, people, etc.  Their's really looks just like a housing project while ours seems more like an outlay of a modern apartment village.  Oh, ours is not ideal but much more so than theirs.

Tomorrow our telephone is to be installed, we hope so will let you know our number as soon as we find it out.  Harold called the company a week ago yesterday (Saturday) & they said it would take about a month.  They would notify us before hand.  Then Sunday when we talked to Ellen & Jeanne – they know a girl who works for the tele. co.  Jeanne called her early Monday to see what she could do for us.  At first they told her that we would get one in March, then she called someone else & they informed her that as soon as we paid our $10 deposit we would get it right away.  So on Tuesday we went in & paid that & they said the men would be out on Monday to install it.  We hope it is just as easy as that.

Last Friday, I went down and did our wash.  We are assigned definite days of the week, laundry tubs to use and lockers in which to hang our clothes.  There is a washing machine down there very similar to Mrs. Schendels – 10¢ for 20 min. or 25¢ an hour.  They also have driers which blow hot air around & dry clothes in just a few hours.  

Once a month we are scheduled to clean the hallway & steps to 1st floor.  Our day is the 11th so while I was out using our super new self-wringing mop I met the girl from across the hall.  Her husband is a student at Ferris [?] College & they have a darling little girl just 4 months old – Jane.  Norma Anderson is the mother's name & I think she'll be a real nice neighbor.  They are from Jamestown, NY.  One of their families was here last weekend & looked like nice people too.  

The woman who lives in an apartment on the first floor stopped me on my way out & we talked for a long while.  She is very gabby – lives with her daughter – has been here for 11 years & says she has to move in March (daughter is making too much I guess).

There is a community house just behind us where they have various recreational facilities.  We haven't been inside yet but plan to go soon.  Also mothers can leave their pre-school children there in the morning for $1 a week & they provide for their care.  They have movies for the children every Thursday evening.

This afternoon we threw together a box of Duff's Devil Food mix in cup cake pans & used QT frosting for icing them & they were really quite good.  We had them with canned peaches & milk for our Sunday evening snack.

For dinner today we had stuffed pork-chops, Birdseye mixed vegetables, cole slaw with grated carrots, apple sauce, milk & the remainder of the 24 hour salad that I had prepared earlier last week.

Next Thursday morning I have my appointment with Dr. Weir & then will go on out to the library to work.  They are having their special Christmas Story Hour and need all the trained help they can get.  I just worked Wed. aft. of last week & think that's all I'll be doing this week (one aft. I mean.)

Miss Miller has been home with a bronchial cold for five weeks now – can't quite throw it off & gain enough energy to get back on her feet.  Several were out last week with colds, Miss Grant & Miss Jakway.

We have been looking at lamps – floor models – bridge lamps etc for we do need a large lamp and also at end tables but we have decided that covered orange crates will suffice for us until we know what will be needed & where we will be next June & from then on.  Besides we have plenty of baby things to buy now – things that will be needed before June.  Ms. Bradley gave us an excellent list of things we'll need and the best kind to buy & where to find it at reasonable prices, etc.

We got a card last week inviting us to the Young Couples Club of the First Baptist Church on Dec. 5th (Sunday evening).  We went up & met Dr. Phillips, Rev. Wheaton (the asst. minister) and very nice young people our age.  They were just organizing their group so we got in on the ground floor.  They have decided to meet the 2nd Sunday & 4th Friday evenings of each month.  Afterwards refreshments were served & we sat beside a couple just married in Sept.  He is working on his master's at Western Reserve & teaching speech classes too there.  In the course of the conversation learned that his home is Huntington, WV.  There were about twenty couples altogether & all seem enthusiastic about the new club.

As far as we know now we will try to be home about 6:00 next Saturday (that's the 18th).  Harold has classes til 12:00.  Then he has to come back over here – have lunch & then we'll start.  The Monday or Tuesday after Christmas he plans to go down to New Vienna for a few days & then pick me up on the way back & come back to Cleveland as school begins again on the 3rd.  The Wells Mfg. Co. (the Uible interest in New Vienna) has alot of orders that have to go out by the 1st & so Harold plans to help out & also take care of a semi-annual dentist appointment.

I really won't leave anything to tell you when we get home after having written such a long letter – We will look forward to seeing you Saturday. 

Love, 

J & H

1968 Catherine's postcard -Dec.9

Methodist Camp Ground, Sabina, Ohio, Chapel-in-the-Woods postcard -mailed 1968

12/9/68

Hi!  Wow, are things ever hectic.  German exam has me scared to death, the others I refuse to worry about.  The other night I went ice skating with Bob – I'm really terrible but I had a great time!  Saturday I went home with Gerti and we spent the night in Battle Creek.  Last night Greg's roommate had a Christmas party so I went with Greg.  I'll probably be home Sunday evening – will call when I get within distance.  Mother, have a good birthday – sorry I can't be there.

Love, Catherine

1978 Roberta's Postcard -Dec.7

[postmarked 7 Dec 1978]

Hi! 

Got your "Cincy" card & letter from Mary – Thanks!  Sure cold here now – down to 28º!

I got a pair of from Clair's (sp?) shoes – really comfortable – & good too since I'm on my feet most of the time – after Christmas my job will be more of a desk job!

Marian has been home sick for 3 days w/flu – but today feeling better – came over for lunch – we went to Wendy's got a frosty – brand new – as lots in this area is new shopping center right across from us.

Mary V – glad you are enjoying Algebra – I liked it my 2nd year – in Algebra I that is – the Benji special on tonight? 

Love,

Aberta