Tuesday -
May 27, 1980
Dearest Family --The Hortons plus three Kintners arrived about 3:30 yesterday afternoon a bit earlier than predicted. Larry was going to leave from Akron airport for his reserve duty but decided against coming to Ohio at all for the reunion with the Horton clan and all. Dad said that they had a full car (Mares' Volare wagon) as he saw them when they got in. We both went down after supper but didn't get to see Robert Reed as he had already gone to bed -- really tired after being without a nap and up late for three straight days. Sorry, we did see Robert Reed but it was William Wesley the younger boy -- I continually confuse their names for some reason. Robert is real sweet and so tall and blond -- he will start to school this fall -- to morning kindergarten, Mares hopes as he is an early riser. Bill seems to be enjoying his retirement and they have many things planned. They are going to spend three weeks with Cris in July going over to Junaluska part of the time. When Joe comes to New York for his Artists League two week course -- they and the Kintners are planning to meet him one of the weekends he's there. The Democratic national convention meets there the same time; they hope to work around that though. Before I forget, they (Kintner three plus Hortons) stopped to see John and Carol in Newark but didn't find them home which they would have known if they had called us before hand or them. Originally they planned to come through around the first of June so we thought they probably would be home but at least they saw 194 Church Street and the bank too.
We had a nice trip to Cleveland for the OBA leaving here Thursday AM stopping for an errand in Columbus and got to Cleveland soon after lunch. Dad went on to his meetings and I went out to see a former librarian under whom I had worked in East Cleveland. That evening we went to dinner with a group and then to see Bob Hope in a theater in the round. He was very good and unbelievable energy for one just about to celebrate his 77th birthday.
The next morning Dad went to breakfast with his alumni from Western Reserve and happened to meet a man from Granville who just happened to be on the board of Park National -- his name was Morrow and his wife had gone to Western Reserve Library School a few years (about 12) before I did. I had lunch with another former librarian and then met Dad for the annual dinner and dance. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the OBA so it was a special celebration.
Saturday morning we drove out Euclid Avenue to the area where we used to live but it really has changed in the last 30 years and was depressing. The main intersection of 105th and Euclid which had been a nice shopping area was the biggest shock -- three empty corners and the fourth boarded-up buildings. The other shops left in the area were covered with chains to keep out loiterers, etc. We went on to Columbus and had lunch at a Mexican chain of which we had heard much but never lucky enough to find one open -- Chi-Chi's and we highly recommend it if you like Mexican food. I didn't want to eat too much for Saturday evening was the New Vienna Alumni Banquet and knew we would be having another big meal.
This was the 99th alumni and though a good many had turned up from out of town it was the smallest group any of us could remember. Next year is Aunt Mary's 50th so hope she will make plans to attend. They hope to make it a special celebration. 1963 was the last class to graduate from New Vienna so it doesn't build at all.
Yesterday (Decoration or Memorial Day) Mary Virginia marched with the band at New Vienna and Lees Creek and she played the tuba -- the biggest instrument in the marching band. She and Jimmy Butler (who has played it for some time) were swinging them back and forth and she found it REALLY heavy. There was a swimming party afterwards at Kincaids and then she had ball practice with the church's softball team. (Their first game is this Wed. night with the Clinton Co. Bank girls team.) So she had a full day -- also helped G'ma sweep and get ready for the Horton invasion.
Looking forward to seeing Serena this Friday evening -- guess we are going in spite of the Hortons being here -- they plan to stay til sometime next week -- depending on how G'ma and the boys hold out. Larry has plans to fly back June 6th.
Anxious to hear the effect of Mt. St. Helens in your area, Catherine, and do hope there was no damage there. Elizabeth Johnson called this morning to say that she had gotten a card from you and how happy she was to receive it with your new address. At that time you had written that it had gone north of you but wondered about the last eruption. Also hope that you had a good weekend combining work and pleasure at the Methodist Camp near Sisters. Thanks for the information about it.
It was good to talk to Roberta last Thursday night and looking forward to seeing her too soon. Do be careful on the motorcycle. You were very lucky not to have been hurt anymore than you were. We got a real cute card from Marion when we got back from Cleveland and appreciated that. We had wanted her to keep some of the money we had sent for a birthday present for herself but evidently she spent it on a skirt for you Roberta so don't know how we can make it up to her.
Mary Virginia helped look after the boys this morning while Mares and her dad went golfing. Wes had slept 14 hours lasts night and so is getting caught up on his sleep but the others imagine would still like to nap. I stopped briefly on way back from our semi-annual trip to dentist. MV had taken the boys on tour of the shop for which we thought they were plenty young especially without their parents but they were happy to have some balls to play with from there.
Garnet Fisher's husband passed away last Thursday -- he had had cancer and had been suffering so it was a blessing. She lost her father just two months ago. The Fishers and her parents have been living In Wilmington in a house which they had fixed up so pretty in town. They have lived so many different places.
MV is practicing her music (piano) now as she has a lesson tomorrow morning. She takes from the Methodist District Superintendent's wife so she will be gone next week to conference. MV has given up voice lessons for the summer and also is not giving any piano lessons to Elwood Earnhart's daughter during the summer.
Dave Martin has retired and it seems odd to see him at home during the daytime. I hardly ever see Doris out though she and her grandson were riding bicycles one day. Brian I think will be five in August. He had training wheels on his bike.
They have been working on the tennis courts and have a blackcoat on the leveled field and parking area so they are beginning to take some shape. Hope that they are used enough to really make them worthwhile. A pool would be wonderful but would take much moe care and be very expensive to install as well as maintain.
I finally got the patio cleaned and was working on the garage this AM when Dad got home and reminded us of our dental appointment so must get back to it but kind of out of the mood. We are having the group up for hamburgers tonight. Would have liked to have steaks but Grandma and Aunt Mary and the boys no doubt would find hamburgers more to their liking. Our beef supply is really getting low -- it is so expensive in the store now -- have been eating much more fish, chicken and pork.
We plan to be in Chicago from Friday evening to Monday or Tuesday as Dad plans to make some calls and they (Imperial Smelting) have said we could have the apartment in the John Hancock building until Tuesday noon. It is very close to where Serena works in the Loyola library (one near the Water Tower). There is another campus -- the main one quite close to where she lives.
Sorry that the Hortons missed seeing you all -- especially John and Carol when they went out of their way to stop but perhaps on their way back -- sometime between June 2 and 5th or 6th -- no doubt the earlier as Larry is due home the 6th.
We do look forward to hearing from you all and always seems like a long time between letters and calls. Our visit in Newark is like a dream now, but really enjoyed it.
With much love to each one of you,
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