Dearest Family --
It has been a while since we have written our carbonated letter. We do hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving -- we did enjoy having John and Carol with us -- sorry that they couldn't be here longer but glad to get to see them -- it had been a long time since they had been here except briefly on their way back from Florida.
It was good talking to you, Roberta and Catherine and briefly to Wendy. We did try to get in touch with you, Serena, but weren't able to reach you. Wonder if you went to Kansas City or stayed in Chicago. We had hopes that you might surprise us and come home possibly but definitely looking forward to seeing you at Christmas time.
New Vienna has had several deaths in the last two weeks. JoEllen Streber passed away two weeks ago tomorrow and Charles Thompson died very unexpectedly Friday evening of a heart attack. We just got back from the funeral home. Betty told Dad that Charles had planned to retire this spring and do repair work on his own. Too bad that he wasn't able to do that. He was certainly the best one to fix anything at Daye Hardware and will really be missed.
They had calling hours for Jo Streber at the Church of Christ from 2-7 and then her funeral was the same evening. She wasn't embalmed but was to be cremated afterwards.
Charlotte Hauses's mother, Mrs. Pugsley died last Monday and we went to Sabina where they had calling hours there. We went from there to Extended Care where Dad had some papers to be signed. We put on our full slips (Melba not Dad) and then with the Harners went to a square dance in Xenia.
I wasn't at all unhappy that the United Methodist Women voted not to have their annual Thanksgiving bake sale but the Senior Citizens had one in the Mayor's Office so was able to get some things for our dinner on Thursday. I bought pumpkin pies and yeast rolls plus some other things.
Thursday we had just eight for dinner -- Grandma, Mrs. Matthews, John and Carol plus the regular four of us. With a 22 pound turkey we had plenty left over which we froze after making soup. We should have several meals much later on not to mention the soup we had Friday and leftovers yesterday.
Today the district superintendent spoke during the regular church services and Dr. Armintrout did a very good job. Not too many stayed for salad and sandwiches and the quarterly conference which followed but it was all over by a little after 1:00 PM. Mary Virginia takes piano lessons from Mrs. Armintrout but she didn't come -- she had to get her son ready to go back to West Virginia Wesleyan where he attends college.
There was an Open House for Helen Storer who is retiring as home economics extension agent. Before that she taught at East Clinton and has devoted more than 30 years to the two professions. They were also having open houses at a number of business places in Wilmington. We did go to the two florists -- Swindlers and Brewers. We did buy the makings for a deer wreath -- everything except the greenery which we plan to get in our front yard.
Grandma is all set (except the last minute packing) to go to Florida next Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Fanny Moore is going to go down with her and plans to come back in about two weeks. Her sister lives at West Palm Beach.
We did tell some of you but for the others -- Roberta called to tell us that Buffie passed away. They buried his body on the grounds near the cabin at Payson and the next day got another dog -- an airedale (spelling?) Prince Charles ("Charlie") who is still just a puppy and into everything. Poor Buffie had complications after eating a bird and getting into someone's medicine and swallowing about 18 pills. Roberta also told us about some couple she had known at the Mesa Senior Center who had just gotten married and asked to spend their honeymoon in one of her apartments. Both the husband and wife are confined to wheelchairs and so were accompanied by an aide. They had to be back at the place where they lived by 7AM the next morning!
Mary Virginia has been planting trees in the . . . . M.V. must have planted 25 trees -- all little ones that had come up in our garden this past year. Thanksgiving was a beautiful day here -- mowed the front yard for the last time for 1961 and put the mower away till next April.
Last night we attended the annual singing program that the Messengers have at the Church. They really go all out on putting on a professional program plus refreshments afterwards. Guess peoples different interests make the world go around. It is amazing to us how they seem to enjoy putting on programs in a 100 mile radius of here and yet really have full schedules during their daylight hours.
Friday was a slow day in the Commissioner's Office, so I had an extra opportunity of catching up on some of my legal work. We are expecting a lot of traffic as the new rates are now available on the real estate reappraisal . . . which means higher taxes for everyone. The local farmers are having a tough row this season as their grain yield is down and the price is also down.
Political activity seems to be in high gear already in Ohio for 1982. Believe there have been five announced candidates for Governor on the Republican side, including Bud Brown, who used to live in Blanchester. The most likely Democrat opponent is another Brown. The other day a fellow was in the office inquiring as to how one becomes a county commissioner -- we told him how plus saying that we would vote for him. Another party was in and said that "since he voted to put us fellow in office, we should take care of his problems" even tho we had no jurisdiction in the matter. Being an office holder is a practical course in political science. It is too bad that more us do not take an active interest in the office holder.
I have been been watching "Of Mice and Men" tonight but Dad has gone to bed so I'll be the one that is tired tomorrow. With December coming Tuesday the round of Christmas celebrations begins and it seems that every group wants to have a dinner or some special celebration. The commissioners (and usually wives) are invited to many things. I should say too many things.
This has turned into a LONG letter. We think of you all often and always look forward to hearing from you. Don't get too harried during the next weeks. I am guilty of putting too much emphasis on the wrong meaning of celebrating Christ's birth. The church Christmas bazaar isn't helping my attitude either. The sale day is this coming Saturday -- Dad is in charge of ticket sales for the lunch and me -- books. Hope you people don't miss any that have been around the house for ?? years.
We do love you all and love to hear from you.
With much love,
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