1970 Catherine's Letter -Mar.11

March 11, 1970

Dear Mother, Dad, Serena, John, and Mary,

Greetings!  This is the last letter you will be receiving from me in Europe for awhile -- maybe even for this year!  I really haven't contemplated the possibilities of returning at least as to when.  I have been getting lots of ideas as to where I would like to go, the kind of people I would like to go with and what I would want to do.  All three seem like rather deep subjects and since I discovered that with the stamp I have left which I am going to put on the envelope of this letter, I can write seven pages.  And if you see that there are seven pages to read you might not want to get into the deep subjects on the first page. 

So I will let my mind wander for awhile and write about other trivial matters.  There is a cat sitting at my feet right now.  It isn't our cat, it just wandered in the door a few minutes ago when I went out on the porch to hang my green shirt (which I just washed) on the clothes line to dry.  Because I couldn't get the cat back out the door, I guess he will say awhile.  If the cat came in because he is hungry he won't find much food.  All we have left is some instant coffee and two apples.  Sad?  Not really, we planned it that way. 

We had a real feast last night eating up all the food as Alan left this morning and tomorrow morning Ann and I will be moving on too.  That is sad.  This morning was rather tense as Ann and I were trying to act not too relieved that Alan was leaving.  He claims we ganged up against him and it is a valid claim.  After living together for six months we are pretty much used to each other and this past week it was usually the two of us against him.  Of course, I tend to be biased and add that it took at least as much effort on our side to endure him as his efforts to put up with two females.

The cat has now climbed on Ann's bed so he may be removed soon.  I think Ann is writing a letter too, yes, I asked her and she said she was.  Now that Alan is gone we can't play cards as it was his deck of cards.  I brought a deck but when we got them out to play with, there were only 28 cards.  At some point between then and Christmas I removed all cards numbering two through seven and left them somewhere else.  That was a real smart thing to do.  We were going to go to the beach today and finish off our sunburns.  But the sky is rather purplish gray, the wind is very strong, and the sun is nowhere to be found.  None of those make for a good sunburn.  We can't really complain as every other day we've been here, has been beautiful.

I was going to try to make it through the time here without buying a book but I broke down the other day and bought one.  It is in German though to add to the challenge of reading it.  I wonder how the selection of books in German is in the states?  I know K's library has lots and so does the bookstore but most of those are the difficult or at least not so much fun and entertaining kind that people read to get all the good German literature.  I will have to check out the Wilmington libraries when I'm home. 

Ten more days . . . .  It is unbelievable and I'm not sure I am ready for the culture shock of coming back.  It is about the same feeling as between high school graduation and starting college.  I'm not quite sure what to expect.  I'm filled with lots of anticipation, a little bit of dread and other mixed emotions.  Gee, wonder what kind of feelings come with graduation?  Probably lots of relief that you finally made it.  Time for a break, I am going to read for awhile.

Con't.  I never did get to my book -- found too many other things to do.  Siesta was finally over so we gathered up all our old milk, pepsi, and one mineral water bottles and returned them to the store.  We also made a few last purchases like apples to take with us tomorrow and a new TIME magazine.  We had also been doing well controlling our calories today until we both got hungry.  So we splurged and bought some 3 peseta pastries.  It isn't a splurge, it is more of a habit -- we've been doing it every day.  But they taste so good!  Remind me a lot of Grandma's cinnamon pies.

Instead of reading the book I got out Ann's colored pens and played with them.  It is alot of fun getting all the different colors down on a piece of paper.  And the psychoanalyst could have a good time telling me what they all mean.  That reminded me of Dick which reminded me of psychology and then I thought of Marianne.  (I hope you aren't having too much difficulty tracing my thought patterns.)  Is she still in psych?  At FSU?  Does she graduate this summer?  Maybe I can get to Florida some time between quarters to see her.

I haven't heard from Pete Cheyne lately so I don't know if he is still in Florida or not.  I guess that is all in the future though.  It seems like lately I have become much more involved in living in the present and only time for an occasional thought about the future.  And anything which happened more than five minutes ago is filed away as memories to be remembered when I get old and/or bored.

If you will excuse me once again I am going to try reading TIME.

Friday, March 13, 1970
Greetings once more.  Ann and I are sitting in Wimpy's across from the Paris Nord train station killing time before we have to catch our train to Münster.  Excitement is . . . .  We just reread to each other the letters we got yesterday in Malaga -- she one from her family and me one from you.  It seemed rather ironic as you had something in yours about this exciting experience coming to an end and here we sit bored to death.  I take it from your letter that you will be in New York so I will look for you there.  I have about reached the point now where I feel like I hope you will grab me off the plane, take me home, put me to bed and take care of me for a week.  Please disregard this whole paragraph -- no, don't do that, I do want you to meet me. 

I'm just a little tired right now.  I will probably be very tired then too.  Well, we just had some excitement as they brought us the bill and it comes to more than we have money to pay for.  Ho hum.  Why is life so cruel?  Excuse me while I run across the street and change more money.  I'm back again.  At least now with more money we can afford a second cup of coffee.  Or maybe we will get a candy bar instead.  The time at least is going by.  We leave here in about 30 minutes, arriving in Münster at 5:20 AM so we will have some time to kill there before we can catch the first bus home -- or what used to be home for tomorrow we will only be visitors.

Saturday, March 14 7:30 AM
Here I am not yet in Münster.  We didn't feel like getting off at 5:20 in Münster so we stayed on the train and came to Bremen.  In an hour we catch another train back to Münster arriving at a much more decent time.  I'm feeling better today as I slept well on the train last night.  The passport checkers and the conductors don't even bother me much any more.  It isn't necessary to fully wake up -- only shove the Eurail Pass and the passport at them -- and that has become instinctive.  Try waking me up in the middle of the night sometime.  I would probably try to show you my passport and continue sleeping.

There certainly are lots of interesting people in the Bahnhofs (train stations) early in the morning.  The most obnoxious are last nights drunks that haven't made it home yet. 

LATER, about 3:30 PM
We made it home finally and I found a letter from you.  I also realized you probably won't get this until too late.  I'll offer my apologies if they are worth anything.  It seems as if things have been happening so fast lately.  I guess communications from my end have been lacking.  I'm still going from one extreme to another about leaving here.  The idea of coming back to the States is frightening because I know I'm not going to fit in the same hole I left.  At the same time I'm anxious to make my new "hole".  I guess I only dread the adapting period which I'm going to have to go through, unless I were to stay here interminably, which I know I can't do.  All the other kids have left except Ann and I so it wouldn't be the same anyway.  It is rather nice to be back here for the day -- we're being treated as if we never left and it was an ordinary Saturday. Everything has been jammed into our suitcases -- now the big problem is getting them to London.  Ugh!  And I don't even have that much junk.  I may end up leaving 90% of my worn out belongings, including the suitcases, in London.  HA!  That would be pointless though as by then the worst pain will be over.

I'll relieve you of reading and save all the rest to tell.

Love,
Catherine

P.S. If you do get this in time . . . I did tell you I'm coming in on big PanAm at 12:45 next Saturday?

P.S. to Serena -- I'm sure whatever you fix will be fine and since I will be home a week you will have a chance to fix me almost anything.  I eat anything in whatever state it is put before me and I usually enjoy it but I'm looking forward to coming home to some "just plain meals, at a decent mealtime."  Lately seems I've just been eating whatever can be obtained when hunger strikes.  What usually happens is that there isn't any food available then so when there is food you eat as much as possible and hope it keeps you going until the next time there is food.

1970 Catherine's Letter -Mar.4

March 4, 1970

Dear Mother Dad, Serena, John, and Mary,

Hi!  Greetings from the heart of a true tourist city -- Torremolinos, Spain.  We've been here two days now and are having a real vacation!  To clear up a few details which may or may not be foggy depending on what I have already written and whether you received it, I'm here with Alan and Ann.  We have a nice little apartment with bedroom, bath, living room, and fully equipped kitchen.  So we are able to eat food other than Butterbrot -- French toast for breakfast, ravioli for lunch and soup for supper, that is today's menu but it is nice to know we can cook almost anything our hearts desire. 

Alan and I are having a good time counting calories and carbohydrates and we've got a really neat plan for next quarter.  He has access to the computer so he's going to write a program up so that at the end of a day a person can give the computer the foods eaten during the day and it will compile a total of the calories proteins fats and carbohydrates.  That is the basic idea and then later we can add all sorts of additional goodies like vitamins minerals, metabolism, and even do some experimenting around with different diets. 

It is frustrating here though as we both need a library -- he needs the computer books and I need the nutrition books.  There is a lending library of English books here but they are all considerably lighter reading.  After scouring through the town's bookstores we did come up with one little diet book -- 50¢ variety -- which along with my rough estimates has to suffice for the moment.  I guess people on vacation aren't overly interested in nutrition or computer programming. 

And while I am thinking about libraries -- could you check on a few books for me please?  I have to know a lot more than I presently do about (1) fish( 2) stars (3) snakes.  Do we have any of the little books by Zim (?) around?  I do need something that has pictures I can refer to.  I haven't been doing too much hard reading here -- like I said the library has an abundance of sex-criminal-western types.  I have been reading the German newspapers so I won't forget all my German before I get back to Kalamazoo. 

We may go to Tangiers or we may just stay here the whole time as it so nice to be home where we can walk to the beach in 10-15 minutes.  The water is too chilly for me to swim in but it is nice laying in the sun.  We will probably go into Malaga some day soon to check for mail. 

I haven't thought much about London yet but I'm sure it will be fun when we get there.  I am looking forward to going to Stonehenge on the 20th.  Six of us are renting a car from London and going out for the night and to see the sun rise on the 21st before zipping back to London so Ann and I can get our flight to New York.  Hopefully, Dick will be meeting us there and coming back with us.  He is spending his vacation hitchhiking around England.  I envy him about as much as I miss him.  Traveling alone like that has its decided advantages and disadvantages. 

I did tell you that my previous relationship with Mike was terminated?  At least it is on this end.  Getting communications straightened up has been a definite problem and three days after I told him we had to definitely terminate it, instead of dragging it out even longer and hurting all involved parties even more, I got a letter from him saying we should let it all ride until April 13 when we will be seeing each other.  That was real news because I don't know how he is getting the time to come to K then.  Oh well, in my usual  enjoy life "this minute, this day" I will wait until that minute comes -- worrying now certainly won't solve the problem.  Alan has been giving me helpful unbiased advice from the male viewpoint.  At least it is as unattached as he can be, knowing Dick and not knowing Mike. 

Ann has gone to town and Alan is reading "TIME"-- every few minutes he reads me an excerpt and gets me distracted from this letter.  You all are probably having a good time following my line of thought.  I think I'll go back to the newspaper now.  Thanks for listening.

Love, 

Catherine

P.S. I sent two boxes of old clothes to you all.  Merry Christmas!

1970 Catherine's Letter -Feb.3

February 3, 1970

11 PM Tuesday

Dear Mother, Dad, Serena, John & Mary,

Hi!  I'm sure you understand that the reason I haven't written lately is because I never go anywhere or do anything so there is nothing new to write.  (The previous sentence applies only the the last five minutes since I sat down to write this letter.)

To go back in time a ways, I had a good time visiting Sue and her husband Steve, in Erlangen.  He is from Portland, Oregon where they will be moving when he gets out of the army in July.  Sue and Steve are very much in love and everyone seems happy about the marriage except Sue's parents who refuse to accept Steve and haven't told any of the other relatives that she is married.  Hopefully time will improve the situation.  Steve has been in the Erlangen area for two years so I met alot of their German friends as well as army friends.  Meeting all the Americans who speak English, had English books lying around, and all sorts of American food that they buy on the base -- it was almost like being in the states again.  I even got to drink a glass of kool-aid.  Sue and Steve have only one room to live, eat, and sleep in but they are hoping to move into an apartment in March.  Sue does the cooking on a hot plate, he keeps the coal stove (most apartments are heated by a coal stove, too) going, and the dishes get washed in the bathroom sink.  I was able to stay in Sue's old dorm room which she had leased until February 1.

I took an overnight train to Hannover, flew Pan-Am to W. Berlin and the 13 of us met at a travel bureau there.  Ann had been in Munich for the weekend but she stopped in Münster on the way to Berlin and brought me a letter from Mike and a nice birthday card from Grandma.  I haven't decided yet what to do with the money she sent me.

A bus took us through the wall and over to the East Berlin airport which is the deadest airport I've ever seen.  Our propellor plane to Moscow was pretty dilapidated but there were also double winged, 12 passenger planes which I understand are still in use.  Customs going into the U.S.S.R. wasn't too bad -- they checked one or two of our group's luggage and let the rest of us on through.  The Moscow airport was the next to the deadest I've ever seen.  Especially when one considers it is the 5th largest city in the world.  [now the 19th largest metro area per wikipedia]   Our guide Nonne, a lady of about 35, met us at the airport along with a bus which took us the 17 miles into town.  The flight took 2¾ hours and there was a time change of two hours so we had a short day.

We stayed at the Hotel Metropole which was very centrally located and even had heat in the rooms.  The meals (3 large ones per day) were also fantastic.  I especially liked the Borsch soup and some kind of drink which was slightly carbonated but not sweet like soda pop and came in assorted fruit flavors.

Our first night there we walked over to Red Square and then the 1¼ mile around the Kremlin and saw the changing of the guard at Lenin's tomb.  I certainly felt sorry for the guards standing still for an hour in the bitter cold.

Every place we went during the days the bus took us.  Fortunately, it was also heated.  We got a tour of the city, saw the University, where all the students are paid to study.  We saw the steam on top of the heated swimming pool.  I guess the water is comfortable but even the men are required to wear swimming caps so their hair won't freeze.  Saw and did all sorts of other things which I don't really feel like elaborating on at the moment but everything is written down in my diary so I can tell you about it when I get home.

It was also quite interesting just to talk to our guide.

And there I was in Moscow on my 21st birthday.  It was rather frightening to wake up that morning and suddenly discover I'm a genuine grown-up and fully responsible for all my own actions.  So far everything seems to be going about the same.  It was rather a low blow though when that very day Nonne (our guide, who didn't even know it was my birthday) told me I looked 15.

On Friday afternoon we retraced our path from Moscow to E. Berlin to W. Berlin to Hannover.  Dick and I had decided to spend the weekend in Hamburg so we jumped on a train for there.  But we got there too late to get in the youth hostel so we just stayed on the train and did an overnighter to Copenhagen.  We spent part of Saturday walking around there, even ran into two other K kids, and then headed back to Hamburg.  It's kind of neat because the train goes on a ferry for two hours and you can get off the train and walk around on the boat.  We saw the streets of Hamburg on Saturday night (I wouldn't want too much of that) and two museums on Sunday.  The Youth Hostel is on a hill overlooking the harbor which was nice too.  But it was most exciting to come back home again.  If coming home to Münster is exciting after being gone for 9 days, I can hardly imagine coming home home after six months.

It was nice to find the big birthday card from you all -- my living hasn't reached quite that level of graciousness yet.  And thanks also to Serena for her much appreciated letter.  The bathing suit arrived yesterday and I thank you for such prompt service.  I was also glad to get your letter today and hear the latest news.  The money is also appreciated although not necessary.  At the moment I have 75 DM, $250 travelers checks, $60.75 cash, 12 kopeks (worthless since I won't be going back to Russia for awhile), 40 pfennings from E. Germany, 20 centavos from Portugal (also both worthless), 3 pesetas which I can use in Spain and 21.95 Gilders which I will be using this weekend in Amsterdam.  That should be enough to get me quite comfortably back to New Vienna.

Yes, I am glad I got the Eurorail pass.  Whenever I am lost, bored, tired, or want to go somewhere I just jump on the train and relax.  Ann and I are going down to southern Spain during vacation.  You can reach me March 1-10 ℅ Poste Restantes (Gen. Delivery), Malaga, Spain; March 13 the American Express in Paris; March 15 at home here, and from then until March 20 at American Express in London.  (I'll send you the address later.)  I will probably be flying into New York on the big 747 on Saturday, March 21.  It leaves London at 11 AM and hopefully arrives in New York at 12:45.  What airlines can I get stand-by to Columbus or are they all ⅔ now?  How much will that cost?  Could you also please check on bus connections and costs.  As usual I will need a dentist appointment sometime that week.  School starts on March 30.

Mütti gave me a green sweater with yellow trim for my birthday.  It goes well with my brown skirt.  Mike sent me some yellow & orange & red beads which he made himself.  I'd also like to ask one more favor of you all.  I live in constant dread that this pen is going to run out of ink so I think one more would definitely see me through March 22.

Thanks for guiding me the last 21 years!

Love,
Catherine

1970 Catherine's Letter -Jan.11

5:30 PM January 11, 1970

Münster, Germany

Dear Mother, Dad, Serena, John and Mary,

Hi!  Right now I wish you were here or I was there or we had some better means of communication as everything just wants to come spurting out and in no logical or coherent order.  I think maybe I'll try chronological order from when I last wrote you, and if I recall correctly that was from Ibiza somewhere around the second or third of January.

Funeral services were not held for my BIC pen which was discarded after giving forth a final spurt of ink.  We stayed in Ibiza a total of about six days and I really liked it.  Alan and I may go back there in March but we've made no definite plans yet.  There are all sorts of neat places where the rocks just drop off into the Mediterranean, the Spanish women still wear the long floor length black dresses, and really surprising was that I remember enough Spanish to be able to communicate a little.  At least I had a vague feeling for the pronunciation and I could read phrases from a German-Spanish phrase book I'd brought along to ask things like "Where is the post office?"  Serena, how is your Spanish coming?  If nothing else I got to be a master of saying "no comprendo".  I decided I would definitely like to go to Mexico and South America but first I'm going to learn alot more language.  One day we took the bus over to San Antonio, the tourist center of the island on the north side.  The town Ibiza, where the boat landed and we stayed is on the south side.  There were alot more high class appearing hotels but being off season they were all closed.  There also wasn't as much garbage (orange peels, bottles, etc.) on the streets and along the shore as in Ibiza.

We got the boat back to Alicante Monday night.  It's an overnight trip and we managed fairly well in our second class cabin.  They also have1st & 3rd class cabins and 4th class chairs.  From Alicante we caught the train to Madrid.  It was an all day trip with the train averaging 30 miles an hour.  Rosie stayed in Madrid and Alan and I after 1½ hours in that lovely city -- we did see a fountain that really turned Alan on, it had a revolving base with the water spurting out of it creating an interesting affect.  Anyway, because we spent so long in Ibiza, Alan and I were forced to sacrifice Madrid for the sake of Lisbon.

So after an all day train ride we jumped back on the train for an all nighter.  We both slept fairly well as we were the only ones in the compartment and we arrived in "Sunny" Portugal about 9:30 AM.  It was raining.  The stations always seem to be crowded with friendly little men asking if you need a room.  After we did so well in Rome we tried again in Lisbon and found a place where the rates suited our tastes.  No one spoke English at all.  There was one guy whose total English vocabulary was "Ima sorry Madame."   It sounded kind of funny when he said it to Alan.  We even ate a couple of meals there and Portuguese food isn't bad.  Of course after Butterbrot and more Butterbrots anything different tastes good.  I'm sure every place we went would have been better if we had heat.  We did alot of walking in Lisbon and got wet, even though Alan has a large blue and white striped golf umbrella which always attracts alot of attention.  It didn't rain the whole time we were there; only an average of five out of every six minutes.  We didn't see as much as we could have as we both lacked the motivation, energy and desire to spend too much time out of the room.  It wasn't any warmer there but at least it was only damp instead of wet.

With a fresh supply of Butterbrot and oranges we left Lisbon at 2:45 Friday afternoon headed for Paris a short 26 hour train ride.  Our compartment wasn't completely full -- there was one empty seat.  There was a French couple with a really cute baby and that livened up the prospect of our long journey a little.  Unfortunately after a few hours it got dark and also cold as there was no heat.  It has to rate as one of the longest nights of my life.  Alan and the French man stretched out as best they could on one side, the wife and the baby and I shared the other side.  I lasted about 5 minutes in the seat and then I stretched out on the floor which I had all to myself.  That was good except it was cold and drafty and my coat just wasn't big enough or warm enough.  What I needed was about 10 wool blankets.  The night finally ended and we met Rosie again whose train had been hooked on to ours during the night.  I was exhausted but I decided to wait until we got to Paris and I had a bed to lay my poor body down.  I even tried to choke some Butterbrot down but by this time my system was rebelling and although I still felt OK everything I ate just went right through me so it was kind of a waste of effort and energy to eat.  At 4:30 we arrived in Paris, a city I am sure I will never forget.

We took the METRO to some place where they recommend cheap hotels in an area where you want to stay.  We had to be near the North train station (Paris only has 7 station) as our train for Münster left at 7:30 this morning.  We were standing in front of this place, that is Alan and I were, while Rosie made the arrangements.  I remember telling Alan that my stomach was sending violent hunger signals and then my head got all foggy, everything got all whirly, there was a tremendous noise of Niagara Falls in my ears and I could no longer see or hear Alan.  It was the worst experience of my life.  Here I was blind and deaf in Paris.  I remember trying to step in the direction that I remembered Alan was in and I felt my knees give out beneath me.  The next thing I can remember is sitting on the bed in our hotel with a sandwich in my hand.  Yes, it was a good old repulsive Butterbrot that brought me through.  While I was out of it -- Alan had caught me when my knees gave out -- Rosie got us a hotel, they dragged me into the taxi and somehow we got to the hotel.  I was a little surprised to find us there and I felt really bad for having let them down.  The whole trip until then I had been the specimen of health.  I'll never forget Paris and I hope nothing like that ever happens to me again.

It was a short 7 hour zip trip from Paris to Münster and what a joy to be home again.  Home, where I can understand what is said to me, and to be able to take a bath with hot water, a bed, a heater, and meals -- the kind you eat at a table with a knife and a fork.  Wow, am I ever thankful to be here.

It was nice to find mail and your package.  Dad, I was hoping you would send a diary as the old one ran out about 11 days ago for some strange reason.  I'm already making good use of the pen.  Mother, the pants-skirt fits perfectly and goes right with my entire wardrobe.  Thank you both.  The Völker's also said for me to give you there heartfelt thanks for the placemats.  The Germans don't seem to have an equivalent so it was quite original on your part to send them.

Coming back here has also brought its responsibilities.  It wasn't all idyllic and utopia.  After three weeks of traveling with Rosie and Alan I realized how little I know Mike.  And what am I doing getting serious about someone I don't know?  Also, I'm afraid he sees me floating around in the clouds like an Angel which I'm obviously not.  Especially since I usually do my best to be a more logical down-to-earth person.  Anyway I have to write to him in the very near future and attempt to get things straightened out.

I was feeling pretty confident of my German after telling Mütti and Vatti about my trip but then Max (the German army guy I've gone out with a few times) called and babbled to me on the telephone for about 15 minutes about what he had done for the last three weeks.  At least I assume that was what he said as I finally gave up trying to understand.  The telephone is an instrument I'm better off without.

Alan has been encouraging me to go into nutrition so I have been considering that again.  I think I would like to finish at K first though.  Alan is a chemistry major and one of the most intelligent people I have ever known.  He makes me feel pretty uninformed in about any area.  He is very attached to his family and quite anxious to get back to Michigan.

Which brings me to the subject of my returning in March.  I can fly to New York on March 22, 23, 24 (Sunday-Tuesday).  Shall I plan to fly from there to Columbus?

I'm glad you all had a good trip to Florida and back.  I was also glad to find a Christmas card from Roberta.  Please convey my thanks and I will try to answer all correspondence in about 5 years when I recuperate form my present state of exhaustion.

I got your letters in Rome and Nice but not in Paris Madrid.  Rosie checked and said there was nothing for me so it evidently hadn't arrived.  Even if it had she wouldn't have been able to get it as one must present his passport in person in order to obtain mail.  It should be forwarded here after 30 days.  I also managed to miss letters from Mike in Nice and Lisbon.

I saw the play "Oliver" in New York at one time.  Was that with you?  I didn't like it because it didn't match the book which has a sad ending.

Good night, dear family, I am now about to collapse into bed.

Love,

Catherine

1969 Joe's Postcard -Dec.31

Caption: Hiver a Blatten (Valais) [English: Winter in Blatten, Valais, Switzerland] 

12-31-69
Hi!  Here I am in Switzerland after having seen Catherine in Nice, France.  She's having a wonderful [time] seeing Europe.  I like Switzerland but it's too cold.  The temperature is 10 degrees below zero!  I'm going to Holland tomorrow.  Happy New Year!  --Joe

1969 Catherine's Postcard to MV -Dec.24

Caption: Frohe Weihnachten und Viel Glück im Neuen Jahr
[English: Merry Christmas and Good Luck in the New Year]

December 24, 1969

Hi!  I thought of you all yesterday when we left Vienna as the temperature was about -10º F.  It was so freezing I didn't see much of Vienna.  But now I am in sunny Italy and today the skies were blue!   Rome is very dirty but it is nice to be here where it is warm.  We walked around alot and also saw the Vatican today -- is it ever gigantic.  Only the "chapel" is open but it is big enough to hold about 3 or 4 football fields.  I wish I knew Italian.  I keep being tempted to use my German.  We have a fairly nice room here in a pension -- sort of a cheap hotel -- so we have a home for Christmas.  We had a good time going in all the little grocery stores and trying to get across what we wanted and how much but it was fun and we managed somehow.  I appreciated finding a letter in the American Embassy from home.  Have fun swimming!

Love, Catherine

1969 Catherine Letter & Postcard -Aug.14,17

8-14-69

Hi!  I was glad to get your post card from Wheeling although I found it a little confusing.  The contact came yesterday.  It is so great to be able to see again.  I feel like shouting to the world, "I can see, I can see!"  However, I doubt if many would understand.   It's like seeing everything for the first time again.  I have made a hotel reservation with the group for Sept. 16.  We're staying at the Hotel McAlpin (Sheraton Atlant).  Even if you all take me you couldn't put me up for the night and get me to the pier (it's pier 92 at W 52nd, we sail on the "Europa") for $7.00.  I haven't really made any plans for getting there except Greg and I talked about going say just a day early so we'd have a little time in NY.  I'd love to have you take me but if that is too early I can understand.  Write soon!

Love, Catherine

August 17, 1969

Sunday 10:30 PM

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

Hi!  I was glad to get the letter from you all on Friday.  It's been awhile since you made carbon copies, hasn't it?  My typewriter isn't broken.  I'm babysitting.

A friend of Cal's from Denver who I went out with while I was visiting Sue last summer is here visiting Cal now.  I'm going with him to the music concert tomorrow night (See other side **).  I also went to the * this afternoon.  I have been doing so much reading lately that I really enjoyed gong to the concert and just listening.  Several of my friends (Cal being one) are in the Bachward Society.  They are all so musical and my musical talents being so limited.  I often find myself overwhelmed.  Mike (Cal's friend from Denver) is also music oriented although he plans to go to law school after he graduates from Colorado College (I'm not sure if that's the right name but it is some fairly small school in Colorado that has a Saga) next May.

Lately, it has been impressed upon us (or on me anyway) that after I get back from Germany there is hardly any time until I take the comps.  Than's an even more depressing thought than finals which are coming up shortly.  As a history major I can choose 3 out of 4 area in which to specialize (?) -- US History, Europe before 1500, Europe since 1500, or something non-West (e.g. Africa, India, China, . . . gee maybe I could go into Australian history.)  The comps will cover the 3 area we choose.

Have you heard anymore about Priscilla Walker?  I sent her a birthday card on Wednesday or Thursday and then when you said she was in the hospital I sent a post card.  I think she wrote me that her brother, Burch, in Wilmington, had died which leaves her being the one and only if I'm not mistaken.

I haven't seen Greg since I got your letter to tell him we can him to Dayton.  You said you could take his "things" and I'm assuming that includes him.

A month from today we leave New York.  I'm saving all my pennies, dimes and nickels.  I guess the best thing to do is get them all changed into American Express traveler's checks.  I guess I'll buy a Euro-rail pass before I go, too.  At our orientation meeting this week they're going to talk about individual travel.

Keep me posted!

Love,

Catherine

1989 John's postcard -July 31

7-31-89

Mom & Dad,

We have spent 2 days here in Romania (northwest corner) near Hungary.  Stayed in Satu Mare one night & other in Oradea.  You would not believe the poverty.

Today we are driving across Hungary & thru Budapest to return to Vienna.  The contrast between Hungary & Romania is even great.  I really appreciated your letters and prayers.  I'm anxious to tell you more when I get home.  I'll see you soon.

Love, 

John

1989 John's Letter -July 23

Greece

Sunday, July 23, 1989

Dear Mom & Dad,

We are in Greece for 3 days resting on the beaches near Thessaloniki.  Our campground is right on the beach.  We have pulled our sleeping bags right on to the beaches at night and slept very well.

I believe I told you I am traveling with Gene, originally from Fairfield, Iowa, who is 39 yrs. old and divorced.  Joyce is a speech therapist from Rochester, NY and is 29 years old.  For the most part we have gotten along well.  It can be hard to travel & camp in close quarters for 15 days.

We met two other teams of 3 here in Greece and the 9 of us camped together.  Some of the other summer team people are:

• Beth, 23 years old from Canada, Toronto - a teacher
• Judy, 30 years old from Canada, Toronto - Doctor's secretary
• Steve, 21 years old from Albany NY - Sr. at Gordon College
• Jeff, 23 years old from Bryan, OH - Engineer in Painesville, OH
• Suzie, 26 years old from Orange Cty, CA - Tax Librarian - getting married in Sept.
• Holly, 26 years old from San Francisco - marketing
• Gary, 33 years old from Winston-Salem NC - Piedmont 

Everyone in our group has been a blessing to get to know.  I am thinking about making a 2 year commitment which means I would need to raise support of approx $1200/month.  I am thinking & praying seriously about it.

Int'l Teams has a video which I could borrow if you think any church would be interested in seeing more about their work in Eastern Europe.  Thanks for all your letters, prayers & encouragement.  I love you both so much.

Love in Christ,

John

1989 John's postcard -July17

Несебър
[also known as Nesebar, is an ancient city and a major seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.]

7-19-89

Mom & Dad,

Here we are in Bulgaria -- enjoyed the beach yesterday just north of Burgas on the Black Sea.  Drove through Yugoslavia Sat. & Sunday.  Camped just outside of Belgrade 1st night and camped in Sophia, BG 2nd night.  Spent two nights on the Black Sea.  We are now on our way to Greece for a few days  I am enjoying it especially the two I am traveling with.  Give my best to Hortons & Grandma.

Love, 

John

1989 John's Postcard -July 3

Vienna -- The House of Parliament

7-3-89

Dear Mom & Dad, Grandma, Aunt Mary & Uncle Bill,

We toured Vienna Saturday.  I leave July 5th for my first trip and will be on the road 7/15 - 7/30.

Another, guy, Gary, and I are staying with a couple, Pam & Terry in their apt. while in Austria.  We ae having a great time.  I am thinking about coming back for a two year commitment.  Thanks for the great send-off.

Love,

John

PS Got Your letter today -- Thanks

1979 John's Postcard -June 19

St. Paul's Cathedral, London:
During the Second World War when fire and destruction laid waste all around, St. Paul's Cathedral survived as if by a miracle.  When the smoke and dust had cleared away, Londoners saw their cathedral as they has never seen it before, free from the encroachment of tightly-packed office blocks.  St. Paul's was Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece it took him 35 years to build from 1675-1710.

June 19, 1979

Dear family,

Arrived in London this morning.  Quick walk through the city and now I'm on a train for York and Edinburgh.  My flight reservation is for Tuesday June 26th -- arrive at JFK at 1:30 p.m.  Plan to go to the farm same evening or by next morning (Wed.)  Look forward to seeing you soon.

Love, John

Will Bert be at the farm before Friday?  If she's not I'll fly.

1979 John's postcard -June 16

Caption: AMSTERDAM / HOLLAND
Aerial view of the Mint Tower and the Mint square

June 16, 1979

Dear Family,

Arrived here last night.  Beautiful city -- the canals are so pretty at night.  Plan to see the countryside of Holland then on to Paris tomorrow.  Go to England June 19th.  Haven't found out when my flight is.  Will call when I arrive in New York.

Love,

John

1979 John's Postcard -June 12

Caption:  Stockholm. Gamia stan
The Old Town

June 12, 1979

Dear Dad,

I didn't realize that Father's Day was approaching so soon.  I wondered whether you are in Ohio or in Oregon.  Happy Father's Day wherever you are.

Arrived in Stockholm this morning.  Walked around all day -- leaving on a night train tonight for Norway.  Travelling with a nice fellow from Alabama who has his Ph.D. in Medicine.  I'll be in England a week from today.  See you soon.

Love, John

1979 Family Letter -June 11

Monday --

June 11, 1979

Dearest Family -

Well we are little earlier this week in writing but it may be short.  The big news is that Mary Virginia finally is feeling better -- after going to Clinton Memorial Hospital and having two operations in two days and the cause of her trouble is or was a ruptured appendix.  The first operation was Saturday morning and then they just found an abscess with about a pint of pus in it and after much discussion and bleeding (on her part) they went back in surgery for a couple of hours and they found the bad appendix and more abscesses and more drainage so she should soon begin to feel better.  She is on IVs and has at least four pints of blood given to her by some generous donor and as soon as they remove the catheter and let her have some liquid other than intravenously she will be much happier.

John all this brings back memories of the time that you were in the hospital with only me around for consolation.  I'm really thankful that Dad is here and Roberta got home Thursday evening and has been a great help too.  Now it is John that is in Europe (Roberta was there in '72 when John was feeling so low with typhoid and Serena was in South America).  Catherine is further this time and Serena is half way there, across country.

The doctor has suggested that we give up going to Oregon at least next week but Dad called and found that we could cancel two or three days before hand so he is his usual super-optimistic self.  At least we will not be driving to Chicago on the 20th. and we'll let you know more definitely about the rest of the trip.  Dad has reservations to be in Madison for the American Law Institute ABA course beginning June 25 and the rest is hanging in mid air.  He had said that he would be glad to pick you up the following Saturday in DeKalb, Serena but that depends on whether your friend is there among other things.

John, we have gotten several cards from you and others have mentioned getting cards from you too.  Roberta thought she was talking to Carol Wise the other day until she mentioned that she got a card  from you with a picture which reminded you of their home - (castle) and we told her it was Georgialia Hannah.  She came out to the car to see Mary Va after one of our trips to the doctor and Jim Wise that she remembers the first time she ever came to New Vienna - April 3, 1977, I believe as we had gone to the Golden Lamb for our anniversary celebration and then Dad rushed home for a special meeting with our future minister.  Dad invited them home for supper and I never had so little in the house to fix so quickly!!

Roberta has been going over every morning to stay with Mary Va. during the day while I come home after being there all night, do a few things at home and perhaps take a nap and then go back for another 15 hours or so.

It is now TUESDAY AFTERNOON and evidently Dad had other things on his mind last night and wasn't about -- Dad is now reading this for the first time.  After getting back from the hospital yesterday evening I went down to Wells for a few minutes and the next thing you know it is 11 P.M. which is more than bed time if I expect to have any ZIP the next morning.  In the rubber and die cast areas we have been working two 12 hour shifts to build up stock as we are going to do some rearranging in July to make it more efficient.  The first week of July is vacation time, but with the end of the fiscal year there is always plenty of work in the office to be done.

Read in the News-Journal tonight about a 60-year old man who is going to pedal a bike from Forida to Maine, plans to average better than a 100 Miles a day, so there is hope for me.  The article said earlier he had rode a bike from Florence, Oregon to Mass.  [It was just less than 10 years later that Dad (at age 63) made his cross-country bike trip from San Diego to Jacksonville FL in April-May 1989]

Our cherries are turning red and the birds are there to grab them, they are nice to mince on when working in the garden.  It is light till 9 P.M. so really have no excuse not to have a better garden. 

Love,

All the Family

Final Stop: London, May 1954

A few travel quotes to finish off our trip and some thoughts from HH:

From HH: La Tour d'Argent - Paris Restaurant postcard which I sent to Mom and Dad after they sent to me with postcards from their Europe trip. Dad's comments re that card:  Yes, we were there for lunch. It was too formal for us, but still an experience. We have eaten and stayed at some of the worst and and also the other extreme places around the world. It's always cheaper (and more enjoyable) than being in the hospital.

One year we met the Sankers in Paris and drove around Europe. They liked to stick to the cheap places, like McDonalds. Bill as an engineer with GE travelled around the world at GE's expense. One meal
in Paris was at a place called Flunch and one serving of brussel sprouts had some 20 sprouts. What an overkill. Cheap, but hardly variety.

When touring Paris, Calvin would irritate Jean by getting off the subway a "zone" before their stop as the charge was paid depending on how many zones were traveled.

Do recall Naples in 1954 as still having war destruction areas to be cleaned. We had a general idea of the areas we wanted to visit, but no advance reservations and we hadn't heard of credit cards then, just had travel checks and cash and two suitcases w/o wheels.

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca

Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience. ~Francis Bacon

The rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor. ~Unknown

Who lives sees much. Who travels sees more. ~Unknown

Not all those who wander are lost ~J. R. R. Tolkien

1954 Europe Itinerary:
Monday March 15 - flew to NYC via Pittsburgh on TWA, saw Bob Ballantyne
Wednesday March 17 - dinner with Luna and Bob Herron and 3 children at their house
Friday March 19 - board Saturnia or Vulcania
 - First stop at Lisbon, Portugal
 - Second stop at Gibraltar
Monday March 29 - Barcelona Spain
Tuesday March 30 - Genoa Italy
Wednesday March 31 - Sorrento Italy
Thursday April 1 - Monreale Sicily
Friday April 2 - Palermo Italy
Saturday April 3 - Capri Naples Italy
Sunday April 4-9 - Rome Italy
Friday April 9-12 - Florence Italy
Tuesday April 13-14 - Salzburg Austria
Wednesday April 15-19 - Vienna Austria
Monday April 19-21 - Zurich Switzerland, side trip to Lucerne on 4/20
Wednesday April 21 - Frankfurt Germany, stopped in Karlsruhe for lunch
Thursday April 22 - St. Goar Germany
Friday April 23 - On the Rhine River Germany
Saturday April 24-27 - Amsterdam, Volendam, Hague Netherlands
Wednesday April 28 - Brussels Belgium
Thursday April 29 - May 5 - Paris with Calvin Smith
Thursday May 6-12 - London
Tuesday May 18 - Return to New York City

Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey & County Hall, London 

sent to Mrs. NW Ballantyne - May 9, 1954

 Sunday, May 9, 1954
On our way to Windsor today after seeing the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
There is so very much to see here and so little time to do it in.  Clothes aren't very expensive here but cut  so oddly.  Decided to shop Sat. afternoon but all stores were closed but one.  Men's suits are cut even more differently.  We leave Wed. (May 12) and arrive in New York May 18 but don't know when or how we leave there.  Staying at the Regent Palace here and the breakfasts are immense.  All our very best love – Harold & Jean

Westminster Abbey, St. Margaret's Church & Big Ben, London 

sent to Catherine & Roberta - May 12, 1954

See the double deck buses.  We like to ride on top in the front seats and wish you could enjoy the views with us.

We leave today (May 12) for the ship – take a special train at 4:00 (10:00 AM your time) and then we'll really be on our way home.

Had a very pleasant visit and supper with Mrs. Mary H. Terrell's sister and brother-in-law Monday.

Mommy and Daddy really eat big breakfasts here.  We'll tell you all about it soon. Love and XXXXX, D&M

Thus concludes the 1954 European Tour, the last "big trip" before settling down in New Vienna and sending Catherine, Roberta, Serena, John and Mary off to school.   Thanks for all the trips of a lifetime, Mom and Dad!

(Happy?) Dutch Family - May 5, 1954

Soon to be leaving Paris, but one more Dutch card to send first. MV asked in a recent comment for a reminder about Calvin's stay in Paris. He received a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the University of Paris.  By the timing, this would have been after his graduation from Capital University in Columbus.  In 1957 he received a PhD from Duke in Literature, writing his thesis on English poet, John Milton (1608-1674).  Milton spent several years abroad and time in Paris 1638-39.

Refer to Calvin Smith Family and New Vienna Church of Christ for more information about Calvin and his family.

Dutch Family Postcard sent to Al Smith - May 5, 1954

[Wednesday] May 5th, [1954] Paris
Al, this is a picture of a Dutch family on one of the islands.  Spent 4 days there and the bulb fields very beautiful – like an open air greenhouse.  Spending a week in Paris, and then to London.  Glad we are not [on] a conducted tour and can stop and go as we please.  Hope things are fine with you.  – Harold Uible

Paris - May 1954

Paris card sent to M/M CJ Uible - May 2, 1954

 5/2/54 
Calvin is really showing us Paris and all its surroundings.  
Today we went to the American Church in Paris, the first American church established in Europe [in 1814].  Very nice service.  We also went up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, not quite as tall [1063 feet] as the Empire State Building [1250 feet], and got a wonderful view of the city from all sides.  Saw Napoleon's tomb.  We really appreciate bed by nightfall.  Love, H&J

Napoleon's Coffin Postcard sent to M/M CJ Uible - May 4, 1954

[Tuesday] 4 May 1954
Calvin has been simply wonderful to us here.  Last night we went to his Apt. and met M. & Mme Balters [?] and they are so lovely.  See why Calvin chose to live with them and they think so much of him.
Received 4 letters here from you + others; really hit the jackpot.  On to London tomorrow.  Will write from there about when we'll get to New Vienna, all depends on New York and customs!  Love, Harold & Jean. Charles – received your letter here.


Note on address side of card about The Principia in St. Louis appears to be written in Jean's handwriting, but not sure it has any significance to this card otherwise.  The Principia is a Christian Science college.

Dutch Children (sent from Paris) - May 2, 1954

Dutch Children card sent to Catherine & Roberta from Paris - May 2, 1954

[Sunday] 2 April 1954 [Should be May, not April]
These are some more Dutch boys and girls in the clothes they wear on Sundays.
We're starting our 4th day in Paris and Uncle Calvin keeps us busy all the time so we'll see everything.
We have a picnic every noon for we buy bread and cheese and ham and some fruit dessert and either eat it in our room or in a park.  Wish you girls were here to be with us.
There was a little girl 3 years old in front of us at church today.  It was her first time and she was so quiet. Love and lots of XXXXX, Daddy and Mommy


Is there some implication in the last sentence that perhaps Catherine and Roberta are not always quiet in church?  Or a reminder perhaps that we should try harder to be quiet!

* * * * *
Comments from original post:

Mary Uible Crowson said...

LOL----I know the remark was NOT aimed at Catherine!!!

Thu May 05, 08:35:00 AM 2011

Catherine said...

HH adds: Do recall RUK getting the giggles in church and then the bench would move and then more giggles, but we survived. There is a saying in the guest bathroom in NV the effect that "children are great in our old age and they help you reach it sooner." It is the old story, we reap what we sow, and all of our children turned out fine.

Mon May 09, 06:29:00 AM 2011 

1954 Doll Postcards from Europe

These cards were not mailed and with the mention of having grandparents read them to us most likely were included with a letter to CJ and Gladys.  

Feeding Doll card sent to Roberta - 1954

We hope your dollies like to eat as well as you do.  Bet Grandmother & Granddaddy will read them to you & Catherine the next time they see you.  Wish we could see what you are doing too.  Love & XXX, Daddy & Mommie

1954 Doll Postcard sent to Catherine from Europe

These cards reminded Daddy & Mommie of you & Roberta & hope you are taking good care of your dolls – keeping them neat like this little girl is doing.  Love & XXX, Daddy & Mommie