1978 Family Letter -June 25

Sunday –

June 25, 1978

Dearest Family –

May get a letter off a little earlier this week.  Dad just left for Columbus to get a plane for New York.  He debated about waiting until tomorrow morning but it is hard to get a good night's sleep when you have to catch an early morning flight so made final plans to leave today and get there in good time.  We had originally planned to perhaps do some sightseeing in Columbus after having dinner there or along the way as Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill used to live there and were married there 36 years ago yesterday.  But neither of them have felt too good and Aunt Mary was sick in bed yesterday and this morning with a temperature, cramps, and nausea.  If all goes well they will be heading back to PA. tomorrow morning but stopping perhaps briefly to see some of the Hortons in and near Steubenville.

The week really went fast – Roberta arrived Tuesday afternoon and we were glad to visit with her and see the Datsun truck w/shell.  She has already gotten alot of use out of it.  She went out to see the Johnsons.  They've had their truck four years but haven't as much milage as Roberta's in two months.  (They are still talking about the camping trip – have it all planned out but keep postponing the date of departure.)

Roberta took off early Thursday morning without any passengers and the Hortons arrived about 12 hours later.  We wanted her to stay but knew too that she wanted to be on her way.  Had hoped that she would call us that night but no news yet.  We tried this morning but in three tries had not been able to reach any of the group up at the farm.  The Hortons – Mary & Marianne, that is – are talking about going up to see Hudson Guild when they get back but imagine that Uncle Bill will be in a rush to get back to Lake Worth.

Robert Reed Kintner is real cute – can't believe that he will be four this coming November.  He has Cris's coloring but looks more like the Kintners and William Wesley looks like Marianne as a baby.  He is 13 mo. old and Wendy's ears as well as her parents should be burning for we have often talked about her and how we wish we could all get together. 

Yesterday we had planned to go to see Rocky Fork and have dinner at the restaurant there but because Aunt Mary wasn't feeling well we went to Lake Cowan, saw the sailboats, went swimming and then had a little picnic there.  On the way back we stopped at Ganos to see the cows and Wallens to see the chickens.  Had planned to go to Bob Walkers to see a horse but they weren't at home.  Mrs. Wallen was a super hostess and showed us her garden and flowers.  We brought home a beautiful rose to Aunt Mary (Uncle Bill had stayed home to keep her company and watch a golf tournament).  Also brought home four dozen eggs – the boys saw her pick one right off the nest.  Nick had gone swimming at Snow Hill so we just missed seeing him.  He is to go in for more exrays on his finger but it is coming along well they think.

Hope to get the kitchen painted tomorrow and do something with the hall if the latest thing seems to seal off the blisters we have been having.  If not we may have to either panel it or paper it – neither of which I particularly want to do. (or have done).  It has been a long, slow process.

Mary Virginia went over to Sabina church this morning to hear a former minister's daughter sing – turned out it was Beth Miller Green.  She has cut two records and MV thought her voice very good.  Sabina church has a new minister there this June.  I think I mentioned before that Rev. Briggs has moved above Springfield and none has replaced him at Sabina Camp Ground.  We do miss the summer theater there.

Mary Virginia got her hair cut Friday and looks a lot better and cooler.  She went down to the new beauty shop – Hairatage House of Styles.  Joanne Gruber cut it.  She has really made changes on that corner where Eleanor used to own.  Eleanor works there two days a week and Bonnie Wolfe some and Chris Linkhart on Saturdays.

Rev. Wise cut most of our yard – front and back yesterday – his wife, Carol, said that he was really doing it to get out of picking cherries.

Did enjoy talking to you on the phone Wednesday evening, Catherine.  Sorry that Roberta wasn't here – she walked in just seconds after we had hung up the receivers.  Hope the weather is good for camping.  Heard that there was a storm brewing off the California coast for this weekend but perhaps you were at home and it didn't affect you then.  Doesn't sound as if you are having the drought that you had last summer.

It is now Monday and we got letters from Catherine and Serena and also talked to Roberta, John and Rob briefly on the phone yesterday.  Glad to hear from all of you.  You didn't say how long you would be house-sitting Serena but take it that it would be for awhile since you were going to try to get out of your housing contract at UMKC.  Here is Serena's address for ??  6238 Valley Road, KC, MO  64113.  Sorry that you have so much work (reading for Politics of Administration plus paper to write.)  May be it is just as well that you have the time instead of having alot of work for E.J. Ross.  It was real good to hear though & take time again & keep up the policy of answering the letters please.

Good to find that you took time to write while you were in the San Diego area, Catherine and Gerry – we will enclose a picture of the Kintners but MV would like to have it back for her photography project – hope it won't be too inconvenient.

That was some phone call yesterday with the Hortons, Marianne and G'ma as well as MV & I on the phone to the Hudson Guild group.  Too bad that both Rob and Aunt Mary haven't been feeling too well.

They took off about 10:15 this morning and were to be in Steubenville by 2:00 or so so hope they made it okay.  Marianne makes a real good mother and has two sweet boys.

We had a big storm last night with no electricity for two hours – MV and I were at G'ma's so had to come home and get out candles here.  Thought about you Roberta for we had left the cat in the house and I missed seeing an accident in the bathroom in the dark but soon realized what had happened.   It was off from 9:20 to 11:30 PM.

Mary Virginia is waiting for me to mail this – so will get them on the way.  Always happy to hear from you all and anxious when we don't hear.

With much love from all of us