1991 Jean & HH Letter -Oct.12

 

Saturday -- 11:20 AM

Oct. 12, 1991

Dearest Catherine, Gerry & Wendy,

I am writing this in the car as we go to Columbus -- rather Newark to have lunch with Julie & John & then take Roberta to the airport.

We had supper last night with Serena -- meeting her in Yellow Springs.  We were disappointed in that the stores there -- all closed at 6:00 PM (when we were to meet her) but we got there a little after 5:00 so we had a chance to see them.   They are having a street fair today which would have been nice to visit but guess the parking is bad for Main Street is all blocked off.  Upstairs is a real nice Children's book store.  They have quite a selection of autographed books -- talked to them about Virginia Hamilton & Arnold Adoff who live in Yellow Springs -- she (bookstore owner) raved about them & their new books.  She was showing us a new wordless Christmas book by ?? can't remember the illustrator but she couldn't wait to share it w/her 3-yr-old grandson.

Don't forget to keep June in mind for next year for the three celebrations.  1) G'ma's 100th -- June 22; 2) Horton's 50th (June 24) & Joe's Birthday (June 25); 3) Your 25th from ECHS -- will let you know the definite date as soon as we hear.

What do you think about Don & Mary Virginia's news?  She called us from her church yesterday morning.  They were to have elaborate tests done in a couple of weeks to help them.

[HH writes two paragraphs]  
Grandma continues to improve, now up to 101#, a 10# gain for her and is much more talkative and definite opinions.

The Hortons were planning to leave next Tuesday for LW, but have now postponed to Wed. because of the "Senate Hearing" [Clarence Thomas confirmation]  It's really amazing the government runs as well as it does.

[Back to Jean]
Dad just got the magazine "Your Company" today -- I think the 1st since the one you saw when you were home.  "Summer 91" is almost over, I'd say.

We're anxious to hear Wendy play the keyboard (and her mother too) and haven't forgotten our promise to pay toward the lessons -- as I recall we had some stipulations and haven't heard if they are being met.  We do want to do our part as promised.  How about it Wendy?  You & G'dad will have to have a recital and maybe play a duet.  And you and your Mother.

We're almost on the turnoff for Newark -- so will close for now.  Thanks for your letter, Catherine & your note Wendy.

Much, much love,

Dad & Mother

1931 Lucie's note from Betty Morrow -Feb.10

 

[D.W.M. (Dwight Whitney Morrow) The Shoreham - Washington, D.C.

February 10th [1931]

Dear Lucie --

You were good to send me the menu card of "The Painted Pig" party at Joseph Horne's.  I wish that I could have been there and seen the children.  Dwight and I are living here until the Senate session is over but I run home [New Jersey] almost every Sunday.  Last Sunday Anne and Charles [Lindbergh] and the baby were in Englewood -- and I bathed the baby.  What is there in Washington as much fun as that?

Ever sincerely, 

Betty C.M.

[Elizabeth "Betty" Cutter Morrow, wife of Dwight, mother of Anne Morrow Lindbergh]

* * * * *

Notes:  The Painted Pig, the first of five books written by Elizabeth Morrow, is a children's book published in 1930, based on Mexican folklore.  Dwight was the Ambassador to Mexico from 1927-1930, after which he was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate from New Jersey.  He served until his death on October 5, 1931.  Joseph Horne was a regional department store headquartered in Pittsburgh which operated 1849-1994 when it morphed into Dillards → Lazarus → Macy's.  The Shoreham Hotel opened in 1930, and is now ͢the Omni Shoreham, and is a member of Historic Hotels of America.

More info about the Morrows can be found in the following blog posts:

• The Painted Pig by Elizabeth Morrow 
• 1929 Dwight Morrow
  
• James E. Morrow 1837-1904
  
• Agnes Morrow Scandrett book
  

1971 Catherine's Letter to Serena -Jan.15

 Friday morning

January 15, 1971

Dear Serena,

Hi!  Happy birthday to you!  I would sing happy birthday to the tape recorder and then send you the tape so you could be so lucky on your birthday as to hear me singing.  However, it might ruin your day so I hope you can bravely bear the loss!  Also, I hope you like the present I am sending you.  I had a hard time trying to decide what to send you since I only had 7¢.  Believe me, I spent hours walking all over town searching for something you might like.  I finally gave up and decided to send you one of my most prize possessions which I have been saving for at least two weeks since it was my last piece.

What have you been reading lately?  I spend most of my time translating but I keep a couple books around in English so I won't forget how to ready in my own language.  Right now I am reading Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship by Goethe (pronounced Gerta).  Even when I read books in English I try to read ones that have been translated from German because it will probably help me graduate as a German major.  Anyway this one is a rather long novel (542 pages in paper back and I've read 55) about this guy who starts out being really naive and I suppose at the end will be mature.  Right now he is fantastically in love with an actress who doesn't really care anything about him but likes having him around until her rich boyfriend comes back form his vacation.  There is one chapter in which he is telling her a long story about his childhood and she falls asleep.  The chapter ends with this sentence:  "It is to be wished, that in future, our hero, when recounting his favorite histories, may find more attentive hearers."

Another book I have been playing around with is A Vision by Yeats.  This one isn't German.  Both Dick and a friend of ours, Bruce, are also excited by this book.  Wednesday night Bruce came out and we sat up all night reading it to each other.  It is the kind of book that is read slowly and takes a lot of studying.

I hope your 16th birthday is a good one.  I don't remember a whole lot about mine but I know that 6 years minus nine days later I'm doing well!

Love,

Catherine

1969 Catherine Letter -Aug.1

August 1, 1969

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

Hi!  Yes, this is a letter.  From me.  I should be studying for an English exam which I have today but I am tired of studying for it.  It is over two of Melville's short novels, Benito Cereno and Bartleby, and Native Son by Richard Wright.  It will probably be really doozy questions like discuss the significance of such and such a character who appears for three lines in the book.  Ugh!
``
I hardly know where to start this letter because I can't remember writing you before.  Maybe I should start by giving you my schedule.  I don't have any trouble keeping occupied during the day.  [See above for the schedule -- too difficult to transcribe.]

I usually get up and go for my bike ride in the morning because if I wait until I get through all the classes I'm too tired.  I'm going to go this afternoon because I'll need to forget the English test.  If it is really bad I may just keep right on riding and never come back to this place.

Our room is really nice.  It is a corner room so we have two windows and there is usually a breeze.  We are in a suite with a bathroom and another room which is unoccupied.  Therefore, we have the bathroom all to ourselves and we can also spread all our junk in two rooms.  I usually study in one and sleep in the other.  Gerti has a car here so she generally goes home two or three nights of the week.  About two weeks ago she got really fed up with school and decided to quit.  The dean finally convinced her that she could manage to stay only she has dropped one of her courses.  She isn't going to go on Foreign Study.  In the fall she will be working at a camp in New Hampshire, a career-service job, and then winter will be off on vacation or something.  It's kind of depressing having her for a roommate as she never has over two hours of class a day and generally just one, she also doesn't have to worry about language since she isn't going abroad.

I keep thinking that my grades should be really good this quarter since I'm not really involved in many other activities and I have plenty of time to study.  Having the time, and using it for studying are two entirely different things, and I will probably end up with C's again.

I'm still checking books out of the Public Library on my card which expired last October.  Every time I go I just hope they won't note the date and make me get a new one as I can't see paying $3 for the next year when I'm going to be gone 6 months of it.  So when I go I take lots of books so that in case they don't notice it this time I'll have enough to read if they notice it next time.  I'm also taking full advantage of the college library facilities.

The other night I went to hear the Ramsey Lewis Trio at Western.  He's a jazz pianist who has made lots of albums.  I enjoyed Ramsey Lewis but the date was rather unexceptional.

I gave a pint of blood to the Red Cross yesterday.  Dad, I hope you don't mind my signing your name to a permission slip.  I only have two more pints to go and I will have given a gallon.  There was a big hassle among the nurses about whether I should give yesterday since I just got a smallpox booster last week but the Dr. finally gave me the OK and they accepted me.

Thanks for the Upper Room [in German].  I was surprised how much of it I could get without having to use the dictionary. 

Got to go.

Love,

Catherine

1989 Roberta's Letter -July 2

7/2/89

Hi ––

I'm listening to the Sunday night Dr. Dobson's program -- tho actually I heard most of the week's programs!

I am sorry that I won't be able to make the OHIO scene -- just hope Miss Wendy didn't miss me too much!  Esp. considering my lack of vacation time it's good that I didn't go!  (I try at all times to stay on the right side of my dear boss!)  Esp -- since I make more $ than she does!

I've been walking w/ the walking club 5 times this past week -- 3 of those walks were shopping mall walks -- 1 at Metro -- 2 at Smaller malls.  Real advantage in being in the Air Conditioning!

We do have 1 new resident moving in Thursday -- have 2 more on the fence.

Sid et al are having a great time in San Francisco -- he has commented how expensive the city is -- of course he does not go 2nd class!  I'm glad he is going to Oregon & Washington -- new frontier for him.  (as w/ Sara & Cynthia!)

I got my hair cut -- got a perm about 1 month ago so it looks quite good between the per -- then cut.

Have you read "Everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten" -- or something like that title?  It's got lots of short - but philosophical themes!

How many did the OHIO Bike Ride?  The phone is ringing again -- #4 since I started this!

Much Love,

Roberta

1969 Catherine's Letter -Apr.27

4-27-69

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

Hi!  Here it is less than eight months until Christmas.  Won't be long, eh?  How's the garden coming?  Have you got lots of beans, tomatoes, and broccoli planted?

We've had two beautiful days both of which I had to work unfortunately.  Today it is overcast, we're supposed to have thundershowers later, so I'm sitting here in my pajamas getting caught up on correspondence.

Gerti has gone to see her parents.  They are staying in the Essex Inn which is across the street (coming this way) from the Conrad Hilton.  We thought they were coming late Friday so we took our time coming home from work -- crossed the tracks and walked over through the park on the other side of Columbus Drive.  Now that the trees are getting greener and the flowers are beginning to bloom it is really pretty.  They haven't started Buckingham Fountain yet but I understand when they do it is just for a few hours in the evening.  At least with Daylight time we'll have an extra hour of daylight after we get off work.

We got back here and had just put the leftovers in the oven and the soup on when her parents called.  They were here and why didn't we have dinner with them.  We ate in the Delmonico (Essex Inn's attempt at a dining room).  Only the prices compared with the few other high class places I've been.  Mother, I had lamb chops and mint jelly.  They were pretty good.

Yesterday they all walked me to work.  It was Gerti's day off so she showed them all around Marshall Fields.  They even came in the book dept!  Last night we went to dinner at the Conrad Hilton and it was a great improvement.  Did you say you had eaten there once?  We ate in the Haymarket.  They have these big high back chairs which rise about a foot above your head.  Gives you the real privacy feeling as it is impossible to see anything behind.  Afterwards we went to the Symphony.  Mr. Wanser is a real symphony nut but I'm not quite that hep. 

I like working with the books but I think if I had to do it for the rest of my life I would rather be in a library.  As it is now I work in the paperbacks on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday.  I like that the best.  On Thursday I work in the art and music books.  I have a definite handicap there as I don't know too much about either subject and it is difficult to help.  There are lots and lots of books but they are in absolutely no order and even when a customer asks for a specific book there is no way of knowing whether we have it in stock or where I could find it if we did.  On Friday's I work in the reference books which also includes the financial, science, literature and poetry books.  That isn't much better than art and music.  Another bad thing about those sections is that everybody else who works around in the neighboring sections is on commission and since I'm not I get these looks of hate if I am able to help a customer and don't give them a chance to snatch the sale.  They make 7% of their total sales.  And they're on straight commission -- no salary at all.

Thanks for forwarding the mail.  Mrs. Walker said something about giving you all a Yearbook to send me.  I thanked her for it but I haven't gotten it.  I guess there is no great rush as I can live without it, I was just curious as to what had happened.

I was glad to hear Joe's concert went off well.  My love to you all and to Grandma

Love,

Catherine

1979 Catherine's Letter -Mar.17

Saturday

March 17, 1979

Dear Mom, Dad, and Mary,

Hi!  thanks for your most recent letter which arrived on Thursday.  I wasn't able to get any letters written Thursday evening while Gerry was at the Elks because I had to go to a meeting on Tenant Rights which was sponsored by the County Extension office.  There weren't many tenants there though, mostly landlords and managers like us but still quite interesting.  Most of things we had heard before when we went to Eugene and are also covered in our notebook but nice to hear some other viewpoints.  The woman who gave the talk was a lawyer.

Sandi (from Chambers) is coming to see us next weekend and bring us the filing cabinet.  She seems to think we are doing an OK job so far so we'll see what she has to say when she actually sees the place.  The last time she was here was early in January when she interviewed us for the job.  We have all of the one bedroom apartments rented now and five of the two bedrooms.  That leaves us with nine of the two's yet to go.  By the time we get them all rented people will probably start moving out and we'll have some turn-over.

I just finished reading Small Town by Sloan Wilson.  It was pretty good so now I am reading The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit also by him.  Also I'm reading a book from the church called China – Search for Community by Whitehead.  They got ten copies and everyone is passing them around in preparation for someone who is coming to give us a series of talks on China.  Evidently there is quite a bit of controversy over this book due to the fact that the author thinks that the Chinese have a very Christian-like society without being Christian as opposed to the U.S.

Wendy has rebounded back to her healthy self.  Her appetite increased quite a bit for the past few days and she has regained all the weight she lost.  Her being sick has made a tremendous difference on her going to sleep at night.  Now at bedtime she lays down with her doll and doesn't cry or anything.  Occasionally she will come back out to the living room after I have put her down but we just tell her to go back to bed and she does.

Twice this past week I left Wendy over at Joan's.  On Wednesday I had the other side of my gum taken care of.  It has given me a little more trouble being sore but not bad.  I've just taken some aspirin.  I go back next Wednesday to have the stitches taken out.  Yesterday I got my hair cut -- just a trim actually -- It is still pretty curly.  The hairdresser said I could probably get it cut in another 6-8 weeks and then get another permanent 6-8 weeks after that.

Tonight we are going to a prime rib dinner at the Elks and the dance afterwards.  Our regular babysitter couldn't come as her boyfriend is home from the army and two other girls I called were also busy so we are taking Wendy over to Joan's and we'll see how that works.  I did get the names of two more babysitter's who live in the neighborhood so I'll have more options the next time if taking her to Joan's in the evening doesn't work very well.

Well, Wendy just woke up from her nap and Gerry will be home soon for lunch so I better get a move on.  I got a letter from Roberta a few days ago and she said she would be sending those pictures from John soon so I may get them yet.  That reminds me I also got a package this week from Alice Symons (Fisher).  She sent Wendy a real cute piggy bank that she made herself.  She said she had been working on it since before Wendy was born.  At least it was nothing to worry about her outgrowing.

Love,

Catherine, Gerry & Wendy

1958-59 Roberta's Ohio Reading Circle Certificate

1978 Catherine's Letter to MV -May17

Wed. PM, Mary 17, 1978

Dear Mary Virginia,

Hi!  This is in response to your letter number three of the year – in case you are keeping track too!  We hear that you got teeter-tottered out.  Who is this Tim Larrick – I never heard of him.

Wendy is playing in her playpen right now.  She has a spoon which I bent the handle in half so it sort of comes up under the spoon part – that keeps her from sticking it down her throat.  (The other day she tried to swallow Gerry's belt.)  Anyway she is playing with this spoon.  she puts in her mouth for awhile and then she waves it around in her hand.  She likes to wave things around.  She got her first balloon at the bank last week and she has had a good time playing with it.  I hope it doesn't burst and scare her to death.

In my last letter I told you how I was reading this series of books called My Friend                   .  Well, I finished all seven that the Gilroy library had so I ordered some others through interlibrary loan but they haven't come yet.  In the My Friend books the main character is an author named Janet Sandison who has written a series of books called Jean in the Morning, Jean at Noon, Jean in the Twilight & Jean towards a new Tomorrow which are books actually written by the same author.  The My Friend books are by Jane Duncan.  But it turns out that both Janet Sandison and Jane Duncan are Elizabeth Cameron.  How's that for confusing?  I am now reading the Jean books.

DeeDee is to arrive tomorrow night and we are going camping Friday and Saturday nights taking DeeDee's friend Jenny with us.  DeeDee and I are going to go early on Friday and get the tent set up and thenGerry is going to pick up Jenny after she gets out of school and meet us there. 

So what else is new with you?  How much more school do you have?  When are you planning to come to Gilroy to see your niece?

We just finished a roll of film last night and I took it to Nob Hill this morning for developing so we should have some more pictures to send you by next week.

So when are you going to take Grandma to Hudson Guild?  How long will you be staying?

It's about time for the mailman so I will put this out for him to get it started on its journey to New Vienna.

Write soon – we'll be waiting for number four!

Love,

Catherine, Gerry

& Wendy

1988 Family Letter -April 24

April 24, 1988

Dear Family:

Serena left this A.M. for Bloomington and will end up the week in Pittsburgh at a library meeting.  Our own plans did not start too smoothly as the van battery was down, so the Salisburys took the three of us to Leesburg for lunch and then on to Greenfield as their High School was having open house this afternoon.  It was our first visit there and have always been curious about their facility and "all" the art work. The school was a gift to the City back in 1914 when a local native son made "good" on the horse collar invention.

Last weekend dad spent with John in Newark, plus seeing the sights and most important meeting some of John's many friends.  He is wondering if M.V. is still planning to come to his area to sing in June?  We are wondering if it would suit M.V. if we came to Lexington on Sat. May 7 to see her . . . hopefully we could meet her for lunch etc.  M.V. do let us know about this day for if OK we will ask Virginia Walker if she can also go to see her daughter there.

On Thursday evening we went to Wilmington to hear Jim Trelease speak on the importance of reading to your children – about 40 years too late for us.  He is an excellent speaker and author of "The Read Aloud Handbook."

This paper will bring back some memories.  Serena taped the program on the pyramids for us to watch as we were out that evening.  We also had an early morning experience in Wilmington as we were on the Emmaus breakfast crew . . no one goes hungry at those meetings.

The "g"s and "s"es were so bad so got out Serena's typewriter cleaner and they seem to be working much better now yes//??

We did plant some things in the garden yesterday – beans, spinach, zucchini, beets, and carrots – not to mention broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage plants.  Dad did most of this the really hard part.  He also planted fruit trees and evergreens and others not only in our yard but also at Culbreaths, Grandma's and a renter's yard.

We hate to see Serena leave but know she is anxious to get started doing something in her field and hopefully will get to do some interviewing at the PLA conference.  She went to Bloomington to do a little work, pick up a friend to go to Pgh and back to Bloomington and home but not sure when that will be.

Glad to hear that Wendy's plane schedule is shaping up and that her departure for Phoenix is after 6PM instead of AM as we first thought.  We are most anxious to have her.

Things are shaping up for our trip – we leave for the West Coast on Wednesday, May 11 so will be busy from now on.  We will miss alot of things going on here – end of school, Memorial Day and NVHS Alumni meeting dinner and dance but it's impossible not to miss something.

[Love, etc.]

1978 Catherine's Letter too MV -April 24

Monday morning

April 24, 1978

Dear Mary,

If you are going to write us more than nine letters this year then I guess it is up to me to answer the letters that you do write so you will have a chance to write again, so here is the answer to the last letter that you sent to us, and now (after you have finished reading this, of course) it is your turn to write.

Wendy is sitting in her walker right now – occasionally jumping up and down but mostly chewing on an empty toilet paper roll which I just gave her.  One of her favorite toys is an empty wax paper roll.  She talks (if you want to call her vocalizations talking) into it which makes her voice sound funny.  If we say hi to her she says hiiii back and when she is really upset and crying she says "mamamamama."  Nothing else too distinctive yet.

I met a woman last week who had just moved to Gilroy and has a little boy who is the same age as Wendy (three days older to be exact).  He is crawling over everything and pulling himself up to stand and doing all sorts of athletic things which Wendy hasn't even started thinking about yet.  I guess boys are supposed to develop a little faster physically than girls.  Anyway, this woman was all excited because the Welcome Wagon lady was going to come and visit her today.  I told her not to get her hopes up too high as it really wasn't all that much to get excited about.

Your friend the paper boy came to collect for the newspaper last Friday.  I asked him if he wanted the money for April and he said "Oh, no, I'm only collecting for March."  I guess it gets into high finance when more than one month is involved.  It costs $1.35 per month.

Since this stationery says it is from Wendy I should let her write a note but she isn't too good at handling a pen yet.  She would probably try to eat it.  In a few months I'll get her some crayons and then she can draw you a picture!

I did get some nursery rhyme books out of the library and I read them to her.  I have to keep the book out of her reach though as she tried to either tear or eat the pages or both.  We were going to go to the library today but it is raining so we will probably wait until tomorrow.  I have been reading books by Jane Duncan.  She has a whole series of books titled MY FRIEND __________.  So far I've ready My Friend Sashie, My Friend Madame Zora, and My Friends Tom & George.  From the titles they sound like books for babies but they are really good.  According to the jacket she has also written books for "younger readers."  Have you ever heard of her?  Ask mother if she has.

We'll be waiting for #3 letter.

Love, Catherine, Gerry & Wendy

1968 Roberta's Letter -April 19

April 19 [1968]
Friday
Dear Family,

Hi!  I got your (Mom & Dad's) post-cards yesterday.  The mail around here is all goofed up I'm not sure why.  I guess about half of it was stolen or something.  So – if you should send me money send it in check, OK.  (HINT) NO – seriously I need to $5 to pay for my portrait.   It really looks like me.

Thanks alot for the grapefruit and oranges.  They were really good.  It's the Horton & Grandma & Grand-daddy that should be thanked I guess.  So – if you could for me.

The Republican thing is really getting rolling.  Convention is what it is.  There is Reagan, Nixon, Rockerfeller [sic], and Romney.  Each has about 15 people working for them.  The group for Rockerfeller will do your dishcrew.  So & So is having a coffee-house.  Real Politics!   It's really neat (& interesting)  The actual convention is next Wednesday.  Tuesday nite (of next week) a sate senator is coming to speak.

We got out of classes Wednesday afternoon for a work privilege.  A work privilege.  Man!  We all did jobs outside.  It was a very nice day so I enjoyed it pretty much – but a work privilege!  I helped wash windows.

Yesterday I started reading This stranger my son.  It's written by Louise Wilson.  It's about her son who is a schizophrenic.  Needless to say I read it almost all afternoon & then on into evening study hall.  I finished it this morning about 6:00!!  (I got up to study but I read the end of it which was only about 12 pages.  You should read it.  It's good reading.

This week-end I hope to get Vanished from the library in town.  The new one is open!  It's about the time near a presidential election & all of a sudden this Washington D.C. attorney & close friend to the president vanishes.  Then an F.B.I. agent and a newspaperman also vanish.  Have you ever read it?  I think Fletcher Knebel wrote it.

Romeo & Juliet is as bad as ever.

Write!

Love, 

Roberta

PS  Another boy left school this last Monday.  He was a senior – I'm not sure what he's going to do at home.  Go to school or what.

Only 43 More Days!

1988 Wendy's Letter -March 21

[3/21/88]

Dear Grandma and Grandpa, [at Hortons]

How are you I am fine.  How do you like my new stationary?  I got it at the gift shop in my mom's library.  Tonight me, mom, dad, Roberta, Serena, and Sid ate at the Olive Garden.  I had the baked ziti.  Field day is on March 22, the events I am in are jumping rope, the shuttle relay, and tug o war.  Spring break is real soon.  I just finished reading babysitter's club number 8 Boy Crazy Stacey.  Can we go to King's Island again this year?  I'm looking forward to visiting you this summer.

love

Wendy Jean

1968 Roberta's Letter -March9

[Postmarked March 9, 1968]

Dear Family,

Hi!  Nothing great new here.  It's hard to believe Spring Vacation being two weeks away.  Will you be coming up after us?  (John, Joe & myself)  I wonder about the tandem.  Would it be possible to bring it up then & take my bike home.  (Just wondering)

I gave my History report Tuesday.  I hated giving it but am glad now it's out of the way.  It will probably be a large part of my History grade.

I think I stayed the same as far as grades.  I probably went up in Biology.  (Would have been hard to go down) Bible was bad I'm afraid.  English about the same with a C+.  That leaves Geometry left.  It would be better not to say about it.  My grade card will be coming too soon the way it is!

Catherine and I keep writing post-cards to each other to keep us busy. (HA!)  Jo Smith (Roi's sister) applied to Kalamazoo College.  She, as of yet, hasn't heard from them.

Last night I must have gotten at least 6 hours of sleep.  Every (well - almost) night Kathy says she going to get up early so she sets her alarm for 5:30.  When 5:30 comes she decides she doesn't really need to get up.  The "thing" always wakes me up and after trying to get back to sleep I usually decide to read.  For instance right now I'm reading "In Cold Blood."  It's pretty scary & all about how they found the family of four in Kansas all killed in all.  But, I suppose you already know how it goes.  I bought the paperback (for 1.25).

I've got alot of books (almost all paperback) that either the English department buys for us (but we pay for) or I bought that I'll bring home Spring Vacation.

Helen is going home over Spring Vacation.  It's costing her a fortune.  Something like $93 one way.  She got her ticket yesterday, I guess.

Got to get ready for supper now.  Will add more afterwards.

Hi!  It's now Friday night I think I wrote the first part of this Tuesday instead of Thursday.  I must have gotten the days switched around.

I'm now finished with In Cold Blood; it was really good & the way it was written you felt like you knew almost all of the main characters.  You sure are right about Silas Marner being boring at the beginning – like the beginning 143 pages (that's where we are now).

I got Mom & Dad's letters both yesterday.  Fine with me for you all to pick us up.  (in fact great!)  We can "check-out" any time after lunch which would be about 12:30 (p.m.)  Is that OK with you please?

We have really been doing great collecting sap.  Sometimes it has to be done  6  times a day.  As long as it gets cold (real cold esp) and warm during the day-time it will really run.  We have 2 gallons of actual syrup.  If we sell it we could get $7.00 a gallon for it.  We have to collect it in Big (& heavy) milk cans.  They are the type that stand up about three feet or probably less.

I think I failed Bible & Geometry six weeks test.  Included is History test (six-weeks) which I think I did pretty well on (conceit!)  Also a Geometry quiz - which as you can see didn't do very good on.

WRITE!!!

Love,

Roberta

PS  Only  13  more days of "Early Waking!"  Woop-de-do!

1967 Catherine's booklist postcard -July 20

1967 Penny (4¢) postcard

[postmarked July 20, 1967]

Hi!  Got a roommate today.  Donna somebody from P.C. [Port Clinton]  She will be going to U. of Mich.  Still plenty of room for Marianne!

These books I would like to have if you can find them in paperback: Mr. Tompkins in Wonderland by Gamow; The Strange Story of the Quantum by Hoffmann (Dover is the publisher or something); The Growth of Mathematics, R.M. Marks, ed. (Bantam); 100 Great Problems of Elementary Mathematics, H. Dorric (Dover); Gravity, Gamow (Anchor Books).

I would like to read Recreation, Leisure, and Politics by Arnold W. Green.

Hope you are all well.

Love, Catherine

1977 Catherine's Letter -Mar.23

Written exactly six months before Wendy was born. . . and Joe is new to Saudi Arabia.

3-23-77

Dear Mom, Dad & Mary Virginia,

Hi!  Well here's another sample of Pic & Save stationery.  I don't think this is as nice as the name kind.  We were glad to get your letter and the article about Pediatricians.

We got a letter from Joe yesterday which he wrote on 3-6 so that is a little over two week mail service.  He said that since Roberta is sure our baby will be a girl, he thinks it will be a boy.  It sounds like he is getting adjusted to the life there.  Gerry knows a guy at work who spent 19 year working overseas as a diesel mechanic.  I guess he made alot of money.  But his family is glad to be back in the states again.

I am reading "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins.  It is pretty good but it moves slowly.  Gerry is reading "The R Document" by Irving Wallace.  We went to a different branch library last week but this week we tried to go last night (Tues.) & it turns out they are only open of Mon. & Wed. nights.  Our "regular" branch is open Mon., Tues & Wed. nights so we went to that one after all.  They have been building one out near where Dee Dee lives which should be opening in the next couple months.  Then we can take her when we go to see her on Wed. nights.

We haven't watch too much television although we buy the TV guide to see if there is anything on.  Maybe we watch 3 or 4 shows a week.

We got a letter from Roberta yesterday.  She must have made good time crossing the country.  The trip to Ohio will seem short in comparison.

Gerry is applying for a new job.  We'll send you some details if anything comes from it.

Our love to everyone.

Love,

Catherine & Gerry

1967 Uible Weekly News(paper) -Jan.9

The date in the newsline of this edition of the Uible Weekly News is incorrect (should be 1967, not 1968 – which can be determined by the dates of the sporting events, and the trip to Barnesville).  Great glimpse of home life in 1967!

1986 Catherine's Letter -Nov.24

Monday, November 24, 1986

Dear Mother & Dad,

Hi!  Thanks for your letter and the clippings.  I read Jane Brody's first book and I have seen her second one but haven't checked it out yet.  It looks interesting though.

We talked to Roberta last night and she said Serena is now in New Vienna.  (How's it going, Serena???)  At least a majority of the family made it to Mary V's "Touch of Burgundy".  How did the performance go?

We are going to do our Thanksgiving shopping today.  Wendy has planned our menu for us including most of the traditional foods.  I notice she left out a vegetable though so we'll have to add that.  I have Friday and Saturday off also so it will be an extra long weekend.

Gerry has been making lots of contacts but nothing has turned up yet.  It's the wrong time of year to get a job in parts so we'll just have to wait and see what develops.

Wendy has been working on her Christmas list.  She goes through the Christmas catalog several times a week, marking the things that catch her eye.  She is getting more difficult to buy things for though now that she is growing older and more "sophisticated" in her tastes.  I ordered her a copy of New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky.  Are you familiar with that book?  It has a poem about homework which she loves to recite.

We have some errands to do downtown so I will close and get this in the mail.

Love, 

Catherine, Gerry

& Wendy

1985 Catherine's Letter -Jan.7

January 7, 1985

Dear Mother & Dad,

Hi!  Thought I'd get a letter off to you before you leave for the warmer climate.  We have been having a cold spell here so I envy you.  There is alot of snow and ice which has made walking especially treacherous.  Moscow had about 8" more snow than Colfax so it is piled up all over town there.  Should we have a sudden warm spell they should probably have flooding problems.  At least the library sits on fairly high ground.

We are back into our regular routines now after long weekends and no school.  Wendy has a day off from school on Monday, January 21 so that is nice that it coincides with my day off.  I will get a comp day in February as the library will be closed on Presidents Day.

We got our VCR last week (you can tell Grandma for me, I told her in our thank you note that we planned to get one).  It is a Penny's.  We have borrowed some movies from the local video store as well as from the library.  Today I got Sleeping Beauty and a Smurf movie at the library.

Our tenants in Madras informed us that they are moving out the end of this month.  We had two other couples call us, one of which wants the lease-purchase option.  He works for John Deere so Gerry knew him.  I think we are going to have one of our friends in Madras handle the transition of tenants so we don't have to make at trip down there at this time of year.  We are thinking of going back to visit in May or June.

We appreciated your letter which came last week.  With the holidays plus Christmas cards I'm sure it's been awhile since I last wrote.

The motor burned out on our washing machine yesterday so I took the rest of our clothes to the laundramatte this morning after my exercise class.  We think we will buy a new washer since this one we bought used from the lady who sold us our house in Madras.  We will probably wait until spring or until we move (whichever comes first) as the hook-up here is on the unheated back porch and I don't think all that cold would help.  At least our drier is still working fine.

April sounds fine for you to come and visit us.  The weather is bound to be warmer by then anyway!  We haven't heard anymore from Gerry's folks so don't know if they are still planning to come and visit us this month or not.

I did booktalks at one of the elementary schools in Moscow last week going to K-5th grades.  I got lots of requests on the books I reviewed so guess I did OK.  I reviewed two books by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, The Headless Cupid and The Famous Stanley Kidnapping Plan, A Smart Kid Like You by Pevsner, Man in the Woods by Rosemary Wells, Diary of a Frantic Kid Sister by Colman, Dark Horse by Doty; and for the younger grades I did Freckle Juice by Blume, I Was a 2nd Grade Werewolf by Pinkwater, and Hound and Bear by Gackenbach.  I've got two more elementary schools to do yet this month and another lady from the library is doing the remaining two schools.

Have a nice stay in Florida.  Tell Roberta, Grandma, and the Hortons hello for us.

Love,
Catherine, Gerry & Wendy

1984 Catherine's Letter -Nov.5

October 30, 1984

[November 5, 1984]

Dear Mother & Dad,

Hi!  My intentions were goon on Oct. 30, but I didn't get very far as you can see.  I have more time today though since it is my day off.  Gerry is at work and Wendy is at school.  This has been a nice long weekend for me since I also had Saturday off as a comp day for Veteran's Day which is coming up next Monday.  Wendy also has next Monday off from school so I promised her she can have a friend over for the day or we'll do something else "special."  I'm pretty sure Gerry has to work.

Halloween was a big day for me at work with three parties.  The morning pre-school party had 45 children plus lots of adults, 25 for the p.m. pre-school party and 60 for the after school party.  Volunteers helped with the pre-school parties and staff members plus volunteers helped with the after school.  I dressed like a clown (with a borrowed costume) complete with make-up and wig.  Then I wore my costume home and went Trick-or-Treating with Wendy.  She dressed as a witch with a black cape and a big pointed black hat.  We just went in our neighborhood but she got lots of candy as people were extra generous -- there were very few trick-or-treaters out.  Possibly because the temperature was 20º plus a strong wind.  She hasn't eaten hardly any of the candy (Gerry and I have eaten more than she has) as she just got a new pair of jeans and she's afraid if she eats candy then the jeans won't fit her.  She has slimmed down some recently which is why we were able to find a pair to fit her.  Before the regular sizes were too tight but the ½ sizes were too big.

I have to give a booktalk and recommend books for gifted students in grades 4-6 during December.  Their teacher was especially interested in science fiction like authors such as Norton, C.S. Lewis, and Alexander.  I was also thinking of Susan Cooper, L'Engle, Helen Cresswell . . . . .  Can you think of any other authors or specific books you would recommend?

I can't seem to find anymore paper right now so I'll use the back.

Glad to hear Dad is now Treasurer of the Friends of the Library.  Moscow's Friends provided refreshments for the Halloween parties.  There next big project is a "Give a book to the library for Christmas."  For every $10 donation a streamer gets hung on the Christmas tree.  They have a flier or letter about this – I'll see if I can get one to send to you, plus any thing else you might be able to use.

We have several things going on this week.  Tomorrow night we are going to a dinner at the Elks in honor of the Grand Exalted Ruler who is making his visit to Colfax.  He is originally from a small town near here.  He had already visited Madras and we heard good reports from people there who met him.  Thurs. evening we have a parent-teacher conference with Wendy's teacher.  Friday night there is a dinner at the golf course but I'm not sure yet if we'll go to it.  They have social events, i.e. dinners once a month throughout the winter.

It's almost lunch time so I better close.  Hope to hear from you again soon!

Love, Catherine, Gerry and Wendy