Vol. 18, No 2 [Helen]
Oct. 8, ‘45 Dayton, Ohio
Dear Irene and Family—
When Gee and Larry returned to Ohio last week, they reported a wondrous time in Washington, Capon Springs and Wilmington, and it was good to hear that you are all well and happy.
I have been guilty of holding up this eighteenth volume. Forgive please, I am aware that when I did not find time to write, I should have sent it on, but I was anxious to add my bit of chatter. Far be it from me to be the missing link.
As you all know we have once more changed our abode and now have an apartment in Dayton. It is small but cozy and comfortable. Soon after we moved in, Dick came home, a delay en route and brought Ann with him. They were here for a week and we had a gay time.
Their plans are to be married in December, when Dick was to have been commissioned, have been postponed. Dick refused to sign up for a three year Post War career and was thereby eliminated from the Air Force, “for the convenience of the Government;” however, in a letter today, he reports they have been restored to Cadet status. He has been assigned to Office duties in Chandler, Arizona, for the present and hopes to be released by March as a peace-time Cadet. He is anxious to return to civilian life and to resume his college work.
Ann is a lovely, charming girl and will be an interesting addition to the family. She is teaching High School in Stoughton, Wisc., having received her degree at University of Madison last June.
Being the restless type, I decided to launch on a new career in Dayton. As you all probably know, Aunt Rose is Manager of Corpus Christi School Cafeteria and I am assisting her, taking over the cashiering. It is a pleasant pastime, involving four hour’s work per day, operating the cash register, figuring the cost and making reports to the Parent Teacher Association, who sponsor the project, and to the Government, who contribute a percentage of the cost. It is most interesting and the contact with the children warms my heart.
The ability to hold the job creates a feeling of self-confidence. Being on the shady side of fifty has a tendency to make one start reaching for the shelf, but that I refuse to do, so help me.
I think Gee’s suggestion is splendid. Eloise’s letter lends a dash of color and really polished up the chain.
Dan, it was clever of you to copy a few classic sentences from the letters of the last two years. They brought back tender memories. I think I can identify the majority of them. 1-Sadie. 2-Lala. 3-Shan. 4-Dan. 5-Rose. 6-Pauly. 7-Irene. 8-Day. 9-Pauly. 10-John.
We had the pleasure of seeing Don a few weeks ago. He is the same sweet, darling boy and looks wonderfully well. Shan Carolyn and Nan were basking in the sunlight of his visit home and here’s hoping he may soon return to stay.
As little Ronnie says “The clock is down.” The hour is late and I must leave you now until another day.
Goodnight, sweet dreams and my dearest love to each of you.
Lala
in the present day…
I constantly have to remind myself that my problems are miniscule compared to others. I have been cranky all day about having to write checks to the federal and state government for taxes. I get cranky because A:) I feel the government wastes our tax dollars and B:) I could have spent that money in so many other ways. But then, this evening I got a reality check. A friend of mine called and she has experienced a terrible loss in the last couple of days. Unfortunately it involved an incident that has played out on the front page of our local paper in the last two days. I don't know the parties involved, but she did and not only does she feel the loss of a friend, but she is dealing with inaccurate or incomplete reporting in the press. And I am ashamed to say that I jumped to the same conclusions that everyone else did around the watercooler and was all too willing to believe what was printed in the paper. Now...what were MY problems again? Can't really remember.
Yeah... that's always the way. There's always somebody worse off.
Some days, knowing this is all that keeps me going. :-)
Posted by: Dave2 | April 16, 2008 at 12:16 AM