a little bird told me…: Observations While Sitting in a Parked Car

Of all the letters, this is one of my favorites. I feel like I can visualize every scene she describes. It's like taking a step back in time...

Vol. 26, No. 8 [Gee]

Anderson, Ind. Union City, Ind.
Apr - 15 - 1947

Dear Lal and Family of O’C’s

This being a lovely Spring day, I stacked all of my household tasks and came with Larry on a trip to Union City. The car is parked just about where we met a few years ago, Lal—remember? It’s in Indiana, but just a few feet away, it’s Union City, Ohio—the State Line cuts the town in two.

Since you are due back in Dayton today, I will have this at 1520 to greet you Wednesday morning. It reached me Apr. 12—about the time Janice and Jack were being married.

The Shanahans and Mulcahys came last Saturday afternoon and were here all day Sunday. We had a lot of fun including a good ole poker game and some bridge—a lot of water has passed under the bridge (the other kind) since we last played poker with them, 23 years ago.

Observations while sitting in a parked car. —This is a typical mid-western small town. —Small groups of farmers gathered at different places in this block, evidently intent on talk of crops, etc., but not too intent to let their gaze follow a pretty girl in a sweater and pedal pusher, displaying a pair of shapely legs.—A recently discharged soldier, wearing an army coat, walking down the street with a father who appears to be happy and proud to be by his side. He reminds me of a last line in a chapter of “Beach Red” by Peter Bowman—“A Battle doesn’t determine who is right. Only who is left.”—A small fat girl running out of a restaurant—followed by an equally fat Mama (not running)—A man emerging from the door of a coffee shop carrying two steaming a brimful cups of the liquid, spoons in cups.—Another man coming out of a tavern, his steps a bit uncertain in the noonday, —etc, —etc.

Perhaps I should have warned you in the first paragraph, as Shan did, that this letter would be of little interest—by comparison his is most interesting. Neither has there been any change in our family set up, since the last round. Pauline and Tom drive over once a month or so. She will graduate from the Good Samaritan on May 25. It is on a Sunday evening at the N.C.R. Auditorium in Dayton. Any of the family who can conveniently come are cordially invited to be present. Lal has graciously informed us that she is having open house in honor of the occasion. Thanks, Lal.

Larry, Jr. managed to get 60 miles away from Camp Chinhae, to a town called Puson, to have his glasses fitted. To break the monotomy, he is applying for a furlough so that he can go to Tokyo to see his good friend Harry B. O’Connor, who is at GHQ there.

Elaine and I are going to Indianapolis tomorrow to shop around for wedding ideas. “Her day” is to be four months from tomorrow. Perhaps Lal can arrange to take the letters out to Aunt Ellie next round, and read them to her while they sit out under the trees. I can just hear Aunt E. chuckling Then the delay would be a minor one. An occasional delay to enable the offsprings to keep pace with their elders, should not be frowned on. I promise not to send them to Korea, Dan.

Gene, if we are fortunate enough to have a new car after Aug. 16th, Larry and I may accept your invitation. Any members of the family desiring to ride the points West about that time, please get in touch with me.

Dearest love to all— Gee