Oh, Frank was not a doctor but a great minister! And a fabulous mud pie maker (or at least a good sport about it). Frank, oh how I miss you (along with many others)...
AB
Kearney, Nebraska
Sept. 1, 1939
Dear Marie –
This is Saturday afternoon and as I sit in the rocking chair I can’t help but think about that in a few days now I expect to see you in person. Last night I finished reading a book and even though it was a novel proved most interesting. So many incidents came to my mind that I could remember I had gone through and at times left me exhausted. Two of the patients in this ward before myself had read the book as well as the nurse I have. She said when I asked her about the book, “I was shocked. But there was so much truth in it written in a very romantic way.” Sometimes I hesitate to write plainly as I am afraid you will take the wrong attitude for instance like your father. Now I wish you and Betty could listen to me when it comes to taking important steps. We could share so many happy days, months and even years together in the future. It is indeed a deep subject and yet such a delicate one.
Think of the beautiful dream and the noble ideas we could share together. Friendships, respect affection a sense of things shared and passed over together. Oh I do hope you won’t fail me. I hope we are alike enough to understand each other which is marvelous. I hope we do not dwindle to the half reality of people known only in letters. I want you to have an interesting amusing life and look forward to it with utter sincerity when you read this. I hope your breath will be perfectly even your heart steady and your voice if you speak unemotional! Oh maybe this seems like an unsuitable day dream. But look forward to this day dream as reality in the future. Oh please try to see this in reality for my sake. And I hope under your brilliant mind you will think of security. And then think what a future before you that may take you and myself abroad some day. There where I have longed to go for so many years. In all I want you to swallow great drafts of water to work, and eat and sing and laugh. I want you to enjoy yourself as you have this summer among young people with good character. I want to tell you to be sensible for you have good roots and strong branches and you are going to bloom. You know your strength and your weakness and spend the next two years cultivating your strength. And here is hoping and would you want me to say pray for a happy ending?
I would want you to be conscious of this with the march of life around you. Try and think that the mind creates an idea and circumstances realize it. Believe that and you will live. It is not too late to laugh, sunshine is for all. Share it and be happy. And so life must come to a close with its brief struggle and brief joys. For death is a thing we all have to meet. I was so close to one who passed to the great beyond only such a short time ago. And then after you have had thrills and glamour there will always be time to look for – a level. A mature mind has philosophy and it interprets events or may I say wisdom. I repeat I want you to enjoy yourself as you have this summer among young people with good character. Please for my sake let Frank down by degrees won’t you? I would so much like to have you met some Dr. It will all come back to me how I would answer the telephone when I was employed at Dr. R’s. That was before the war but I did not then think about looking for a Dr. for myself. And so I am passing my hopes which I have on to you. That you will waite until you meet a Dr. whom I approve of. When you have thought this over write me about it. Don’t be on very good terms with Frank just a friend. I could go on and on writing volumes but to what aim would it lead if you yourself don’t use will power. This little flower carries a little sentiment when I went to the Dr.’s office for my examination I held it in my hand. When I doubt and need consolation read this letter. Write in return the lines you like the best and keep this letter.
So good-by. I am, as ever,
Your Mother.
Sept. 1, 1939
Dear Marie –
This is Saturday afternoon and as I sit in the rocking chair I can’t help but think about that in a few days now I expect to see you in person. Last night I finished reading a book and even though it was a novel proved most interesting. So many incidents came to my mind that I could remember I had gone through and at times left me exhausted. Two of the patients in this ward before myself had read the book as well as the nurse I have. She said when I asked her about the book, “I was shocked. But there was so much truth in it written in a very romantic way.” Sometimes I hesitate to write plainly as I am afraid you will take the wrong attitude for instance like your father. Now I wish you and Betty could listen to me when it comes to taking important steps. We could share so many happy days, months and even years together in the future. It is indeed a deep subject and yet such a delicate one.
Think of the beautiful dream and the noble ideas we could share together. Friendships, respect affection a sense of things shared and passed over together. Oh I do hope you won’t fail me. I hope we are alike enough to understand each other which is marvelous. I hope we do not dwindle to the half reality of people known only in letters. I want you to have an interesting amusing life and look forward to it with utter sincerity when you read this. I hope your breath will be perfectly even your heart steady and your voice if you speak unemotional! Oh maybe this seems like an unsuitable day dream. But look forward to this day dream as reality in the future. Oh please try to see this in reality for my sake. And I hope under your brilliant mind you will think of security. And then think what a future before you that may take you and myself abroad some day. There where I have longed to go for so many years. In all I want you to swallow great drafts of water to work, and eat and sing and laugh. I want you to enjoy yourself as you have this summer among young people with good character. I want to tell you to be sensible for you have good roots and strong branches and you are going to bloom. You know your strength and your weakness and spend the next two years cultivating your strength. And here is hoping and would you want me to say pray for a happy ending?
I would want you to be conscious of this with the march of life around you. Try and think that the mind creates an idea and circumstances realize it. Believe that and you will live. It is not too late to laugh, sunshine is for all. Share it and be happy. And so life must come to a close with its brief struggle and brief joys. For death is a thing we all have to meet. I was so close to one who passed to the great beyond only such a short time ago. And then after you have had thrills and glamour there will always be time to look for – a level. A mature mind has philosophy and it interprets events or may I say wisdom. I repeat I want you to enjoy yourself as you have this summer among young people with good character. Please for my sake let Frank down by degrees won’t you? I would so much like to have you met some Dr. It will all come back to me how I would answer the telephone when I was employed at Dr. R’s. That was before the war but I did not then think about looking for a Dr. for myself. And so I am passing my hopes which I have on to you. That you will waite until you meet a Dr. whom I approve of. When you have thought this over write me about it. Don’t be on very good terms with Frank just a friend. I could go on and on writing volumes but to what aim would it lead if you yourself don’t use will power. This little flower carries a little sentiment when I went to the Dr.’s office for my examination I held it in my hand. When I doubt and need consolation read this letter. Write in return the lines you like the best and keep this letter.
So good-by. I am, as ever,
Your Mother.
I am amazed at what a wonderful writer Grandma Jensen was, particularly given than she had a rather limited education. Ah...but then the last paragraph...."Now, Marie, just ditch Frank". Oh, Grandma!!! Hugs and Laughs from Jacque J. B.
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