"I suppose that you arrived home O.K."

Blair Nebr

June 1 - 57

Ruth -

I just finished writing a few lines to Lars suggesting that he get in touch with Martin to establish a home or any other help that he might do.

I am sending what pictures turned out good. Some were spoiled.

I suppose that you arrived home O.K.

Your brother Garfield

"The sewing machine didn’t seem to work"

Omaha, Nebr.
Nov. 16, 1945.

Marie –

I received your letter dated Nov. 5th and I was glad to hear from you. Thank you very much Marie for the $2.00 enclosed. I received a bill for personal taxes which was $3.35. I would like to pay this bill very much. Marie, do you think that you could send me 1 dollar and 35 cents in the next letter? Thanking you in advace.

Yes it will be all right to leave the sewing machine in Omaha until you want it sent where you intend to live. Did you borrow or rent a machine in Chicago that you have been using?

What color is the outfit that you have been making for Ruthie which you mentioned in your letter?

Marie you wrote that you expect to be in Nebraska after graduation. Will you leave Chicago immediately after? Marie, I have been thinking that in that case you could use most of the best furniture that is here and the curtains that is here. And the curtains which I believe Betty picked out and you both sewed on. So why not plan this way as I have written above? Please answer it in your next letter. I surely hope that you can move some-where a little ways from Omaha. Then you could come and help me with getting things ready like we worked on the sewing machine. Isn’t this a good idea? I hope you agree with me Marie.

Will you please write and ask Lottie and Elin to write to me. Ask Lottie when you write to send you any baby clothes her baby may have outgrown. Do you know how Martin is getting along? Please answer.

Jorgensen’s have a for sale sign on this house facing the school. Please let me know how you like the clippings I am sending.

From Mother.

P.S. The sewing machine didn’t seem to work. The land lady fixed it so your father said. Bought a new needle for it as there was the wrong kind in the machine.

If you should find Marilyn’s letter will you please sent it to me.

I think it would be nice of you if you would write Betty and Morgan to visit Chicago when graduation time comes. Just thought I would remind you so that you could let them know in plenty of time. Write real soon.

Photo Friday: 1983 Was A Stylin' Year

OK, people...don't blame me for your bad clothing & hair styles. (notice I have not shared any 1983 photos of myself...)

Lottie Jensen Johnson, Marie Jensen Durand, Betty Jensen Pritchett Light

top to bottom

Frank Durand, Marie Jensen Durand

Marie Jensen Durand

Frank Durand

Betty Jensen Pritchett Light

Becky Durand White, Ruthie Durand Dent

Randy Pritchett

June Pritchett

Photo Friday: The Next Generation

At least these yahoos have great talent...with straws...

The next generation of the Jensen/Norby family is in good good hands...

Joel Dent, Mike Pritchett, Jason Dent, Steve Durand Jr

Lisa Pritchett Chiles

Omaha to Salt Lake

From Omaha

To Salt Lake

1 Adult @ 32.95

Date Sold 7-2-68

Omaha to Phoenix

Railroad Ticket $50.43

Pullman Ticket $2.75

(total) $53.18

Lv. Omaha 415P

Ar. KC 859P

Lv. KC 940P

Ar. Phoenix 1135P

Recipes, Cakes, and Social Security

Lincoln, Nebr.

Feb. 7, 1955

Dear Marie -

I am enclosing a cake recipe which I had intended to send to you before. I hope that these few lines reach you in time so that you can make the cake for your birthday. If the cake turns out good may I ask a favor from you? Would you make a cake from the same recipe and send me the cake? I had thought of sending this recipe before as I may have mentioned when I wrote to you. But I thought you were busy about Christmas time so I delayed in sending it to you. I like a recipe which calls for brown sugar.

Hope you like the valentine I send you.

I thought being I did not hear from you when it was my birthday you may have overlooked the date. So if you bake a cake for me when it is convenient for me when it is convenient for you I will appreciate it very much. The other cake you sent me arrived in real good condition.

Letter will follow.

My wishes are expressed with-in the greeting card.

Mother

"On the contrary...the average person who researched 65 in the year 1954 is physically, mentally, economically and socially in much better condition - than when 65 was selected as the standard retirement age for the Social Security program 18 years ago." Dr. Anderson said.

"All the kids are looking forward to Christmas."

Dec. 13, 1957

Dear Mother,

Please note the address – we haven’t moved. Once when I wrote I put the store address on by mistake. I’ve received the mail from you, though, at the store.

Hope you’re well & looking forward to Christmas. I’ve enjoyed talking with Lottie and hearing about her trip to Nebraska. Glad that she could make it even if I wasn’t able to.

Glad you like the sewing machine. I was happy that Lottie & Pop could make the arrangements.

We’re all well & busy. I’m still working and taking care of things at home, too. I’m now doing all buying for the store and enjoy my work.

Randy is busy with swimming lessons, Cub Scouts, Church Choice, Sunday Schools’s school. He’s almost busier than I am.

The girls are definitely not babies any more. I’m enclosing a picture we took just last week in front of the fireplace.

All the kids are looking forward to Christmas. We brought a new bicycle for Randy which he isn’t expecting so he’ll be quite surprised.

Jeanne Johnson has stopped by to see us several times in the past few months. She’s now a stewardess for Northwest Airlines and lives in Seattle. Every so often she has a few hours in Portland between flights and so comes out. She’s going to be here most of Christmas Day.

I’ve invited the Johnsons down for Christmas, too, but I don’t know whether or not they will make it. We visited them at Thanksgiving. All of them are well and the kids getting by. ... Melody is bigger than I am, & Jill is coming up fast. They are good kids – Lottie can certainly be proud of them.

Haven’t heard from Marie for a year. Have you had a letter from her? She’s as bad a correspondent as I am.

Haven’t heard from Martin either. Don’t have the slightest idea where he is.

Well, Mother, hope you have a Merry Christmas. We’ll be thinking of you.

Love
Betty

"Don't ask me what you are going to do with this surprise"

Laurie Lane

Sept.20, 1987

Dear "L"

WARNING! There is something coming your way. Do not be surprised. If it does not arrive then I will be surprised!

Don't ask me what you are going to do with this surprise. That's your problem.

It's just a way of saying "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" - Merry XMas to both of you - and thanks for taking such good care of Marie and I in those trying last days.

Love

Frank

Sewing Machines, Electric Irons, and Bed Lamps

Omaha, Nebr.

Feb. 17, 1945.

Marie -

I have been here a few days in the city. I intend to return to Oakland to-night. There were some things here that I needed to look after.

Marie I let your father take the sewing machine over to his apartment yesterday. After a certain time your father is to send it on to you. I made it clear that that is the way to do. Being it is all ready here. Your father was saying he knew of a man who bought a sewing maching for 60 dollars which was 20 years old. I did some more work on the sewing machine and 1 thing was to make a little curtain for the back of the machine and another was to open the drawer which was closed too tight.

I read in the paper about an electric iron which was sold at a farm sale in Iowa for $48.00.

When you write please answer any questions I may ask. Thank you.

Now your father needs a bed lamp to read by. I remember I gave you one and Betty had 1 out to the hospital. Could you please send him the one you have but get it in good order first. If you can't do this write and ask Betty if she could spare the bed-lamp if she still has it. I hope you will follow these instructions.

Please write soon and address the letter to Oakland.

Don't forget to let me know about the plaid jacket for Martin.

Good-by,

I am,

Your Mother.

Photo Friday: Aunt Minne

I get to see her (and Bill) tomorrow.

In Costa Rica.

So stay tuned until the 22nd...I'll be back!

Happy President's Day!

"We made it a little hard on you. Sorry."

June 1968 (from envelope postmark)

Dear Grandma,

Here is a little going away present for you. John and I are really happy you came, but sometimes I guess we made it a little hard on you. Sorry. Come back and see us again sometime. Best of luck to you, Grandma, and thanks again for the nice graduation present.

Love,

Grandson Steve

"Greethings and Love from Grandma"

Oakland
Febr 6, 1942

I think of jau avery day. I knov jau hav hard vork in the vinter. Et is trubelsam – Hopp jau have health and in fuv days et is jaur birthday and Grandma vich jau much hapenes – and all be glad vith jau.

Na letter has come from Elin for a long time –
Greethings and love from Grandma

Mom Jensen

FOR MOM

JUST A LITTLE TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR YOUR HELP WITH THE DISHES AND SOME OF THE ITEMS OF HOUSEWORK THAT WERE MINE TO DO. THE HELP CAME AT A TIME WHERE IT WAS THE MOST USEFUL TO ME.

ALSO WITH THANKS FOR SOME GOOD COOKING AND SOME EXCELLENT SVENSK COFFEE.

FRANK.

Two Owls

I think I should be right too. And good to know my list-making tendancies started at a young age.

DEAR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA I LOVE YOU THANK YOU FOR THE COATS I CAN RITE ELISABETH ICAN RIT LOTS OF LOTS OF WORDS OF

Anna

Friday

Hi Mom

The girls coats are beautiful and practical - gauranteed to last at least 2 years - fold up sleeves and long-ish body. Thank you!

I wrapped them up and gave them to the girls right away. Minne was here on Monday and I gave Benson Anna's "straight-jacket" - it looked great on him! (Don't worry it isn't pink) (One from my friend Annie Hill) So anyway - we just couldn't wait another week.

Hope you call soon about Thanksgiving - I should let Jen know. They are coming for Anna's birthday Friday.

Marian has started walking. Woe is me. She refuses to walk from Stan to me or vice versa but she freely walks away from furniture - its like she just forgets that she can't walk yet. Anyway, she goes 2 or 3 steps then falls on her face - a million times a day (at least).

Everybody here is suffering from "greensleeves". We all have colds and I'm the only one in the house that seems to believe in blowing one's nose in a tissue. Gross.

The carpeting was finaly installed in our "attic" today. Whoopee. Now we have a 3-day weekend to hopefully finish things up. I decided on cheap, boring, brown. It looks fine.

Anna is busy deciding one which toys will go in which playroom. I promised I would help her make a list in the morning. Yesterday she wrote out all the invitations to her birthday party by herself. Elisabeth figures her birthday should be with Anna's. Today Anna got a card in the mail, and Elisabeth cried all the way back to the house - real tears, too!

Yesterday and today I made "bulldog" outfits for them - plaid blouses. (I bought green cords.)

Almost forgot - the coats were $23. You don't need to pay all of it if you don't want to - Honest.

How are you guys? Hi Dad! Oh yawn, I'm sleepy. Nice talkin' to you. Looking forward to Thanksgiving. Let me know what to bring. Pies or relishes or whatever.

Monday nite...

Well, our 3-day weekend is almost over and we almost got everything done upstairs. You know how it goes. Stan really wants it finished for when his family is here Friday so at least we have a good goal!

Anna did most of the enclosed letter herself - just needed help spelling about 1/2 the words. She absolutely refusd to believe that "write" begins with a "w". She threw a fit! So who cares, anyway? I think she should be right.

Elisabeth sent her letter separately. I don't know whats inside - it was a secret!

Love,

Jacque

A Mother's Valentine

All About Marriage (on 2x3 cards)

More random notes found among the papers...but these have a theme!

August 2, 1967

By - Lowell Thomas -

That in India they are going to try and pass a law that a girl has to be 20 years old before she can marry.

Nov, 5, 1967. Sunday morning.

Heard Jim Reeves sing in a land where we will never grow old.

By President Johnson - Nov. 8, 1967

The women give so much, but that law gives them so little.

Nov 8th

By a missionary - who was never married.

It takes courage to get married. I did not want to give up my freedom.

And on the back, neighborhoods in Los Angeles...

Venice

Ocean Park

Santa Monica

Shirley Jones - Lloyd Bridges

Dec. 16th 1969.

People marry for other reasons than love. For instance - security, companionship and sex.

____ ____ ____ ____

World Premiere Movie.

Silent night, lonely night.

"Have they found your car?"

11/4/1996

Dear L -

Very glad that you  & Millie & I had an opportunity to work on the Jensen family tree. I'd like to put something together before too long. Hope we didn't wear you out. Yesterday we bought a new c ar - Dodge Grand Caravan LE. Beautiful! I haven't driven it yet by Ken loves it.

Have they found your car?

Much love, Bets

Thank You Note

A follow-up to the correspondence from March 1955. I love it when I find these connected letters!