Marty will have to do the best he can at Parkland

January 9, 1943

Dear Folksies,

It's Sunday night, and sorry to say, many Sunday nights have gone by since we've written any letters. We haven't quite gotten settled down after Christmas.

We've all had colds. Mine, I guess is the worst, I've had it for over a month and can't seem to shake it. Roxanne has been sick this week - stomach flu. The same thing as when she was ill in Yakima. She's been on a very light diet, and just as cross as two sticks. Today she felt better, so I put her back on a partially straight diet, and she simply ate like a horse.

Roxy says quite a few words now. Such as "see, dropped it, here it is, here you are, where, hello, hi, boo, peek, bye, mamma, daddy, Martin" and understands, and will carry out a simple commands. Like "shut the door, put this back, put it in the hamper, come here, and go see so-and-so"

I had a wisdom tooth pulled this week too. Hurt for a few days but is all right now.

A Christmas card came from Hastings and thought you might be interested. Needless to say, I do not intend to send one back, so I'm sending it on to you.

By the way, I have heard not one scratch from that darned photographer in Yakima. I sent the proofs in the first part of October and have written again some weeks ago asking about them but have heard nothing at all. May I suggest that you write Rev Blickenstaff and ask him to do a little bird-dogging on the deal. I had planned to write the Better Business Bureau, but a personal contact with them and the photographer would be much better. Mom wrote that you and Elin had offered to chip in on the bill. That is not necessary; we set aside the money for this months ago. However, I'd appreciate it is you would write Rev. B - you know them better, so it would be best for you to do it. (If you think it's a good idea.)

The research on Martin seems to have petered out. Neither the doctor or the principal thought Martin would be any better off at Marymount - so that seems to be out. The doctor thought Martin should be analyzed by the school analyst in town, but Mr. Ford (the principal) didn't think the analyst knew her business, and knew personally of too many cases in which she was wrong. He asked if Martin had even been psychoanalyzed, and I said "yes". He thought that would have been much more thorough that the regular school analyst. There were two schools discussed - one a class at Roy (a small town near here) but this was really for feeble-minded kids and Mr. Ford didn't think he belonged there. The other was a class at Central Grade School in town which dealt with problem and handicapped children, and seemed to be just the thing for Martin. However, it's way in town, and impossible and impractical from a standpoint of time and transportation. So I guess Marty will have to do the best he can at Parkland. There is just nothing else to do.

Sometimes he's good at home, and sometimes he's terrible, but on the whole I think he's improving. Spontaneous obendience is what we're working on more than anything else for that's the root of most of his trouble.

Here I am already to the fourth page and have not thanked you for your nice Christmas gifts. The rugs Mrs. Harris made are perfect. They are a beautiful blue, and go well with everything in Roxanne's room. The photograph book is just what she needs and we hope we can get those pictures put in in? the not too distant future. (Incoherent, isn't it?)

Bob appreciated the tie rack as did Martin. He put it up himself on his closet door, and was pleased as punch with his effort. God job, too. We are reading "Robin Hood" to him at night when he is a good boy. We're half way through, so you see, he's been pretty good. He eats up every word too.

Thanks again for all your nice gifts. I'm afraid ours to you this year were very meager. And by the way, did you get the other package of your slips and shoes? I had them both insured so let me know if you didn't get both boxes. Marty's bathrobe with baseball mitts and the baby mittens came too. Thank you.

Better close now, it's nearly ten-thirty, and I've got to take a bath before I go to bed. So adios.

Marty said he would write, but don't expect his letter till you get it.

L.