25

(click to enlarge)

50

This is the bug-morgue

(note the Camp Brewster link from the address line)

Camp Brewster
Belleview Blvd
(misspelled)
Monday, 10 P.M.

Dear Bunny,

I received your letter this morning, and golly, was I ever surprised! It seemed as though I had just left you. You know, I just got out of bed.

You probably won't get this letter until after I see or hear from you, so I don't know why I'm writing, but I am. The mail gets here much quicker than it goes out.

I hope you had a nice time in Des Moines, and didn't get to bed too late.

This writing is terrible, I know I must have contracted something from Marie; for I'm writing this in the most obnoxious position imaginable. I am ling in bed on my stomach with my pillow shoved under my neck and my chin resting on it. Then, I have a National Geographic where my pillow should be and I'm writing on it. Also, my legs are sprawled in all directions (pass the gas masks, please).

Darling, the bugs flying around are simply awful! You know the unpopular brand of street-light variety. Ooops, excuse me a minute while I fish one out of my ear and scratch my ankle.

Most vacation and camp lettes end with "having a wonderful time; wish you were here," but these bugs prompt me to say "having a wonderful time; wish I were there."

Well, my sweet, I must turn out the light; for I know Marie & Chiyako want to get to sleep. I'll be seeing you soon, dear, but until I tell you then, remember that I love you very very much!

Lovingly,
Lottie

Goodnight Darling

For your information this is the bug-morgue with the corpses flicked (I mean scraped)

This was Georgie

Jimmy's little boy

Place flowers in ring on Memorial Day

Here lies the remains of Jimmy - a good bug while he lasted, but he didn't

Elin Wanted to Go and See Santa Claus

Omaha, Nebr.

Dec. 11, 1945

Marie -

I haven't received any letter from you since I wrote to you. I hope you received my letter in which I thanked you for the $2.00.

I sent a Christmas card to my cousin Anna in Chicago. I also wrote a letter and said that you were leaving Chicago after graduation. And that I hope that you can her could arrange for a visit some time.

Marie you did not answer me about whether or not you went to see if you could find 100 Home Avenue. I would so much like to have you let me know.

How do you like the clippings I am sending about Santa Claus? I remember at one time Elin came down from Oakland. And Elin wanted to go and see Santa Claus. And you went and talked to Santa Claus while Elin and I looked on. Do you remember the time? And so as you read about Santa that I am sending you it will no doubt remind you of a time when you were a child.

Please answer and let me know if you received my letter.

Mother.

Your mothers' share of David's estate

Xmas Season '52

Dear Folks

First of all I wish to thank you for the box of nice dates. We will enjoy them I am sure.

In regard to your mothers' share of David's estate; any thing that you want to know about it, you will have to write to the address I have you at the Dougles County Courth House. Everything has go thru the hands of the guardian. With Margaret the State has a dentist come out from Norfolk to check patients' teeth and the State for wishes her reading glasses.

We are still planning out Western trip prehaps next summer (?)

With love to all - Garfield

Please greet your sisters when you write.

Friday Photo: Reunion in Yakima

As directed in Ruth's letter...

1943 - Yakima, Washington

Martin Jensen, Elin Jensen Johnson, Merrilyn Johnson Koslin

Frank Durand, Marie Jensen Durand, Charlotte Jensen Johnson, Stan Johnson

Ruthie Durand Dent, Roxanne Johnson Cumming

Try and dress up for the occasion

Omaha, Nebr.
Aug. 9, 1943

Marie - I received the letter dated July 18th from you and I was glad to hear from you. I had already sent a letter to you and I hope that you received it. I should have written to you before and pardon me for not writing sooner. It just happens that some-times I am not in the mood to write.

We have been having quite warm weather lately but as I heard some-body remark that it had been quite good weather this summer and I think so also. Yes it is quite cool here at 2507.

I was out to see Betty yesterday which was Sunday. She seemed in a cheerful mooed and I was glad to see her in good spirits. You know one thing is that there is hardly any pain when one has T.B. Your father didn't go out to the hospital yesterday because he had to work washing walls. So Dora had been out in the afternoon and had brought out different things to Betty.

Yes Lottie sent some kodak pictures of her baby, Martin, the house where they live and also her-self. I must write Lottie and thank her for the pictures.

Betty wrote a letter to Mrs. Ekstrom, did she write to you about it? Mrs. Ekstrom answered Betty's letter and it would be nice if Betty would sent you the letter if you care to read it. Or maybe Betty will keep it so you can read it when you return to Omaha. Mrs. Ekstrom sent a kodak picture of her children also. Wasn't that nice?

I hope Elin and her children came to visit you as planned. I hope Lottie arrived safely with her baby and Martin. I am sure it will be a thrill for you all to be together and meet again after so many years. I know you will have so many things to talk over and discuss. It seems that th meeting place should have been here in Omaha. Don't you think so? Instead of Washington.

I think it would be nice if you and Lottie, Elin and Martin and the 4 children could have your pictures taken together. I think a small picture by a photographer would be the best being this will be a special event. That way you can better remember the time, the place in years to come. But please don't look at the machine with your eyes. But that also means all of you. You could look at your baby and Lottie look at her baby. But remind Martin to look away from the man who takes the picture. Try and dress up for the occasion and take it easy and don't all of you hurry so that you all get all tired out and look tired. So try and concentrate on what I have written about taking the picture and carry out my wishes though I am hundreds of miles away. Thank you.

I received a letter from Elin also Lottie and I will write to them later being this letter to you is going to be this long.

I hope Lottie has made a dress for your baby. I sent her the material and the yoke and bands for sleeves. Let me know the out come. I hope Lottie hasn't forgotten.

I was up to Blair Friday evening for a little visit. I had a few things I wanted to talk over with Garfield. G and his house-keeper during the vacation painted my mother's house the first coat. I wrote to my mother that I wish she would have the second coat grey and the trimming brown. I saw a house painted those colors and I think that those colors would be suited to her house.

I intend to paint the sink in the kitchen as soon as possible. I have the paint and the turpentine.

I hope you will talk over with Elin about coming here. I wish you wouldn't forget to mention the pearl necklace and if possible could you bring it along with you when you come back to Nebraska? I was reading a story by the way about a pearl necklace and oh was it some story. Well it was shocking and I don't see how it could ever be true and only fiction.

While I think of it may I suggest what you can bring back with you for Betty? It is this I haven't bought a book for her kodak pictures. I just wish to remind you and if you don't want to buy one perhaps Elin or Lottie would like to send her one and I think a dark color is best please. I think Betty would appreciate one from one of her sisters very much. But I rather think it would be better not to mention that I wrote about it. Thank you again.

I hope Martin don't forget to close his mouth when not talking and to eat slowly. You may ask him to write to me and answer my letter. Also to let me know how he liked the pictures with the letter.

Please write soon. I shall be waiting to hear form you. And now my best wishes to all.

I must close for this time so good-by.

As ever,
I am,
Your Mother.

P.S. I think Betty will need some corners with a snap shot picture book. Also let me know if you come to any agreement. Thank you.

Sincere Get Well Wishes

I don't mean to be snotty

Monterey Cabins #3

Pacific Highway R. 7

Tacoma, Wash

Dear Marie -

Just a note -

I just received a letter from Jean, and she said she saw Mrs. Thompson on the street and she said that Mrs. Pulles is fairly frantic over her dress that you promised to finish.

Marie, I don't mean to be snotty, but for Pete's sake if you haven't got it over there and finished by now, get it done immediately. I know you're busy, and I'm sorry now that I left it for you to do; but it's been over a month now since I left and I don't blame Pully for getting huffy.

However, if you already have it finished and delivered, I want to thank you very much. I appreciate your doing it. You can see, though, what a ticklish position were all in when you delay so. Thanks again.

Greet Pop and the kids. Write soon - I think it's your turn.

By the way, will you look up the address for Antoinette Gabriel? She lives near the end of the 33rd and Parker car line. She works at Woolworth's, but I don't know which one. Thanks.

Please excuse the writing and the messiness. Bob and I had our eyes tested yesterday and the occulist put drops in our eyes. I'm still kinda woosy. We're very lucky, though, enither of us have to have our glasses changed.

Love

Lottie

P.S. Please write me immediately about the status of Pully's dress.

Hesitate - means to pause in doubt

Lincoln, Nebr.
June 7, 1954

Dear Marie -

Being I have not heard from you since I wrote I will write a few lines. Because I wish to thank you for the pretty mother's day greeting card and the $2.00 enclosed!

Marie, on the mother's day card you wrote that you would write a letter soon. It will soon be a month ago since the 9th of May which was mother's day you know. I am anxious to hear from you in reply to the questions which I asked you.

Vacation time will soon be here. Do you have any plans where you intend to vacation? Do you suppose that you could come to visit me? One time you wrote that you would see me next summer. Do you remember? Please let me know in answer to the questions I have asked you. How I wish you would come to Lincoln.

When I talked to the man here whom I work for about if I could go out West he answered that my children would have to O.K. it first. Remember how when the depression days were, how I went and talkedfor my children about some assistance? Now, when I ask you for assistance you seem to hesitate. It seems no matter how I plead and please in my letters to you, you can't make up your mind. Now please write so I will receive your letter by June 14th. That is the date of my brother Joseph's birthday. I am going to send him a hand-rolled handkerchief and it is also imported.

You know I have 2 spring coats with my belongings and I need a spring coat. I was wondering if you had light weight jacket which you would give me. The lady I work for said I should get one and I told her that I would write and ask my daughter if she had one I could have. Thank you in advance.

I sent you some papers. Let me know how you liked them as I may sent you some more.

I think I would like a place to work on the order of the work I am doing here. I think I would like a place in Seattle, Washington if you don't wish me to come and visit you. So please write and sai it is O.K. for me to go to Seattle. I hope I may be able to find money for my railroad fare.

And if you should have any dresses you don't care for you could send them to me dear. How I wish that you could sew a few dresses for me and those I have need to have alterations. I have so little time to sew and mend here.

Now Marie you are supposed to be religious. Then why don't you feel like doing some kind deeds for me?

I am enclosing some clippings and let me know how you like them. Excuse me if I repeat.

I have now been here over 8 months. I wash the dishes for 15 to sometimes 20 people each meal.

The day I go to the city I don't wash the dishes in the evening. The other days I wash the dishes 3 times a day and the cooking utensils also.

If I bought the goods for a dress for my-self and sent the measurements could you make it for me? I could tell you more about the dress when you answer these questions Marie.

I am so lonesome. Your father I have not seen since I was at the hospital. I am not supposed to write to him, or telephone either.

You may write to me with lead pencil if it is easier for you. Please excuse my pencil.

Please write may I remind you by June 14th.

When I talked to the social worker about leaving here she answered that it was all right for me to make arangements when I asked her. The social worker told the lady I work for that she felt sorry for me meaning about how you haven't helped me to be releaved from here. At one time when I cried because you don't show concern about my wishes the lady here also said she felt sorry for me.

Ever since I went to the County hospital in Omaha I have written to you about some aid from you. And when I have received your letters I would look to see if there wasn't some ray of hope. But I have been disappointed over and over again.

I still wish to see my guardian in Omaha so please write in your own words your consent. Hesitate - means to pause in doubt.

I have been wearing that blue coat all winter and it is now almost too warm to wear.

Please let me know how you like these clippings, I mean don't forget.

And answer my questions when you write so I can tell the lady I work for.

Best wishes to you and all the members in your family.

Again thank you for the pretty greeting card and the $2.00 enclosed.

As ever,
I remain
Your mother.