Oh sometimes I get so sick and tired of the T.V.

Postmark: 21 Mar 1966

Dear Lottie, Bob, and Family.

I wrote to Marie and Albert. Now must write to you, Betty, and Ira. Sometimes I feel just like I counldnt write then again I dont mind, but if I expect to get letters I must write. There sure was a big write up about that son-in-law-of yours. I want to send paper to Ruth then Ill send it to you unless they sent it to you - picture of him and Jill. I hope Jill sent paper to you. I meant to wrte and see if I could get couple extra papers but I just didnt write.

Still having wonderful weather. Imagine 81 on March 16. I went to Salvation Army Golden Age Club on Wednesday had a nice program and an awful crowd every seat was take and they brought in folding chairs to have seats enough. Sure wish Lars could go too but he cant. Me or he rather raked yard and I picked up trash and burned it and oh that night I dont think there was a single mustle in my whole budy that wasnt sore. And I sure ached but he didnt even complain did say he was tired and I know - I was.

Well so your grandma at last, I told Lars now he was great grandpop now.

Oh sometimes I get so sick and tired of the T.V. seems he puts it on so loud it just roars and then I turn my ear phone off. Havent heard from Martin last letter he was on vacation and wanted his history magazines by air mail. I keep them until I hear from him sometimes I air mail one others its 9 to 5 but I keep them until he writes and says send them by return air mail so I do. I take care of all his papers that come here then I air mail them to him when he says to.

Well today is Sunday and we have been home alone all day seems every one has forgotten we even exist. Lars complains his stomach hurts so bad but he wont go to Dr. Just takes Alka Seltzer and Asperin but I just now fixed him some water vinegar and Soda and he said it didn't even make him belch so what can I do.

Planned on going to Lincoln this nice weather but weather man keeps saying rain this PM.Well Ive been caught in rain coming from Lincoln and I dont care to start when it says rain so best stay home.

We are sick one day well next and sick next

Well how does it work to be grandparents. Feel any different. Well 30 years from now they dont even know you exist. Oh well wait another 40 then be there turn.

Must close now. Write soon.

Guess Im just in a disagreeable mood today. Got letter from Marie and she sent pictures of Betty anf family and Ruthie and Kathy she sure is a sweet little Redhead a perfect doll.

love to All

Dad and Dora

Thanks for the Valentine too.

Domi-nose

Glendale, AZ

May 1, 1985

Dear Bob -

Greetings comrade! It is May Day!

This is the day they celebrate by dancing around the May Pole in Red Square. Or am I confused? Don't answer that question!

Ah, well, whether or not that is how May Day is celebrated is of little import. Of import is my impulse to dash a note off to you.

Things are going well here. I did manage to catch a slight cold, so every once in a while I pull out my hanky and wipe my domi-nose. A domi-nose is a nose one develops from spending time playing dominoes.

Pretty poor joke! Youcould probably smell that one coming on!

It's hot here today. Technically they call it "warm". Don't believe it. It's hot! But we keep things watered. And they grow - and - grow - and ... 4737 really looks nice.

Marie is collecting ingredients to make a nice stew. She has also cooked up some rhubarb and is making some of her pressure cooked tender meat. This morning we did some major trimming and pruning on the orange tree, being careful not to disturb any of the new tiny "oranges-in-the-making".

In a few moments she will take to the couch for a rest. I hope she does. She will need it. She has been at things for several hours and at a steady pace.

Me? Well - I'm writing this letter to you. Later I will drop it in the mail at Hallmark and pick up some slides and prints there. (If there are some good and interesting shots I'll send some to you). Hm! I should be making the bed, too.

The family here is well. Jason is busy in the study here assembling an oak-veneer filing cabinet I bought. He is working off some time as an adoptee of the Creighton-Patch Kid program. He plans to go to Hawaii with the Creighton Youth fellowship gang for a work project there. Becky in busy (no?! You're kidding!)

Kathy is arranging her schedule so she can go with us (as a guest) to visit John & family in Wichita Falls the last part of May.

Steve is right in the middle of a high-powered fund drive at Creighton. Susie is our travel agent at the other end of the line in Wichita Falls where she is busy arranging transportation fo us from Dallas to Wichita Falls.

I surely enjoyed myself at Johnson Gardens. Thanks a lot for everything... the hospitality, bed & board, good company, trips, domino tournaments (I am too getting better!), coffee and conversation and just plain "buddy sharing". It was a relaxing time. I had time to think and study, too.

As you know I have a philosophical bent and interest. Maybe it's a drive.

I'll share with you what I have determined to be my basic belief. These are things one knows and things one believes. This is a belief.

There is only one Absolute. An Absolute is something everything can be compared to, but which can not be compared to anything else. The one Absolute is the mind of God from which all beauty, vurtue, and enlightenment flow.

Dialectical theology, however, proves that man cannot know the mind of God - only respond to it - not realizing in the conscious mind that this is what is happening.

We partake of the mind of God because we are part of Him.

Another thought. Don't get too attached to your Aug. 11 syndrome. I feel you have two or three (at least) good years ahead of you.*

Good luck on your garden. I have seen and heard the hard work you have been doing.

Gotta go.

Love

Frank

*We would like to help you celebrate your Golden weddning anniversary!

Thunderstorms thump across the skies of an evening

The Regency

8-10-86

Dear "L" & Bob - (Owners of the Revolving Door mat)

Hi! Just an impulse to write - and send some pics we promised L. So I will accomplish two things at once.

You can guess that it continues warm here. Thunderstorms thump across the skies of an evening, sometimes providing only dry noise. But we have not wilted away yet - and the lawn looks nice. So I guess we will sweat it out O.K.

Marie is busy getting acquainted (by phone) with Stephany's mother trying really to track Stevie down. Where else is it more logical to start then at his girl friend's house?

I have been busy - we both have - these several weeks and I have learned much about dog sitting and about Jeffrey. Now I (we) are relaxing a day or two before turning our thots to a trek to Greer. I'm still doing my best to take care of my Marie - as if she really needs it! - but I enjoy it. And she enjoys & works hard at taking care of me. So it works out well.

The families continue well & busy - (that's news?). Jeffrey & Joel had a regal time the other nite. Jeffrey spent the nite there and had such a good time he didn't (at first) want to even go meet his parents at the airport. But after a short fit he did it, of course, was glad to see them.

(Sorry for the change in ink color. The last was criminal ink & finally escaped from the pen!)

We just got home from Becky's where Marie went to have her hair done only to have the bonus feature of a roast beef/mashed potatoes, etc. etc. Sunday dinner. Kathy & Mark were there also looking happy & busy discussing matters concerning their home & work, etc. Friday we attended Kathy's commendable commencement exercises at ASU & then all those of the family attending went to Monti's for a delightful dinner and a truly beautiful family time together.

We haven't seen much of Steve & family since the reception. Our chief focus is Stevie right now who is trying desparately to coordinate what appears to be a losing proposition re: their week-end at Greer next week. Punk transportaion; unjibed schedules; lack of call backs to Marie have "called" us to alter plans and we must let the kids know. So it goes.

John & Susie have left after their whirlwind visit. They thoroughly enjoyed their time at Greer. And Susie thought the grape-vine wreath was wonderful!!! She really likes it.

We enjoyed your brief visit. The kids sincerely appreciated your presence at generosity! And Jeffrey knew what preserves were Aunt Lottie's preserves and ordered them for his muffins by name. "Aunt Lottie's Jelly" - regularly - exclusively!!

We still have plenty of food left - so why not fly down help us consume it? Planning to come down next winter? Bill & Maurine might stop by for a short visit after attending an organ convention at Denver in October.

Marie & I have put off any further work on organizing the garage until cooler weather comes - which means October probably. In the meantime, the trusty Toyota will just have to sit out in the sun trying unsuccessfully to get a tan. (What I'm afraid of is skin cancer! That car has such a light complexion!)

Tomorrow Marie sees Dr. King who will probably measure her girth, draw some blood, and tell her she's doing good. "Come back in six weeks." (He'll tell me I'm the one who's puny! 'But I'm not your doctor!')

Come summer I eat less; sweat more & lose a few pounds. It's about the only change in weight I experience.

We are glad that we presently are in as good health as we apparently are. Marie did extraordinarly well - and now, thankfully, is relaxing some. I hope she can relax at Greer. The weather there is lovely.

I have work to do: rent a P.O. box, change my registration to Greer precinct, get a report on happenings at the Sanitary District meeting (which unfortunately we will miss because they changed the date), examine proposed changes in Civic Club by-laws suggested at a recent Board pot-luck, try & drum up some person's to run for Sanitary District director openings in November, and attend the 8-25 regular public meeting of the Civic Club. I may even drop over to Eagan to meet the chairman of the Apache County Board of Supervisor's chairman, etc.

Well, once again... HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB... and have many more!! Call, write, visit when you can.

Love F

P.S. The wedding pics haven't come back yet - will share when they do.

P.P.S. If you have any good shots (as I said to the doctor) will you kindly share some with us? Thank you. OK - by shots I mean "photos" of the wedding!!

We will be at Greer until Aug 26th.

Marie & Frank's 45th Anniversary

The Arizona Christmas Letter & 55th Anniversary Announcement

(click to enlarge)

We're looking forward to your Christmas letter. Ours was hard to write this year because so many wonderful people (like you) were involved that we just couldn't name them all.

We're planning on your visit. Just say when. Please bring any family writing, etc. you want. We have spent a couple of weeks here with Bill and Maurine completing Durand records. Jensens and Norbys need a turn. By the way, I can't find my copy of "The Cemetery Run" or "David." Could I beg for another?

We'll talk lots more later. All of yuo have a wonderful Christmas.

Love, Marie

~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Bob - Looking forward to your coming down to SUNLAND this winter. Hop you are still looking forward to travelling "down under". We will keep you informed of details as they develop.

Dominoe Padre,

Frank

Elin & Ray's 55th Wedding Anniversary!

From the Desk of Frank

July 5, 1987
Laurie Lane

Dear L & Bob –

I’m supposed to be hitting the road to Greer – but felt like I’d like to dash a note off to you first before I dashed off.

It will be nice to get out of the hot weather down here. But then there will be the heat of the July LCSD Board mtg. with protests/objections to a proposed Improvement District being heard. I’m afraid it’s likely to become confrontational. I hope the beauties of Greer will be soothing.

Believe it or not your sister is playing little games with me – called “A Penny in the Path.” Tell you about it sometime. She’s cute and funny (not strange) and its comforting. We are still very good friends. No – it’s not fantasy or delusion.

I have become interested in centers and services devoted to thinking of “care givers” – a group sometimes neglected and overlooked because all attention is centered on the “care-receiver.” “Care-givers” have physical and emotional needs, too. We know, don’t we?

Adult Day Care Centers are an answer for some – especially for Alzheimers Disease patients and their care-givers. How exhausting it must be for some care-givers of such patients!

In Greer, I have become more mindful (because of the isolation) of the availability of medical emergency help and the location of doctors. In an isolated spot, these are good things to know. I certainly came to realize this after Marie’s experience in Greer, Jan. 1987.

Well, I should be getting ready to get going to Greer – and I will. There is always much to do it seems to “change residences” even if for a short time.

I surely have a lot of wonderful friends. I am still receiving cards, phone cals, and little services. The Memorial Fund for Marie is now well over $2,000!

Australia – New Zealand is getting closer. Had some trouble getting my Australian visa because of the way I filled out one line on the application. But after a couple of calls to and from the Australian Consulate in L.A. it looks as if I will have it in a day or two. The issue is related to the “work” aspect of visit to Australia. They thought that a “concert tour” meant compensation for my musical efforts. I had to convince them we were invite to Australia, that we were “guests” and that in reality I was a “tourist.”

Ruthie is involved in a “crash” graduate course – 9 credit hours in ten days. She dreads it, but feels she needs it – salary advance, etc. Ruthie and Jane had me over for 4th of July dinner, chatter, and some fireworks of our own. Jane did some computer typing for me. It was fun.

Becky, Don, and Kelli are at Greer. Rick, Kim, and the kids cam up too, I understand from a phone call up there. And Kathy and Mark have been over from Pinetop – I’m glad to see the cabin used and enjoyed.

Steve had me to a Father’s Day brunch recently. He’s anxious to get to Greer more often also.

No word recently from John. I hope he got an Associate. It was very hopeful the last time I heard from them.

I just must go!

Love Frank