Dead People in the Basement

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Omaha Technical High School: 50th Reunion, Class of 1939

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The 3 of you have your father's way of talking and talking

Lincoln, Nebr. Oct 26. 1959

Dear Marie -

I received your welcome letter and I was very glad that you were at home when I called Saturday. I had to pay for 5 minutes (I think it was) over time.

Yes it certainly was wonderful that we could all be together this summer. Yes and the biggest surprise as you wrote was Martin. I hope Martin really took care of the belt and other things as I wished for him to take care of them.

I am so disappointed that we didn't have more time to visit being it has been so long since we have been together.

Marie if you don't mind me writing it I asked you to be the boss being you are older than your 2 sisters? But you and your sisters had so much to talk about. The 3 of you have your father's way of talking and talking. Elin and Martin take more of my ways and are more quite.

Then Marie when there is something really important with-in the family it seems you can't make up your mind to see about it.

I use to try so hard to teach you the ways which I knew were the most practical. Then your father would say "oh hush up." Now it seems to me you and your sisters not only followed up on that score but also bringing your children up the same. You should know how much manners mean. In words manners means - deportment; morals; and behavior.

Now in your letter you wrote "We are anxious that life be as happy as possible for you." So if you will please write as I ask you to, at the close of this letter.

I intend to send you some clippings and hope that you take time to read them.

Marie I think you could try and plan to move nearer where your sisters live. Now that you are earning a good salary please plan and try to move to Tacoma or Portland. And find a nice house larger than the one where you live. As your daughters grown older and later find employment that can help you pay for the property.

Elin's daughter is helping Elin to pay for the house which they bought and moved to last January.

I am so pleased that we could go to those places together this summer. I thank all of you who made it possible. But Marie we should all gone to places which were so much of interest to me when you were in Omaha. You and your father just talked about it but didn't do anything about it. Now you are in your 40's, and Betty and Lottie in 30's. You were influenced by strangers. Don't you think you should show now that you should consider some obligations toward me?

I hope you try and be as mentality alert as possible. Alert meaning - on the watch. The letter I received from Martin was dated Oct 6th. In part he wrote "Did you get a letter from Marie or Betty about the social security?"

Now Marie I wish to talk to an attorney as I have told you. And please OK please will you write to him saying - (This for the attorney - ) Please will you see that my mother - Mrs. Ruth Jensen - is relased from the State Hospital. And also kindly write - please let me mother sign her-self out. Thank you. And please write it at once Marie. This is the attorney's address - Mr. Emmet S. Brumbaugh, 330 Aquila Court, Omaha, Nebraska

As ever,

I remain,

Your Mother.

P.S. And Marie please ask in your letter to the attorney to ask about a room for me at the hotel in Blair. Also write to your father saying that perhaps he won't be asked to sign for me.

Thank you.

Mother.

I may call you over the telepone next Saturday or Sunday.

In haste)

Social Security Checks

Monday, August 9, 2010

The Curious Savage

Mrs. Paddy ........ Melody Johnson

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

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Guess I shoulda taped the lid shut, huh?

Hi Mom & Dad -

Thanks again for a fun weekend - oops - it wasn't a weekend, was it? The girls have big plans for their cash and we love our griddle - it was initiated tonight with burgers.

Quiet night - the two bigs are tucked in their rooms with overnight friends and Marian is off at yet another party. Elisabeth made several dozen cookies today and I made lasagne. Her cookies are darling. Made with a pound of butter, they are also positively sinful. So sinful, in fact, that I mixed up another batch of dough tonight. Guess I shoulda taped the lid shut, huh?

Time for bed - see you Wednesday p.m., around 9 or 10.

DON'T WORK TOO HARD - people are coming to see you - not the house - not the garden. OKAY?!!

love,

Jacque

Have you made any plans for Pop's Christmas present?

Tacoma, Wn.

Dec. 4, 1956

Dear Marie,

I should make this a nice long letter, but if I'd sit down to write a "nice long letter", I'll never get "sat" at all. So on with the message -

Have you made any plans for Pop's Christmas present? What do you think about the three of us going together and getting them an electric blanket? We've had one for years, and really enjoy it. When Pop was here, he had admired it, and I thought at the time it would be a wonderful gift sometime.

Peoples Store, a large dependable department store here, advertized in tonight's paper a "First Lady" electric blanket for $15.00. This is a good line - a special of course.

What do you think? If agreeable, please write immediately. I'll call the store in the morning and have them set one aside for a week.

If this doesn't sound like a good idea to you, don't hesitate to say so. I shan't be offended at all and I don't think I'd have any trouble pulling it out of lay-a-way this early. However, please reply by return mail - one way or another. I'm writing to Betty tonight too.

Everyone is fine at our house. Regards to all of you. Sorry this letter is so brief. I'll try to write a long Christmas letter.

Love,