Dear Family,
David probably sailed for Oriental waters yesterday. The ships schedule called for stop overs at Hawaii and Guam. He was quite enthused at the thought of seeing the Stobbe children.
We did quite well in the mail this week. Letters from two mothers explaining that their teenage daughters were too busy to answer my letters to them. To tell the truth I actually did not expect Mimi and Robin to write, knowing they were busy with Seminary from the wee hours of the morning to boyfriends and school work until late hours at night, to say nothing of Church activities.
We were very glad to hear of Robin’s and Roberta’s good grades. As for Renee, you can tell her for me that I know she has as many “Smarts” as anyone in the family. Maybe she has a touch of acedia, or maybe she has been infected by lymphatism, topped off by a good dose of faineance.
It looks like Roberta wrinkled her nose and bewitched her teacher, just like she has done the rest of us.
Marion we hope now that you have help in the store you will write oftener. Our rains are over and it is getting rather chilly at nights. I would appreciate that old sweater I left at your place.
Rina, we sympathize with you and we think you are doing the right thing. Your family comes first. There are always people on Church, without family responsibilities, who can take over the activities. Mother has written you under separate cover endorsing your plan. Tell the children we received their package and that I will write them soon.
The nicest thing that has happened to us in a long time, was a call we received at six thirty the other morning from the Wilsons. They are coming to spend Thanksgiving Day with us!
Rinda has recovered enough to go back to school, but it looks to me Rina, that Marta is like you—too many Church responsibilities.
Our Bishop has been bugging us ever since we returned to Tucson, wanting to give us assistance from welfare. We told him that we did not need anything, but he sat me down one day and put me under interrogation about our losses. He insisted on writing a Bishops Order to Deseret Industries for clothes for both of us as well as a typewriter. We went to Mesa the other day to check it out. We could not find any clothes our size, but I did get a typewriter. A big two story Underwood, like the first one I ever wrote on.
Mother joins me in sending her love. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Tucson, November 4, 1969
Dear Family,
Last week, Grandma shook out her cloak, belted on her dagger and went with me on a case in Mexico. I did not get her on the payroll, but I did get her on the expense account. She was able to obtain information of value to the investigation, just by going to a R.S. meeting in the L.D.S. Church in the town in which we were working, and keeping her ears open. She did a lot of complaining though and I am afraid she will strike for higher wages if we have to go again. Although we stayed in the best Hotel in town, it was pretty bad. I stuck my foot through the sheet the first night and dreamed I was being hung. The food was Blah! In trying to cater to Tourist tastes they have made a mess. It took a couple of days to get my stomach back on an even keel after we got home. At any rate we can sure use the money. We plan to pay off Mother’s Sewing machine and buy a few things we have not been able to afford, such as a razor for me and another high density light, (the one you gave me sure spoiled me).
Mother’s dressmaker made her a little hurry-up jumper like dress, to take on the trip and believe me she looked very sweet and chic in it. I like it better than any dress she has worn for a long time, (she wore the white blouse you gave her Betty), I was quite proud of her. I will send you a picture of her in the dress as soon as Lloyd sends me the camera he is lending me.
We received a letter from Marta. She sounded a bit blue because their lawyer does not think they have much of a chance in suing the Construction Co. and their Dr. and Hospital bill will be around 1500,00.00. I think there is something wrong about this. I wish Frank, (Stobbe), was there to give you some advice and/or go to bat for you. I am sure, that if it was him, he would go to that Construction Co. and throw such a bluff about how he was going to sue them- if it took his best cow, that they would be glad to pay the medical expenses.
We also received a letter from the Stobbes. Frank’s leg is still bothering him and he has scheduled a new medical examination. Let us know how it comes out Rina. You forgot to include the name of the object you wanted us to send you. Mother has already written you a hurry-up letter.
Bill, while we were in Cananea, Mother tried to look up her grandparents on her Mother’s side (Lucero) who at one time resided there. She found there were not records earlier than 1902. She was told that earlier records may be in Arispe Son., (One gets there by Burro Express).
David, this in your last edition until we hear from you. Unless your plans have changed you should be sailing in a few days. You may miss these epistles when you are in those Mongolian waters.
Marion, we have not heard from you since we came home.
Vaya con Dios
Dad
Last week, Grandma shook out her cloak, belted on her dagger and went with me on a case in Mexico. I did not get her on the payroll, but I did get her on the expense account. She was able to obtain information of value to the investigation, just by going to a R.S. meeting in the L.D.S. Church in the town in which we were working, and keeping her ears open. She did a lot of complaining though and I am afraid she will strike for higher wages if we have to go again. Although we stayed in the best Hotel in town, it was pretty bad. I stuck my foot through the sheet the first night and dreamed I was being hung. The food was Blah! In trying to cater to Tourist tastes they have made a mess. It took a couple of days to get my stomach back on an even keel after we got home. At any rate we can sure use the money. We plan to pay off Mother’s Sewing machine and buy a few things we have not been able to afford, such as a razor for me and another high density light, (the one you gave me sure spoiled me).
Mother’s dressmaker made her a little hurry-up jumper like dress, to take on the trip and believe me she looked very sweet and chic in it. I like it better than any dress she has worn for a long time, (she wore the white blouse you gave her Betty), I was quite proud of her. I will send you a picture of her in the dress as soon as Lloyd sends me the camera he is lending me.
We received a letter from Marta. She sounded a bit blue because their lawyer does not think they have much of a chance in suing the Construction Co. and their Dr. and Hospital bill will be around 1500,00.00. I think there is something wrong about this. I wish Frank, (Stobbe), was there to give you some advice and/or go to bat for you. I am sure, that if it was him, he would go to that Construction Co. and throw such a bluff about how he was going to sue them- if it took his best cow, that they would be glad to pay the medical expenses.
We also received a letter from the Stobbes. Frank’s leg is still bothering him and he has scheduled a new medical examination. Let us know how it comes out Rina. You forgot to include the name of the object you wanted us to send you. Mother has already written you a hurry-up letter.
Bill, while we were in Cananea, Mother tried to look up her grandparents on her Mother’s side (Lucero) who at one time resided there. She found there were not records earlier than 1902. She was told that earlier records may be in Arispe Son., (One gets there by Burro Express).
David, this in your last edition until we hear from you. Unless your plans have changed you should be sailing in a few days. You may miss these epistles when you are in those Mongolian waters.
Marion, we have not heard from you since we came home.
Vaya con Dios
Dad
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Tucson, Oct 1, 1969
Dear Lloyd and Carol,
As Winter approached these past ten years, we have blessed Lloyd for the electric sheet he gave us while he was in the navy. The cloth wore out and Mother re-built it, but it still kept warming our ‘tootsies’. We have looked in all the stores in Tucson and cannot find a sheet, lots of blanket, but not sheets. (ours burned). I am not hinting for a father’s day gift. We will be glad to pay for the sheet if you can find one for us there. I would like to bother you further. If you go to Sunset House I would appreciate it very much if you would pick me up a wallet- the kind that carry the credit cards standing in slots, not folded. (tan).
Both of our wallets burned with all of our cards, I.D. etc. as well as our Temple recommends. Mother had not cashed her SS check for the month of August so we or rather she will get at least $40.00 of our lost money back.
Mother is becoming more reconciled to the loss. Good friends in the church gave us sheets etc. to go along with searching the boxes we had stored here, she found several raggedy garments. I went to put one on. I didn’t ask the Lord for new ones. I asked help to get into those.
We received a letter from David yesterday. He said he had been to see you. What sort of a heap did he buy Lloyd? Did he get gypped?
Mother is at Relief Society, up to her elbows in quilting. The Bishop cornered me Sunday and asked me to go back into the Adult Aaronic Program. He said the Program and gone to pot since I left- maybe that is why the Lord wanted us back.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
As Winter approached these past ten years, we have blessed Lloyd for the electric sheet he gave us while he was in the navy. The cloth wore out and Mother re-built it, but it still kept warming our ‘tootsies’. We have looked in all the stores in Tucson and cannot find a sheet, lots of blanket, but not sheets. (ours burned). I am not hinting for a father’s day gift. We will be glad to pay for the sheet if you can find one for us there. I would like to bother you further. If you go to Sunset House I would appreciate it very much if you would pick me up a wallet- the kind that carry the credit cards standing in slots, not folded. (tan).
Both of our wallets burned with all of our cards, I.D. etc. as well as our Temple recommends. Mother had not cashed her SS check for the month of August so we or rather she will get at least $40.00 of our lost money back.
Mother is becoming more reconciled to the loss. Good friends in the church gave us sheets etc. to go along with searching the boxes we had stored here, she found several raggedy garments. I went to put one on. I didn’t ask the Lord for new ones. I asked help to get into those.
We received a letter from David yesterday. He said he had been to see you. What sort of a heap did he buy Lloyd? Did he get gypped?
Mother is at Relief Society, up to her elbows in quilting. The Bishop cornered me Sunday and asked me to go back into the Adult Aaronic Program. He said the Program and gone to pot since I left- maybe that is why the Lord wanted us back.
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
Tucson October 8, 1969
Dear Family:-
We are settling down, becoming reconciled to our losses. We still have nightmares once in awhile. Mother will wake up, remember something else that was burned and take inventory the rest of the night. She has been missing a lot of sleep.
We are slowly replenishing our wardrobes. We got a second hand sewing machine for Mother. She is having such a hard time finding dresses to fit her, (lengthwise), that she has vowed to make her own. A couple of my worn out old suits were left here, which I am wearing to church now. I would make them do for a long time, if it wasn’t for the fact that I may get a job that will require me to be decently dressed.
Bill, we received your letter, I don’t think that there is much you can do for us. You will have to come and see us from now on. I don’t think we will ever take that long trip to Roosevelt.
Marta in answer to you query, many of the things, the more valuable things, I don’t think we will ever replace, such as; Temple garments, reading lamps, camera, tape recorder, clocks, toaster etc. etc. We will get a new typewriter, (I am using a borrowed one), as I would be lost without one and need one for church work as well as personal and business affairs. I have asked Lloyd and Carol to try to find an electric sheet for us. It is beginning to get nippy at night and we could not find one in Tucson.
Carol if you cannot find an electric sheet, let us know and we will get an electric blanket here.
David, that key holder you gave me last Christmas was the only thing that kept us from driving back to Tucson with a hot wired car. The steel case kept the keys from melting. We never did find Mother’s set. I would ask you to come see us before you take off for Korea waters, but I doubt if that “Fit”, “Fiat” or whatever you call it, would make it across the desert.
Rina and Frank, thanks a million for your generosity. We were able to replenish the hundred and one little things around the house, which you are so used to having around, that you don’t realize, until they are gone, that there is a big hole in your daily living. We hope you have a nice trip especially of the hot-shot train.
We are always glad to hear from you,
Vaya con Dios,
Dad
We are settling down, becoming reconciled to our losses. We still have nightmares once in awhile. Mother will wake up, remember something else that was burned and take inventory the rest of the night. She has been missing a lot of sleep.
We are slowly replenishing our wardrobes. We got a second hand sewing machine for Mother. She is having such a hard time finding dresses to fit her, (lengthwise), that she has vowed to make her own. A couple of my worn out old suits were left here, which I am wearing to church now. I would make them do for a long time, if it wasn’t for the fact that I may get a job that will require me to be decently dressed.
Bill, we received your letter, I don’t think that there is much you can do for us. You will have to come and see us from now on. I don’t think we will ever take that long trip to Roosevelt.
Marta in answer to you query, many of the things, the more valuable things, I don’t think we will ever replace, such as; Temple garments, reading lamps, camera, tape recorder, clocks, toaster etc. etc. We will get a new typewriter, (I am using a borrowed one), as I would be lost without one and need one for church work as well as personal and business affairs. I have asked Lloyd and Carol to try to find an electric sheet for us. It is beginning to get nippy at night and we could not find one in Tucson.
Carol if you cannot find an electric sheet, let us know and we will get an electric blanket here.
David, that key holder you gave me last Christmas was the only thing that kept us from driving back to Tucson with a hot wired car. The steel case kept the keys from melting. We never did find Mother’s set. I would ask you to come see us before you take off for Korea waters, but I doubt if that “Fit”, “Fiat” or whatever you call it, would make it across the desert.
Rina and Frank, thanks a million for your generosity. We were able to replenish the hundred and one little things around the house, which you are so used to having around, that you don’t realize, until they are gone, that there is a big hole in your daily living. We hope you have a nice trip especially of the hot-shot train.
We are always glad to hear from you,
Vaya con Dios,
Dad
Tucson, 24 October
Dear Family,
To start with Lloyd and Carol, we received your package. The last few miles must have been by Burro, because it took a week to get here. The Wallet is just what I wanted. We have the electric sheet in operation and believe me, it is nice to slide into a warm bed. I am so cold footed, that, without the sheet, it takes me hours to get my feet warm-usually at the expense of Mother. You must have gone to great lengths to find the sheet. None of our friends were aware that such an article was even manufactured. Muchimos gracias!
Bill, it was nice hearing from you, even though you had to be flat on your back with the flu, before you could find time to write. We hope you are feeling better. The bug seems to be going around. I was rather under the weather last week end and I am having rather a hard time throwing it off, but our weather has been unsettled. I will be OK when it settles down. We were glad to know that you got a chance to do some more genealogy work. I would like to know just when the McKays migrated to Oregon. I could not find them in the 1880 Census? My sister Grace has sold her home in Portland and has moved to Phoenix. We will go see her soon and try to pin her down on the Alexander bit.
Rina, your letter sounds as though the children had a good time in Japan, even though you had to make a forced landing coming home. Reading the papers, we were very glad you got home when you did. The riots in Tokyo did not sound a bit good. We will be more than delighted to have Julie. We will send her an invitation under separate cover.
This has been a red letter time for correspondence. Betty also wrote, (I answered under separate cover), she sent the following thought:
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
I sighed because the day was dark
And then I met a child who had no eyes
I complained because the walk was long
Until I met a man who had no legs
I prayed for wealth beyond my need
Until I met a poor soul with no bread at all
Oh, God, forgive me- for the world in mine.
Just talked to Marta. It looks like our prayers have been answered. Marta says the Doctors are amazed at how beautifully she is healing. The scars will hardly be noticeable. She corrected my last report- it was not plastic surgery, but reconstruction surgery Rinda underwent.
We love you,
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
PS. To Lloyd
We noticed that you did not send the camera and mixer. We wondered if you are mailing another package or just decided not to send the above items.
Mother and I are going to Cananea Tuesday, where I have some work. We are mighty grateful for the job. We are trying to keep from going into debt. Just trying to replenish our wardrobe is worrying us. I had to buy a new suit, which I need mostly for business purposes. Mother is being very choosy about her clothes and has just about decided to make them, or have them made. Again, thanks from our hearts, for your kindness.
WHAT IS YOUR PHONE NUMBER?
We have wanted to call you several times, but our book was burned and we do not have your UNLISTED number. Are you afraid some of us colored folks will bug you?
Give Mark and Brian our love,
Dad
To start with Lloyd and Carol, we received your package. The last few miles must have been by Burro, because it took a week to get here. The Wallet is just what I wanted. We have the electric sheet in operation and believe me, it is nice to slide into a warm bed. I am so cold footed, that, without the sheet, it takes me hours to get my feet warm-usually at the expense of Mother. You must have gone to great lengths to find the sheet. None of our friends were aware that such an article was even manufactured. Muchimos gracias!
Bill, it was nice hearing from you, even though you had to be flat on your back with the flu, before you could find time to write. We hope you are feeling better. The bug seems to be going around. I was rather under the weather last week end and I am having rather a hard time throwing it off, but our weather has been unsettled. I will be OK when it settles down. We were glad to know that you got a chance to do some more genealogy work. I would like to know just when the McKays migrated to Oregon. I could not find them in the 1880 Census? My sister Grace has sold her home in Portland and has moved to Phoenix. We will go see her soon and try to pin her down on the Alexander bit.
Rina, your letter sounds as though the children had a good time in Japan, even though you had to make a forced landing coming home. Reading the papers, we were very glad you got home when you did. The riots in Tokyo did not sound a bit good. We will be more than delighted to have Julie. We will send her an invitation under separate cover.
This has been a red letter time for correspondence. Betty also wrote, (I answered under separate cover), she sent the following thought:
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
I sighed because the day was dark
And then I met a child who had no eyes
I complained because the walk was long
Until I met a man who had no legs
I prayed for wealth beyond my need
Until I met a poor soul with no bread at all
Oh, God, forgive me- for the world in mine.
Just talked to Marta. It looks like our prayers have been answered. Marta says the Doctors are amazed at how beautifully she is healing. The scars will hardly be noticeable. She corrected my last report- it was not plastic surgery, but reconstruction surgery Rinda underwent.
We love you,
Vaya Con Dios,
Dad
PS. To Lloyd
We noticed that you did not send the camera and mixer. We wondered if you are mailing another package or just decided not to send the above items.
Mother and I are going to Cananea Tuesday, where I have some work. We are mighty grateful for the job. We are trying to keep from going into debt. Just trying to replenish our wardrobe is worrying us. I had to buy a new suit, which I need mostly for business purposes. Mother is being very choosy about her clothes and has just about decided to make them, or have them made. Again, thanks from our hearts, for your kindness.
WHAT IS YOUR PHONE NUMBER?
We have wanted to call you several times, but our book was burned and we do not have your UNLISTED number. Are you afraid some of us colored folks will bug you?
Give Mark and Brian our love,
Dad
Thursday, January 14, 2010
News Year Day
Dear Family,
Our return from California was uneventful. The wind blew hard the Sunday before we left, but it was almost calm through the desert (which had me worried).
We found your letters and presents waiting us and we thank you very much for your kindness. The new tape recorder was especially appreciated. Rina, in as much as the tape carried a message from David. He was in Guam for 6 hours and spent most of that with the Stobbes.
Mother had a very nice New Years Eve surprise. She had believed that the blood-stone ring, which you all should remember as I gave it to her for her birthday, 43 years ago, had been destroyed in the fire. Yesterday she was cleaning the house. A decorative box w/flower from Avon, that was in the bathroom looked dusty to her. She pulled out the flower to wash it and found that it was hiding her ring.
The Stobbes sent us a long tape, outlining their future plans and/or hopes. They will be coming back to the Main Land in June or July and will probably be assigned to one of the following places; Palmdale, or L.A. or San Francisco in Calif or someplace in Colorado. Frank has not had an operation yet and believes that our prayers helped, but from my experience of rooting on the side lines for Mother, he will have to have one. He has a cyst on his knee bone, which in my opinion will not get better until they operate, scrape, it out and fill the hole with ‘dog’bone, as the doctor jokingly told mother.
Mother talked to Dorthy Jenkins last night. She intimated that there was a letter in the mail with a insurance payment for the things we lost in the fire. We don’t know how much, but what ever it is, we will thank Our Lord and Dorthy’s fighting spirit, as well as John’s gift of the ‘suld barney’. They say they have built a new pumphouse and have a place for a trailer of the ‘care-taker’. The duties of the ‘Care –taker’ probably consist of shooting the deer out of the walnuts and keeping the gates closed. They want us to come back and we will probably go as soon as it warms up, up there. To tell the truth it is probably warmer there that here to-day. It was 30* as I started this letter. When we saw the snow on the Mts Tuesday, we almost turned around and went back to Cal.
Mother joins me in sending our love to each and every one of you. We hope and pray that the new year will be very, very good to you.
Vaya con Dios,
Dad
Our return from California was uneventful. The wind blew hard the Sunday before we left, but it was almost calm through the desert (which had me worried).
We found your letters and presents waiting us and we thank you very much for your kindness. The new tape recorder was especially appreciated. Rina, in as much as the tape carried a message from David. He was in Guam for 6 hours and spent most of that with the Stobbes.
Mother had a very nice New Years Eve surprise. She had believed that the blood-stone ring, which you all should remember as I gave it to her for her birthday, 43 years ago, had been destroyed in the fire. Yesterday she was cleaning the house. A decorative box w/flower from Avon, that was in the bathroom looked dusty to her. She pulled out the flower to wash it and found that it was hiding her ring.
The Stobbes sent us a long tape, outlining their future plans and/or hopes. They will be coming back to the Main Land in June or July and will probably be assigned to one of the following places; Palmdale, or L.A. or San Francisco in Calif or someplace in Colorado. Frank has not had an operation yet and believes that our prayers helped, but from my experience of rooting on the side lines for Mother, he will have to have one. He has a cyst on his knee bone, which in my opinion will not get better until they operate, scrape, it out and fill the hole with ‘dog’bone, as the doctor jokingly told mother.
Mother talked to Dorthy Jenkins last night. She intimated that there was a letter in the mail with a insurance payment for the things we lost in the fire. We don’t know how much, but what ever it is, we will thank Our Lord and Dorthy’s fighting spirit, as well as John’s gift of the ‘suld barney’. They say they have built a new pumphouse and have a place for a trailer of the ‘care-taker’. The duties of the ‘Care –taker’ probably consist of shooting the deer out of the walnuts and keeping the gates closed. They want us to come back and we will probably go as soon as it warms up, up there. To tell the truth it is probably warmer there that here to-day. It was 30* as I started this letter. When we saw the snow on the Mts Tuesday, we almost turned around and went back to Cal.
Mother joins me in sending our love to each and every one of you. We hope and pray that the new year will be very, very good to you.
Vaya con Dios,
Dad
Toquerville Sunday 28
Side note from poster, this would have been 1980.
Dear Family,
This is not a Decker, but spaces in bites of a bug that laid me low for a few days, so bear with me, keep your fingers crossed and maybe you will get the gist of it.
Frank and Rina are home from Hawaii. When we saw them in Cedar City after their return, Rina cried big tears, when she told us of the news that received them when they got home. Scot and Julie are both engaged to be married.
Scot is marring a Miss Debbie Gardner, a returned missionary from Japan. They will probably be married in the Manti Temple.
Julie is marrying Tom Darton, also a returned Missionary from Japan (he probably knows some of my friends in Japan). They plan to be married sometime between April and May in the St. George Temple.
Betty and Bob have been working over time, in harvesting and storing their crop. We can sympathize with them, as our friends here have been loading us down with their surplus produce.
We received a call from Betty a couple of days ago, advising us that she received a hurry call from Robin, advising her that things were not going well and asking for help. In as much as Betty’s Mother In Law was visiting her and could help Bob, Betty took off for Robin’s home. Keep us posted Betty. We will pray for your progeny.
As this is not “Decker” time, I want to take notice of a very sweet letter written to me by Cassandra Wilson.
Grandma and I were very glad to get your letter Candy. Your report of progress is very interesting, but there are some things I cannot understand, for instance, I understand that you are going to continue in Math, but you say, that as you progress you will be going to school with your uncle. Is that David?
When you see your little sisters, (how big are they now,) tell them that Grandma and Grandpa still love them.
Vaya Con Dios
Grandma and Grandpa
Dear Family,
This is not a Decker, but spaces in bites of a bug that laid me low for a few days, so bear with me, keep your fingers crossed and maybe you will get the gist of it.
Frank and Rina are home from Hawaii. When we saw them in Cedar City after their return, Rina cried big tears, when she told us of the news that received them when they got home. Scot and Julie are both engaged to be married.
Scot is marring a Miss Debbie Gardner, a returned missionary from Japan. They will probably be married in the Manti Temple.
Julie is marrying Tom Darton, also a returned Missionary from Japan (he probably knows some of my friends in Japan). They plan to be married sometime between April and May in the St. George Temple.
Betty and Bob have been working over time, in harvesting and storing their crop. We can sympathize with them, as our friends here have been loading us down with their surplus produce.
We received a call from Betty a couple of days ago, advising us that she received a hurry call from Robin, advising her that things were not going well and asking for help. In as much as Betty’s Mother In Law was visiting her and could help Bob, Betty took off for Robin’s home. Keep us posted Betty. We will pray for your progeny.
As this is not “Decker” time, I want to take notice of a very sweet letter written to me by Cassandra Wilson.
Grandma and I were very glad to get your letter Candy. Your report of progress is very interesting, but there are some things I cannot understand, for instance, I understand that you are going to continue in Math, but you say, that as you progress you will be going to school with your uncle. Is that David?
When you see your little sisters, (how big are they now,) tell them that Grandma and Grandpa still love them.
Vaya Con Dios
Grandma and Grandpa
Monday, January 11, 2010
South Lake Tahoe, June 29, 1969
Dear Family:
We enjoyed our stay with the Jenkins very much. It was warm and sunny. No dust, no smog and the altitude is not enough to make me choke. The Jenkins were, well—just the Jenkins. Dorthy has succeeded in spoiling Patty’s boy, no end, but he is a cute little tike and even has gruff old John eating out of his hand. They bought a 24’ wide trailer house when they sold their house in Pinole and although they had a heck of a time getting it hauled in, (in pieces) and set up, it is really something. It looks like it it is set in a virgin forest. The dining room overlooks a deep timbered canyon. One sits entranced just looking out the windows.
NOW! Hear this! The Jenkins have offered us the little house they lived in before, rent free. To stay as long as we wish and return when we wish. They have fixed the little place so that it would be quite comfortable for just Mother and I. In as much as I felt so good there, we are considering it quite seriously. What do you think? We would be about 150 miles from Betty and about the same from Marion, closer to Lloyd and Marta than Tucson.
Last Monday we received a call from Marion at the Jenkins proposing that we meet them here and camp out. I was all for it, as I hated to go to that cold Bay Area. We stuck it out in camp for three days, but believe me I was sure glad to get under Bob’s and Betty’s roof last night. We almost froze in our little tent. The days have been nice here, but a cold wind has been blowing and nights have been freezing.
Bob Rice has acquired a pedigreed Brittany Spaniel pup, which he intends to raise as a hunting dog, (it is already pointing), but believe me it has sure upset this household as far as Queenie is concerned. She hates the new arrival and is jealous of every pat it receives. The way she upstages the pup is almost human. I suppose she will become accustomed to Princess, but she has owned this family for so long, that she just can’t bear to see another animal receive any of the love, that has been her’s alone.
David called us from the Bay Area. His ship is now on the way to Hawaii. David, when or if you get shore leave I suggest you call the Hollenbeck residence in Kailua Tel 267-276. Rina may still be there.
Rina, everything has been so hectic that I am not sure that we received a letter from you since my last Decker. I know we owe a letter to Julie. Tell her I will write when we get home. We will blame Marta, (partly), for not going to Hawaii, or at least trying too. Her being 10 days late in giving birth to Heather as well as my feeling poorly kept us from the attempt.
I am going to call Bill to-day. If it is cold there we will go on back to Tucson and try to decide on our future .
Vay a Con Dios,
Dad
September 15, 1969
Dear Family,
Mother just came in bewailing the fact that the deer ate her petunias down to the roots, last night. She says she just gave up trying to grow flowers around this place- at least until after hunting season. Every morning deer tracks around this place look like they have been having a conference. John Jenkins says they carry a calendar--- the morning the hunting season opens, next week, there is not a deer to be found.
Marta, your letter was the only one we received since my long Decker, we can understand your thinking when you say it would be too much work to come visiting now—with the baby so young. Maybe you can get a long week-end and next spring and come see us. We also understand the reason you did not take the eight year old Indian girl and we think you are very wise. It would not have been fair to Rinda to be relegated to another room, just so the Indian girl could room with someone her age.
I said no one else had written, but we did get a tape from the Stobbes about the same time as your letter. They returned that tape we had such a hard time filling and they pooped out before the tape ran out. They did not even erase the last bit so we listened again to my chipmunk speech. I did not realize until this tape that Frank had been so seriously injured. Someway I had the idea that it was a recurrence of his old injury, but he has a cast on the other leg now, which he injured in athletics.
If we don’t get word from our Tucson Bishop, that he has sub-let our Apartment in Tucson, we will go back, the last of this month, store our ‘chivas’ and give up the apartment. It looks like the Lord wants us to move away from Tucson.
If it gets too cold here, we might try space available to Quam. The only thing that worries me is not being able to get back from there if there are large troop movements. How about checking into this Frank?
Betty, our itinerary includes staying with you Monday the 29th, then getting an early start for Las Vegas the next day. If this is at all inconvenient for you, please do not hesitate to let us know,. Our plans are always quite fluid and easy to change.
Mother has had a hard time trying to get the material for your quilt. Do you have to sleep in a foot ball field? She finally had to send off for it. She won’t be able to work on it until we return from Tucson, but we will make her frames and she can do it here.
Mother joins me in sending our love to all of you,
Vaya Con Dios
Dad
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