Tucson, January 9, 1968

Dear Family,

Bill, your Birthday present to Mother was kike giving an Irishman a gold plated pick and telling
him; “Sure now Pat, it will be twice as sissy diggin with this beautiful instrument”. (He has signed up for
a genealogical excursion once a month to S.L.) Mother is required to get a lot of information for him and
has scattered her papers along the family. She says to tell you, that she appreciates all the work you will
do as we have reached a dead end and have been dragging our feet. She will send you the dates she has
now and more later. We know that this work will cost money and we suggest that those of you who are
interested, send Bill a couple of bucks to help defray the expenses he will incur.

Bill is the only one who has written us this year, (we heard over TV that your hots is 120 below
the goose egg, brrrrrrrr rrr!), but we did get a very splendid invitation from the navy brass, inviting us to
the commissioning of David’s Ship Feb. 10th. Before we answer the invitation David, we would like to
know if the Meekers and Rices received an invitation or if we include their number on our card. If so
just who are going? Expedite this information as we should return our card as soon as possible.

Mother and I seemed to have a lot of business all of a sudden. She is quilting director of the R.S.
and I am all bogged down with the work of The General Secretary of the Senor Aaronics. Mother is
helping me with my reports but I have to attend a lot of meetings.

Hey David! I note on this invitation that all military personnel are required to wear full dress at
your shindig. Does that mean that I will have to rent a soup and fish? I am about to back out!

I hope you will pardon the appearance of this letter. After being washed in a Mexican river and
bounced over those miles of rough roads, this old typewriter “ain’t what she used to be” I tell Mother
we need a new one but she says no!., not until we have a color TV!, (That will be when the rivers in
Tucson freeze in July, because I don’t like them). So if the deckers stop, you will know that the old grey
mare gave up the ghost.

Love,

Dad

PS Lloyd, we did not send Brian’s hat. We will bring it when we go the first of Feb.