December 6, 1967

Dear Family,

I am finally convinced that the L.A. Smog acts as a sheath over the town, through which, not self
respecting flu or cold germ can pass. We were there 14 days and the City was free from smog during the
whole time, but the flu bug zeroed in and we all caught it. I think that Lloyd was the only one who was
healthy. Both Mother and I caught it. I was quite ill for two or three days and Mother is still coughing.
She lost her voice completely the morning we left L.A. I think from L.A. to Yuma was the longest I have
ever driven without a smidgen of back seat driving. It made me nervous. I had to look at her once in a
while to see if she was giving me any dirty looks. We got some “yarb” tea in Yuma and the next morning
she was able to talk again.

In spite of our “aches and pains” we enjoyed our visit with the Wilsons. Lloyd and Carol came
over again last Sunday and Lloyd and I assisted in the Blessing of “Wendy”. She grows on one. Gets
prettier each day.

Carol was having a hard time throwing off her cold. Brian was not feeling so hot either and
wanted nothing but his Daddy. We took some pictures with three cameras after church Sunday. Some
of the pics should get passed around.

We found letters from Betty and Rina awaiting us here. We also received your letter Rina from
Hawaii. All of the women were oohing! And aahing! About how fortunate you were to be able to make
the trip. How nice, etc, etc. but I could not help feeling sorry for your abandoned family. Sometimes I
wonder if you get our letters. I wrote to Scot, telling him about how scared we were when we heard
about Hilda and how we prayed for your safety. Grandma will undoubtedly write them and thank them
for the birthday cares. They were very cute. She is also very pleased with the “cat-eye” rings.

Betty in the letter we found here, you made no mention of Renee’s illness. Did it come all of a
sudden? We have remembered her in our daily prayers and would like to hear from someone who can
tell us about her condition. We were also sorry to hear that Queenie was so sick. Was it just
housesickness for the Master or something she ate? You censure us for not driving a 1000 miles to the
bay area for a short visit and you make a big deal out of driving about a hundred miles to the same area-
with a new car yet! You never did get around to telling us what kind of a car it was, or rather is.

Marion I want to abjectly beg your pardon. I was looking through our file and found your letter
that you had written just before we left for L.A. I had forgotten all about it. I got a kick out of John’s
gruesome “pome”. I think Bob is right to do something else while waiting for construction to begin
again. Congratulations on winning the Sears award. Is there any tangible compensation? Or is it all on
paper?

I got chills and fever when I got this far and went to bed. Must have been one of those mutant
L.A. bugs. I had a rough night but felt better when Marion called this morning. She told us that David
has the duty Christmas and cannot come home. She wants us to go there, but I don’t think we can make

it. By the way Betty, Marion told us that you had an “esplendido” 1967 Dodge Wagon. She had not
news of Renee. Please keep us posted. It only cost 75 cents between Midnight and 0700 to make a
phone call. Tell Boo and Robin we are convinced that they don’t love us or they would have written long
since.

Love,

Dad

In almost every neighborhood where respectable people live there dwells a certain type of
scalawag, seemingly devoid of any trace of conscience or principle, whose conduce makes him the
subject of a lot of gossip, especially among the women.

Morals don’t mean a thing to him. He’s unmarried and lives openly with a woman he is crazy
about; and doesn’t care what the neighbors say or think. He has no regard for truth or law.

The duties of this so-called good citizen are just so much bunk so far as he is concerned. He
doesn’t vote a t all. He never thinks of paying a bill.

We have seen him take a two dollar taxi ride without giving the driver so much as a pleasant
look. The driver only stared a t him and muttered something silly.

He won’t work a lick; he won’t go to church; he can’t play cards; or dance or fool around with
musical instruments. So far as known he has no intellectual interests at all.

He neglects his appearance terribly. He is so indolent that he’d let the house burn down before
he’d turn in the alarm. The telephone can ring itself to pieces and he wouldn’t bother to answer it. Even
on such controversial subjects as the liquor question, nobody knows exactly where he stands, because
one minute he is dry and the next minute he is wet.

But we will say this for him. In spite of his faults he comes of a darn good family. He is our new

baby.

I did not sent one these to Marta as I did not know how to change it around to apply to a girl.

Dad