The April 11 letter was resent 49 years ago with the April 14 letter

6806 Lemon Road

McLean Va.

April 11, 1965

Dear Mother,

The yellow forsythia is in full bloom, and the daffodills and yet spring is late in coming this year.  The Cherry-blossom festival is over, and the blossoms haven’t come out yet.  As everything come out again I remember seeing them with you last year.  As soon as we get Mike accustomed to us we must bring you back here again.  Mike needs to know you too.  He seems like a boy who has been kept in a dark room, and has suddenly been brought out to see the world of people.  He is completely honest & truthful, yet shy and frightened.  He is going to a gym class each day at the highschool and has a tutor come twice a week to the house.  We hope by fall he will have caught up enough so he can go to regular school

We haven’t heard from Jane & Ken or Lou since conference.  I’m happy Roland saw Lou, and I hope he sold him some insurance.  He doesn’t have any, and he should have, especially if he is going on a mission.  I know that for a while he wanted to get married this fall, but now he is still planning on going on a mission.  I talked to Hyrum Smith, a counslor in our ward who went to conference.  He had seen & talked with Lou, and interviewed him for his mission.  He gave him is Physical forms to fill out too.  So Lou will be coming home in about 7 weeks.  He is working in Cottonwood.  I’ve been meaning to write to Willard & Edna and ask if he couldn’t stay there until time to come home and thus save the money he is spending on housing.  Everything seems to be moving so swiftly I sometimes wonder where we are going.

Harold left a week ago today for Ephrata Washington on an emergency trip, & will be gone till after Easter.  He hopes to get to Salt Lake on his way home.  He must spend at least a day in Boise, and wants to see Gordon in Salt Lake.  Gordon hasn’t once written to Mike in the more than 2 months since he has been here.  He gets a letter from Phyliss & Carol about once a week which is good.

Harold said he would be coming home the first part of the week following Easter, but I’m not looking for him till the end of that week.  I’ve been asked to give a 7 minute talk on  Fast Sunday on how I can make fast Sunday more pleasant.  This talk is to be given the 25^th.

Harold & Willy started their baseball practicing yesterday and Harold is in the Major league this year & has a suit to wear to each game.

Mr. Wilkinson has asked me to take care of Joey & Johnny again when Shelia leaves.  She will be leaving June 1^st.  She wants to stay in Washington & work in an office for 2 months before going back to England.  Laurie & Alice can take care of the 2 boys this summer & earn their school clothes.

We have a new address 6806 Lemon Rd.  Most everyone in Fairfax Co. has a change of address.

Lovingly

Laura

I must try to get letters written to all of them tonight.

April 14, 1965

 Dear Mother,

The letter I wrote to you Sunday returned today together with the letter you wrote to us.

Tomorrow is Relief Society work meeting, and I have much to do to get ready for it.  We are making & decorating sugar Easter eggs.

Blen has this afternoon off, and he & Betty have gone to see the cherry blossoms & have left Julie with me.  She is crawling all over, getting into cupboards & pulling things out.  She will be walking in another week or two.  She will be a year old the 25^th.  They moved to another apartment about 2 miles farther from us.  It has 2 bedrooms.  Julie was waking up often at night, now she sleeps thru.

I talked to Harold on the phone last night & he is going to try to get home this coming Sunday.  If he does, he will be in Salt Lake on Saturday.

I wish I had been in Salt Lake for conference.  It is too bad it costs so much to fly there.  I’ve been wondering if Lou couldn’t stay with David for these last 6 weeks till school is over.  He is still traveling between Provo and Cottonwood to go to work.

I wrote to Helen Sunday & sent a copy of an article on Utah in the Washington Post.  It said that Utah is changing & allowing things to creep in that the church has banned like buying drinks in restaurants & horse racing came before the legislature before the church went into action & killed the bill in the Senate.

We are having lovely weather here.  Mike & I went to the opening game of the Big League baseball.  The Washington Senators against Boston, & Boston won 7 to 2.  It was so warm we didn’t even need sweaters it got up to 81 degrees.  I better get this back in the mail.  

Lovingly Laura

A letter from one Grandma to another

[On floral stationery from Hannah Carlson to Jane Davidson]

April 13, 1951

Dear Sister Davidson,

            Your welcome letter was received a short time ago.

            I was so glad to hear from you.  I hope you are feeling better by now and that every one else is well.

            I guess you listened to Conference.  I saw every session on Television.  It was wonderful. Also the furnal [funeral].  It was very touching and inspiritual [inspirational].

            Television is surely a wonderfull thing a

            I wish Harold could have them one

            It was quite a co-incedent that she only ask[ed] me to paint on them but I told her I would do the crocheting also but for her to get some one else to dress the little dolls this year.  It seemed there was no end to that.

            Little Billy is progressing right along.  He has bought a lovely express wagon with the money given him so Dick, Harlow and others pull him around quite a bit so he can enjoy this lovely sun shine.

            Sister Pauline Christensen is getting along quite slowly since her last operation.  She is as yellow as saferine 

             Love Hannah C

Two letters. One to Jane Davidson from Laura and the other to Laura and Harold from Hannah Jane Carlson

642 Cedar St.

April 12, 1942

Dear Mother,

            We just came from church, and it is late, but I thought I’d write a note before going to bed.  The weather has been so cool & grand the last few days I wish you could enjoy it too.  But I hope by now you are having Spring.

            I’m glad you are not sending the rubber sheet.  I didn’t know I left it, but I haven’t needed it, and I can get another.

            Yesterday Harold finally got paid, so we’ll send the money order in the morning.  I’ve just been thinking about sending the elephant & ball.  There will be the refrigerator trays to pack & you might just as well pack those toys with the frig.  It would save you a little postage.

            A woman was saying at church tonight that she was going to Salt Lake next month for 10 days, and I may be able to have her take your suitcase with her.  I haven’t asked her yet, and they will be going by auto & may not have room but again it won’t hurt to ask.

            It was Reeds day off, and we gave Alvin a real boys haircut.  He looks a hundred percent better.  The back of his neck right up into his hair was covered with pimples.  I thought it might be ants biting him, but it was only in the one place so I came to the conclusion it was heat rash and his hair cut will help that.

            I have been feeling perfectly grand.  That dry rash that was on my face has cleared up completely.  My skin looks better than it has for years.  I guess it is because I drink so much water.  I’m always thirsty, and the water doesn’t quench our thirst.

            It is late so I’ll stop now.  I hope you are well and happy.  Somehow we don’t seem so far away from you, because we know you are thinking of us.

             May God bless you and keep you well and happy.

                                    Your loving children

                                    Laura, Harold & Alvin

Pearls Money Order

$5.00 for STAR

$15.00 for shipping fridge.

770 Springview Drive

Salt Lake City Utah                                                                              April 12, 1942

Dear Children:

            We have just got home from Charleston and as I am not sleepy but plenty tired, I will start a letter to you.  Dad has gone to bed.  He says he is sure glad the birthdays are over so he can cut down on his eats.  One would think he was compeled to eat lots just because it was put before him, well, you know Dad.  The folks say he looks so much better just in these last two weeks and I know he acts much better but he still has those pains around his heart and I really think it is because he is not careful enough how he eats.

            I feel sure he is going to feel much better this summer.

            I am sorry to hear about Brother Clinger probably having to leave.  This darn war business is sure terrible.  I hope the others can remain for I can amagine how nice it is to be able to talk and visit with people from home.  Especially those you know so well and are such splendid fellows.

            Well, our Relief Society dinner is over and was a real success.  I think there was about fifty five there.  I think we expected about seventy five there but maby it’s good they all didn’t come or we wouldn’t have had enough food for them.  I think Sister Olham was very well pleased.  Sister Rose put on a real good program besides.

            Mrs. Hatch, the Principals wife is taking Harolds place at school and the Skaggs have bought your home.  I think I will walk down some day and see how the house has been fixed.  The Ward is having neighborhood parties the latter part of the month and we have been given little sacks the shape of a pea pod to take a little change in to help with the pea crop.

            The kids are all fine.  We don’t hear any more about Gord and Ruby moving.  I guess they think its not so bad over there after all.  I am afraid they may have to before long if we decide to go over there. 

            Genevieve and Harley are still looking for another place but they too find that rent is out of sight.  I heard Mrs Van Dam say that the girls at the arms plant are having to pay $40.00 for just a room, no board.

            Your mother should know about that.  Lyliath [Lillieth] Van Dam got her final devorce degree from her husband a week or so ago and married a soldier the next day, not a local one either.  Her mother feels bad.

            Well, I can think of no more to tell you this time so will close for this time.

            Love and kisses to you all

                        Mother.[Carlson]

We stayed in Denver but moved to a new home.

                                                      April 11, 1955

Dear Mother,

            We had a very pleasant trip home.  We went through Provo, and saw Beth Taylor and her two children, and visited for a few minutes, then went on to Grand Junction.  Bro Willits had a flat tire during the afternoon, but that was the only inconvenience we had on the whole trip.  Alice was the only one that even got a little car sick, and I think it was because we started later in the day than we have been doing.  Louis felt good all day while we were traveling, and when we arrived in Grand Junction he was a little feverish, and went right to bed in the motel.  He slept from about 6:30 right thru till morning.  During the evening Harold and I went over to the State Hospital and looked up Thurman Mosier who used to live in Denver, and who is now the caretaker over there.  We had a shower, and went to bed early, and were on our way home by 9: A.M.  We arrived home about 3 in the afternoon Sat. and by the time we unpacked, and had baths, and heads washed for Sunday, and a good hot meal it was good to crawl into bed.  Alice wasn’t feeling very well yesterday morning, but she did go to fast meeting with me.  I didn’t go to evening meeting, but stayed home and put the little ones to bed early, then Harold and I went over to Fergusons after church to meet Sister Mathew Cowly.  She was in Denver for the week end, and came to Sunday School Fast meeting, and Church at Barnum Ward.  We had quite an interesting evening with her.  She knows Mont and Helen.

            I don’t know whether we told you that Harold had applied for a job in Washington D.C. as Personel officer for the Dept of Interior, and wanted an answer by the 10^th so he would know whether to go ahead on our house or not.  Well, he had a letter this morning saying he was not chosen for the job, and Brother Pulsipher said we were all ready to sign for the house, so we will be moving by the end of the week.  Everything moves so fast we can hardly keep up with it, but I know the Lord is watching over us and helping us make right decisions.

            I had a wonderful rest while I was in Salt Lake, and I enjoyed being able to go thru the temple again.  When we are only able to go once to twice a year it seems that we learn so much every time we go, and it helps us carry on for the rest of the year.

            Denver had no snow while we were gone.  They had a little rain Thursday, but you couldn’t tell it when we got here.  It is very cloudy this morning, and I don’t know whether my clothes will dry or not.  It looks like it might rain any minute.  Well, I’ve a lot to do, and if we are going to move, doubly so, so I had better get moving.  Take care of yourself Mother, and we hope we can have you visit us soon.

                                    Lovingly, Laura.

cake and jello

            

                                                       April 10, 1942

                                                       643 Cedar St.

                                                       San Antonio, Texas

Dear Mother,

            I realize it has been over a week since I wrote, but I've just kept putting it off.  I got your letter yesterday.  I’m glad the weather is breaking a little for you.  Mon. & Tues. nights here it rained like I've never seen it rain.  It came down so fast & heavy that people who were driving couldn't see to drive, & had to stop & wait until the rain stopped.  It rained an inch & 4 tenths the first night & I don’t know how much the second night.  But it is no wonder they don’t have basements here.  They would all be flooded if they did.  The rain surely cooled everything off nicely.  Two nights before it rained it was so hot we could hardly stand it.  Alvin’s hair was wet all night long, & at 11:00 just when we were going to bed I had to change his shirt, it was so wet.  It just changes from hot to cold & back so fast it is terrible.  But we’re getting used to it, & can adjust our clothing to suit the weather.

            Harold likes his new job very much, and is looking out for an advancement.  He has no studying to do when he comes home.  In fact he just has to forget about work after he leaves the ofc.  It is a good thing too, because it leaves his evenings free.  I went to Relief Society again Wed eve, & we tied a quilt, & had cake & jello after.  It is a branch they have here, and a very nice one too.  They are building a new meeting house, & hope to have it finished in about 2 months.  It is much closer than the one they are now using.  Our recommends haven’t come as yet.  We have been expecting them because I asked Dean to send them before I left.

            At R.S. the other night I talked to Sister Turley who is Pres, & also wife of the Branch Pres. Dr. Turley who is a chiropractor, and asked her if she could recommend a Dr. for me.  She told me about a Dr. Christian who some of the others in the branch have gone to on her recommendation, and they seem to think he is fine.  I intend to go see him next Wed. which is Harold’s next day off.   The Dr’s fee here is $50.00 with very little or no exception, and the cheapest Hosp. Is 40.00 that is for 10 days.  Altho I was surprised to find that very few of the women stayed their 10 days.  Some go home the day after the baby is born, some 3 days, some 5 or 7 days.  It is a common practice, if your Dr. will permit you to go, & if you have some one capable to look after you.  And all the women were of the opinion that it was cheaper to hire someone than to remain in the hosp.  Altho it is about the same as in Salt Lake, a Dr. doesn't want to deliver the baby at home.

            We have prayed that we would get a good Dr, & I know that everything will go well if we put our faith in the Lord.  It seems that when we were home we depended upon you so completely for advice & counsel in everything we did that now that we are away it is only reasonable that we must turn even more to our father in Heaven and ask his guidance in everything we do.

            I wrote a letter to Roland & one to Jesse this week, and I've been trying to get one off to Dan & Jennette.  I also wrote to Sister Carlson, but by the time you get around to them all it takes time.

            Harold has been helping me with the washing on his day off.  We send his shirts to the laundry & Reed sends his, so there isn't too much to do.  We have to keep the washer in the kitchen, altho the kitchen is large and the washer is in a corner out of the way.  I have been ironing all morning, & just put Alvin down after dinner.  He seems to sleep better if I wait until after lunch to put him to bed.  I guess he is getting old enough that he can stay up till afternoon.  Then too I can’t put him to bed until usually 7:30 because it is so hot earlier.  And then from 5:30 PM to 7:30 is the only time Harold gets to see him except for the one day off a week.

            We have no fence around the yard at all, & I have to watch Alvin just about every minute he is out.  There is room in the back yard that we can fence off, so we are going to.

            There are 2 other apts in the house, but none of them are home all day until 4:00 PM.  There is a man & his son in the front of the other half, & a Mr. & Mrs. Scott in the back.  Mr. Scott is always trying to build something out of old packing boxes and seems to love to have Alvin around.  So usually Alvin is out watching Mr. Scott from 4 to 6 in the evenings.  Our house is on the corner of 2 streets, & our only other neighbor is on our left.  Mrs. Brown who has a baby 10 months old.  Her Mother lives on the next street, & she is over there most of the time.  I see her about as much as I used to see Gertie.  It is surely the bunk not having a neighbor.

            Alvin can make friends faster for us than we could think of doing, & when we go for our walks the people further up the street are beginning to watch for us.

            It is after 8: o’clock & supper is over & Alvin is in bed.  He cut his first double tooth yesterday & seems rather cross.  I guess he will cut more before he is thru.

            Well Mom, we haven’t been able to find a refrigerator.  It seems too bad too.  If Wid & Mont could box ours & send it we would surely appreciate it.  Today should have been pay day, but it hasn't come yet, & probably won’t be here until Mon.  But when it does come we’re sending a money order for $20.00 in Pearl’s name.  It will be easier for her to cash it, and I’d like her to pay $5.00 to the Star, & tell her to have those other receipts entered in the book & find out the balance.  I believe the bal. will be $5.00.  Then she can give the $15.00 left from the 20 to Wid to send the frig.  If it cost more we can pay it at this end, or else send him the balance of what it will be.  We will be glad to have one.  I’m sure we could save so much with one.  Food spoils over night.  I opened a bottle of chilli sauce on Sun. and by Thurs it had spoiled, and that is one thing we could keep for weeks without spoiling.  I guess it is the damp & the heat that does it.

            By evening I get pretty tired.  I got Helen’s letter this afternoon & I’m so glad Mont is still working.  She told me in her first letter that Bro. Robertson died.  I guess it was a blessing.  It seems strange that a man as big & strong as he was should spend the last few years of his life in bed.

            Tell Sis. MacIntosh hello.  How is she now?  I hope she got over her stiffness.

            The letter you sent on the other day was from Johnny.  He is in the navy, & is likely to go out any time.  He didn't have a daughter when he wrote at Christmas, but a son was born to them in Feb.  He is afraid he will go out & not come back, & wanted to hear from us.  Tell Helen I’ll write to her soon, & tell her we enjoy her letters so much.  We didn't hear any of conference, in fact we didn't know they were having conference.  That is was eliminated.  Hope you are enjoying yourself.  God Bless You.

            With Love, Laura

riots

                                                April 9, 1968

Dear Mother,

            Spring is here, and it is so very beautiful.  The trees and flowers are in full bloom, and the whole earth is coming alive.

            The only thing that marrs the beauty of it is the riots in Washington, but there is nothing to be afraid of where we live.  In fact, Harold and I went into Washington on Saturday, the day afer the rioting started, and everything was quiet.  There were burned out and looted stores, but they are in the Negro district, and they are stores owned for the most part by white people.  The Negros fail to realize they are hurting themselves more by rioting.  We went across one of the burned out streets, and just a block away everything was clean and beautiful, with flowers and trees blooming.  The Negro people for the most part were as bewildered as well.  They are wondering what is happening.  The Negro people who had friends living out of Washington came and spent the 2 or 3 days during the riots, in friends homes.

            I must leave for Relief Society.  I have to open the building.  Our janitor is a Negro, and he is taking the day off in memory of Martin Luthor King.  So I must go and open the building.  Dad is the only one who has keys except the Bishopric and the janitor.  I’ll finish when I get home.   [Laura]

            Hello Mother!  This is Harold.  Laura gave me this letter to add a note and mail.  We are all fine.  I believe Laura is feeling better than she has for years.  We enjoy having Dianne here.  We are all very busy at Church work and school.  Don’t worry about the riots.  We are no where near the bad areas.

                                                Love from us all.        Harold.

Trading kids etc

                                                                       April 8, 1960

Dear Mother,

            Your letter came today & I’ve had a struggle deciding whether to read the speaches first or write to you. Ever since we returned it has been a constant whirl.  We left Tabiona about 10:15 A.M. & was home by 8:15 P.M.  It takes 10 hours from there.  We had a lovely trip, and all enjoyed it.  Joey had a good time with Harold & Willy, and has been doing fine here with us.  Yesterday he & Willy played outside all day, & came in about 5:30 & Joe started crying.  Louis came & said, “Joe is crying, I think you had better go talk to him, I think he is homesick.”  I went & washed him up for dinner, and talked to him then Louis noticed he had wet his pants, & I knew that was why he was crying so he was over it in a hurry when we changed his clothes.  He eats good & sleeps good.

            The night Helen & Mont were here he had a rough time going to sleep.  I think it was at least 9:30, but every other night he is asleep within 5 min.  He is looking forward to his plane ride.

            When we got home Tues. night Alvin had been in Sat. & left a note saying Mr. Thompson had died.  I went down to see Mrs Thompson Wed. morning.  I was there 3 weeks ago when they took him to the hosp.  And they thought he had pnumonia.  He got steadily worse till he died.  They treated him for arthritis because his hands & feet started going numb.  But he didn’t respond.  He was 80, and after he died they performed an autopsy & found an incurable cancer on his lower spine.  She was thankful he didn’t linger for 6 months.  She lives at -

            Mrs. B. S. Thompson

            1323 West Virginia.

You might send her a card.  She is selling the house, and going to move into an apartment her son owns.  She is going to collect the rent for her rent.  She doesn’t drive, but there she will be close to a bus stop & a shopping center.

            Betty got a scholarship to B.Y.U. the other day, but it is just for $100.00 and if she maintains a B average she can have $100, the 2^nd semester.

            I had a letter from Pearl.  I’ll have to send her a little dress.  She says all is going well.

            Lily Cawoods daughter is getting married tomorrow, and I’ve been trying to help her.  We made 3 little hats for the bridesmaids yesterday & she wants Betty & I to take care of the gifts.

            Helen Monson called this morning, they were in S.L. for conference, and she said she saw Betty Jane & Louis on TV Monday morning.  We were all sitting in the balcony .

            She also told me that Dr Jackson’s wife was in a mental institution.  She spent money until he even lost his office.  I feel I should go & talk to him and tell him to seek his Father in Heaven for help.  I don’t know yet, but I feel I should.

            Harold has been working overtime every night this week to make up for the time he lost in S.L.  He has been pretty tired.

            Jennette & Burnell want Louis to spend the summer in Tabiona and he is very anxious to go. He even said he didn’t want to go to scout camp if he could go to Tabiona.  I must run.

            Lovingly

                        Laura