Laura got her letters written, to her sister and to her mother

                                                                                         April 22, 1942

                                                                                         643 Cedar Street

                                                                                         San Antonio, Texas

Dear Helen [Davidson Toronto]

            I’ve been here over a month now.  Sometimes it seems longer than that, and yet when I realize a whole month has gone by it seems to have gone on wings.  I came outside to write so I could watch Alvin at play, but he wants to be climbing on me or the chair or getting into my stationary.  He is just a regular boy.  The pockets on all his trousers are half torn off from stuffing them with rocks.  The last few days he has noticed the airplanes, and when he is in the house and hears one he drags me to the door.  He is saying some words very well now, but he is still too lazy to talk.

            Sunday night in church Reed Clinger, the one staying with us had to administer the sacrament, and when Alvin saw him he stood up on his chair waving his arms, and yelling “Weed, Weed.”  Later Harold had to talk, & he yelled Daddy and made so much racket while Harold was trying to talk I had to take him to the door.  He has been pretty good in church tho since we came.  Next Sunday night the Relief Society has charge of the program and they asked me to read a poem “Our Prophet.”  It is very short and not hard to learn.  It is nice to go to Relief Society here.  All the women are so friendly.  They hold it Wed. evenings so the husbands can stay home and take care of the children. 

                                                                 

            I should write to Mom today, but don’t think I’ll get at it.  Harold will be home at noon, and we are going to walk to the Market.  It is about as far as our Mkt is from your place I imagine.

            The boys are working until 5:30 again instead of 5 and they have a half day off before their day off.  I don’t know which I like the best.  It was good having them home at 5:20 and supper over with early.  But then, they are only half an hour later.

            If I don’t get a letter off to Mom tho. Tell her I’m glad the frig is on the way, and that they had someone come & pack it.  I should have thought of having it done that way myself but didn’t.

            I’m glad Mont is still working.  Hope he can work into something good, or at least keep what he is doing for a while.  You spoke of renting your house, and going down home.  Perhaps if you did that you would have the place to yourselves for a while.  We would like to have Mom come down about July 1 and would like her to stay 2 or 3 months at least.  The trip would be too hard on her if she didn’t stay that long.  But then I’m wondering about the heat here at that time.  If it is too bad I wouldn’t want her to come till later.  It depends too I suppose on what Pearl is going to do.  I suppose you are all waiting anxiously to see Royce again.  I’ve just got dinner over with, and put Alvin to bed so I think I will write to Mom before Harold comes.

            Take care of yourself Helen, and make your health the best you can.  I’m surely feeling tops.  With lots of love from all of us,

            Your loving Sister

                        Laura

P.S. I’m half tempted to send that yellow material home so you can make a dress for Pearl.

P.S. Tell Mom what I’ve told you if its worth telling.

[Post mark on letters: BUY DEFENSE SAVINGS BONDS AND STAMPS]

                                                                                       April 22, 1942

Dear Mom,

            I’ll bet you breathed a sigh of relief when that frig was finally out of the house.  I’m so glad you had someone come and pack it.  I should have thought of it myself, because I was so worried that the boys would get hurt trying to lift it.  It is worth the $6.00 not to have the worry of it.  If you haven’t sent the $9.00 but I’m afraid by now you have, I’d say to send only $4.00 and have Pearl pay the other $5.00 to the Star, and see if that paid them in full.  If you have already sent the money we will send another $5.00 on the first, and I hope that will clear us of the Star.

            Harold has started a checking account, and each time he gets paid will put his full check in the bank.  Then we write checks for our rent and any other bills, & the check stub is a good receipt in keeping track of our money.  Reed pays us $15.00 every 2 weeks, and I use that for the house plus some of our own, then all that is left is in the bank.  It seems like a good way to save money.  The last check tho we had to take just about all of it out again, but once we get on our feet I think we will be ok.

            We are going to have a phone put in.  Reed wanted one, & said he would pay half the bill each month.  I think I’ll feel better with one in the house too.

            The boys are back working till 5:30 at night again, and they will have an extra half day off a week.  Harold will be home at noon today and have tomorrow off too.  It might be better at that I don’t know.  He decided not to take the Spanish class tho, because he wouldn’t have time to come home for supper, and we wouldn’t see him at all.  He is looking around to see if there isn’t some place giving lessons just 2 or 3 times a week instead of every night.

            I wrote a letter to Daniel & one to Helen this morning, and my hand is getting tired.  I sent a card to Dr. Gleave, Harry & Gert, & Harold’s draft board.  I also wrote to Delsa Duncan this week.

            The Dr. is giving me the same kind of iron capsules for my blood as Sundivall did, altho not so many of them.  I think my blood is up considerably already, altho I’ll have to watch my weight.  In the 5 months at home I only gained 6 lbs, and the month I’ve been here I’ve gained 5 lbs.  I am watching tho that I don’t eat so much.  I walk so much too you’d think I’d walk my weight away, but you can walk a mile here, & it is like walking 2 blocks at home.

            I hope Sister MacIntosh is better.  I guess Pearl is all in a dither over Royce coming home.  I hope you are not cleaning too much trying to get the place looking nice before he comes.  I wish we could send enough money to have the 2 rooms papered.  No one would like to see it done more than I.  At Church the other night Harold met an Elder Bloomquist who was in Sweden when he was.  He was here on vacation & lives within a block of Daniel in Calif.  We are always running into someone we know.  Looks like I’m running out of paper.  May God bless you Mother, & help us to see you soon.

            With love, Laura

A sweet letter that explains a lot

[Handwritten by Harold on the back of paper with the following letterhead]

UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

THIRTEENTH UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE DISTRICT

COMPRISING COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, UTAH, AND WYOMING

OFFICE OF THE MANAGER, DENVER, COLO.

ADDRESS:

THE MANAGER

THIRTEENTH U.S. CIVIL SERVICE DISTRICT

CUSTOMHOUSE DENVER, COLORADO

                                                                                                Austin Texas

                                                                                                April 21, 1945

Dear Mother Davidson:

            Laura told me about her calling you on the phone since I have been gone.  And as I read her letter I thought it would be nice to write to you too.  I have been away from home a little over a month now.  My work has been interesting and Texas weather has been like early summer back home.  For the last two days it has rained continually here in Austin and yet it is almost too warm to wear a suit coat.

            In spite of the pleasant nature of my work I oftimes am on the verge of quitting my job.  I would like nothing better than to have a job back home paying me just enough to get by on.  I’m not cut out for a traveling job that takes me away from my wife and babies.

            Lately in our letters Laura and I have written about coming home for a couple of weeks sometime in May.  If we do I have a slight feeling I will sort of nose around for a job while we’re there.

            I suppose most everything has changed back home too.  However it would be wonderful if Laura and I could just visit our mothers once in a while.  Laura worries a lot about you.  She needs to hear your voice once in a while too.  I have told her to call you on the phone as often as she likes and yet the darling girl is a Scott and hesitates because she wonders whether we can afford it.  I love Laura for a lot of her little Scottish ways Mother.  In fact the things I love most about her are the things you have taught her.  Her faith in Our Father in Heaven and in doing right toward all people.  I can hope for nothing more than as she and I grow older she will be as kind and sweet a mother and grandmother as you are.

            I have missed church most of the time since I left Denver.  It seems that I finish my business in one Texas city on Saturday evening and must start early Monday morning in a city some 5 or 6 hundred miles away.  This has meant all day Sunday on the train.  It seems as thou the Government expects their traveling representatives to do this.  This made me happy to hear that Roland did not take that job that had so much traveling in connection with it.  I have managed to go to Sunday School and Sacrament meeting twice since I came to Texas and I have been able to arrange it so I can go again tomorrow.  Laura has been able to go too as I left the car with her.

            Well Mother dear I must close for this time but hope that perhaps sometimes next month Laura and I will be able to see you in Salt Lake.  Write Laura when you can as she certainly looks for your letters and I in turn can get the news you send through her sweet letters to me.

                                                Your loving son,

                                                            Harold.

The spring after her husband died. Timp Lodge. It has been 41 years.

April 20, 1973

Dear family,

I usually write every Monday morning, but I didn’t even think of it till Tuesday, then couldn’t seem to find the time.  Laurie and Marlin moved up to the lodge last Sat. the 14^th, and Will and I helped them in the morning, then I took off from the lodge and went to Tabiona, leaving Will there to help shovel snow.  I brought Grandma Davidson and Aunt Jennette down, and we were going to stop at the lodge and pick up Will.  We got about 500 yds above Sundance, and the ruts of snow and ice were so deep that I couldn’t get up.  They told me I had to stay out of the ruts, but to do that you had to practically ride the side of the hill.  The snow banks on both sides was about 10 feet tall.  I tried 3 times to get up, and finally gave up and went back to Sundance and called them on the phone.

Monday night Marlin and Laurie tried to get up, and couldn’t make it, so they walked from Sundance.  Sunday afternoon Laurie came down to church alone, and trying to get back up she ran into a snow bank, and put a dent under the front fender, and peeled off some paint.  She called here, because she couldn’t get hold of Marlin, and Marlin ran down the hill, and he and the man from Sundance pulled her out.  They have found that if they put some cement blocks in the old Plymouth that it makes it up the hill with no problem.  They can’t get rid of it yet, because Marlin was afraid she might be at the lodge alone when the baby is due.  It is ironic that the Plymouth will make it up there.

Last night we all went up to the Lodge Palmers from Aurora, and the Barrauses, There were 17 people in all, and Laurie cooked a turkey, and we celebrated Marlin’s graduation.  He graduates today.  We still had a little difficulty getting up the hill, but I think that the spring is the worst time of the year, because the snow is starting to melt, and the deep ruts occur.  Grandma was very upset, because she couldn’t tell where we were going, and the snow frightened her.  I couldn’t move away from her all last night.  Yesterday it rained and snowed all day, and this morning there is a blizzard, and we have a little 2 foot apricot tree in full bloom.  I don’t know whether it is frozen or not.  We covered it the night before last, but forgot last night.  Yesterday the snow didn’t stay on the ground, but this morning the ground is pretty well covered.  It is bitter cold.  We are beginning to feel that spring will never come.

Two weeks ago Will bought a ten speed bike, and the first afternoon the front tire split open.  They replaced it, and the second day he was riding it in circles, and the back rim warped out of shape.  They also replaced it.  They said it had been sitting in a crate for 8 months or so.  I hope he doesn’t have any more problems.  Last week the mixmaster stopped going, and they said they would fix it and give me a years guarantee for $11.00.  The same day the toaster wouldn’t work.  The toast wouldn’t even go down, and they wanted $8.00 to fix it, so I didn’t leave it.  Then last Sat. the washer started acting up again.  I called the repair4 man and he came on Monday, and told me it would cost $60.00 to repair.  At first he thought he had it fixed, and then ran it thru the cycle, and it wouldn’t spin.  He took it apart again, and touched something with the screw driver, and it spun ok, but water spued all over everything from the main tub.  Then he took off the top spindle and said the barings were wearing and didn’t know how long they would last, so I told him to haul it away.  He also took the toaster, to see if he could fix it.  So now we are in the market for a new washer.  In the meantime, we are using the one downstairs.

Lou and Karen say that as of now their first station will be Ft. Riley Kansas, which will not be too far from home.  We would love to have you come even for a few days.  You should get here by Monday the 20^th, only Monday is the 21^st.  That will be about the same time Alice and Sam arrive.  Will can’t get out of school till the 23^rd at the earliest, so it will be the 24^th before we can leave for Virginia.  That isn’t going to help Betty and Blen much if Betty is on time with her baby.  At least we can let you have a vacation from the children after you come home from the hospital.  I’m hoping we get there before you go to the hospital.  Next Saturday Will is going to see a Dr. in Salt Lake about his nose.  He still breaths thru his mouth at night, and we have been told for years that he would have to have it operated on, and this would be the best year for him to have it done.

                                                Lovingly,        Mother

<Hope the tapes arrived ok.  Next time we will have to edit them.>

[P.S. to Jane and Ken] We love to get your letters.  Hope your new car is a good one.  

I'm trying to catch up with today

To Mrs. Jane S. Davidson, c/o L. F. Toronto, 870 Wilshire Pl., Salt Lake City, Utah, April 19, 1947

Dear Mother,

            I wrote to you the first part of the week, but was so upset with Jane I didn’t send it.  I believe she missed you more than we could tell.  She started whining for 2 hrs every night after she was put to bed.  The last 3 nights I’ve been closing the door & letting her howl.  It is 8:20 & she just now settled down.  She calls Mother C. Grandpa, and you Grandma.  She is as good as gold the rest of the day, but just figured she didn’t have to go to sleep when put to bed.

            Your letter telling of Jennette came this afternoon.  I do hope she is feeling well.  I know you are glad when it is over.  I am going to send Alvins white shirt to one of Jennette’s boys, it is too small for him around the neck, and it will be a long time before Louis grows into it.  I am also sending a jersey dress Mrs Niemeyer gave me because it was small for her, but I look like a sausage in it.  It is old, but Jennette can wear it for afternoons.  I won’t get them off till after the first of the week so don’t look for them too soon.  I’ll send them to 3112.

            Louis is as hungry as a bear all the time.  The last 2 days his nose has run, and his gums are swollen.  It looks like his top teeth are going to be a big U.  I can’t keep him in anything anymore.  He fell out of his high chair again, & off my bed.  We can’t leave him for a minute in the high chair, so we take the sleep-safe & tie it on the high chair, then pin him in.  And he just wiggles & squirms to get out.  We took him to Denver a week ago Wed. & the Dr. just took hold of his penis & pulled it apart.  It didn’t bleed, and he didn’t cry but it was terrible the stuff that was under it.  It was no wonder it irritated.  It is surely clean looking now.  He crawls like a streak of lightening on one knee and one foot.

            We all went to Denver except Alvin, & he stayed at Thompsons after school.  When we got there we bought a vacuum cleaner at Mother C’s request.  It is a compact, a cylinder type and it seems real good.  We’ve surely taken a lot of dirt out of the house with it anyway.  Then after I took the 3 children to the Dr. we went out to Niemeyers for the afternoon.  Maxine & her two children were there too, & when Harold came we all had supper together.  It was good to see all of them again.

            Mother C. also had Harold cut a piece of hose so I could fill the washer without lifting buckets.  Why couldn’t we have done that. 

            Mother C. visited with Aunt Nell all day.

            Before I forget the cleaning fluid is called Safeway - Brush Top - Spot remover.  Mine is all gone & I’ll have to get some.  You can get it at any drug store.

            The wind is howling tonight.  But for 2 days it has been rather nice.  Tues. we had 4 inches of snow, but it was gone by afternoon Wed.

            The package came with the shirts & booties.  The shirts fit Jane fine, & surely cover her stomach well.  I believe she can wear them up here all summer.  Harold walked over to Candlands with me last night & she was so pleased with the booties, & Mrs. Young too.  Tomorrow is Conference in Greely, and we were sent a program.  On it Harold was scheduled to talk on Temple Marriage.  They didn’t even ask him.  I’m glad he is being given the opportunity.  We will leave Jane & Louis with Grandma Carlson.  Greely is 30 miles to the North & East of Loveland, & it will be a long day.

            The new room is still in the making.  They sanded the floor yesterday, so it should be ready by Tues. & Wed.  They have already painted, and it has been a steady stream of men in here since they started.  Yesterday they put in our missing light switches on the porch, kitchen and bathroom.  We still aren’t going to do any painting.  I got some curtains for the porch at Penny’s in Loveland for $1.00 a pr. [drawing shows two long side panels with short middle panel] & they are flowered, & look nice.

            How was Pearl when you went to Logan?  Is she well?  It seems that a good part of the family was together at Conference time.  The pictures were surely nice.

            You said in both letters that Wid hadn’t been well, but didn’t say what the trouble was.

            Mrs. Candlin’s shower was a week ago Thurs. & I bought some rompers for her & we took over the booties, so it isn’t necessary to send a jacket.  If you do send it I’ll keep it for another time.  I sent to wards for rompers for Helen & Mrs. Young, but just got one pr. & gave them to Mrs. Young.  Will send again for Helen.  Mrs. Roberts address is (Mrs. Claude Roberts, Estes Park.)

            Mrs. Young told us that Mrs. Thompson has made up her mind not to come to S.S. any more.  She hasn’t said anything to us, but I believe Mrs. Young is not in a position to give her any help.  They see each other a lot.  They both seem to have more time than I.  We don’t want to force anything on Mrs. T. but felt she was interested, so we want to meet them more on a social basis.  We spent an evening visiting with them last week without mentioning religion, and hope to visit with them often. 

            I am feeling fine, and my shoulders haven’t ached since a week after you left.  It seems good to be free of that ache.

            I’ve been writing for over an hour, and must get to bed, because we will have to leave by 8 in the morning.  It sounds good to hear of the flowers blooming and the trees and grass green.  So far, spring is still eluding us.  The wind is still quite raw, altho last Sun. we all went for a walk around the area.  It is still howling tonight.

            Yesterday was the last day for kindergarten.  Betty has been going the last 2 weeks, and I’m glad it is over.  She did enjoy it tho.  They divided the supplys, & Betty got a large blackboard on legs, and it has kept them busy.

            Goodnight Mother, may the Lord bless you.  I’m so thankful that you were able to stay with us so long, & for the help you gave in teaching the children.  I’m trying to spend more time with them & less time working.

                        Lovingly,

                        Laura

A longer letter from a few years later

                                                         April 18, 1960

Dear Mother & Helen,

            I don’t know where the time goes.  I never seem to find time to write.  Last Sat. Jane had to speak at Youth Conference, so I made a suit for her out of some pink wool, so that took Wed & Thurs & Fri last week.  None of the others had any thing new for Easter.  We took the little ones on a short picnic Saturday, But it was cold.  Even tried to snow.  Yesterday was nearly as cold, and today it is a lovely warm day again.  All last week while the children were off school it was lovely & warm.  They all went back to school today.  Alvin was off from last Wed until this Wed.  He has been working for Karl Runyan all week, and can probably work on Sat’s too.

            Last Thurs. I finally went to see Dr. Whitely, at Helen’s suggestion.  He suggested that I go to the hosp. For a curetment.  My period started the day we left Tabiona and wasn’t over till day before yesterday.  Sometimes it was red, and sometimes brown.  So they will do it tomorrow at 2:P.M. and I will be home Wed. by noon.

            How is Joey after his stay in Denver?  The boys really enjoyed having him and missed him when he went.  It is too bad the plane ride was so late.  I’ll bet he was asleep before you were home wasn't he?

            Yesterday was the Easter program.  Harold gave the scripture reading, and little Willy gave the scripture reading in sacrament meeting.  He talks real loud and isn’t afraid.  There was a little girl giving one and she forgot hers.

            Willy gave: “The Lord God spoke: For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” and yet he was asleep before the meeting was over. I hate the late hour.  It is always 8:30 before we get home.

            I’m going to try to knit myself a stole out of that white wool I brought back but so far all I’ve got done is 2 rows.  No time for it either.

            How is the pup?  She is surely a fast one.  Is she eating any better?

            Have you heard from Pearl again?  I’m going to write to her & Jennette too.  I haven’t written to Jennette since we came home.  We are enjoying the mutton.  It has to be cooked a long time, but it is real good.  We had a leg roast yesterday.

            I hope you are having warm weather and that you are able to get out in the sunshine.  We have lots of daffodils in bloom.  Harold has been working overtime nearly every night since we came home.

            Take care of yourself Mother, and may the Lord bless you.

                        Lovingly

                        Laura

April 17 and 18

                                                                     643 Cedar Street

                                                                     April 17, 1943

Dear Mother,

            I’m slow at writing again, and I shouldn’t be when I am so anxious to hear of you.  The babies are over a month old now.  I hope things are quieting down a little for you.  So Jennette’s boy has red hair.  What are they going to name him?  Are both the girls getting along ok?  Is Burnell going to stay on the farm all summer?  When does Jennette expect to go back.  Has Pearl heard what Royce is going to do yet.  I hope she doesn’t feel bad about his losing out as a pilot.  It may be the best thing for him.  Tell one of them to write & give us the news.  I know they must be busy tho.

            It would be wonderful to come home this summer, but we are not making any plans.  We are still paying off bills, but the end is in sight.  We still owe 50. On our insurance loan, but we are going to forget about it for a while.  Other than that we are down to $19 in Dr. bills.  Harold hasn’t heard from the Navy yet, and may not for some time.

            You should see our garden Mom.  It would do your heart good.  We are eating beets & greens & peas.  Our radishes are all gone, and the beans & carrots aren’t quite ready.  We also planted 12 tomato plants.  We are still getting 3 or 4 eggs every other day, & it helps out.

            Mrs Muegge has 40 baby chicks, and 4 hens. She has turned her back yard into a chicken farm.  She is raising them to eat.  Browns too have built a chicken coop &I have 35 baby chicks.

            I have finally found out that it was red bugs that bit us last year.  You remember they got you so bad, and the only thing that kills them is oil or vaseline.  I’ve really been bitten up this year, but rubbing oil onto the bite kills the bug & the infection stops almost immediately.  We can’t go out in the garden to pull vegetables without getting some.  Alvin too is bothered, but Harold seems to be immune.  Guess what!  I’ve got a sewing machine.  Mrs Muegge gave it to me to use as long as we are here.  She wouldn’t sell it because it was her Mothers.  It works wonderful.  I guess that is why I haven’t found time to write this week.  I made a dress & bonnet for Betty this week out of that green stripe dress I wore last summer.  It is so cool & she looks so sweet in it.  I have another dress & bonnet in the making out of a blue check print.  I’ll enclose a sample to let you see it, & send some pictures of her in them later.  Right now she only has 3 dresses that will fit & it is too much to wash them just to put them right back on.  They are getting worn out.  I’m going to make some simple print dresses for every day.  Betty weighs 22 lbs now, but is getting to be quite a mama’s baby.  She cries if a stranger looks at her.  I believe she is going to cut teeth any day.  Today he[r] chin had a slight rash on it, so I guess it won’t be long.  She isn’t content unless she is on the floor, altho she doesn’t crawl.  She is so heavy I don’t let her stand unless she pulls herself up in her bed.  It is 4 P.M. & both of them Alvin & Betty have been asleep since 2.  The wind is blowing this afternoon & it is nice & cool.  

You should hear Alvin repeat the poem Little Orphan Annie from start to finish.  Harold was saying it one day just for his own amusement & Alvin made him repeat it over & over until he learned it.  He puts all the expressions in it any one could.  It is the same with any other rhyme or poem.  He says so many things now, but all too often he will talk so fast he can’t keep up with his words, so just touches them lightly, and we have one grand time trying to understand him.  The other day he had the phone book on the floor, & as a rule I don’t let him have it, & asked him what he was doing with it.  He was paging thru it and said “going to call gra-ma in Salt Lake.”  Not long ago he found one of those Peacock feathers we got at the zoo & brought to me & said “Pea cock feather, got at zoo when gra ma was here.”  Mr. Scotts 2 boys were here all morning & he played with them till he was worn out.  I guess that is why he is sleeping so well.

            Harold is working regular 8 to 5 now & has been for quite a while.  I guess it will be permanent.  He is working Sundays again for a month.  He has to work on Easter too.  Strawberries are on her, & by next week should be cheap enough to put up.  I’m going to make as much jam as I can.  We can’t remember when we’ve had jam.  We just can’t buy it in the stores any more.  Dewberries will be on within 2 weeks too, so we have a busy time ahead.  The Relief Society sisters are going to get together & bottle beets right after easter.  They are on good now, & they must be when we are getting beets out of our own garden.

            Well, I guess that is all the news here for now.  We watch so eagerly for your letters, and I know I should write more often.  I wrote to Helen last Sun. & this is the first one since.

            May the Lord bless you Mama with health, and strength & those things you need.

                                    Lovingly

                                                Laura

P.S. Mrs Brown’s Mother gave me patterns for Betty’s dresses & bonnets.  I’m trying to get some of Alvin’s clothes packed that he has outgrown.  They are not too good but maybe Merrill or Edna’s children can wear them a time or two.  I haven’t any room to keep them here,.  I may get them off this week.

            April 18 -

I wrote to Jesse this morning

another two day letter from a more recent time if you can call 44 years recent

                                                    April 14, 1970

Dear Mother,

            Each day I think I will get a letter off to you, and each day goes by so full I just drop off to sleep at night.  We thought we would get a garden planted last night, but it started raining about three in the afternoon, and it rained all night.

            We have had a very cold spring.  Starting about Wednesday of last week the sun began to shine, and it was very warm for 2 days, just long enough to open some of the blossoms.  The forsythia are finally blooming, and also the cherry blossoms.  When the festival opened a week go there wasn't a blossom out.

             .  We talked to them Saturday, and they were getting anxious.  She has been having false labor for three weeks, and spent one night in the hospital last week.  So much has happened since I wrote.  Lou got his induction papers for the army, but also got a deferment for six months, so he will be here when their baby is born in June.

            Ken Babcock went to California to look for a job bout a month ago.  He was gone a week, and came home with a job with I..B.M.  Within two weeks they were gone.  They moved to San Jose, and are living within a mile of where Ken works.  We surely miss the children.  Last Sunday was the first time I had been to church since they left, and there was such an empty feeling to know they weren’t there.

                                   April 15, 1970

            Another day has rolled around.  It is Wednesday, and my day off.  I haven’t been able to go to Relief Society, so last week started going to Vienna Ward on Wednesday.  I am going to try to go every week.  Since I have to work Sundays, I need some association with church even if it is another ward.  Harold came home from work Monday evening, and said the Dr. had called and told him his blood was way down again.  He went in yesterday, and they have him two more pints of blood.  I called Walt Deland, and he made a change in some of the things he has ben giving him.  We are hoping that something will cause a reversal in the spleen and that it will go down.  The last couple of weeks he has slowed down quite a bit.  We have been trying to go for a mile walk every night.  He feels that the blood doesn’t get to his hands and feet as it should, and we are hoping the exercise will help.  He is going to see the Dr. today at noon.

            Saturday, or maybe it was Sunday, Alice and Sam told us they were expecting a baby next December.  They are very happy about it.  They live in an apartment about a block from Betty and Blen’s old apartment.  It is quite small, but they are making drapes, and it will be quite nice.

            Harold Danny has been asked to compete for a chance to be on a television program for next winter.  The program is called “It’s Academic,” and there will be six from his high school that will participate.  The tryout is tomorrow night, at the TV studio.  He went up near Philadelphia last week-end for a three day band trip.  Last Thursday they had their spring band concert, then left the following morning on the band trip.  Two weeks ago he was inducted into the National Honor Society, and he is busy taking national scholarship tests.  He has two to take May Second.

            We have a little dog.  It is so very much like your Skippy.  It is a little Australian silky terrior.  She is just 3 ½ months old, and we are having a time trying to train her.

            We are hoping we will be able to come to Salt Lake the end of June for a few days.

            We still haven’t heard from Alvin and Bev about their baby.  Karen [Carlson] has been  feeling fine, and will probably only work another month.  Betty too is feeling fine.  She just called and wondered if we got any seeds planted Monday night.  It has rained 3 inches since Monday, and I believe it has just stopped.  Everything is so soppin wet.  The ground is like a sponge.  Charlene will be 3 years old on Friday.  Julie will be six on Sat. the 25^th.  Bryan, Alvin’s boy was nine on Monday.

            Write to us when you can.  We all love you very much, and think of your wisdom and counsel so often.

              Lovingly, Laura