February 13, 1944

Griswold, Iowa. February 13, 1944

Dear Kenneth:- Your letter mailed January 31^st reached us Saturday February 5^th. Mail didn’t get around on time since last Thursday. When we really had a snow storm - our first - Friday 6, it got down to 16 degrees below here. Thursday night the lowest was five degrees below. Elizabeth didn’t come home nor did we hear from them yesterday - may get a letter in the morning before mailing this. The only planes we’ve seen since the storm was a formation of 15 yesterday going from the SW to the NE one was white making it look larger than the others.

At “Aid” The other day “Aunt-hell” said Marcella and Delmar were there a short while a few days before. He is being transferred from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City. M. isn’t going with him. Hell and Bernice have concluded, she thinks his work is perilous and if anything should happen to him (Deliner) she’d rather be in her own home and near his folks. Iva also told me that day a letter from Lueutui in India- dated January 18 he had begun to receive his Christmas packages.

We told different ones of you meeting the 4 Griswold fellows and someone suggested we tell Hauton. I did – writing the 4 names for him and the date – last week of January. He left Jr. D. out and said early in the month. I’ll enclose it. Everybody scolds about the errors he makes.

On my way from church this morning I met Mrs. Reuig – she stopped to ask me to come Tuesday pm to the surgical dressings Rooms to fold bandages. We who sew and knit have been leaving that work for those who don’t and it seems these “Who Don’ts” are real slackers. She told me Louie was on the Mine Sweeper “Devastation” somewhere in the Pacific – he also has been promoted to Lieutenant.

Did I tell you Lester Lautis, with some others had the gruesome task of identifying the charred bodies of the remains of that Co. Bluffe plane Crash – by their teeth? From what his father told us it must have been gruesome. Dwight Waglers are expecting child number 2 in a month or so and about that time he thinks he’ll be inducted.

The first and second grades were closed last week because of a scarlet fever scare.

The Cleaners (Saffers) and John De Witts have it in a light form – haven’t heard of any new cases. The whole town was at the “All Star Wedding” at the G.H.S. week ago Friday night – The men were dressed as women and such laughs we had – anyway the next day Weir quarantined these homes and he expected kids to come down – right and left – with it – we haven’t heard of new cases. Remember when you were sent out in the dark for a similar scare. Kids seem to be having lots of fun with their sleds – some look new. The day it was snowing – The Weston pony had three riders – close behind clinging to ropes were 3 or 4 on skates and behind them several on their sleds and best of all the pony seemed to be enjoying this load.

We haven’t had hit the one letter from Aunt A. since they went to California this time. Met Fred Kris in the post office the other day – he said he had written several times – no answers – said he might as well write to Santa Claus. I think she refers his letters to Fred De Witt and I’m thinking he is very, very slow in getting around.

Dorothy Casady is in the Atlantic Hospital – had a fibroid tumor removed a week ago – is getting along all right.

O, Bill Goldery came in to see us Tuesday morning. He and Leona came over, in his brothers car, from Lincoln Monday – went back there Wednesday and had to report back to his station Saturday. He doesn’t know why he isn’t being sent out as others are – when he is, he hopes to go your way hit says – he fears his luck will send him east. Dad is popping corn – wish you had some.

Bobby is getting to smart for our fence. He found he could climb over if it leaned away from him – dad staked all those places – yesterday he got out was gone the greater part of the afternoon. From the tracks on the outside – he must have climbed high enough to fall over. Dad says he’ll have to add some more height to the fence. My pen seems to be getting to generous with the ink.

Hessie is improving from some kidney trouble and low blood count. Mrs. Weir told me the ailment.

Mrs. Weir and I spent Wednesday pm around the stores – I was looking for wall paper for the hall – saw some very similar to what is on our front room. Will have the Bruabe folks give their OK or otherwise before I try it.

Will leave you for tonight.

Monday – when Dad came with the mail – I said any letters – he said – No something better and this something better was pictures of your darling son and he is surely darling. I got some of your baby pictures and we can see the resemblance – you among cushions on a couch and in the nude on the table – those two especially. Dad says he has the Murchison nose and says to me – it could be worse.

We’re so delighted with it – I’m going to put it in my purse every time I leave home and I must go to the bank this afternoon.

Take good care of yourself. From pictures I’ve seen of natives getting cocoanuts I don’t see how you get down from the tree – Let along get up to where they were.

Lots of love – Mother