Mom's Letter: May 11, 1961

May 11

Dear Mother,

Happy Mother’s Day.  I wonder if you’ll be here next mothers day.  I surely hope so.  I miss you people more the longer you are gone.  There are so many things I would like to talk to you about, and show you, and ask you.  Bruce hasn’t been home for me to get to a store so please excuse it if your gift is late.  We do love you so and appreciate you.  You know, I remember all those 12¢ bottles of perfume I bought you and how thrilled you were with them and those cheap hankies and I really admire you for your ability to be thrilled no matter what.  You even used them too.  I know it isn’t the money that counts but I will be glad when I can buy something because I like it regardless of the price.  I understand the things you did and the things you said more all the time.  I find myself saying them to the children.  The twins are such pretty little girls and I find myself telling them they must act “pretty” too or it doesn’t matter and that they should be glad they have dishes to wipe.  I’m afraid that by the time you get home we will be just about ready to leave.  Bruce only has about 6 weeks left of school this year and then just one more year.  He so enjoys school and I’m sure he will be such a fine physician.  When I spell that word I think of what one of the fellows jokingly said, “Just think, three years ago I couldn’t even spell physician, and now I are one”.  We’ve been pretty busy around here.  I made divinity for the Medical Wives last meeting and I made 160 pieces.  It was really good but kept me busy for a while.  I was elected president of the Med Wives Literary club and I was asked to be Teacher’s trainer in Primary.  It seems as if I iron constantly but I do goof off a lot.  Jeanne was sick with a high fever last week but she is well now.  Bruce gave her four shots and it just about killed him.  He just hated to give her a shot and Jeanne just hated to have him.  Aunt Lyda and Auntie came up a week ago Tuesday and spent the day with me.  I have really learned to love and appreciate Auntie.  She has been so good to us and she expects so little in return.  She and Aunt Lyda and Roark went to Wyoming over the weekend - from early Sunday until last night - Wed. - and I missed both of them so much.  I didn’t realize how much this household revolves around Roark.  He is so sure of what he wants and it usually sounds like the best in the world to the other children so they go along with him.  The other kids really missed him too but would have liked to have gone with him.  Scot's birthday was the 8th and Aunt Lyda wanted to be there for that.  Roark had such a good time.  Maxine and Bob are awfully good to him and he is right at home there.  They are coming along just fine and are going to move into a home (renting) in a few days.  I have missed Maxine and it sounds so exciting to be settled in what will be your life’s work

.

Just think, Sunday we will have been married seven years.  They have been such a wonderful seven years and I love Bruce more now that I thought possible.  He is so thoughtful and considerate of me.  He calls and lets me know if he will be late and he tries to get home if he possibly can.  So many of the husbands are not like that.  He really isn’t here too much to help me but he does help when he can.  The children just love him and are as anxious as I for school to be out.  Jeanne asked the other day when we could do something and Brett quite impatiently told her “not until Daddy’s out of school”.  When Bruce is home he does play with the children and enjoy them tho.  I don’t feel as if we’ve missed anything by Bruces being in medical school.  I got a kick out of Jeannie.  After Bruce had given her four shots she would stay in bed until after Bruce had left and then get up with a smile and say “Daddy can’t give me a shot now, can he”.  She would never mention it while he was here, she would wait until he had left.  Bruce and I are feeling well and trying to lose some weight.  I would like to lose about 15 lbs. and Bruce should lose about 25 lbs.  Shelley is fussing and I think it’s the applesauce I have her this morning.  Please write and tell us how you are.  Leone said you weren’t well and I have wondered just what she meant by that.  Please tell us how you are.  When do you think you’ll be home?  Should I get David’s shoes or not.  Take care of yourselves and have a nice mother’s day.  We love you and I am more thankful all the time that you belong to me forever and ever.

Love, Bruce, Beth Ann etc. 

Mom's Letter: April 23, 1961

April 23, 1961

Dear Mother and Dad,

I think this is Easter 1961

We received your letter today and it was so good to hear from you.  I have been going to write all week and I wrote to David and I just keep putting it off to do something else.  Bruce just got home from the hospital.  I was going to go to Relief Society tonight for the first time and he called and said he would be late.  He still enjoys it very much and is feeling much better than he has in a long time.  I feel great and we are all well except we think Jayne has infectious mononucleosis.  She seems to be getting a little better but she was always so tired and had no appetite.  She is picking up a little and is getting back to the good natured Jayne we usually have.  Shelley is still the cutest little thing.  She is smiling a little now and it is so precious.  She doesn’t seem to have lost any of her hair and it is still quite dark.  She is the first one of the children who have had long, dark eyelashes and also she has quite a dark browline.  The neighbor said today that Shelley looks just like Bruce.  She is sleeping 6-8 hours a night now and that is nice.  The other children are getting better adjusted but Brett and Stacey are still fussy and ornery.  Stacey had her hair cut today and it is really short.  She is so good when this girl next store cuts it (she is a beautician) but when I try she won’t sit still for a minute.  She is still very fair with pretty pink cheeks.  She has been in corrective shoes since she started to walk and we decided we would try her in canvas shoes and some pretty little patent leather shoes and she is so thrilled with them.  She will take them off and try on the other pair every little while.  I’ll be glad when every member of the family learns to tie their shoes and tie them will.

Bob and Maxine left last Friday and got to Glenrock at about 5 in the evening.  Bob still doesn’t have a job as he can’t practice law until he passes the bar in Wyoming so he is looking for a job.  They have rented an apartment in a duplex and are all ready to settle down and make some money.  I miss them all ready and the children really miss Scot and Julie.  Aunt Lyda called told me that Maxine had called and what she had to say.  We hope to go up this summer some time.

I was so thrilled with the blanket.  I really like the soft yarn on it and it looks so soft and dainty.  She is a very feminine little baby and I love to see her look nice.  I finally got Stacey a little summer outfit with her birthday money.  I just put it away until the summer things came in and it is so cute.  Auntie bought Shelley a darling little white nylon dress for Shelley to be blessed in the day she came home from the hospital.  She also bought her some little shoes and a bonnet but they were actually too small by the time we had her blessed.  She was only five weeks old but they were too small on her so Auntie took them back.  Her little dress is even cuter than the one Stacey had.  She has some awfully cute little outfits but I haven’t dressed her much because it has been too cold and I worry about her so much.  This weather is messy.  We had a good frost as usual and it froze most of the fruit crop but now it is warming up.  I sold the twin stroller and am going to get a new one for Shelley.  The one we had for Roark and Brett and Stacey is just about shot.  We are looking forward to this summer as it will be the last one before he will be busy all the time.  He is through school the 30th of June and we hope to go to Wyoming about then and then come home the 4th of July so he can start work the 5th.  

How are you people feeling.  Are you both well?  How is the school coming?  Can you give and estimation of when you’ll be home.  Do you know the Mitchells.  I just love their daughter.  She is living in their home while they’re gone and I would just love to see her and visit with her.  Please take care of yourselves and don’t work too hard.  I have been quite worried about you these past few days for some reason so please take care. 

Love,  

Note: We always called Uncle Bob and Aunt Maxine's family "Scot and Julie," even into our teens.