After my parents were married in 1958, they started the long, long trip by car from Michigan to New Mexico. My mother stayed there until 1960. These are the letters that my grandmother sent to my mother during that time. Other letters in this series are here. When this letter was written my Greatgrandma Mary was staying with my Grandmother.
Monday, August 27, 1958
My Dearest Dears;
Rain huh! We are having really nice weather, cool nights, warm days. Dad bought an elevator to put hay bales and straw bales up into the barn. They just about have the straw business finished.
I am happy that you are happy. But we thought that you had put the best of the tires that were on the station wagon on the front of the bus. They really must have been cheap tires if they wore out like that. Are tires much higher out there?
You received a card from Ruth Dickens. She and her mother were in New Mexico, but not having your address I suppose she missed seeing you. I forgot to get the card to enclose with this.
Today I mailed out two packages by parcel post. One the big one had the blanket you left, the Wedding Album, and a few other things to fill out the box. The other contained a tin can of all of your trinkets. Also an apron, shorts and another apron.
I don’t remember how many packages you mailed out that day along with your trunk. Did they get there in good shape? Did you get the suitcase? I don’t understand what you mean at the bottom of your letter when you say “why don’t you settle down soon and write us.” I don’t remember exactly how many letters I wrote, but there should have been one waiting for you when you got there. I sent letters that came here and enclosed a letter of my own. Also Calvin wrote. You should have had 6 or 7 at least.
Maybe you aren’t getting your mail, but we sure have been sending it.
So far I have sent out: by express 1 suitcase, later 3 boxes by express, 2 packages by parcel post, then today two 1 large and 1 small box by parcel post. As I said, I don’t remember how many you sent out that day when you sent the trunk. Your laundry went out the same day as the suitcase.
You never told us whether you are teaching next month or not. Sounds as tho you might be, since you are looking for a place to live in Chama. *
Mom has been sewing little dresses. She bought some material and made one for Joanie and one for Agnes. Then she got some material for Geralyn. Today she is piecing some left overs from your black and gold dress and will make Geralyn a jumper. She sure is wonderful. It is a pleasure to watch her cut the material out, no pattern, no nothing!
(My great-grandmother and great-grandfather holding my grandmother as a baby)
Lord, but its lonesome around here. Dad doesn’t say much, but he sure feels your not being here. I suppose in time we won’t feel it so much. I sincerely hope tht Pete doesn’t remember the times I couldn’t talk to him, it was queer when you think of it. I surely didn’t want you not to marry him, but it was so very hard to think of the big hole your going so far would make in the family circle.
In one of the letters I wrote you, I made a proposition regarding the Dodge. I also enclosed the Dodge title and asked you to sign it. Didn’t you get that one either? We will have the Dodge painted and the holes welded.
The wedding album is really something. I couldn’t see taking any of the pictures out. They were all so good.
I looked over the rest of your gifts, and really if you don’t need them, why couldn’t the two of you drive up next summer and take them that way. You could take your dishes then too. It is going to take such a lot of work t pack some of those things so that they won’t break. You can collect the insurance, but the sentiment isn’t the same. i just don’t feel up to it to pack any more, at least for a while. What shall I do with those formals of yours? The black dress, the yellow, the black skirt, and the black overblouse? I fixed the zipper in your white winter coat. Should those winter coats be cleaned before we send them? My but there is still a lot of stuff here. Lots of books too. I’ll send the books as you need them; will you teach music? second grade? or what?
Well, I must close. I think I covered everything. Oh yes, Calvin went to Vermontville for the weekend. Had a good time. My flowers are really something to see. They just seemed to really grow during August. I even have some sweetpeas in blossom. Mom gets a big kick out of looking every morning to see what else came in bloom. She has all sorts of seeds saved to plant at home next year.
Well, my dears, my daughter and my son, we pray for your continued happiness and good health. We think Maryrose married the best man on earth, and we are hapy that your love is growing.
God Bless you both and keep His Loving Arm about you always,
Mother
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