My Dearest Daughter

In 1958 my mother got married and moved across the country. These are the letters written to her, mainly by her mother, between 1958 and 1960, as well as other artifacts from my family’s past. Others in the series are in my del.icio.us file.

My grandmother was a heart patient by the time I knew her. She had a big stroke when I was only 6 years old. It has been my observation since then that heart patients can be a little testy and surly at times. Grandma certainly could be! And yet, I loved her with all of my heart, more than I loved my own mother for a long time. This letter reminds me why.

Saturday, January 17, 1959

Our Dearest Daughter:

Thanks for leaving behind your letter; it helps to read it once and a while. I don’t know how many times we have read it. The old house is so empty  with both of you gone.  But I guess I have never missed anyone as much as I miss you.  You have always made me feel complete; we didn’t talk so much, but my, I sure miss your sweet self in so many ways.

Why is it so hard for some of us to say things orally; why do we have to write the things that are in our hearts.  It would mean so much if we just told our dear ones that we loved them.

I am mailing out two packages today.  In one is your easel, and I think I put that sketch book in, the thermometer, some little pamphlets I thought you would like to have, and the dress.  I think the dress turned out very nicely.  i do hope that it fits and is long enough.  It is long enough for me, should be for you.  What do you think of the trimming? I don’t think it is too much, do you?

In the other box I put in a little tube of medicine that I found in the desk drawer I had seen it there, and could never figure out who put it there and what it was for.  Tell me, is it what you were asking about for your eyelids? I have never heard about it, and don’t know anything about it, but I’m sending it because  maybe it is what you asked for, if not, just destroy it.

How is Calvin behaving himself?  Dad keeps saying, “Well, I wonder how many rabbits he has gotten,” and “I wonder what he thinks of that country now that he is there.”  I’ll bet he’ll talk a blue streak when he comes home.  I am going to get a couple identification tags and mail to you, so that he can put them on his bags.  By the way, how did the bags go thru?  When did Pete come?  Were you able to see the Doctor?  What did he find out about the blood types? What is your condition? Good?  Was Pete very glad to see you? How did he feel about Calvin coming with you? Tell him that outside of missing you dreadfully, we also feel that we do not have another son, we never hear from him. He either must not like us, or he really is scared of me. I couldn’t hurt him all those miles are between us.

Well honey, you know if we could, we would buy the world and put a fence around it for you, and since you feel as you do about the TV, and also after reading the enclosed article in the paper (Friday, Jan. 16) maybe we should not try to get you one.  Now it is up to you entirely.  If you want one, please let me know right away.  If you don’t, let me know, and we will order the baby bed, mattress, and chest of drawers for the baby.  You won’t have to get the bassinet, we’ll have the baby bed there before the baby comes.  Oh yes, we’ll get the bathinette too.  That amounts to just about what the TV would cost, so it is up to you.

Your withholding slip came, and I am enclosing everything I think you will need.  Will write later!

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