January 22, 1949 The Haul, The Cake, The Ball, Don't Send Eggs and Be Careful on the Ice

A ball for Lynn

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Bobby really made a haul this birthday.  I'm so glad he got some money for he doesn't really need anything now.  He had almost enough money in his bank for a bond so we're going to add a little to that to buy the first one and save his birthday money toward another one.  Lynn gave him a pair of sox.  I baked an angel cake and decorated it and put a big candle in the center.  After the babies naps we and the Wattersons had a little party.  I wish you could have seen the little ones go after the cake.  We took pictures of them and they're pretty good.  We put the cake on an end table and let Bobby and Lynn have it.  Lynn picked off tiny pieces of decoration and ate it but Bobby took big handfuls of cake--ate some and threw down the rest.  After the mess was partly cleaned up we all had cake.  Today Lynn is a year and we have a ball for her.  I don't know how we'll manage the party for we have to take Bobby for his examination this afternoon.  I'm anxious to see what he weighs.  We expect him to get the smallpox vaccination and I dread the next two weeks if he does.  Lynn did fine with hers--had about two cranky days and her arm looks pretty good.

This has been a busy week.  Bobby has been getting up between 5 and 6 and that makes the day so long.

We've been to two dinner parties and had students here for a party.  We're having students twice this next week and that will be all till next semester.  We do enjoy them and they have fun.

I had a card from Beulah.  You must have had a terrible storm.  We have ice and a little snow but it isn't bad.

We still have a few eggs.  Bobby won't eat but one now so they last longer.  No, I don't think we want you to send us eggs.  The little that it saves isn't worth the trouble.

I hope you have lights and a phone now.  It is sort of hard to get along without either.  Be careful on the ice.  So many people get hurt badly when they fall."

             Lots of love,

                    B, Bonnie & Bobby

NOTE from Ann:  Truman's inauguration was on January 20, 1949.  Use the link to see excellent newsreel footage of the event:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXE-u4WanMI 
For the text of the address:  http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/50yr_archive/inagural20jan1949.htm