Haddock and Dill: January 8, 1949 Walks, Sits Down Hard and Pushes Furniture

Harry is Man of the Year, 1949

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's spring-like here but the weatherman is warning us that cold and snow are on the way. This fall and winter have certainly been an improvement over last year. B has been washing windows and we put up clean curtains in the living room. I want to wash the dining room curtains soon. They get so black with this awful soft coal.

Bobby has been cranky the last two days but another molar (an upper one) is trying to come through and I guess that hurts. He walks everywhere and crawls very little now.   He sits down pretty hard sometimes but just gets up and goes on. The little horse gets pushed all over (as well as the furniture) but he still can't push it with his feet.

Bobby was really glad to see Lynn when we got home after Christmas. The toys were all over the floor and she was so excited about them that she didn't pay much attention to him.

We have had several letters from friends in New Britain and there have been so many changes at the college it wouldn't be the same place. Dr. Wampler (head of the department) has retired and gone to Florida.

There just isn't anything to write. I hope you are all fine."

                Lots of love,

                  B, Bonnie & Bobby

NOTE from Ann: Although Truman began his State of the Union address on Jan. 5, 1949 with "the state of the union is good", he also cited America's shortcomings, many of which are the same today. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=13293#axzz1yGsFUjHO   The speech is commonly referred to as Truman's "Fair Deal" address in which he promises Americans the right to a fair deal from the government in many areas. Of his proposals, only 3 were implemented by the end of the 1950 congressional year; a raise in the minimum wage, increases in public housing programs and expansion of Social Security.