Haddock and Dill: March 3, 1951 Grandma Should Write More, Ann Has Been Cross, Bonnie is a Well-Woman, Bang for the Buck and Hoping the Chickens Are Fine

Dear Mother, Daddy & Grandma,

"We enjoyed Grandma's letter so much. It had been so long since she had written. She should do it more often.

We are all fine and still don't have colds. The weather keeps me scared, though, for it is so changeable. We have had two wonderful days and I hung my clothes out. The children and I went outside in the afternoon and they both love it. One of the days we met Toni and her children and went over to the campus for the first time in a long while. It was fun.

Ann has been cross the last two days but an upper tooth is just breaking through and I'm sure that's the reason. We are feeding her in the Baby Tenda now and she does fine. You should see her drink out of a glass. She does so well. And she doesn't care what is in the glass--whether milk, water or orange juice. Some kids won't drink but one thing out for a glass for a long time. Eve lent me her playpen. We have it in the corner by the buffet. That end of the dining room looks like a nursery with the Baby Tenda, Teeterbabe, basket and playpen. We can soon take the basket to the attic but Ann will sit up and play in it sometimes. She bounces the Teeterbabe too big so we don't use it much now.

After more tests the Dr. told Eve that she would not have to have an operation for probably a very long time. I can't understand it all but it is good to know that.

In Dr. Ball's words I am a well-woman. He said I am fine but wants to check me in three months to see if everything is still all right. I never heard of a Dr. keeping such close tabs on a person. He still hasn't charged me anything but that first $100. I never got so much for my money.

I wish we could be there for Grandma's birthday dinner. That will be so nice but I guess we can't.

We didn't do anything on my birthday. B gave me a dozen teaspoons of my good silver and a box of candy and the children gave me some earrings.

I have been going to church on Sundays but don't like to go alone. We hope to start Bobby to Sunday School in the spring after the measles and chicken pox die down. He has had too many colds this winter to expose him to anything else and some people send their kids to Sunday School no matter what they have.

Hope all of you and the new chickens are fine."

Lots of love,

Bonnie

NOTE: Truman's press conference of March 1, 1951 largely addressed issues of wage stabilization and labor negotiations in the railroad industry.http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=14027