January 19, 1957 Bonnie's Done In, Ann Is Asleep, Bob Is Excited, Grandmother Is Horrified and B Is Thrilled

Bob's birthday mineral set

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The party is over and I'm about done in.  Since Bob had a piano lesson right after school we had a supper party with 11 children.  We had a picnic supper with hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, potato chips & then cake and ice-cream.  Toni helped me but it is always a lot of work.  Bob liked the jeans and they were the first thing he got.  Packages are always exciting.  The Bible came today, too.  Thanks a lot for sending it.  It looks a little on the worn side but will do for awhile.  They are teaching the children to begin reading the Bible.  Bob was looking for Psalms in ours the other day.

B is out to a meeting tonight and Ann is asleep but Bob is too excited to go to sleep very quick.  Wattersons gave Bob a wonderful mineral collection.  It is an old one that Watty had when he was teaching high school.  Bob was simply fascinated by it.

Pretzel has really been sick but is better now.  He ate something made of plastic that cut his stomach.  Then an infection set in.  He was in such pain that he shivered constantly and cried so pitifully.  The doctor gave him some medicine and a penicillin shot.  We hope he is about all right.  He has an awful swollen spot on his side from the shot which is real sore and makes him cross if you touch it.

How is Charlotte's new dog getting along?  I hope the old one won't fight with it like he does Pretzel.

Didn't you read about Maxine's baby in the Mirror?  I saw it sometime ago or whenever it was in there, anyway.

My dress is still about half done.  I simple can't find time to stay with it to get it finished.  If I had the pep I could sew at night, I guess, like I used to do.  By the time the kids get in bed I'm ready to sit or go to bed.

The anniversary money should buy a nice mirror but it wouldn't go too far on a mattress would it?  You spend it for something you really want and not just something you think you need.

We haven't heard anything about the encyclopedia yet so we gave Bob a few little things and will keep trying to find a set.

You stop worrying about that tie!  It is a beautiful tie and the girlie doesn't show.  We all had lots of fun teasing you about it but we wouldn't tease you if we didn't love you so much.

Take care of yourselves in this cold weather and don't get sick with colds."

                   Lots of love,

                            Bonnie

NOTE:  The story of the tie is one of the funniest of our family stories.  Grandmother was extremely "prim and proper", and she gave our Dad a wonderful tie for Christmas without knowing that when it was turned over and opened up, a lovely lady was exposed.  Mom and Dad thought it was hilarious and Dad was thrilled with such a gift since he was such a fun-loving, good-humored guy.  He always loved a good joke.  Needless to say, Grandmother was beyond horrified to discover what she had purchased.  Everyone teased her mercilessly for years.  We all wore the tie for a variety of occasions over the years, but eventually we lost track of it.  The one pictured above, is the same tie, but not ours.  This one is available on-line at www.american-vintage.net.  I just might have to have it.

Lizzie and Clyde Taylor