July 12, 2016 On Leaving the Blog

Hello Readers.

There is a certain sense of   joy  in having had 2 grandmothers in my life as a  child and young adult. One, my dad’s mother, lived in the country when I was young.  I have walked past   her  home  (long abandoned  now) and recalled the soft sound of the radio,  and the slapping of the screen door and  often accompanied by the scent of a pot of strawberry jam on the stove. 

My other grandmother, on my mother’s side and the recipient of the blog’s letters lived “in town” by the time I was born and until she passed away.  I have imagined my grandmother sitting with her needlework in front of a window, casually pushing aside the sheer white curtain that has come between her needle and fabric on the summer's breeze. That was a scene played over many summers during my childhood and not forgotten. I have found myself intensely interested in a past to which even 20 years ago, I probably would not have given a second thought. Had it not been for the gift of my mother’s letters, I would surely be lacking in something of my own to provide for the future. And now, I'm bidding the proverbial fond farewell, at least in theory, to the past that I've shared with you for the last 4 years, and I do so with the hope that it has been received as a gift. 

Although the blog is dedicated to the now and future children in my family, it is for everyone and it is everyone that I thank for taking the time to enjoy some or all of the letters. I am in awe of those of you who have read from the beginning, through the ongoing saga of the price of eggs during the War, through the lengthy tomes from Japan and to the stitch by stitch account of the Bicentennial Quilt Show! You have my complete gratitude!  


Many of you have been asking, "Whatever became of your Mom & Dad after your grandmother died?" And so that is the question I will answer in a few final posts.  I hope you will return for a few days to learn the rest of the story through my letters, ones that might have been, and proof positive of a life well-lived.


Lots of love,
     
Ann


NOTE: If this is your first visit, here is the first letter:
http://annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2012/01/april-19-1941-dear-mother-and-daddy-we.html

November 13, 1979 The Quick and Sad Note

Dear Ann & Bob,

"Just a quick note to tell you Grandmother Taylor died this morning very early in the Lebanon Hospital. She was sick when we got to Richland Saturday & the nursing home called early Sunday morning & sent her to Lebanon in the ambulance. We came home late Sunday night after seeing the doctor. He couldn't find anything wrong but did a lot of tests. Then her lung filled last night and they couldn't stop it. The lung cancer had not grown, so her heart probably couldn't work hard enough.

Grand. Belshe is in Wallace Memorial Hospital, Rm. 135, Lebanon, Mo. 65536. Write her a note. She is very miserable & was really sick last weekend. G. Taylor's death is going to disturb her. She's still sharp & can still laugh though.

Dad has gone to the office & then we'll start to Missouri. I still have things to do so bye for now."

              Love,

                   Mom

November 18, 1979

Dear Mom and Dad,

"Thanks for writing to us about Grandmother. I'm glad that you had called to let us know that she wasn't doing too well but that doesn't make it any less sad. Did I tell you that when we visited her in the nursing home she thought I was you, Mom. She asked about the trip from Connecticut and at first I thought she just meant to say Pennsylvania. Then she called me Bonnie. We had a good visit, she seemed content. It never occurred to me that it would be the last time we would see her, but I think Bob knew it.

We're both fine and busy as usual. The house is still pretty torn up but we've been stripping woodwork and getting a lot done. I know you've got an awful lot of stuff to do now and I wish we could be there to help. I hope Grandmother Belshe is getting better. I'll write to her today and I'll call soon. “

Love,


Ann & Bob

NOTE: Above, a lovely piece written by a family friend, December, 1979. Below, a letter to Grandmother as young Lizzie Jones, 1905. She took this advice seriously and spent a lifetime bringing "sunshine and flowers" to everyone who knew and loved her. I hope you'll return tomorrow as I begin the conclusion to the blog.

       

December 19, 1977 The Cake, The Tree and The Call

Dear Mother,

"This is a very wet, cold day. Bobby is having his nap and Bob has gone to a movie with Pat's brother. I made a cake this morning but haven't done much else.

Workmen have been around to clean up water that is coming into the building after all the rain.

The Xmas tree is up and waiting to be decorated and I can see a few trees in other windows at night. It still doesn't seem like Xmas to me. Maybe there will be some music on T.V. today.

B will call me tonight and I always enjoy hearing about home.

Hope you're better every day."

                 Much love,

                        Bonnie

NOTE:  For the first time since 1942, Bonnie wrote to her mother at a different address, that of a nursing home. I can only imagine how it must have felt to her. The letters of April through December are nowhere to be found and certainly fewer were written because of Bonnie's frequent trips to Richland during those difficult months. Both grandmothers were quite ill during the spring of 1977, and just prior to Christmas, B had gone to Richland to be with them. Of course, there was good reason for Bonnie not to travel with him at that time.

Here's the happy news! B made that trip so that Bonnie could be in Bethesda with Bob & Pat to celebrate the birth of their delightful baby girl. Meet Bonnie Anne!

And as we end this very short year of letters, I offer my sincere gratitude to each of you for reading, writing and enjoying the letters and hope you'll return tomorrow. Merry Christmas, from our family to yours, 1977!

See you soon!

NOTE: Interested in watching a Christmas special from December, 1977? Here you go!

March 26, 1977 The Buckets & Boxes, The Lilies, The Cherry Blossoms, The Spring Vacation and The Wonderful Evening

Dear Mother,

"We have just had breakfast so I'll start my letter. For the third time we're going to try & get some topsoil to fill in around the foundation where the dirt has settled. A friend owns a vacant lot in Normal & when he heard we were trying to get some he told us to go get what we wanted. We're going to see if we can haul it in buckets & boxes in the trunk of the car. We don't need very much but I can't put in any plants until we get some and the drainage from the foundation needs to be good, too.

I plan to move some lilies around the back since they spread and will mostly cover the foundation without being planted close to the house. Other things won't grow there because they don't get rain & they soon die. The overhang isn't very wide in the back but it does keep rain off most of the time.

Today is supposed to be in the 60's so it should be nice working outdoors. We're still wearing jackets & coats because the wind stays cold even if the temperature is warm.

Bob says it has been beautiful in Washington with lots of early flowers blooming. I saw on T.V. that the cherry blossoms are out there now. That's something I've always wanted to see.

Ann & Bob are planning to go see Bob, Pat & Bobby this weekend. I hope they go see the cherries. Ann wrote a long letter this week & then I talked to her one evening. She had told us earlier that she might come home during her spring vacation but when she didn't mention it in her letter we decided we'd better find out so we wouldn't be gone when she came. She still doesn't know but probably won't since April is coming up so fast. She was thinking there was more time before her vacation started. She & Bob plan to be home sometime this summer. They think they'll buy one of the special railroad tickets & take a long trip that way--getting off when & where they please. They said they'd be here & go on to Bob's mother & on to Colorado. They haven't made any definite plans yet so things may change.

Have you heard about the T.V. show that will be on NBC on Palm Sunday & Easter from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.? It is Jesus of Nazareth & is supposed to show the story of his life based on the book of John. Maybe you'll want to see it.

This letter has been a long time in the writing. I quit & we started hauling dirt so now it is almost 2:00 & we just finished lunch. We did get all the dirt we needed & have it spread about where we wanted it and I can finish in a short time.

B has to go to a reception for scholarship winners so he has to get cleaned up for that. I'm just glad I don't have to go.

We had an interesting time last night. The foreign students have had special programs fairly often all year to show people about their countries. This past week was Africa week. There were talks & other things about Africa all week and we had a special invitation for last night. We ate an African dinner--a rice dish, boiled chicken in a tomato sauce, lettuce salad, fruit & a sweet honey bread. It was all good. Then there was a movie about Africa. We have students from Ethiopia, Senegal, Nigeria & Rhodesia & someone from each country showed slides of their homeland. Then there was a style show of their native costumes & finally African dances. It was really a wonderful evening & the place was packed.

Our basement is all straightened up now but there are still lots of things I have to do. The old curtains are faded & don't look so good but I washed them & put them up until I can make some. They are short & straight so it won't take much material, or time either.

I still can't tell you when we'll be home but we'll let you know before we come.

I must stop so B can mail this on his way to school."

                 Love,

                     Bonnie

March 19, 1977 The Short But Sweet Spring, The Nice Day, The Three Meetings, The Liquids & Aspirin and The Groceries

Dear Mother,

"Our spring was short but sweet and the weatherman says snow for tonight.  The yard is green as can be and seems to be growing fast. B is getting the lawn mower ready for it looks as if he'll need it soon.

The men came Wednesday and put the carpet in the basement. It looks real nice but we don't have the furniture back yet. I was so thankful it was a nice day because they cut the carpet on the driveway and of course, were in and out a dozen times. The carpet is glued down and that stuff they used really smelled awful. The smell is about gone. We left the windows open that first night but then it turned so cold again we had to close up again. The smell will be totally gone in a day or so.

B has gone to make a talk to a meeting of college women but will be home about noon. He seems to go from one meeting to another all of the time and comes home so tired.

I had three meetings this week but was home most every day so I did get some sewing done. Our potluck group meets tonight and I take vegetables this time. I don't have a potato in the house so have to go to the store this morning. I put that off as long as I can.

We haven't been to Peoria in quite a while but will have to go see Aunt Ione & Uncle Oscar when they get moved there. I guess they are going into a nursing home there. One daughter lives in Peoria & another one near there but I don't know either one.

Bob called Thursday and Bobby has been sick. He had a virus and is getting back to normal now. Bob said he could isolate the virus in the lab but there isn't anything to do for it except liquids & aspirin for the fever. I guess they sat and held him most of the time. I think this is the first time he's really been sick. Other than this they are fine. Bob is going to Huntington, West Virginia to look over the Marshall University Medical School on April 20. That's where his advisor from Chicago went and he keeps urging him to come there after he leaves Bethesda. Bob has more than a year left to decide where he will go.


I sure need to clean cabinets, drawers and closets too. Our church is having a rummage sale next week and I could probably find some rummage if I cleaned up the basement and a few drawers.

We still don't know when we'll be home but will let you know. I don't suppose we'll get
to go see Bob or Ann this summer. B probably won't be able to go any place for a while after this president leaves and a new one comes. That's why we're taking a part of the time he should have now and going to Hawaii. We may just sit in the sun & rest after we get there.

It looks like it will start raining or snowing any minute so I'd better get my groceries.

Hope you are fine."

                     Love,

                         Bonnie

March 12, 1977 The Long Letter, The Little Playground, The New President, The Wonderful Green Backyard and The Floor People

Dear Mother,

"Your letter hasn't come this week but I hope I'll have it today. We had a long letter from Ann and they still like their jobs and living there. They are talking about a house now so I guess they feel settled.

Her job keeps her really busy and I guess she gets pretty tired sometimes after going to different schools but she loves it. I think she meets with teachers in different schools to help them with children who have problems. When she and Bob have free time they take short trips to see the country around them. They usually send us a postcard so we're never surprised to get them from most any place.

Bob called yesterday and they are fine. He had been in Florida for a three day meeting. They are having spring in Washington. It is warm and the flowers are blooming. Bobby loves the outdoors and Bob says he knows the way to the little playground that is 3 blocks from their apartment. They will have to watch him when the doors are open this summer.

Our anniversary is April 13 so we have made reservations to go to Hawaii for 2 weeks (April 15 - April 30). We are so excited about it we can hardly think of anything else. That will be our vacation, of course, but we almost have to do it before July 1 when this president is to leave.

There is a committee looking for the new president. Someone (we don't know who) nominated B for the job but he doesn't want to be considered. It was an honor but he doesn't want that job when he hopes to retire in a few years. Anyway, he will need to be on campus most of the time this summer.

We do plan to come to Richland before we go to Hawaii but don't know yet when that will be.

Our backyard is getting green and it looks so wonderful. We've had a few warm days and things are trying to sprout.

B was in Chicago all day yesterday and I could have gone but didn't have any real reason to go so I stayed at home and sewed. I'm making a jacket and they take a long time.

The floor people are laying the carpet in the basement on Wednesday. I finished the painting on Monday and B helped me with the other things that night. We had to take the handrail down and the metal edges off the stairs. I don't know how long it will take for the men to do the floor but one place told us it could be done in one day. That sounds awfully fast to me.

I hope your weather is nice and that you are fine."

             Love,

                     Bonnie

NOTES: The Hawaii trip became the first of an annual tradition that would continue for nearly 3 more decades. The draw? Hawaiian quilt making, among the obvious!


We bought the house, pictured above (blue shutters on the left), one of a group of row houses on what is known as Simon Barnard Row. Built in 1856 and in need of serious restoration, it was a project that would last 6 years. Barnard was a local businessman and political activist who was an advocate of the anti-slavery movement. The homes were typical of 19th century working class homes.  Here is the "before" picture of the row.

March 5, 1977 The Silly Shoes, The Birthday Cards, The Few Words, The Kimono and The Spring-Like Things

Dear Mother,

"There isn't much news to write this week. Your pretty birthday card & the money came Tuesday on my birthday and before we left for Chicago. Thanks very much. It's always nice to have some to spend for something extra but I still have the money even after having hours to shop. There wasn't much of interest to see or buy. The windows were full of spring clothes and most of them are very pretty this year.

The shirtwaist is as good as ever but the shoes are sure silly--high, high, thick heels. The kids wear them but I never could. I wasn't looking for shoes but I looked in the windows of the stores and on the women walking along. They look so uncomfortable.

I bought three little pieces of quilt scraps and saw lots more but most of them are around $3 a yard and that is silly.

We left for Chicago about 10:00 a.m. Tuesday & got back last night. Our paper boy had taken our mail out of the box & put it in a box in the garage so we didn't have that to bother with. There was a lot of it even for the few days we were gone. A lot of it was birthday cards.

Bob & Pat called Monday night before we left the next day so we visited a long time. They called from home so we could talk to Pat, too. Bob usually calls from work. They are all fine and haven't had the bad winter we have had. Pat says Bobby can climb into the big chairs & onto the couch now, and tries to feed himself. He doesn't eat baby foods anymore but takes a bottle to bed with him. She says he tries to say a few words but does lots of jabbering especially when he gets mad at her. She says he shakes his finger at her & really scolds and of course it's funny to them.

I have to help with the Folk Art Fair this afternoon & maybe tomorrow. I'll have to at least go and get some of my things they are using--my kimono & some other things.

We also have to go to a concert tomorrow night & then to a reception for the man who is playing. I'd much rather stay home but we can't get out of it.

B is getting ready to go to the office to catch up on his work & I must wash my hair. 

Hope you are fine & that things are looking a bit spring-like."

               
                 Love,

                     Bonnie

NOTE: For a quick look and to read about the kimono, see this post: http://annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2013/02/april-9-1954-kimono-where-long-hairs.html