Wed, Dec 31, 1947: keep me on an even keel

"This is probably the wrong time to write you, but the time when I always feel like writing a nice long letter--when I'm a little blue.  Here it is New Year's Eve--just about to begin the year that will be mostly married life for us, and I should be busily celebrating, but I'd much rather go to bed and am being kept up only by the fact that there is a Sunday School party in progress upstairs....

"Now, slightly more cheerful, but also more sleepy, it's 1948--the year in which we will be married.  I do long for the time when I will always have you to keep me on an even keel, for I get all fouled up like this too often."

--Second letter from my mother, Hutchinson, Kans., to my father, Protection, Kans., Wednesday, December 31, 1947.

Tue, Dec 30, 1947: housework

"I have made a new resolution--one of many about our married life.  I think Marjorie is a little too unconcerned about housework, but I'm going to try to be concerned while you're gone, but ready to have a good time when you want to.  Maybe I have a little fault in the opposite direction."

--Letter from my mother, Hutchinson, Kans., to my father, Protection, Kans., Tuesday, December 30, 1947.

Sun, Dec 28, 1947: rock in the pit of my stomach

"My, I haven't written you for such a long time, and look how the days have flown!  But there's a rock in the pit of my stomach-- all the invitations are addressed--I left out lots I would like to have included, and there are no extras, and more for the family to keep or to send to groups in the church.... Daddy is going to try to get some more.  Anyway, now I'm feelin' mighty low."

--Letter from my mother, Hutchinson, Kans., to my father, Protection, Kans., Sunday, December 28, 1947.

Mon, Dec 15, 1947: going together

"George & Margaret are going together again & she's hanging all over him.  Oh, these people!  What next?"

--Letter from my mother, Winfield, Kans., to my father, Protection, Kans., Monday, December 15, 1947.

Sun, Dec 14, 1947: that name will become obsolete

"I've almost waited too long again to write to you, but I hope to finish this in time.  I've got rid of all the cards from the previous year wit the name [Ruth Murray] imprinted.  I must dispose of all such matter very soon, since it is now less than six weeks before that name will become obsolete."

--Letter and card from my mother, Winfield, Kans., to my father, Protection, Kans., Sunday afternoon, December 14, 1947.  Typo per original.

Wed, Dec 10 1947: facts of life

"A funny thing today happened.  I had told Miss Evers some time ago that I wanted to ask her about some things in regard to my wedding.  I had in mind some suggestions about refreshments for the reception....Anyway, she saw me in chapel today & said that I hadn't yet been around to hear about the facts of life. She meant to be humorous, but the Home Ec girls in the dorm are sure that she means to educate me also, & they're all wishing to be a mouse when I talk to her.  It should be interesting, for they are probably partly right."

--A second letter from my mother, Winfield, Kans., to my father, Protection, Kans., Wednesday evening, December 10, 1947.

Tue, Dec 9, 1947: tree decorated

"Darling,

"As the sunrise spreads over the eastern sky, I heaved myself out of bed to write to you.  As I listen to the strains of 'Feed Your Hens Nutrena,' I take pen in hand & recline on the daybed with paper...

"We finally got our tree decorated yesterday noon & last evening I got inspired in view of the fact that Emma Wilson was to meet there, & clean up the parlors & decorated the top of the piano with Christmas cheer."

--Letter from my mother, Winfield, Kans., to my father, Protection, Kans., Tuesday, December 9, 1947.

Thu, Dec 4, 1947: each time it rains

"On this lonely night--while the rain splatters on the roof just above our apartment--I'll type out this epistle of love.  Nostalgia is the best word to describe my inner feelings right now.  The human mind is a wonderful device in that it can make so many associations.  Rain tonight reminds me of things that I've done on other rainy nights.  Our Model A stalled north of Winfield and young son DeVere extremely frightened by the cloudburst, lying on the frontroom floor reading 'Oliver Twist' while torrents of water poured down outside the farm house, milking a cow in the cozy shelter of our barn, looking on while the house of our neighbors to the north was washed away by Muddy Creek, playing the Southwestern 'Alma Mater' with the band in rain-drenched stands--quite deserted at the game's end--all of these little memories come flooding back to me each time I hear or feel rain.  Most precious memory of all belongs to last year--on a night punctuated with April Showers.  I'm sentimental enough to let my memory wander back to the events of that evening each time it rains....

"Ralph Metzger who stood trial for house-breaking has now returned to school.  He acts about the same. I tried to treat him as if nothing had happened. Today I didn't call on the boy; but tomorrow I plan to work on him.as usual. He did come around to get information on make-up work in American History.

"Sometimes I wonder if I were cut out to be a teacher.  Perhaps everyone undergoes these depressions.  But my effectiveness was quite low today.  Some students are not very interested in my courses in spite of all I can do."

--Letter from my father, Protection, Kans., to my mother, Winfield, Kans., Thursday, December 4, 1947.  One typo per original.

Mon, Dec 1, 1947: syphilis test

"I think maybe I was lonesome today.  I was too busy yesterday to notice but I feel it today.

"I found out that the Health Department will do a syphilis test free of charge, but if I want any thing further, I might as well go to a doctor & do it all at once."

--Letter from my mother, Winfield, Kans., to my father, Protection, Kans., Monday, December 1, 1947.