Grandpa - October 26, 1941

Dear Dolores:

It happened just as I thought it would.  I mean by that I received two letters today.  You didn’t let me know did you, Hun?  I knew you wouldn’t.  Perhaps you say I am being over-confident.  Really, do you think I am?  I don’t believe so.  I have been “let down” real hard already and experienced grave disappointment in similar situations, but I have felt differently about you, Dolores.  I do appreciate the effort you have made to get a letter to me each day for the last three weeks.  It has been a source of comfort and inspiration to me just to know that there was someone who thought enough of me to be willing to spend the time and effort to write me every day.  The fact that such a person as you is willing to do that causes it to be even more interesting and encouraging.  And I make no apologies for saying that I think you’re a might fine girl, Dolores.  That is how you rate with me.  And I might even make a confession right here.  You are the only girl who has ever been interested enough in me to be willing to write every day.  The same thing is true of myself in respect to other girls.  Really, Dolores, I am enjoying our “association” far more than I can tell.  Let’s keep it up!  What do you say?

I rather expected to get a call to go and work in the store today, but it didn’t come.  I seemed to be able to find plenty to do without that.  Probably they will want me next Saturday when I will want to be doing something else.  Guess what?  I am only hoping your brother won’t plan a wedding next week-end and respect our plans.  If he does!!! - Well, I’m afraid I won’t like that.  Be sure to keep me informed so I can plan accordingly.

Most of the forenoon I spent cleaning and doing some simple tasks around the home.  Yes, I am beginning to feel very much like this is “home” to me.  At least I am trying to make it a home.  It seems selfish to say “my home”, so I compromise by saying “the home”.  I am hoping to share it with someone sometime.  I also did some studying this morning.  After lunch I studied, rested a while, and later in the afternoon made a call in a home here in the community where a daughter has been ill for several weeks.  I also went into town to do a “little” shopping and made my first visit to a doctor’s office in Allegan.  Don’t get excited.  I’m not ill.  You will remember hearing me say I have to be careful about eating too much sweet foods because of diabetes.  I felt I should check up and find out what my present condition is in that respect.  The doctor wants me to have a glucose test Monday morning.  That means I have to go without my breakfast and go to the hospital where several samples of blood will be taken and tested for sugar.  I will let you know what the result is.

Tomorrow is a busy day for me so I think I better close and do some “slumbering”.  It is nearly 11:00 already.  Until tomorrow - Good night!

Yours with love, Ted

Grandma - October 25, 1941

Dear Ted,

I was afraid something would happen to keep me from getting to bed early tonight – and it did. Our company got here safe and sound. Pardon me – I shouldn't say “company,” just part of the family. The reason for their visit is precisely what we expected. Here's the story:

Hordy's appeal to the board in regard to deferment did practically no good. They're awfully tough up in Michigan about deferments for defense work. Hordy is really needed where he works but that seems to cut no ice whatsoever. So – he has been advised to go ahead and get married because by so doing that might help a lot when he gets his medical. It's his last resort. It may defer him more readily than defense work. We all hope so anyway. This morning they went down and had their blood tests taken. Ordinarily they would not have gotten the results until tomorrow morning but Adyllis brought them home this evening. The doctor she works for took the tests and they were analyzed right there in the same building. Now the “kids” are all set to go down in the morning and apply for their license. Here's where the “rub” comes in. Next Saturday or Sunday they are going to be married but – everyone insists that I do not cancel my plans. They say that since my plans have been made for quite some time and theirs had to be a rushed, unexpected affair, they they will not feel badly toward me if I go ahead with mine. I hate to miss their wedding but I also hate to disappoint you and the Mayfields (and incidentally myself). So – I'll still see you Nov. 1st. If you don't mind, I think I'll take the bus which arrives in Kalamazoo at 4:55 PM. I'll get to see you all day Sunday and Monday and as long as you stay down here. Will that be okay?

I just took 5 minutes out and talked over again with mother the bus question. We decided that for the difference in time that the later bus would be more convenient for all of us. See, we decided against you. Anyway, I hope this won't be the last visit we have together. There will no doubt be other times when we can get together and have long visits, won't there? I thought you'd agree.

I'm glad to hear you finally got a good night's rest. Nine hours of sleep – it must be wonderful! I shall have to try it sometime. I can hardly wait for the chance. Right now it looks like nothing special doing next week so maybe I'll get some decent sleep. That remains to be seen. Remind me never to make any more vows concerning the subject. They just don't work out somehow. You said you ought to be caught up with 9 hours of sleep but I think it will take a whole week of sleep that long at night for me to catch up. I ought to lose weight by losing so much sleep, but the way I've been eating (especially desserts and rich foods) I probably haven't. I haven't weighed myself to find out but I intend to do so just to see if anything will cause me to lose weight. It looks sort of hopeless though.

Everyone has gone to bed again except father (and me of course). He almost always sleeps in a chair until after all of us are in bed. Sometimes he goes on and leaves me down here by myself. Not that I mind though. I don't expect him to wait for me always. About the only reason he stays down is because he has to wait for the bathroom and consequently sleeps until we call him.

I hear the sandman calling – oh so loudly. I think I'll answer it. I certainly am ready to.

Love from your

“Pest” -

In English it's,

Dolores

Grandpa - October 25, 1941

(Note:  There is a mention of Floyd Merrill in this post.  Does anyone know if he is a relative?)

Dear Dolores:

Again you will probably say “What a time to be writing a letter.”  I will admit that at such a time (3:00 Sat. morning) one should be soundly sleeping.  In fact the reason I didn’t write last evening is because I was overcome with that dreadful disease of “sleepiness.”  However, I haven’t really been to bed yet.  You see when one is living by himself he can do what he wants to when he wants to.  But it was all brought about in this way.  Last evening I went with some of my church people to a neighboring village to hear a Russian evangelist speak on conditions in Russia.  It was a long service and the house was late when we got back.  Instead of writing then, I decided it would be much better if I would sleep a few minutes (I was so sleepy) so down I went on my sofa-bed.  The “few minutes” turned out to be about 3 1/2 hours.  You scold me, Hun.  I know I need it.

The last letter you receive before this one will be post-marked “Schoolcraft”.  Perhaps that will arouse your child curiosity.  (I’ll bet you are glaring at me now).  Please forgive me for making such a break.  I will proceed to explain that situation.

You remember Floyd Merrill, do you not?  This year he is working on his degree in Northwestern State Teachers College in Kalamazoo.  His wife has a cousin in Schoolcraft - which is south of Kalamazoo - whom she wanted to visit yesterday, so we went with Floyd to Kalamazoo and from there I took her on out to her cousin’s.  She is one of those women drivers who is afraid to drive if there is another car anywhere around.  Much different from your “kid-sis”.  Then you will wonder what I did with myself in the midst of such a situation.  I went and spent the day with a former college “pal” - none other than Bruce Densmore.  He lives only a short distance from Schoolcraft.  Incidentally, the said letter I referred to was mailed from this town as you will know.

Now back to Bruce.  I’m sure you haven’t forgotten who he is.  Needless to say we had an interesting visit.  Even fellows like to “chew the fat” once in awhile.  You couldn’t guess the event that is coming to pass in his life.  That’s right!  He is planning to be married next month.  Isn’t it terrible what some people will do?

Dolores, you would be interested in knowing that I had a letter from Ivonne yesterday - a good letter too.  She has some very nice things to say concerning a friend of mine who visited in her home with me not long ago.  She only mentioned part of the many nice things that could be said.

No letter from Dayton yesterday!  I’m holding Uncle Sam responsible.  He better come across with two today!  Must stop now.

With love - Ted

Grandma - October 24, 1941

Dear Ted,

I'm waiting for those people to come after me to sing again so while I wait I can at least start a letter even if I can't finish it until later. In spite of your late hours and hard work, etc., you are doing right well with your letter writing. Keep it up, please.

Monday and Tuesday of this week it was so unseasonably warm. Then yesterday it rained and today it's so nice and crisp and cool. I really like it much better this way. By the time I come up to Michigan it will no doubt be really cold, won't it? Do you suppose I should wear my winter coat this time? -----

2 ½ hours later -----

Just as I was thinking what to write next, the folks came and off I went. We didn't sing so much because none of us seemed to be in too good a form. Most of the 2 ½ hours was spent eating and visiting. The lady whose husband has charge of it doesn't sing herself, but oh my! Does she ever feed you! She gets a lot of joy out of doing it. I won't tell you all she had, but it was fattening and along with all the other stuff I ate today – honestly, Ted, I'll be as fat as a little pig. I know you wouldn't want me to get that fat, now would you? After we ate, we looked at pictures of the trip they took this last summer. It was quite extensive, covering 9 states besides Ohio. It evidently was a most interesting trip but I'll “bet” they didn't have a bit better time than I had about about 3 weeks ago. They couldn't have.

When I got home, imagine my surprise at being ousted out of my own private bed chamber. While I was gone, the folks got a long distance (ahem) call from Detroit. The folks are going to be down tonight again – that is, about 2:00 AM. That means that my brother gets my bed. They said that everything was alright but I can just imagine why they are coming. My brother's deferment probably did not go through and they are coming down to get their blood test tomorrow prior to applying for a marriage license. If that's the case, they'll no doubt want to be married the following weekend and if so where'll I be? I'm all upset now and befuddled. Adyllis has plans for next week too so if they do have in mind what I think they have, maybe we can persuade them to wait a week or so. Don't worry too much about it please and I'll let you know immediately all about it when I found out definitely.

I'm so tired tonight that I'll just have to cut this short. I know you don't it and honestly – I really don't like to, but I simply can't write much more. Please forgive me again. Thanks, - you're sweet to put up with my shortcomings.

With love,

Dolores