November 10, 1951

Loma Linda, Calif., 11-10-51

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

What a whirl this last week has been! Now it's time I settled down and got some writing done. There is so much to say that I hardly know where to start. First, perhaps I could try to see if there is anything in your letters that needs answering.

Your 20th Century letter came yesterday, Daddy, and yesterday afternoon Benton and I hunted up Mrs. Faith, but she wasn't at home. We left two or three Reviews and Instructors [Adventist magazines] and a note telling her who we were and that we had been there. She lives in a fairly nice place--nothing extra, but a fairly new house that needs painting. [I really have no idea what she's talking about in this paragraph!]

Such ambition as you do have, Mother. I bet the house looks really nice. I don't know when we will be seeing it again, but it probably won't be too many months. One never knows what we are likely to do, but we probably won't be there before Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, I have had a wonderful inspiration. Do you suppose you could come here sometime during the vacation period? We talked to Lloyd [Lloyd Wilkins, my mom's sister's widower] and Vi [Viola Walker, Lloyd's sister] about coming down then and making our house the meeting place. Then you could get to see the children without having all the work and worry of a houseful. And it would also make a day less of travel for the Wilkins and Walkers. We haven't worked out the details yet, but thought it would be nice to be thinking about it and figuring out the details. What would you think of the idea? Probably 20th Century work would have a holiday slump about then anyway.

Are those tablespoons of shortening you use in the bread standard size tablespoons, or your great big mixing spoon?

I'm so thankful that you are both well, but don't work too hard anyway. We have been praying about a different car for you too. It may be the Lord will lead you to just the right one. Benton says it would be better if you could get one from some individual who you knew had taken good care of the car because you can't trust the dealers. But of course the Lord knows where the best car for you is anyway. It would be nice if you could get a car that you could trust to bring you out here for Christmas.

Now for news of our trip. Friday at P.U.C. [Pacific Union College, an Adventist college in Angwin, California] we just tore around trying to see people, and then didn't make nearly all the rounds. We saw the Sevrens and Mrs. Hartin, Gwen Wagner and Frank and Mrs. French, my old roommate, Bob Reynolds, etc. I didn't get to see my old students. We just didn't have time. We saw Sophie Andross Becker and her family too. She is expecting another baby any time now.

Just a little after sunset we arrived at Mt. View. The kids [my mom's sister's children, Carol, David, and Cherie] acted tickled to see us. After supper we all went over to Domer's [my dad's brother's son] in Milton's [Viola Walker's husband] car to take Rachel [Domer's sister] over for the night. Warren [one of Domer's brothers] and Marion [Warren's wife] were over there too, and we had a wonderful time singing and visiting all of us together. Domer lives in San Jose.

Sabbath morning we went to church in Mt. View; then in the afternoon we went to another little town near there--can't remember the name--to listen to Elder Mead Mcguire speak. I guess he was conducting the week of prayer there. Anyway, he told us about some of his personal experiences with Sister White [Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Adventist church who was believed to be a prophetess], and it was really good. After the meeting I told him who I was, and he acted very pleased. And who should we see at the meeting but Mrs. Atherton from Binghamtom, N.Y. She lives around there somewhere now. I get so excited that I can't remember all the vital facts that people tell me at such times.

Saturday night there was a special home talent variety program in the academy auditorium [presumably Mt. View Academy, an Adventist high school there]. Lloyd was in a quartet that sang for it, so of course we went. It was very interesting. They were trying to raise money to pay for the chairs in the auditorium.

Sunday morning Benton and I did most of Vi's washing. Sunday afternoon we went over to San Jose to have Domer check our teeth. He took x-rays, and Benton had one small filling replaced. I had one suspicious spot in my one remaining wisdom tooth, I think it was, but he thought that it would be safe to leave it, so I didn't have to have anything done. It is pretty nice to have a dentist in the family, and we have two of them.

Sunday night we went to some pictures and a lecture about Alaska in the Press auditorium [the Pacific Press Publishing House, an Adventist publisher that used to located in Mt. View]. Monday morning, since it was Benton's birthday [December 5], we went to town to buy groceries, and found a lovely doll for about $6.00 which Vi and I got for Carol for Christmas. Carol is learning to sew, so we thought now would be a good time to get her a doll to sew for. Vi was going to make her one, but now she'll make it for Cherie, and Carol will have this one. They are planning a tool chest for Davy for Christmas -- one that Lloyd will make and select individual tools for.

When we got back I made a cake for Benton. Then that afternoon Vi took us over to Leland Stanford University to look at the chapel and go up on top of the tower. Then Milton took us through the Press. I was so tired by then that I didn't care whether school kept or not, but I guess it didn't hurt me. We were going to go to bed early that night, but stayed up and talked instead [those of you who know me will note here that I AM my mother's son!].

Tuesday we went to Saratoga to visit some of Aunt Mary's relatives ["Aunt Mary" was Mary Wareham, my dad's first wife who had been killed in the Accident]. We stayed all night with Cecilia's folks [Bert and Edith Gerrans -- Bert was Mary's brother] way up in the hills. We also went to see Aunt Mary's sister and another one of there brothers that I had never met before. They were all very nice to me.

Wednesday morning we headed for home and got here about 6:30. It was surely good to get home! For a couple of days, though, I was pretty tired from it all, but now I seem to be on top o.k.

Thursday morning we went to town to take care of some business for Bethel [my half-sister who was 29 years old at that time]. Friday I cooked all morning, and then Benton helped me clean. Yesterday we went to S.S. [Sabbath School] and church, had a little nap, then went to call on Mrs. Faith, then to Spears in Arlington, then to Elder Fields in Arlingron. Oh, yes, Friday night we went to meeting and heard Ralph Longway tell about his experiences in internment camp [a camp where the Japanese imprisoned citizens of countries they were at war against during the World War II]. I guess he must have been Baguio instead of in Los Banos [both in the Phillipines -- my mom's brother and his family were imprisoned in Los Banos, I believe]. He made it very interesting and impressive. He is a freshman medic [medical student, I presume] this year, I guess.

Now for a report on the children. They seem well and happy. Vi is taking good care of them, I'm sure. I don't think Lloyd isn't logical--he just isn't head of the household because it isn't his house--it's Milton's. However, he seems to be happy. There are many women on his trail--lots of nice girls in Mt. View. Vi thinks that he would be more likely to warm up to M [I'm not putting her name her since I don't know if she's still alive or not] than to any of the others, though. She suggested that we invite M up for Christmas too--said she was sure Lloyd would like to see her again. He spoke of her every once in a while, she said, and missed her. So that is something. About all we can do besides inviting her is to pray that God will guide. After all, He knows what would be best for them all.

Milton's sister is living in Mt. View all of the time now. Of course she is over at the house much, and it is very evident that she would be interested in Lloyd. However, I don't think she has a chance. She gives the children music lessons and has done a lot of sewing for them. She is an expert seamstress and is teaching Carol to sew. For that I am thankful, but I don't think she would ever make either Lloyd or the children happy, so I just hope the constancy of her presence doesn't wear Lloyd down. I really don't think it will. She is a nice girl, no doubt, but Benton and I decided that she wouldn't be the one for Lloyd at all. Of course, in the end, he will do as he pleases, which is all right. Vi says, though, that he doesn't want anyone that the children don't like, and she says they love M. Time will tell.

It is time for me to have more x-rays of both my chest and my femurs. We will probably take care of that sometime this week. Benton hasn't gone back to work yet. He put his name on all three registries this a.m., but there doesn't seem to be too much doing now. so don't know how long it will be before he is called. Right now he is washing the car and I guess Omar [my half-brother, who was a few years younger than Bethel] is helping him.

This is terrible typing. Guess I'm just getting careless in my old age. About all the typing I do is writing to you folks. And I just write about as fast as I think and don't worry about the mistakes because I know that even with all of them it is much easier for you to read than is my handwriting [well, actually I DID correct a FEW more errors than usual in this letter, but not all that many -- I made many MORE myself, but, of course, I proofread and can catch and correct them so very easily with all this 21st century technology!].

I wish you could have been with us on our trip. I'd like for Benton's and my relatives to meet each other. I know that you would all like each other. I really got into a nice family, and so did Benton.

Incidentally, can you send me Uncle Roy's [my mom's mother's younger brother] current address. I don't know that we will be able to see him for some time, but you can never tell when we might get an inspiration to go into L.A., and I'd like to be sure to know where to find him if we should get the chance. I might even get around to sending him something one of these days. Bless his heart, he needs someone to love him. He hasn't had very much love in his life.

Well, I guess this is about all the news for this time except that we love you and want you to take care of yourselves. And don't forget to let us know what you think of the Christmas idea.

Oodles of love,

<signed>Lois Ruth and Benton

Postcards from October 31 and November 1, 1951

[This was written on a post card with a picture of the Harbor Motel in Crescent City, California, starting with the words printed on the card:

HARBOR MOTEL -- On The Beach, Quarter Mile So. of Crescent City, Calif. 14 Modern Cottages. Midway between Frisco and Portland.

Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Holmberg, Owner-Managers.]

9:30 p.m. Oct. 31, 1951

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

Here we are this far on our way -- had a lovely trip down the coast today on U.S. Highway 101. Will go on to P.U.C. [Pacific Union College, an Angwein, California] tomorrow and then to Mt. View Friday. Rachel is with us as far as San Jose.

Take good care of yourselves.

Much love,

Lois Ruth & Benton

[This was written on a standard blank postcard from the Post Office.]

P.U.C., Angwin, Calif.

Nov. 1, 1951, 10:00 p.m.

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

Here we are staying tonight with Fern Millard's mother and sister. We had a lovely trip down the Redwood Highway today. Tomorrow we'll be going on to Lloyd's [Lloyd was my mom's sisters' widower.] -- Are having a lovely trip.

Incidentally, when you make bread, how big is your "hunk" of shortening? I've forgotten.

Take care of yourselves.

Ooodles of love,

Lois Ruth and Benton

October 27, 1951

[This is another hand-written letter, since she was still in Portland, Oregon, away from home.]

710 S.E. 61st Avenue

Potland 16, Oregon

October 27, 1951

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

The letter you mailed the 22nd got here, I think, the 24th. They really make pretty good time coming here. I should have answered it sooner, but got busy and just didn't.

We are planning to leave here next Wednesday morning. We will be in the Mt. View area by Friday anyway. Just at which place we'll stay we don't know yet, but at least we'll be seeing Lloyd and the kids [her sister's widower and their children]. Probably we will leave there about Monday or maybe Tuesday and head straight for home.

We have been having a lovely time, but it will be good to get home again.

This last Thursday Annie May took us for a ride up the Columbia River, and it surely was beautiful. It was the first sunshiny day we had had in a week here. This is really wet country. Benton and I are quite satisfied just to visit and are glad we live in California instead of Oregon.

So Joan Henthorn (?) has her baby. I must get busy on those booties. I'm glad it was a girl -- all the Henthorns are boys.

The house must look lovely. We'll have to come around to see it one of these days.

Is Uncle Roy's [my mother's mother's brother, I think] address still the same? If you have it handy, you could send it to me. If we get a chance, we might go to see him sometime.

We'll be glad to see Lucille whenever she can come. We'll be home again by that time.

Benton's mother has picked up since we have been here -- comes out with some pretty cute things sometimes. It is just sad to see her mind wander so, though much of the time it is quite clear. We have to dress and undress here, as she gets her clothes all mixed up. We have also kept busy trying to help around the house. I've been doing most of the cooking -- have made a couple of apple pies, a roast, soup just about every day, etc. It has been fun.

Sunday a.m.

It is nearly noon, and Benton and I have just finished the washing. It was foggy all morning, but the sun just came out. I gave Benton's mother a bed bath this a.m. too, so have been busy. Now I'm about to get lunch ready. Annie May gets home about 12:15. I think I'll have eggs scrambled with a dab of mushroom soup and some cheese -- never heard of it before, but thought it might be good.

Well, take care of yourselves. We love you lots. You are the best mother and daddy in the world.

Love,

Lois Ruth & Benton

October 21, 1951

[This letter was hand-written rather than typed like the others. This was no doubt because she was in Portland, Oregon, and had not brought her typewriter with her.]

710 S.E. 61st Avenue

Portland 16, Oregon

October 21, 1951

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

Well, here I sit in the big chair listening to Annie May's radio while Benton has his feet on the register and is reading the paper. [Annie May was my dad's younger sister.]

The letter your wrote Friday arrived here yesterday. That's faster than we get mail in Loma Linda from Phoenix.

You are surely ambitious, Mother, to be doing all that painting. I hope you don't do more than you should in all of your zeal. You'll have the house looking so slick we won't know how to act when we come again -- clean new paint and fancy new curtains.

We are having a nice visit. I find I have married into a very lovely family, though of course Benton is the best one in it. He seems to be a general family favorite too among all the nieces and nephews and aunts, etc. They all think he is pretty wonderful.

Benton's mother isn't very well. [She was born in Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic but in the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time) in the 1880s. She had emigrated with her family to the U.S. when she was only a small girl. I never met her.] She has a little arthritis, but mostly her troubles are simply due to old age -- senility. She gets around a little, but lies down most of the time. She reminds me so much of Grandpa. She walks just about as he did and everything. She gets confused quite a bit too -- goes back into the past. She'll worry about whether there is fuel in the fire, though when her mind is clear she knows the heat is controlled by a thermostat. Then sometimes she thinks there is an outside toilet. She sleeps much during the day and prowls at night. Annie May was just about worn out from being up with her so much at night, so we sent Annie May next door to Dayton's and Benton and I get up with her. [Dayton was my dad's older brother. He and his wife lived right next door to Annie May in Portland, Oregon.] She is all right most of the time, but often she is confused -- wanted me to put up the shades to let in the light this morning before daylight. All this has been going on for only about 6 weeks. Before that she did the cooking for Annie May and some of the work. She was a little better this last week, they say, than she had been for a while - guess it did her good to see Benton. She is really a sweet old lady and still comes out with a little quite unexpected wit every once in a while. She worries for fear I'll work too hard just like you do, Mother. But I really don't do very much around here.

Annie May works every day at the Portland San [Sanitarium], which is just a block from here. She has charge of Central Supply from which they dispense portable equipment, I.V.'s, pharmaceuticals, etc. She does the buying for the department and everything. She is three years younger than Benton -- is very sweet.

Benton's brother Dayton lives next door. He and his wife Goldie are Rachel's parents. They have been very sweet to me too.

Sunday evening 6:30

Well, here we all sit -- even Benton's mother. We have just finished supper. I got it while Benton and Annie May did the washing. Annie May washes in the basement and usually hangs the clothes there because it is usually raining outside. It has rained most of the day today -- this is rainy country, and Benton and I are glad we don't live here all the time.

Poor Helen! -- and all the rest of my friends. I'm planning a duplicated letter to mail out, but haven't written it yet. Perhaps I can get it written while we are here. I already have the stuff to type it on and someone to run it off for me at the academy in Loma Linda. I owe at least 35 letters, and that seems to be the only way I'll ever get them all written. It beats all how many things seem to have to get done.

Your letter mailed Oct. 11 came the same day I wrote you that last card. Omer [He was my half-brother and was in the Air Force at that time.] is home and forwards our mail to us. We'll be here until after next week end anyway. I don't know just how long Benton will plan to stay. He is a bit anxious about his mother and wants to see how she gets along.

Did you know that while you were enclosing various letters you sent me back the last one I wrote you? I'll send it back.

The kids are having quite a time with their folks. I'm glad they stayed. Incidentally, this absence may contribute to your added well-being. You just don't have so much to worry about much now.

Right now I don't need the skirt and suit. We'll see about them when we go to Phoenix again, which may not be too terribly long away.

Well, I guess this will be all for tonight. Do take care of yourselves. We love you heaps. Benton sends love too.

Oodles of love,

Lois Ruth and Benton

October 5, 1951

About noon, October 5, 1951

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

We just finished our Friday cleaning -- Benton helped me by vacuuming and shaking the rugs, -- and now Benton is up on the hill and I have everything already to heat for dinner, so thought perhaps I could sneak in a note to you. Should have done it before, but I get busy doing things and just don't get to writing at all.

Yestrday we got our release from the lawyer to sign for a settlement of $1000. It is a printed release, and one paragraph states that the fact that they are offering a settlement does not mean that they accept any responsibility in any way whatsoever for the accident. I hate to sign it, yet I almost believe it is the thing. The lawyer went over everything with us, and it doesn't look as if we do have too much fighting chance. Even Harold, who had more hopes before than anyone else did, doesn't think there would be much chance. None of us can believe that Florence was all to blame by any means -- perhaps not to blame in any way, -- but we have no witnesses, and the evidence, be it false or true, which the other side has makes it look as if the truck was simply minding his own business on his own side of the white line, and it would be hard to convince a jury of unprejudiced people otherwise. We were going to try to prove negligence because he didn't sound his horn, but can't prove that at the speed we were both traveling he could really have had time both to blow the horn and swerve at the same time. What we rather think is that probably both our car and the truck were just about on the white line, and niether swerved soon enough, but we can't prove that at all. If we took it to court we probably would get nothing out of it and would just have court costs to pay. However, the only way we could get anything was do what we did -- file a claim and let them offer a settlement. Your letter, Daddy, came yesterday -- I mean day before yesterday, -- and I thought maybe we should go through with the suit. However, when we got the release -- a standard printed form, -- and it said that this payment was in no way an admission of any responsibility of any kind whatsoever, I wondered and Benton had thought for a long time that the lawyer might be crooked because he had waited so long, but then he read an article in a recent Reader's Digest about the courts and how they all got far behind because they had a much greater volume of business in the last several years, but no increase in judges to take care of it. Consequently many cases were delayed and justice was not carried through properly. Now Benton seems to think the lawyer is all right. We surely prayed a lot about it -- even just before we went in to see the lawyer. It is a ridiculously low payment, but I really don't think we have the evidence to win in court, because they in no way accept any responsibility in making this payment.

That surely was sweet of Lucile to wash the woodwork for you. It surely needed it, and you just aren't strong enough to do things like that.

We may be going to Benton's mother's any time now. His man [actually, his patient] is still living, but he may have to drop the case and go anyway in the next week or two. His mother isn't too well -- wants to stay in bed all the time, just doesn't seem to have much interest in doing anything else. She has arthritis, and just doesn't have anything to make her interested in doing anything at all. We probably will be going up in another week or two anyway.

We were so happy to hear about Daddy's raise. The Lord surely does take care of us, doesn't He? Now he will be getting about $20 more than doing the janitor work, and I am sure the work is much easier for him and that he will do much more good doing it.

... [I removed a paragraph here because it was more personal talked about a person who may still be alive.]

I have been busy sewing. Benton's night shirt is all done except taking out the bastings and tacking down the facing around the neck. It took me quite a while to match the plaids -- they are on the bias. Then I have almost finished that blue plaid skirt that you cut out for me while I was in training. I am putting on the waist band. It is going to look very nice. I want it to wear to Portland [where my dad's mother and other members of his family lived].

I didn't iron at all last week, so this week it really piled up as we washed again Monday. Tuesday night I got busy and ironed nine pairs of pants in one evening. I found that I could cut about a third off the time doing a pair when I stood up to iron. That gave me a little courage.

Last Sabbath I had a houseful of company. One of the fellows I used to go to school with at A.U.C. has recently moved to town with his family. I knew they weren't very settled, so invited them home to dinner Sabbath. That was five, and then I invited Art Moores home too. He is the one I used to write to -- the medical student. We were just recovering from that -- had lain down about half an hour when the phone rang and who should be on the other end of the line but Inez Gram Scofield [a childhood friend of my mom]! I got so excited that my headache went away and didn't come back all evening. Here she was in Loma Linda. Her husband now has a Master's degree in pharmacy and is working at the White as of two or three weeks ago. They came out and had supper and spent the evening with me, and we had a wonderful time. But you should have seen the dishes. Everyone had wanted to help me do them, but I hadn't felt like doing them then, so wouldn't let them do it. It took me more than an hour to do them that night, but I just took it easy -- it sort of relaxed me a little. It will be swell to have so many of my friends around handy. I had just a wonderful time.

Well, now it is 12:45, so I'd better wind this up and get my husband something to eat. We love you and pray for you. Do take care of yourselves and don't overdo. We don't want anything to happen to you.

Much, much love,

Lois Ruth and Benton

September 27, 1951

September 27, 1951, 10:30 p.m.

Box 673, Loma Linda, California

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

Here it is two days over a week again. Life certainly does seem to move fast for me. Anyway, we've got a lot of work done since last I wrote to you. We have also had two letters from you -- the last one came this morning. But I can't get at them to answer them properly because I am baby sitting and have the Runnals baby asleep on our bed and don't want to waken her. Her folks have gone to the L. A. County fair in Pomona, and I have had her since 4:30 this p.m.

And speaking of baby sitting -- I have been having a wonderful time. She is so cute and so good and happy. She just followed me around. When I was dust mopping in the bedroom, she got the hair brush and tried to dust mop with that -- she was helping me! After supper we went for a walk -- she riding in her little go-cart. She has quite inspired me, but probably I'd better wait awhile.

Last Wednesday and Thursday we canned about 35 quarts of peaches. Benton helped me in the mornings, and Myrtle Oss and Shefrah Rozenstain came over for a while Wednesday evening and helped. We will surely enjoy them during this coming winter.

Sabbath afternoon I walked all the way over to Mary's house and then went to some pictures with them. Mary brought me home. It was quite a walk. They live over on Prospect street, the other side of Anderson street -- that is, farther east than the San -- almost directly east from here. I felt quite proud of my accomplishment.

Sabbath we also got a letter from our lawyer [regarding The Accident] saying that the adjustor had offered a very small settlement and that we should get together and come to see him about it. Sunday morning we went over to Keyes' [Mrs. Keyes was the other woman injured but not killed in The Accident] for dinner to talk over what to do. Then we had an appointment with the lawyer Wednesday morning. He went over everything with us. He doesn't believe all the testimony either, but doesn't think we have too good a chance of proving what we think. He says those truck drivers always are going only 35 mph when they get into court, though he says he has usually had to go 70 or 80 to pass them. He said we really didn't have a fighting chance, though he would be willing to fight if we wanted to take the gamble. However, if we lost, we would be out about $75 a day for he court costs and get nothing from it. The adjustor had offered the absurdly small amount of $750. He thought he might talk I'm into getting it up to $1000, but I don't know. We are about to say that we'll take it, for even though it is a pittance, it is better than nothing at all. The lawyer was pretty nice about it -- said he wouldn't take his whole third since it was such a small amount. If we get $1000, he will take $200; and if we get $750, he will take $150. It seems as if we could wisely handle more money that that, but probably the Lord knows best. We have certainly prayed a lot about it, and are continuing to pray. The Lord can work miracles if it is His will that we should get more out of it. Probably the sum would be divided four ways. I don't know just how thin I should try to spread my part -- thought maybe I would just give it all to Dr. Pohle, as he is really out more actual money than any of the others who just donated services.

Monday we went to town in the morning -- were shopping around for two hours. I was getting a little tired before we finished, but not too bad -- came home and got dinner afterward. I am really gaining in strength.

Sunday and Monday evenings I spent helping Miss Nephew [a schoolteacher who lived across the street from us and who was later MY 4th grade teacher!] correct some of her workbooks. The poor girl was swamped because she was trying to keep up her regular work while trying to plan a program for the last of October. It seemed like old time to be checking spelling and kinds of sentences again, but I also find myself not yearning for any of these "good old days."

Tuesday morning we washed. I intended to iron that evening, but somehow lost some of my drive and just did puttery things instead -- still have the ironing to do, but it will get done sometime -- it always does somehow.

Last evening I sorted my junk that we brought from Phoenix this last time. Benton hasn't had time to refinish the book case and set it up, so we can't unpack the books yet. Poor man -- he has been too busy helping me can. Bless his heart, he surely is a wonderful husband -- seems nicer all the time.

This morning we just stayed home, and I actually got my husband a nice dinner. Usually we gad so much in the morning that I just have time to warm something up in a hurry. It has also been too hot to bake until the last few days. Today we had baked potato, baked squash (I tried baking that volunteer squash -- one of them that had gotten pretty old), and cauliflower warmed up by baking it in a cream sauce, or sort of scalloping it. For dessert we had peach cobbler. It tasted pretty good, but I thought it was a little bit too juicy.

Tuesday morning, I mean afternoon, Mrs. Hubbs [many, many years later, after this Mrs. Hubbs died and my Dad died, my Mom married her widower, Romeo, and thus herself became the new Mrs. Hubbs!] came over to see me. Professor [Romeo Hubbs] was at a meeting in Glendale. He came Wednesday morning while we were at the lawyer's. I had told Mrs. Hubbs that we had an appointment at 9:00 the next morning after she was here, but he came at 9:03, his note said. I was so sorry not to see him. But I did enjoy a nice visit with Mrs. Hubbs.

Fri. morning.

Hello Mother & Dad. Glad you are feeling well & improving mother.

We are going to the Fair this morning at Pomona [the Los Angeles County Fair].

Love to all,

Lois & Benton

September 18, 1951

September 18, 1951

9:45 p.m.

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

My how time does fly! Here it has been two days more than a week since I have written and I am very much ashamed of myself. Wednesday night I was going to be sure to write, but got so busy cutting out nightgowns for Benton and me that I just didn't finish until 11, so went to bed. Then last night I ironed until the last minute. Tonight I am supposed to be canning peaches, but just must get a letter off before you think something terrible has happened to me.

Now to back up. Monday morning a week ago we washed and in the evening Cecelia came. She stayed until Thursday noon, so I had quite a time getting my ironing done because we talked so much. We lay awake that night and talked till about two, then of course we weren't up at the usual time in the morning. but it didn't seem to hurt us in the end. It was surely nice to have her here.

Tuesday morning a week ago we went to Calimesa where we had got our peaches on the way home from Phoenix and got another lug of culls -- Rio Oso Gems this time. They were only 75 cents a lug, but weren't so good as the Hales we had bought before. We wanted them just for eating while Cecelia was here.

Wednesday morning we went over to the base to see Omar, and he showed us around. And while we were in the PX, guess what Benton got me for my birthday -- a lovely pair of Wiss pinking shears! I was so thrilled. That's why I had to get to sewing as fast as possible. I will really have to learn to sew now. He is so sweet to me.

Thursday morning we visited and then took Cecelia to the bus in San Bernardino at 11:30. After she left we shopped around and found a pair of white shoes for Benton that he has been needing for some time.

Thursday evening Shefrah Rosenstein came over. She brought some skallops for supper, helped me get supper, and ate with us. Then in the evening we talked and played duets on the piano. It was fun, but I didn't get my work done.

Friday Benton vacuumed the whole house, and I cooked for Sabbath. I had a pie shell from the week before so tried a new kind of peach pie -- cut up fresh peaches in the shell crushed a few and added sugar and tapioca, and  then poured that over the peaches. Of course it would have helped if I had known how much sugar and how much tapioca to use, but it wan't too bad anyway -- didn't have quite enough sugar. Oh yes, I also made myself a happy birthday cake [September 14, 1951, was her 34th birthday] -- Swan's Down Devil's food with a powdered sugar and butter icing. It tasted pretty good. We cut it Friday at dinner time. I skipped the candles because I was in too much of a hurry.

Late Sabbath afternoon Bob and Irene McEachren, he a senior medic, -- they used to live in our upstairs apartment, and I use to teach them at CJC when they first started going together -- came from LA with their two charming little girls. I invited them for supper. They left about 9 o'clock, and then I ironed pants.

I found a very nice roast patty recipe in Stirring Passages -- you have a copy in the book case. It is carrot and rice cutlets. I made it first for Omar, but Benton liked it so well that I made it again this weekend. It is very easy, you might like it too.

Sunday morning I started to cut out our night shirts. Benton and Omar both helped me get the materials in line, etc. Then I used my new pinking shears for the first time. In the evening, by myself, I cut out my night gown, but that is as far as it is.

Monday morning we washed, and then last evening I ironed. I don't get started with my evening work so early these days because I go for a walk every evening. I try to get it in just before dark, but don't always make it. I usually get supper, clear the table and stack the dishes, then go for my walk. I rest when I get back, do the dishes, and then start my work. By then it is usually about eight o'clock or after. I'm getting so that I can go quite a ways. Tonight I went to the little store on the corner then on up the main street to the end of the sidewalk on this side -- where the orange grove begins [for those of you who know Loma Linda today, that's where the houses end and the parking lot/structure is on University Ave.]. Then I came back and went a block the other side of our street and came up that and home again. I'm getting pretty frisky these days.

This morning we went to Banning to get some peaches. We saw a sign up for Hales. The man said they were too small for the packers to take, but that we could have them for 50 cents a lug if we would wait while he picked them off the trees. We went and helped him pick them ourselves. We got four lugs for us, one for Miss Lucas across the street, and one for Mrs. Roberts. I'm still scratching from the peach fuzz, but it was fun. Of course I didn't climb any ladders or anything -- just picked the ones that were within my reach from the ground. They are small, but firm and fresh and sweet. Tonight I have been getting out our fruit jars and checking what rubbers and tops, etc. we need. I was going to get some canned, but I did want to be sure to get this letter off. Benton is going to help me tomorrow morning.

Thanks so much for sending our knife back. We were just going to buy another one, though I knew you didn't need it. It was stupid of me to leave it. It came the same day your letter did, which was last Tuesday, I think. Right now I don't know what I did with it, so if you asked me something I should be answering, just ask again.

Thanks also for the lovely birthday card. I don't mind birthdays anymore since I have a right to be getting old and settled. I'm getting restless to become a grandmother, but Benton doesn't seem anxious to be a grandfather - says it would make him feel old [neither of them actually did have grandchildren until nearly 7 years after my dad died, so he never DID get old!].

Yesterday we got a lovely wedding gift from the J. F. Bohners -- two beautiful dresser scarves. It surely was nice of them to remember us that way. I must get a thank you note off to them right away too.

When I finish this letter, I'll go wash my jars. I think perhaps I'll try canning a few jars cold pack just to see what they are like that way. It really would be a lot easier.

Benton is still on with his lung cancer patient -- don't know how long he will last. He is at home now, but still has the three nurses on. Now they are talking about giving him some kind of high voltage x-ray treatment. Probably all it will do at best is prolong his agony, though I guess he doesn't suffer too much -- doesn't know what's going on most of the time.

Well, I haven't had any cramps since I started taking calcium, so I guess my husband is a pretty good doctor to have prescribed it. It comes in wafer form, so he eats one every morning too -- they taste good.

Do take good care of yourselves. You are very, very important to us. Be careful not to work too hard.

Heaps and oodles of love,

Lois Ruth and Benton