August 20, 1951

Monday p.m., 3:30

August 20, 1951

Dearest Mother and Daddy,

How time does fly! I was going to answer your other letter right away, but now I've let two come since last I wrote. It is only a day over a week, but I wasn't going to wait that long. The last letter I wrote and the next to the last one you wrote must have crossed in the mail. Then we also have one from you written the 16th. That I think came Friday, which is pretty good time. The x-rays came the day before. Thanks a lot. We are going to take them up to Dr. Simpson this p.m. and see what she has to say about them. You also sent the ones of my back and neck, which is all right too.

You will surely be busy getting the kids' things off. I hope that it won't be too much for you.

We had quite a few peaches from our second tree -- bigger and better than the first. This a.m. I canned a couple of quarts and ate about one quart or less.

Are Pauline and Henry still there? I surely would love to see them -- am so glad that they are happy. That was surely sweet of them to give you a lovely nightie. What kind was it?

Yesterday we saw Mrs. Hankins in the store, and the she told us she had seen you in church the day before. It was good to know that you had been able to go. Did the cooler freeze you out?

That was nice of Laura to write you that little note. I owe her a letter -- as I do many other people. I'm toying with the idea of mimeographing the major news and taking care of things in a more or less wholesale manner as I did before. That is at least a lot faster.

I thought Pauline and Henry had already sold the store. What will they do about school starting back in Washington? It would be awful if Pauline had to go and Henry stay on in Phoenix. That just wouldn't work. My, but that would be terrible!

I'm glad Daddy is still happy with his work and that you are happy with your kettle. The smaller one would have been just too small.

I was going to write to Retha [her brother Paul's wife] what I thought the kids should take, but didn't get around to it. Lawrence should probably take either Old or New Testament -- probably the former, -- English I, and since he can't get his vocational by correspondence, probably either algebra, biology, or world history. I should say at least two of the last three, and it wouldn't hurt if he took all three of them. Then he would have time to take something extra when he got back here, such as typing or more musical groups -- things that he couldn't get so well by correspondence. Of course he could get typing that way, but it wouldn't be very much fun. However, it would probably cost less, and Retha could provide very able demonstrations. On second thought, that might be a very good idea.

Norma would take Denominational History and Youth's problems, English III, geometry, and should have Spanish I, though it would be hard to get the pronunciation to start with unless someone around there could help her the first lesson or two. However, she should really have it so as to be ready to have Spanish II when she is a senior. I don't know the new principal there, but would be quicker to take Lucile's advice if she were handy anyway.

Last Tuesday I washed and in the evening did most of my ironing. Wednesday evening I went gadding with the girls to Yucaipa.

Sabbath morning Benton was working, so I went to church with Donna. I thought it was very nice of her to take me. I felt quite smart because I walked up the front steps without hanging onto anything or anyone. Of course, they are very short steps, and I couldn't go down them without something or someone to hand on to -- not easily anyway, though I could get down if I had to. My legs are getting stronger, but now I am going to start working more on the bending. Today I swung my pail in the morning, then at noontime squatted ten times instead. That really makes the joints know something is going on.

Friday I did most of the cleaning myself -- all but our bedroom. For dessert I made a graham cracker pie crust and a butterscotch filling from two packages of prepared pudding mix. It tasted very good, if we do say so ourselves.

Who should come in to see us Sabbath afternoon but the Henry Bruners. It was so nice to see them. She and I compared our exercising notes, as per usual, and had a wonderful time. She has gained a lot, and really looks well. She said that Dr. Peterson here thought that she had progressed faster than he had ever thought that she would. Of course, we both have years ahead of us before things will be back to normal again, but it is encouraging when other people can see progress.

Yesterday I finished unpacking my books. What a mess! I still have the trunk to finish, but that won't be so bad. I've also started reorganizing our drawers and getting things straight there. The other night I darned socks while I baby sat.

Last night Benton and I took care of the Hastings baby while her daddy gave a Bible study somewhere. She surely is cute, but she really inspires me. But I guess I better wait until I can get around better and stand loss of sleep better before attempting such a full-time sitter's job as having one of my own would be. Probably I wouldn't have one so cute anyway. I'm sure it wouldn't be so petite [Oh, well, uh, hmmm....].

Benton is feeling better now than he has felt for quite a while. I hope that I can take good care of him and keep him feeling that way.

Do take good care of yourselves. Just don't worry if you can't get all of your work done. Things will work out someway -- they always do, if we can just be patient.

Oodles of love,

Lois Ruth and Benton