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