January 24, 1969
January, 24 1969
Time 9:23 P.M.
Hi Larry,
How are you? I’m not sure how you are this time because you haven’t been writing to us. At the Polish Club, we went because they had chili and hot dogs. Bratski is sitting here watching me, if you know who Bratski is. Schmulick and Karl are on the floor listening to the Elkhart vs. Anderson game. Schmulick wants me and Bratski to yell. Karl had basketball practice tonight. Their next game is with St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s hasn’t lost any games yet. I can’t wait to see that game. I have a feeling we’re going to be the first team to beat St. Mary’s during their basketball season.
December 14, 1968
Saturday
Dec. 14, 1968
10:25 A.M.
Dear Larry,
How are you? I haven’t written to you in such a long time and I thought I’d better get to it before you send me a spanking. (HA HA) I can write you more than I usually do because I haven’t written to you in a long time and because there’s more to tell you since 2 birthdays have already passed. I haven’t written you in about 2 months. Guess what? I’m a freshman, in my first year of high school, because I got a 93 on my 50 word spelling test. That means I’m just a 9th grade speller. I’m really only in fifth grade. Hey Larry, I can do a flip. Mommy would have burned your cake but I reminded her to take it out of the oven. Oh yea, today’s your birthday. It probably was yesterday for you. Did you go to a beer joint since you’re 21? I just got through reading your letters you wrote to me July 29, 1968 and August 20, 1968. Them were the only two letters you wrote me and that was a long time ago. We didn’t get our tree but Orlicks already did.
August 29, 1968
August 29, 1968
Time – 8:30 AM Thurs.
Dear Larry:
We have WHUT on and he said that it is 58° degrees outside. It is ideal sleeping weather. Everyone is still asleep but Tresa and me. We are both sitting here in the kitchen writing to you. I didn’t get a chance to write yesterday because I was busy all day washing all my windows. I thought that I had better do it while I still have some help around the house because next week the kids will be going back to school.
When Dad got home from work he brought with him a big tub like the ones you kids used to fill up with water and take baths in outside when you were little. [an example of these tubs is pictured below] He also bought some onions and cabbage with the mangos and hot green peppers in the garden, we all got to work last night and cut them up in the tub. It’s been down in the basement all night, so tonight we will put them in jars. So when you get home next year you will have some green relish to eat with your sandwiches.
April 28, 1968
Anderson, Ind.
April 28, 1968
Hi Larry,
How are you getting along at Fort Sill? Well, Uncle Deda got out of the hospital Saturday. Today, Dad, Mom, Karl, me, Carol, and Carol R—– went to see the new part of the hospital. Carol stayed all night down Carol R—–. When we were on the tour, Carol and Carol R—– kept going out of line to look inside doors. Then they went inside a telephone booth and I went with them. Then we got lost. We lost our group. We kept looking for it until we found a group. It was the wrong group. When we were exploring the hospital, we saw about five different groups. None of them were our group. We went upstairs to the second floor. We were really lost. Finally, we got to the [lobby]. But, before we got to the [lobby], we were down [in] the basement of the hospital. Then we waited in the [lobby] until we found our group that had come back. Did you know that Danny H—– died in a [wreck]? He died 5 minutes after Joanna saw him. He hit a semi truck. We went to see his car. It was the black Chevy. It had about 3 or 4 inches between the [steering] wheel and the seat. The backseat was over the front. His blood looked like jelly. We went to see him and his arms and legs were broken. His head was mashed. He had a lot of make-up on. It didn’t look like him. The only thing that looked like him was his hair. Joanna and Mommy will tell you more about it. Well, I have to go now. You’ll find more about it when Mom and Joanna write to you.
Your sister,
Ellie
April 28,1968
Sunday Evening
Dear Larry:
March 29, 1968
Anderson, Indiana
March 29, 1968
Hi Larry,
How are you getting along? Today, Friday the 29th, Joanna and I went up town. Joanna bought some clothes, and altogether it costs about $80.00. We went to B&K Root Beer, then we came home. Joanna was going to fix some popcorn but Daddy already had some made. We watched the Harlem Globetrotters, or something like that, at 8:00 o’clock. Now we are watching Operation Entertainment. Now that I can’t think of much more to say, I might as well get to the end of the letter.
The most important thing that happened today was that Mr. Love found Chipper [the family dog] laying in some bushes in Brown’s yard. Daddy said that Chipper had something caught in his throat and he started coughing. He coughed himself until he died. Daddy buried him in the alley.
Your sister,
Ellie Maes [Tresa]
February 24-25, 1968
Saturday
February 24, 1968
8:05 P.M.
Hi Larry,
Now I am at bingo helping mommy. She didn’t win yet. Anderson isn’t playing in the sectional anymore because Highland beat them.
This afternoon Carol, Barbra, Karl, Daddy, and George W—– went to the games. Markleville played Madison, but Madison won. Highland played Alexandria, and it was a close game. They had 2 overtimes. Highland won with the score of 71 and Alexandria 69. Tonight Carol, Barbra, Daddy, Karl and Cooney S—– went to Madison playing Highland. I’m for Highland. Continued »
February 10, 1968
Saturday
February 10, 1968
1:00 p.m.
Hi Larry,
How is everything? I didn’t write to you in about 2 weeks, so I thought I would take time out and write to you. Friday we got our pictures taken in school. I wasn’t wearing my glasses because Anna Maria Case said it hurts your eyes. She didn’t wear hers. I will send you a picture of me when I get them. That same day, I was walking in school because it was snowing outside and we were playing [inside]. I saw Carol walking to lunch, and she talked to me and asked me how I smiled. I showed her. Friday in school, Mr. Strittmatter said we would have a Valentine’s party. He said to get a Valentine’s card. Teena P—– is going to make a box for the girls to put their cards in, and James P—– is going to make a box for the boys to put their cards in. Then we will pick and see which card we will get. Mommy is going to make some cupcakes. We will have the party next Wednesday. Carol isn’t going to get braces.
HAPPY Valentines Day!
Your sister,
Ellie Maes
January 28, 1968
Sunday
January 28, 1968
6:30 P.M.
Dear Larry:
Just got through with my washing. I hate to do it on Sunday but it was so dreary outside that I felt like doing it since there is not much else to do. It sure made me feel a little better to hear your voice on the phone, the only thing I hated was to say good-bye.
Dad isn’t home from the [Polish] Club yet, boy, when he goes to those meetings he forgets to come home. I know that he will be glad to hear that you are getting savings bonds every pay. I forgot to ask you on the phone, but did you get paid yet? I’ll bet you don’t go anywhere so you don’t have to spend any money. I think its a good idea to save some of it.
January 24, 1968
Wednesday
January 24, 1968
6 P.M.
Dear Larry:
Even though I don’t get any mail from you, here I am again. I can’t understand why it is so hard for you to write us a letter. You know that we want to hear from you and how you are getting along. I don’t mind you calling home in a while, but we still like to get letters, so get on the ball or I am going to quit writing to you.
McHale’s Navy is on T.V. right now. Dad just left to work at the Club. He finally got a new battery today for the Chevy, it cost him $24.83. Joanna will probably drive it to work tomorrow.
