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.
September 25, 1968
Wednesday, September 25, 1968
1:45 P.M.
Dear Larry:
How are you? Ok, I hope. Here, everyone is mean as ever.
The mailman just went by and Tresa and Karl got your letters. They will be happy when they get home from school. I wouldn’t dare open [their] mail or they would get after me, so I will have to wait till they get home from school. Joanna wondered why you hadn’t written to her. She went to work at 7 this morning till 10:30, so now she is asleep and has to get up because she has to go back to work at 4 and work till 8 this evening. Her and I went to Mounds Mall and had dinner at MCL Cafeteria. We do that once in a while to get away. While there, we ran into Sara S—–, so she ate with us, and she was telling us that Mike D—– got married. Joanna said that she already knew it, but I was surprised. Joanna will write you more about it when she writes to you.
September 17, 1968
Sept. 17, 1968
7:45 A.M.
Dear Larry:
The kids just left for school so I thought I would drop you a few lines instead of going back to bed like I usually do.
It is cloudy and windy outside today and some of the leaves are beginning to fall off the trees. Sure looks like fall weather here and before you know it, we will be having snow.
Dad went to work this morning after a week of vacation. He didn’t do much while he was off, only messed around out in the garden and he finally did plant some new shrubbery in front of the girls’ bedroom. He also planted a couple on each side of the sidewalk by the street. I will have dad take a picture of it and send it to you.
August 12, 1968
August 12, 1968
Monday 9PM
Dear Larry:
Received your letter dated the 9th of August, so it only took it 3 days to get here.
Tresa, Karl and I are the only ones at home. Dad is working at the Club. Joanna is working a split shift so she is getting off work at 10 this evening. Carol went out riding with some of her girlfriends and is supposed to be home around 10 o’clock.
The weather sure is cool in Anderson. The hot spell finally left us Saturday but I don’t know for how long. Just think, before long the kids will be going back to school and winter will be here.
July 18, 1968
July 18, 1968
Thursday 8 A.M.
Dear Larry:
Thought I would drop you a few lines while I am sipping some tea. Joanna just left for work, and the rest of the family are still asleep. Today is Dad’s day off, he worked at the club last night and got home about 5 this morning. And you know Dad, instead of going to bed he sits out on the back porch with a can of beer and watches Schmulick take off after the birds. He finally fell asleep out there and didn’t get in the house till 7:30 about the time that Joanna was leaving for work.
June 23, 1968
Sunday, June 23, 1968
9 A.M.
Dear Larry:
Here it is Sunday morning and Tresa and I are sitting here eating boiled eggs for breakfast while the rest of the family is still sleeping. Karl had to serve the 6 o’clock mass this morning, so he went on his bike because no one wanted to get up that early. The rest of us are going to the 11:30 mass.
How about you? What are you doing? About now, you are probably in bed sleeping, because there is a 13 hours difference and it is Sunday night instead of our Sunday morning.
Schmulick was meowing to come out of the basement, so Tresa let him out and he is wanting to go out. Well, there is not much [that has] happened since I last wrote to you. Friday night I went to bingo as usual but didn’t do much, only a couple of dollars. Last night I didn’t hit a thing. I got $20 for the 2 nights and that was for helping Vickie in the kitchen, because Helen and Vic are vacationing in Canada and Wisconsin on a fishing trip. Vickie is getting kind of excited because Bill is supposed to come home around the 12th of July for 2 weeks, and she said she wasn’t sure where he was going after that.
May 1, 1968
May 1, 1968
8:30 P.M.
Dear Larry:
Well, here it is, the first day of May. I just got back from the May [procession] at church. Tresa and Karl were in it, so I had to go. Remember when you and Joanna used to be in them and I used to go see you guys?
It sure was a beautiful day today. In fact, it has been nice all week. Carol and Joanna have been laying out in the sun and they are sure dark. Joanna is still out on strike and she said that they may go back to work Monday. I sure hope so, because she has been doing nothing but running around. Ever since Danny got killed she acts like she is lost.
April 8, 1968
April 8, 1968
Monday 8 P.M.
Dear Larry:
Received your letter Friday, but didn’t have time to write to you over the weekend.
Saturday, Jannie H—– got married and they had their reception at the Polish Club, so Mrs. H—– asked me to help out, so I was as the club most of the day, and then in the evening as usual I went to bingo. Sunday, was Palm Sunday so we went to the 11:30 mass. Karl had to serve mass and Dad had to usher, so we got home around 1 o’clock, so I hurried and fixed breakfast and then went to the meeting at the Club. The we had to go to church again for a Bible Vigil. The kids had their religion fair and guess what, Tresa and Karl both won second place in their grades. And here I did’t think they would get anywhere.
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.
Photo – Schmulick and the Garbage Can
Schmulick, the family cat, guarding the garbage can.
Useless Trivia: Amelia still keeps her garbage can in this exact spot to this day. On the shelf in the top left is a can of Chase and Sanborn Coffee.
