February 6, 2009
February 5, 2009
The Nana Letters - January 29, 2009
Before I add this letter I have to admit how impressed I am by our Postal Service that I ever received it in the first place. Nana has obviously run out of the pre-stamped, self-addressed envelopes that I sent her last year. The envelope looks like it was gift wrapped in about 46 1 cent stamps and was almost completely sealed except for the area where she put my address. My address has NO zip code and a City named Montorvical - instead of Monrovia. My husband laughed when he saw and said it was time to resend nana some envelopes - sounds like she's had to much frosting in her morning frosted flakes. LOL Gotta love her! So the next letter which just arrived starts with me asking questions and her providing answers. I've started working on our geneology and want to get more of the storys behind our family lines. - KA
Q. I heard you used blue chip stamps to go to the world's fair with your sister. Can you tell me more about this adventure?
A. Yes, it was great. Gladys' husband only wanted one thing! To be left to play in his garden! Gladys was wonderful! We had saved up enough of our blue chip stamps to pay for the whole trip. We felt so strong and independent going off on our own. One of the greatest times I remember. We lived in an old house and only fruit we had was apricots and a few peaches that mother had canned. Gladys bought us some oranges. What a treat!
Q. Tell me about one of the sweetest moments of your life that you never want to forget
A. The day Jack and I went to Los Vegas and I won $100 and thought it was the most wonderful day! As we grew up on the farm, even a dime was a treasure. Mother and Dad eventually moved to town and went on welfare. They were so sonservative and always seem to have plenty. I think it was so embarrasing to Dad and he soon died.
Q. Tell me a little about Bob Cooper. I know he was your second husband after your first marriage to Donald Mosier quickly annulled. I don't feel like I knew him well because he died when I was young. Jack will always be my grandfather in my mind and heart.
A. Bob was stern! His name was actually John Thomas (after an uncle). He said he wwas in 7 different countries in World War 1. He is buried in the veterans cemetary in San Bruno, Ca. After he died, Bonnie, your mother, told me I couldn't just moyse around all the day, I had to do something. So I went back to college in my 70's. I think I was the oldest lady in those classes. That's when I met Jack and he thought I should learn to square dance and he'd be my partner. It took a long time to remember the calls so I was slow and ever square dance he'd say, "You've got to remember! You can do this!" Jack was such a good dancer; I was so afraid I'd loose him untilhe said "Let's go to Vegas!" He had a practically new car so we went and he surprised me by getting a marriage liscense and we got married. He had his own barber shop. Eventually he let the lease give out and he went to work near Sunnyside for Lucille's husband, Ralph, who had a barber shop. Shortly after we were married a doctor told him he had cancer in his stomach. The Dr. said Jack probably wouldn't live til the end of the year. We heard of someone who got better after he took Laetrill, a drug bought in mexico for treating cancer and tumors. So we drove to Mexico and got $400 worth of latrill(came from Germany) First he had to have shots and since we couldn't stay in Mexio, they taught me and I gave him a shot 3 x's daily in his vein. I was scared beyound reason, but I did it. After about 8 or 10 days he only had to take pills. He was so much better, and did well for years, but eventually, he said his legs just wouldn't hold him up anymore. We were both getting small amounts of social security be he eventually ran out of pills and he just quit. It was a big worry to go to Mexico. Always afraind at the border. We always hid the medicine in our clothes when coming home. He lived to 81 years and at that time, it was a good age, 20 years longer than the other doctor had predicted.
Q. I know you think of Jack often. What is the one thing you would want to do with Jack if you could be presented to him once again?
A. Just let him hold me
Q. You know, watching the two of you get dressed up to go dancing was always fun for me. You both looked so stunning in your square dance outfits. I remember that Kathy and I even got to go with you to a Square Dance. I loved watching Jack gently lead and guid you through each step. He seemed so gentle and looked at you so very lovingly. There was a sense of security that I found within your home, your arms, and your love.
Jack always had a way of making us feel special; taking us out to the shooting range to teach us how to load, hold, and fire a gun. After we would finish shooting, he would have us go around the range gathering up the gun shells, then, when we got back to the house he would show us how to repack the bullets. Jack bought me my first car, and then he showed me how to change the oil and how to put batteries cables that came disconnected back on again. I didn't get it then, but as a parent it makes sense. He wanted to make sure I would know what to do if a boy tried to trick me into a make-session because the car wouldn't start.
Did you know that whenever we would go into Jack's barber shop to see him, he would grin, smack us with a rolled up newspaper and then give us a can of toffee peanuts sold by the YMCA. Inside the can, he would hide a silver dollar or another rare coin. The peanuts were great, but the surprise was even better. What a sweet treat! You and Jack were always there for us to demonstrate love, charity, service, and compassion on a daily basis to those in need. Thank you for that.
A. I didnt know he did the thing with the peanuts. He loved you girls like his own. I miss him so.
Q. Are you still trying to sneak out of the board and care house to get your own place. You know, I think you might be better off just staying were you are. At least you won't have to worry about social services harrassing you.
A. I live in a board and care home. Have a room by myself and they make all the meals. I want to get my own apt again, but the 3 inches of snow is discouraging. The buses are running again. I'll write if I move. Now I'm 96 and expected to go over 100. Fern, my sister, was 14 days over 100. She just lost all ambition or desire. Her son took care of her. Roberta took me to her funeral. Roberta is so good to me. She works but somehow managers to see me about 1/week.
Well, thanks for your paper. I had leonard's old typewriter and I used it for important paper, but Roberta came down and cleaned out my place when I fell and she took me to her house for awhile. So I just plain lost a lot of stuff. Another, Oh Well!!! I watch these dog sleds in Alaska on TV and they are wonderful. You have to pay extra to get CNN up here. When we paid our rent here last month, we had to pay $10 extra for TV. Another oh well!!! So live goes on!! Thanksf ort he letter - so great of you! Tell all the family hello and I love them too.
Q. I heard you used blue chip stamps to go to the world's fair with your sister. Can you tell me more about this adventure?
A. Yes, it was great. Gladys' husband only wanted one thing! To be left to play in his garden! Gladys was wonderful! We had saved up enough of our blue chip stamps to pay for the whole trip. We felt so strong and independent going off on our own. One of the greatest times I remember. We lived in an old house and only fruit we had was apricots and a few peaches that mother had canned. Gladys bought us some oranges. What a treat!
Q. Tell me about one of the sweetest moments of your life that you never want to forget
A. The day Jack and I went to Los Vegas and I won $100 and thought it was the most wonderful day! As we grew up on the farm, even a dime was a treasure. Mother and Dad eventually moved to town and went on welfare. They were so sonservative and always seem to have plenty. I think it was so embarrasing to Dad and he soon died.
Q. Tell me a little about Bob Cooper. I know he was your second husband after your first marriage to Donald Mosier quickly annulled. I don't feel like I knew him well because he died when I was young. Jack will always be my grandfather in my mind and heart.
A. Bob was stern! His name was actually John Thomas (after an uncle). He said he wwas in 7 different countries in World War 1. He is buried in the veterans cemetary in San Bruno, Ca. After he died, Bonnie, your mother, told me I couldn't just moyse around all the day, I had to do something. So I went back to college in my 70's. I think I was the oldest lady in those classes. That's when I met Jack and he thought I should learn to square dance and he'd be my partner. It took a long time to remember the calls so I was slow and ever square dance he'd say, "You've got to remember! You can do this!" Jack was such a good dancer; I was so afraid I'd loose him untilhe said "Let's go to Vegas!" He had a practically new car so we went and he surprised me by getting a marriage liscense and we got married. He had his own barber shop. Eventually he let the lease give out and he went to work near Sunnyside for Lucille's husband, Ralph, who had a barber shop. Shortly after we were married a doctor told him he had cancer in his stomach. The Dr. said Jack probably wouldn't live til the end of the year. We heard of someone who got better after he took Laetrill, a drug bought in mexico for treating cancer and tumors. So we drove to Mexico and got $400 worth of latrill(came from Germany) First he had to have shots and since we couldn't stay in Mexio, they taught me and I gave him a shot 3 x's daily in his vein. I was scared beyound reason, but I did it. After about 8 or 10 days he only had to take pills. He was so much better, and did well for years, but eventually, he said his legs just wouldn't hold him up anymore. We were both getting small amounts of social security be he eventually ran out of pills and he just quit. It was a big worry to go to Mexico. Always afraind at the border. We always hid the medicine in our clothes when coming home. He lived to 81 years and at that time, it was a good age, 20 years longer than the other doctor had predicted.
Q. I know you think of Jack often. What is the one thing you would want to do with Jack if you could be presented to him once again?
A. Just let him hold me
Q. You know, watching the two of you get dressed up to go dancing was always fun for me. You both looked so stunning in your square dance outfits. I remember that Kathy and I even got to go with you to a Square Dance. I loved watching Jack gently lead and guid you through each step. He seemed so gentle and looked at you so very lovingly. There was a sense of security that I found within your home, your arms, and your love.
Jack always had a way of making us feel special; taking us out to the shooting range to teach us how to load, hold, and fire a gun. After we would finish shooting, he would have us go around the range gathering up the gun shells, then, when we got back to the house he would show us how to repack the bullets. Jack bought me my first car, and then he showed me how to change the oil and how to put batteries cables that came disconnected back on again. I didn't get it then, but as a parent it makes sense. He wanted to make sure I would know what to do if a boy tried to trick me into a make-session because the car wouldn't start.
Did you know that whenever we would go into Jack's barber shop to see him, he would grin, smack us with a rolled up newspaper and then give us a can of toffee peanuts sold by the YMCA. Inside the can, he would hide a silver dollar or another rare coin. The peanuts were great, but the surprise was even better. What a sweet treat! You and Jack were always there for us to demonstrate love, charity, service, and compassion on a daily basis to those in need. Thank you for that.
A. I didnt know he did the thing with the peanuts. He loved you girls like his own. I miss him so.
Q. Are you still trying to sneak out of the board and care house to get your own place. You know, I think you might be better off just staying were you are. At least you won't have to worry about social services harrassing you.
A. I live in a board and care home. Have a room by myself and they make all the meals. I want to get my own apt again, but the 3 inches of snow is discouraging. The buses are running again. I'll write if I move. Now I'm 96 and expected to go over 100. Fern, my sister, was 14 days over 100. She just lost all ambition or desire. Her son took care of her. Roberta took me to her funeral. Roberta is so good to me. She works but somehow managers to see me about 1/week.
Well, thanks for your paper. I had leonard's old typewriter and I used it for important paper, but Roberta came down and cleaned out my place when I fell and she took me to her house for awhile. So I just plain lost a lot of stuff. Another, Oh Well!!! I watch these dog sleds in Alaska on TV and they are wonderful. You have to pay extra to get CNN up here. When we paid our rent here last month, we had to pay $10 extra for TV. Another oh well!!! So live goes on!! Thanksf ort he letter - so great of you! Tell all the family hello and I love them too.
Lovingly,
Nana
Nana
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