Wednesday, February 26, 1986

Just a brief note to tell you how pleasantly surprised we were when we turned the page Tues, the 25th & saw the announcement of your engagement.  It's a lovely picture.  Yesterday was the senior group at church & many favorable comments came our way.  And I'm sure we'll hear more tonite at Lenten Midweek.  At the mtg. Tues the Nazarene pastor spoke of his travels to U.S.S.R.  So very interesting - we prefer a speaker to slides.

Last Sun. we had company for dinner - Mel, Levina & Loren Bohman.  We had a nice time visiting.  This Sat nite company again as Dad doesn't preach the 1st Sun.  Alice & Jim Greenlund, Myrt & Jer Wallin & Joyce O'Connor.  We'll eat early so we can play games.  We have fun.

Back to Loren - he is an '80 grad of Augustana & his grandfather was a pastor.  He spent 6 weeks in Sweden & goes to Jamestown to be with the Swedish folk dancing group.  (I'll get it after awhile.)  [Some crossouts in this paragraph.]


Lar was sick last week - sore throat, ache, & it went into his chest.  When he called on Sat. he sounded terrible.  I sent a meal over with Kim.  He is better now.  Kim had the flu but a different kind & Dale's was still different.  Dad & I (knock on wood) haven't been sick & hope we stay healthy.  Lent is too busy a time to get sick.

Have to go grocery shopping & this is just a note.

How's the apt. or house hunting?

Sunday, February 16, 1986

We just got back (3:30 p.m.) from the Valley & the annual mtg. which got a little "warm" this year.  The L.C.W. [Lutheran Church Woman] put $5,000,00 into a Historical Fund for church upkeep & according to the constitution that isn't legal as any decision & money spent on the church bldg. must be authorized by the Council so finally it was changed so all is legal.  The L.C.W. is run by e ladies & they don't want anyone else to have a say, but when that amt. of money is in question it must be run, so to speak, by the congregation.  Even the Church Council can spend only 500.00 without the congregation's OK.  Dad even threatened to resign if they wouldn't do things legally. It's in the past.  Dad may seem easy going, but if it's not according to Hoyle, he'll work to make it so.

I'm enclosing the measurements.

The flowers are beautiful - thanks so much.

Dale finally has his car running so he doesn't have to depend upon others for rides.  It's a nice little car & he says it rides good - esp. when he let some air out of the tires.  Over 40 lbs. in each tire before.

We're all getting anxious for spring & warmer weather & no snow.  It snowed again this A.M.  Suppose to warm up.

Lent has started & now there are Wed. midweek services & Thurs. noon services at 1st Meth. followed by a soup & pie luncheon.  We enjoy them.  Tues. nite I'm leader for Circle & the topic is Unity & I have to put some finishing touches on that.

We never hear from Barb - we wonder what she is going & what her plans are.  Maybe we'll find out sometime.

Some kids are playing basketball in the snow.  Be cold on the hands.

Last nite 56 members & friends in Hessel Valley church had a Valentine dinner at Maplehurst County Club.  Walter & Emma Johnson went with us (he doesn't drive at nite) & we had a great time.  Good food & a little program with a Covenant pastor who spoke.  Old & young alike.

Next Sun. Mel & Levina Karlson & a young man who started working at the hosp. in Jan. & comes to church, will come for dinner.  So I'll have to clean the house this week - didn't dust this past week so it is time to get busy.  Have my menu planned.  He is from Pittsburgh area - went to Augustana & I thot it would be nice to be sociable & I like to entertain.

On Easter we will go to Dagus Mines.  They wanted a pastor for that day & it's hard to say no.  We'll go to the Vally on Palm Sun. for Communion, so we'll be free the 1st and 3rd Sun. in Mar.

Things are fine here.

Mon A.M. P.S.  Tonite the N.Y.C. channel has 2 hrs. of Jackie Gleason's Honeymooners which we'll tape for future viewing!

Sunday, February 2, 1986

Hope you got the pkg. all right.

I'm watching the last football game - Dad is watching golf.  Soon we'll be watching our favorite team -- The Mets!

Doesn't seem possible it's Feb. 2nd.  If you want to move in Mar. you'll have to get busy.

The boys don't think much of the Cavalier.  Said it's a car for a school teacher marm - they like the Nova, or the Nissan.  The Datsun has given you good service & is like an old horse now - wants to be put to pasture!

The boys will get busy on measurements.  I suggested they go to Carnahan's & have Ed measure them - he know them from when they worked there.

Any housing arrangements you make are fine with us.  How many can stay there.  I'm hoping Barb will still be around & Kim might be coming so there could be 7 of us.  We plan to get there on Thursday.  Ruth wants us to visit after the wedding.  And Linda invited us to visit them before the wedding.

The church in Dagus Mines might call a senior seminarian so that mean he would start in June so just 4 more months of visits for us.  We go there next Sun, then meet Hollertz's for lunch, then go to the Installation of the new pastor (woman) in Johnsonburg.

The 15th about 40 from the Hessel Valley church are going out to dinner at Maplehurst County Club.  Walter Johnsons go out there & they will ride with us to the dinner.  A Valentine celebration.

The 16th we meet Bensons & Hollertzs in Kane for dinner.  We're each bringing a Valentine to exchange & we got 2 cute, funny ones.

Heard a cute joke - Where did the Statue of Liberty get AIDS?  From the Staten Island ferry!

Dale went snowmobiling last Fri nite & had a good time.  With 2 from work - both married & Dale didn't get in til 3AM.  The poor wives!

Dale has his license back but his car isn't ready - maybe this week he'll be driving it.

Signe had a nice 75th birthday.  Carolyn & Ken had a party for her.  She bot a microwave with birthday money.  Roland took video pictures & after they heard we had a V.C.R. they decided to get one.  So we're not the only one to spend, spend, spend!!

We got a ceiling fan on sale for 32.00 & Dad hopes to put it in the upstairs hall.

Lar got nice vinyl for his bathroom walls & has it finished.

We attended church in Wrrn. today & met a young man from the Pitts. area now working at the hosp.  A nice young man and we invited him to dinner the last Sun. of the month.  Will ask Mel & Levina, too.  Have a good chicken recipe I can make ahead & them it bakes in 1 hr.  I'll have juice & crackers & we'll be able to eat by 1:30.  His parents are active in synod affairs so I tho't it would be nice to get better acquainted.

A week ago Gen & Bill Brader came for supper & we had a nice evening.  He gave us some records & Dad taped them.  Bill gave me an Oak Ridge Boys Tape & he's taping some Yorgy Jorguson records for us.  Lot of people don't like Bill but we enjoy their company.  We've learned to overlook some quirks.  When you look a little deeper you find nice people.

All is well with us.  Time will go fast.  Everyone who sees my dress likes it.

Joyce O'Connor will be 60 this week & eligible for Soc. Sec.  We plan to take her out to lunch to celebrate.

[Enclosure]

Sunday, January 5, 1986

Chicago won - I should have had a bet with Dale!

We're sitting in front of a nice fire & I've written 2 letters.  Also made a batch of cookies & gave some to Lar as he was here to shovel 2 walks.

Imagine you got off OK - it was foggy driving home until we got to Corry.  We were glad to get home safe & sound.  Heard this A.M. that Milwaukee has a lot of snow.  We woke up to about 3" inches of snow & more during the A.M.

Because of the early game we decided not to eat out but will cook steaks.  Football comes first!

We took the tree down Sat. & cleaned a bit.  But I wanted to go to J.town & we went for lunch.   Looked around & got some Christmas wrap for 50% off.

When I washed Sat. & took dirty clothes from the hamper I found 2 pr. of your socks.  Don't know how they got there.  I'll send them when Dale gets your batteries so it might be 2 weeks or so.

Just talked to Signe & Geo.  Geo is in a nursing home (as long as Medicare will allow) as he gets therapy there.  Is feeling pretty good.  Talked to Sig first & she gave us Geo. telephone no.  Sig has a bad cold & some flu so she was in bed.

Irma Thelin has a bridal shop so plan to talk to her about dresses.  Maybe she can find one for me.

Geo. said when Roland got home after the holidays there was 5 ft. of snow in their yard.

It was so nice having you & JoAnna home.  We are so pleased with your choice of JoAnna.  We like her so much.

I'm enclosing pictures of the fire.  It will take a while for final decision as to what they'll do - tear it down or whatever.

Monday, November 11, 1985

My Christmas shopping is almost completed.  Will you & JoAnna be coming here or do I send the pkg.

I thot I'd give you a couple of suggestions if you choose books.  Dad thinks he'd like to read Texas by Michener.  And Steele has 2 books I haven't read yet.  The latest is Secrets by D. Steele.  I eventually get them at the library but it would be nice to hvae one.  Both books are on the best seller list - Texas is first.

Did I write that Cliff Terry died & was buried Oct 31.  He had cancer but was active til the end.  He got sick on Sun, hospitalized & died Mon A.M.

We invited Mel & Levina for Thanksgiving but they'll got to Kane to be with relatives.  Lar will invite Kim if she isn't with her grandmother.  Maybe she can be at both places - at different times!

We bot a pre-Christmas gift - a V.C.R.  Lar got one first.  A Mitsubishi.  It's nice.  We watched A Passage to India & it was excellent.  We hope to get Amadeus.  Dad also invested in a new camera, a Minolta talker & a with angle & telephoto lens so we'll be set to take pictures at the wedding.  We'll give Dale the old camera.  No money went into the savings acct. this month.  We might as well enjoy it - can't take it with us.



Dad had a full exam by the Dr. & at the hospital & all is well.  He went to my Dr. & he is so thorough.

Choir had a korv dinner last week at church & it was delicious.

Dale's getting the motor of his car closer to completion.  He plans to paint it black.  Changed his mind from red.  He's been busy lately working on friend's cars & earning a little extra cash.

Did you have a nice birthday?

[Enclosure]

Monday, October 28, 1985 (to JoAnna)

It is a lovely day and we just returned from a trip to the library and now I have 4 books to read.  But before I can start reading I must get a letter off to you.

It was good to talk to you and it was a pleasant surprise.  And the flowers are so pretty.  They are sitting on the dining room table.  Again thanks so much.  We called Paul yesterday and had a nice visit.  Later on in the afternoon Lar, Kim, Carl and I went to Nik-L-Inn (think that is how they spell it) for dinner and we had a good meal and a good time.  For dessert we buy the homemade fudge they have an it is so good with a cup of coffee.  Dale didn't come with us as he had to watch the Steeler game and it came on at 4 p.m.

Were you able to see any of the World Series games.  Sat. and Sun. nite gaMES WERE SO GOOD AND WE WERE ROOTING FOR Kansas City.  We were disappointed when the Mets lost but we'll look ahead to next year.  (Every once in awhile I hit the wrong key and get the caps so please overlook it.)  Typing goes faster than writing.

Carl is on liquids today as tomorrow he goes to the hospital for some tests.  He changed doctors and this one wants a thorough testing so he knows all about the person.  Blood test, chest x-ray, Barium enema, ekg. etc.  He is a very good Dr. and we like him a lot.  His nurse couldn't believe that he is 70.

The girl who gives me a permanent is expecting in Nov.  She has a little boys 3 years old and he loves to come over here so I help her out.  She was suppose to see the Dr. this aft. but he was delivering a baby so she had to come back.  Danny was with me and he didn't want to go home.  But he might be back tomorrow a.m. for awhile so we can play longer.  Got some toys from the attic -- cars, blocks so we have things to play with.  He's a nice little kid and fun to have around.  He likes my cookies, too.

We've had a frost so the tomatoes are gone and it won't be long before the flowers are gone.  The colors were beautiful this year.

We had a good trip to Mass.  Fun to be with my sisters.  We packed a lot of shopping and eating into a short time.  Left on a Tues. and came back the following Mon.  Saw my 86 year old aunt and she really looks good.  Still lives alone and will drive to the store but not in a lot of traffic.

I'm enjoying retirement.  The time goes fast and it is fun to do and go as we please.  We still like to eat out several times a week.  We're talking of going to Erie this week for some shopping at a larger Mall.

You are really keeping busy but that makes the time go faster and May will be here before you are ready.

Best wishes and love from all of us.

Thursday, October 24, 1985

Happy birthday.

We received a lovely fall centerpiece from JoAnna.  Yesterday (Wed) JoAnna called & it was nice talking with her.

Tonight I'm going to VoTech for dinner with the cafeteria workers - a fall mtg.  I forgot it was Rotary Film nite on Bavaria so we'll let Lar & Kim use out tickets as Dad didn't care to go alone.

Last week Dad went to the dentist.  He told Dad that if he took pictures of his teeth & showed them at a mtg. of dentists, they'd guess it was the mouth of a 40-50 year old man!

Yesterday he had a physical with my Dr - Dr McNett.  Tues he will have tests at the hosp.  The day before he can have only clear liquids & must take 2 enemas.  To check on stomach, etc.

Forgot to mention we saw Allan & he said "hello" to all the cousins.  He looks real good & is doing well in his work and marriage.  Last summer they put in an underground pool.  Millie says they have a lovely home.

Chicago has a good football team this year, esp. #72 the 300+ pounder.  Fun to see him go thru the line.  Bet other teams will be looking for a player like that.

I bot 3 chrysanthemum plants & Lar planted them.  Hope to get 2 more if I can find the color I want.  They look nice.

Kim called to wish us a good trip & called me "mother Nelson".  So I asked Lar if he was going to give Kim a diamond for Christmas.  Ans. No!  He hasn't known her long enough - maybe around '89.  He better not lose her!

Marcy isn't calling Dale anymore.  Guess she found out working on his car is more important.  Still a lot to be done.  He's gotten many parts from the Olds as he still hopes to find another one.

JoAnna mentioned about your test grades for the class - and that you were at a lib. convention or something.  She sure is busy, too.

We hope you have a good birthday & we send our love & best wishes.