Evansville, IN
March 1, 1931
Dear Al,
Back again after two days with a little more of my scratching. Got all your letters Saturday morning Al and everybody was sure glad to hear from you, but would have been more so if you could’ve told them you was coming home. Gosh Al I’m always wondering and wishing and praying that I’ll get a letter or a call real soon telling me you’re coming back home or at least closer to me than you are now so that I can get to see you and talk to you and love you and get some of those real sweet kisses like I did before Al. Just three weeks this morning Al I kissed you goodbye and left you on the bus headed for Kokomo. Really it seems like three years and when I look ahead it seems like eternity Al you don’t know how slow the time passes for me. But after all I ought be satisfied to think you’re all by yourself with no one at all except strangers to even talk to, but keep it up Al and I’ll try as often as I can to do as you said you were doing pray the rosary before I go to sleep. I was glad to hear it and maybe we’ll get to be together again before long. We sure had one time yesterday, Al. Harold had made up his mind not to get his haircut until you came back, the whole family tried talking to him but didn’t do much good. Dad said he sure didn’t know what to do. I told him how I thought you hated to be so far away and if you knew he was acting like that it would make it all the worse, but he said he felt so sorry cause Al always cut them and couldn’t this time that’s why he didn’t go. But I finally got him in the notion, taken him down on St. Joe and Penn St., looks a lot better but not like when you did it. Went to confession yesterday afternoon and communion this morning at 8 o’ clock mass wondered if you were going and if I was praying with you. Talk about getting off easy Al and I had to pray 1 Hail Mary Saturday but like you said I don’t have to worry so much while you’re so far away. Only think of and wish for a whole lot once in a while.
Went to church this afternoon and brought Ed, Tillie and family along. Got home and Miss Becker and Alberta Craig were here they all stayed for supper. Then Helfrichs came and Mesers with Henry and Oscar. We had a houseful. Wish I could have left the whole and came to you. So Helfrich said Ed had a buyer for his place and was asking $6,000 for it. Don’t know how true it is so don’t say anything about it. Well Al they all left pretty late and it’s now ten til twelve so I guess I’ll have to bundle up all my kisses and an extra goodnight kiss with lots of true love and send them to you far away to someone I’m sure will be waiting for them.
Elma
My Comments
Finally, I’m done with February. Well, sort of. I found more letters and while most of them are from after they were married, there are a few stragglers from before. I may or may not post those.
Elma sure can’t wait for Al to be home. I wonder later if she will be happy that he has a job since it’s the Depression. It will be interesting to see. Anyway, only three weeks has passed since he left.
Near the end Grandma mentions a few people and I thought it would be good to talk about who they were. I am going to create separate pages for people, things and events that were significant. first are Ed and Tillie. Briefly, Ed was Grandma’s younger brother by 14 months. You can read all about him at the link. Grandma also mentions a slew of other people–you already know Oscar. Helfrichs came with Mesers, because Mayme Meser, John Meser’s sister, married George P. Helfrich. Henry and Ed were Grandpa’s brothers. Ed ‘s house, which in 1931 was catty-corner and across the street, was a steal at 6K. I’ll do a separate page on Grandpa’s seven brothers later.