Tag Archives: gratitude

happiness

Go Throw a Snowball For Me (FGK 241)

I may have mentioned this before, but I remember as a little kid in school when my parents would send in a note to the teacher I would often be called up to their desk so I could read the note for the teacher. Mom said the handwriting was so bad because she was a lawyer and developed the scrawl because of all the notes she had to take in university. But reading a letter from her 16 year old self says that perhaps this handwriting issues had been going on for a little while longer than that.

Let me just say that when I skipped school it was a much different experience than it apparently was for my mother. Also, I never confessed to such acts of delinquency. But now I can haha.

I also want to know who TIBERIOUS and Cyril are? Dogs? Horses? People? Anyone know???

618 N. Halifax Ave

Daytona Beach

November 16, 1956

Dear Mom, Dad, and Marsh

Thought I’d better drop you all a line before the weekend started. Thanks for your letters. I hope you got the negatives I sent in my last letter. I flunked Latin today and only got 66% passing is 70%. I skipped 3 periods of school today with Cynthia and Ellen Paul. However, I spent most of it doing bookkeeping for the student council.

Was glad to hear Sheila got off to Vulcan ok but you forgot to tell me her address. I’m sure she’ll like it there.

Don’t worry about Christmas. I only mentioned coming home because I thought it would be handy if the company plane went to New York. Never fear, I’ll have plenty to do in the Christmas holidays. Believe it or not I’m not homesick.

I still haven’t decided what university I’m going to. Queens would be swell but it’s sure nice down here. What a problem!

Next day: Saturday

Well we didn’t do much last night. We went over and played cards art the place of a boy from school for a while then came home and watched TV. This morning I went over to the school for extra classes in algebra.

Guess what!! I know where i can get the neatest little sports car for only $400!! Let me tell you it’s a Bayan!! One of the boys at Seabreeze High is selling it.

I want to know what you want for Christmas. Give me hint at least. Don’t worry about me just give me clothes – not fancy party ones but just ones that bill be really liveable. Do you want me to buy gifts for all my friends up there or will you? I’m afraid the customs would take quite a toll.

Everyone says to say “hi” to you all and they’re all doing fine down here. Tell Lorraine Eklund she’d better hurry up and write to me or I’ll be really mad at her. What is she going to school for anyway? How is LaVerne? He’ll be so big whenI get homeI won’t know him and so will Marlene. Also say “hi” to Deloris and Ken for me and George and Mary and the girls.

It’s a lovely day here as it has been all week. About 80 degrees, calm and beautiful. You poor souls up there – hah hah!!! Go throw a snowball for me. The oranges are just getting right so I’ll pick one for you. Man!! Do they taste good!! The guava season is past though.

I’ve got simply tons of homework to do. The publicity committee advised he Colonel to be really strict with us and pile the homework on!! The Colonel never goes back on their advice. How is Buckles coming? AND HOW ARE TIBERIOUS AND CYRIL? Nobody ever mentions them. How could you.

Love Marg xxx

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Resume all normal activities (FGK 238)

Pincher Creek, Alta

May 13th,/56

NOTE – Box 216.!! OBSERVE!

Dearest Margie:

Received your wonderful, stupendous, tremendous, witty, cheerful, “etc” letter and was mostest pleased! i really didn’t expect you to write as I know how difficult it is to keep joy those busy correspondence lessons and do anything else! You are to be commended dear, and I mean that! I never could manage it.

Well, I was up to RCH on May 1st and Dr Townsend said I could “resume all normal activities!” Which means that I can do anything my l’il ol’ heart desires! Isn’t that tremendous!!? I fear the “doc” would have a genuine canary if he realized that I have been carrying almost normal activities – with the exception of strenuous sports ONLY! Oh well, – no harm done as my back is “beautiful” (in my estimation) (BRAG BRAG). I have n desire to take part in any other activities at the moment anyhow! Can’t even get enuff sleep now!!

Mom is feeling much better since her “op”. She’s doing all the work at home alone, which is no small job with a hired man and a family that size! It’s supposed to take approximately a year to get over a gall-bladder operation completely, so Mom is doing really remarkably after a few short weeks. However she gets tired quickly and I fear overdoes somewhat – but what can you do!!

Say Marg, I sure wish I had been up there when you and Sheila were keeping house! It just so happens that I’m a spaghetti and meat all fan too so we could have had a real ball! Too bad! (Har, har!) When you come down this summer, we’ll have to go on a camping trip (in the back yard) armed with loads and loads of the stuff! That would be a “sure cure”.

Today they held an “Empire Youth Sunday” observance at Brocket – there were about 800 there for an open air service and parade! It was really lovely. Also this weekend our AYSA (?) has entertained st. Stephenson YP from Calgary. Six of us girls stayed out at our place last night! The place was fairly bulging, but we had a picnic! You see, we had supper at the hall Sat nite and then all went to the dance up at “Turtle Mountain Playgrounds” for the evening. Had a hilarious time, but by the time we staggered in to bed it was about 3:00. That’s not bad if you can sleep in, but I couldn’t sleep as it was (Anne kicks!!) and we had to get up at 7:00 to make it to town for communion at 9:00! No wonder I can’t make any sense tonight- guess I”d better get to bed (I should be doing homework!)

Well, Margie, I suppose you’ll be utterly disgusted wth me for even mentioning it, but I (at the moment) have a gigantic problem and it concerns ———- boys (MEN???). You see, my philosophy of life is “DON’T GO STEADY”. However, I’m finding that might be the solution to a lot of things at the present moment. I’m constantly making one of ‘three’ mad at me for going out with someone else! Of course (as I’ve painted out!) they’ve no right to be mad as we’re not going steady but it would almost appear that Im fickle (which I am). O dud e a rur! I wish all the Tom, Dicks, and Harrys would “take off” (temporarily) and let me nurse an “Old Maid” complex for a while. However, a different date every week – sure is fun!!! (Famous last words). Remember what happens before the fall of all great men? (I don’t)

Suppose by now you can see that the effects of the weekend are really beginning to show! Next weekend we’re planning a holiday at Waterton – so more fun and less sleep again! Oh well, I’m studying along with it and pretty soon there won’t be anything else to do – so guess I’ll enjoy life while the “opportunity is knocking” (ya can’t come EEN!!)

See ya later alligator!

much love, Janet

PS Write me after a while crocodile! (Gee you’re cute). (Dig those blearily bloodshot eyes!!) xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

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A day in the life in Fort Macleod (FGK 235)

I find these mystery letters quite interesting. It seems this was a pen pal set up through this girl’s Sunday School. I googled and found her mom’s obituary – these types of letters make me wonder how this story of this young girl turned out as she grew into a woman. What adventures did she have? I hope her life has been happy. Mom would have been 13 when this letter was sent, so they’re close to the same age. Both her mom and my grandma died in the same year (2004) although grandma was 4 years older. It’s easy to fall down rabbit holes with this stuff.

Pearce, Alberta

January 27, 1954

Dear Margaret

We get Sunday School Lessons from Mr. W R Johnson in Calgary. He sent us your address so I am writing to you.

I am 12 years old and my birthday is July 11. I live on a farm and have three brothers, 1 older than me and 2 younger and two younger sisters. All buy my youngest sister go to school. We go to school in Fort Macleod on a School Bus. We are 1 mile from Fort Macleod. We get on the bus about 8:25 in the morning and get off about 4 o’clock if nothing happens and the roads are good. We start school at 9 o’clock and get out at 3:30 in the afternoon.

I am in grade seven at school starting my first year of Junior High School. I have four teachers, one we get only once a week for Home Economics on Wednesday afternoon from 1 o’clock until 3:30. There are 35 pupils in my room, 16 girls and 19 boys. Our room teacher is Miss Hyssop, who teaches us mathematics, English, Spelling, Physical Education, Reading for Meaning, and Social Studies which she also teaches to the two other Junior High rooms grade 8 and grade 7 & 8. Mr. Sterling the 7 & 8 teacher teaches us Health, Literature, and Art which we get once a week. The three rooms also have a Student’s Union. We have meetings and programs once a month.

On our farm we have 1 horse which belongs to Jacob my older brother which he broke last year. She is a sorrel and about 12 years old. We have 4 young calves about a year old. 2 heifers and 2 steers which also belong to Jacob. Then we have 2 heifers which will have their first calf this year. One of them I call mine and the other Esther my youngest sister calls hers. We have 4 cows, a red one Garrett the oldest of my two younger brothers owns. A red white face that is also Jacob’s. Then we have a Holstein and a red white face. We have one pig which we want to get rid of as soon as it warms up as it it too cold to butcher it now in this sub-zero weather. We have around 40 chickens now, 3 roosters and the rest old hens and young pullets. Last spring I set a hen and got 8 chicks, 4 roosters and 4 pullets. They were really cute when they were babies especially my little black rooster who disappeared when he was bout 3 months old. He was quite tame. My other 3 roosters we ate. My 4 pullets are now laying eggs. We have 1 dog a white and black one about a year and a half old. He isn’t too much good except that he barks when someone comes. He is really a pest but he sure likes barking at anything.

I didn’t go to school today because it is too cold and we have got farther to walk now than before. Jacob was the only one that went. Last night the bus got stuck coming off the highway. The snow was so deep and full of ruts that you couldn’t expect much else to happen so the driver said we would have to walk that far. It really isn’t so far but it’s so cold outside.

That’s all for now.

Love

Mary Ann deKoning

ps. Hoping that you will write back soon

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More cooking, cleaning and gadding about (FGK 234)

How rude of Grandma to give brief details about what Slim had been up to but not go into greater detail. I hope for mom’s sake she heard the stories but that doesn’t help us much now 70 years later does it? Slim sounds like he was quite the man.

Friday 26th 1954

Dear Margie

My! It just did me the world of good to see you yesterday. I always get to worrying about you when I can’t see you and that’s foolish.

Dad and I made all the 12 loaves into sandwiches this morning and now I must hurry to get into town, the roads are going to be really bad and I’ll have to drive slowly. we came straight home from seeing you yesterday and were just having tea when in walks Slim. He stayed for tea and for supper and i could just write a book on all his activities if I only had time. He’s really been busy, it was he who started all the investigating into the Edmonton Police and he even pinched Dr Giffin the other day and took his nice Cadillac from him, he sure kept us entertained, I’ll tell you all the tales when I can visit you. He gave me his phone number and says he’d like to come up to visit you sometime soon – in his uniform – so you’ll have fun with the nurses eh? His fiancé – Marg the nurse in Edmonton up and married another guy the other day.

I couldn’t find a geometry set in the house but I’ll try and buy one for you today. Do you need any clothes at all? Let me know.

Well, I must scram now. I think Sheila is going to bring some girls out with her and the house is in quite a mess. Mr Kumlin’s funeral is at 2pm on Sat in High River and the nurses in Sheila’s class are having a tea at 2pm on Sat and we’re supposed to go to both. What will we do I wonder and how am I supposed to cook and keep house and gad like this, it’s awful. I’m sure glad to see you looking so well. Say, I’m worried about that swell report card of yours, I can’t find it, did it go in to you with the papers etc that I collect in the shopping bag? I sure hope you have it, i haven’t signed it yet and I hold have signed and returned to your teacher long before this. Please look for it amount your stuff, it’s in a long brown envelope with the Red Cross on it. Lots and lots of love dear. Maybe I’ll be able to see you today too if Miss Olson is back. (Thanks for that grand letter I nearly wore it out reading it over and over)

Mother xxxxxxxx

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Next month I’m going to do everything I didn’t do this month (FGK 233)

March 24

Dear Margie

Do hope you are all over those measly-measles. Your Mother said Sunday nite she hoped to see you today. Glad to hear you had enjoyed the baskets. They are supposed to have Maple Syrup over the Ice Cream.

Do you get tired of winter in there? We do – guess we’ll have to move South.

Nothing new or exciting here. Next month I’m going to do everything I didn’t do this month – I hope!

Glad to hear you are doing so well with your school work!

Best Wishes

The Barkleys

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Free stamps (FGK 231)

Pincher Creek, Alberta

March 16, 1954

Dear Margie,

Well, how are the measles? Sure hope they’re better. I’m writing this to send to you from out-patients on Friday. I think Verna has one for Maryanne too. I might get generous and try to find time to write her one too. It must be pretty bad for her to be having to face another operation after all she’s gone through. I just was talking to Mrs Burns on the phone and heard all the latest RCH news.

I came home last night with Charlotte’s family. They were all down to the dentist so I came back to get ready for Friday and have a visit with the folks before I took off. I’ve worked on my studies all day. What a life!

Well, here I am trying to write in the car, and consequently, look at my writing. I was going to bring you up a parcel but I think I forgot and left it on the dining room table at home. If I don’t find it in my suitcase, I’ll mail it up promptly! Enough of this, I’m getting a headache. Miss you, hope you can decipher this scrawl

Bye for now,

All my love, Janet

Enclosed

I thought you might like to collect a few more stamps and this one’s not a bad offer considering it’s free. With the free stamps they’ll send you some other ones that you might want to buy. Try it anyway. My tamp collecting cousins sent away for it and seemed to think they were alright, although nothing special.

Bye for now,

Love Janet

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I sure find it hard to keep up with the work and to gab too (FGK 230)

I find it hilarious to read Grandma’s description of her experience at the Glen Miller concert considering one of my favourite stories to tell is how I was constantly (or so it seemed) forced to sit with Grandma and watch the Lawrence Welk show as a child. What the blaring horns were to her the accordions were to me haha. Fortunately I have only made my children listen to 80s music so I’ve prevented them from the same sort of emotional scarring.

RR2 Calgary, Alberta

March 20th 1954

Dear Margie

I hoe I don’t leave any cold-germs in this letter, I’ve had a horrid cold these last few days. Bet you enjoyed Mrs Barkley’s gift and the flowers Clarence sent. I’ll try and thank them soon. Dad has been curling every night and going to town every day and I’ve been trying to keep up with him. Guess I should’ve but the house is so empty and lonely now I hate to stay home. We all miss you so terribly, Sheila and Marshall feel as Dad and I do, you can see it when they come home. It will be a happy day when you are all home together again.

I am going in for Sheila now, she gets tonight and tomorrow off. Uncle Frank called in for tea this morning, he wanted to see Dad’s Bulls. I didn’t get the floor done until just now, I sure find it hard to keep up with the work and to gab too. Mrs Dunne surely is lonely. She was so kind the other day, wish we could do something for her.

I hope they let us see you tomorrow, I’ll ask today. Get one of the nurses to phone if you want anything. I bought a white midday that was on sale at the Bay and I’ll send in this old red skirt of Sheila’s if you think you’d like it. I’ll buy some Dixie cups today and some milkshakes tomorrow if we get in in decent time. I went to see Glen MIller’s show yesterday and only stayed a few minutes, it was awful – such a relief to get outside and away from all the blaring horns and toothie idiots acting. Guess I’m just queer eh?

Well I must hurry and get ready for town. Dad has gone to Grand Valley and I don’t know where Marshall is but I wish he was cleaning the chick’s house.

My it will be good to see you again, it’s terrible when you can’t even write to us. Hope those measles are run out by now. Why does the 2nd floor always be the one to be quarantined so much?

We got your report card last night and it was very, very good. Congratulations. I am going to keep it and let Sheila see it before I take it back. I think Dad and I swill be going in on Tuesday to try and get a man.

Hope you are well and happy dear and improving every day in your exercises.

Lots and lots of love

Mom

xxxxxxx

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Floundering Around on Six Pages of “Glow Worm” (FGK 229)

This has to be a letter from one of mom’s friends from the hospital. Mom rarely spoke of her time there and so I don’t really know much about the other kids who were there. The only time I did get a really good account of her time in the hospital was years ago when I interviewed her for a paper I wrote for a Women’s Studies class. Unfortunately during the years when I wasn’t living here my room was cleaned out of all of the treasures I’d stored there for safe keeping and this essay was among them. So instead of being able to go through my own childhood treasures I have been gifted the opportunity to go through mom’s and I’m grateful for that.

Box 196

Pincher Creek

Alberta

Dear Margaret

Well, I just received your darling letter, and decided that you’d probably be worn out after writing 12 pages of news.

Thought I’d better use some decent note paper after your gentle hint. Gosh I’ve been busy! Haven’t had a chance to write any letters at all hardly, and I’m afraid I’ve neglected you shamefully.

Mom washed and ironed your bed bag and mended the rip and I took it to town Saturday to be mailed. I forgot (same old story). It is in at Grandma Hammond’s and although I asked Marjory to mail it, I’m afraid it’s probably still there.

I found your “coral” among my belongings (also some other things) so will send them along with the bag. Sure sorry I didn’t get it up there sooner. Hope you didn’t need it too badly. Afraid I’m an awful, neglectful person.

I was in to see my doctor in Pincher on Friday aft., and asked him if and when I could start school. I started going for half days last Monday, and it’s much more satisfactory than trying to do correspondence at home. Just received five lessons back, and got 4Hs and one A. Hope I can keep that up without Mrs. Aitken’s help. Mrs Reilly helps, but is so busy with teaching 19 other brats over there that us neglected little grade nines don’t get the attention we need. You may tell Miss Horner I love her and that I”m a model patient, have two hours rest every afternoon, stretched it to four yesterday. Of course she knew I was a model patient anyway haha.

Charlotte, Bruce, and Alvin (you don’t know him) came over at 2:30 this afternoon to practice the play we’re putting on at the Christmas concert. My part is only 18 pages long! It’s quite funny and i think it’s going to be fun putting it on. The name is “The ______ of hearts”. I’m Lady Violetta. Address me with respect in your voice after this as I’m your queen elect. Crazy eh?

My Uncle Bill from Vancouver is out here now and mOm is giving a big dinner party tomorrow night. I think there are going to be quite a few here. Charlotte’s coming up, so I’ll have a little bit of moral support (I’m shy you know!!!). Anne’s favourite phrase lately. Don’t need to worry about me staying up too late, because mom sees to it that I’m in bed by nine or nine thirty every night.

I went to see “Shane” on Saturday. Incidentally, Charlotte and I went to get her and thought it was pretty good. Howard and Bruce went too, and as we were going into the theatre Bruce said to Howard that he’d better take Charlotte to see the show. Unfortunately Charlotte heard him and turned around saying “nuts you will!!” I guess it put old Howard in his place because we lost sight of both of them for the rest of the evening.

I haven’t started taking music again as yet, but I want to after Christmas if not before. I sure spend a lot of time at the piano lately. Not as much as Marjory though. She is learning one of the most difficult selections Brahms ever wrote. You can imagine how hard it is i guess. It’s really beautiful though. Me floundering around on the six pages of “Glow Worm” doesn’t sound like much in comparison.

If you see Marg F. Give her my love eh? Say hello to Lillian and Helen. Tell Mrs. Howard her coasters are finished if she still wants them, but I couldn’t figure out how to finish them off so she’ll have to do that I guess. Say hello to Mrs Atkin for me too. Tell her I’ll write her “sometime”.

My photos turned out pretty well. If they weren’t so big I’d give you one, but I don’t think you’ll have any place to put this without it getting wrecked. I may bring it up to show to you on the 18th anyway, and maybe try to get a smaller one made, that is if you want one.

Mom and Dad send their regards and Anne hung over my shoulder all the time I was reading your letter to see how you were and if you were getting home for Christmas etc etc etc. have you heard any more about that? Say that was quite a story about Doctors ______ I was hoping you’d find out more than you did though. Don’t worry about those crazy physios saying you have a scoliosis. They were just fooling or they wouldn’t have talked about a spinal fusion in such an offhand manner. I think they are all a bit crazy personally (except Miss Olsen of course I wouldn’t want to get in your bad books you know)

Well as I have some homework to do and Mrs. Reilly has offered to help me with it I better go. incidentally, we had the most delicious stakes for supper. We’re they ever good. Yum. Do I make your mouth water?

Must go now Marg

Loads of love

Janet

Ps please get rid of this immediately. Burn it! (Ha ha)

I lob o eve yum o you. Dud o yum o you hel mum e shush out squared. I hash or shush

If you can’t read this, don’t worry. It’s just a bunch of “puppy talk”

Love Janet

Please Marg, don’t let anyone see this I beg of you. It may have fateful consequences (neat eh?)

What happened to our screws? Did they get lost in the move?

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Be a good little girl (FGK 228)

This letter is dated July 11 so I’m assuming she’s talking about the Calgary Stampede at the beginning of the letter. I do love her letters.

Sunday July 11, 1954

Dear Margie:-

Did you have many visitors last week such as Sonja Hune? They really were fortunate for weather again. Mr. Barkley and I didn’t attend at all. Maybe next year.

We were down to High River Wednesday to see a girl get married who worked here a few summers ago. The reception was indeed very nice. The W.J (?) put on the supper. Everything homemade and plenty of it. Cabbage and potato salad and Angel Foods and Cookies. Hall was nicely decorated as were the tables. A dance afterward with string music really cowboy. The bride had a nice blue suit and white hat and wore a corsage. She said her Grandmother wanted her to have a long white dress but she didn’t care to. She doesn’t care much for fussy clothes. Her husband is a farmer from Vermillion. At the reception I sat next to a boy who attended olds when Harvey did.

Our lilacs have been quite nice this year. Suppose you had plenty – they really were nicer this year than they have been for a while. We still have some blooming.

Be a good “little” girl now ‘cause I’m hearing nice reports of you.

Best wishes

The Barkleys

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I saw a show every day (FGK 227)

RR2 Calgary, Alberta

April 23, 1954

Dear marg

I was in Calgary for four days and I saw one show every day. I will name some of the four shows. Peter Pan, The Bear Country, the Long Long Trailer, and Ma and Pa Kettle at Home. They were really good. I got a new dress, Easter bonnet, and a new pair of shoes.

Tommy got some new clothes too but his coat is a little too big. How are you getting along in school Marg? Have you got crutches yet?

Love,

Joan Copithorne

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