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happiness

Rome is a charming city (FGK 243)

Goodness mom had some fascinating friends. Whatever happened to them? I don’t recall hearing about most of these people but I would have loved to have met them!! This letter is before mom travelled to France herself (she would have been 15 when this letter was written – and it was sent here to the ranch), clearly she made friends with other women with the travel bug!

Grand Hotel Continental

Roma

3 Feb 1956

Dear Margie

Somehow I have a horrible suspicion that I’ve not thanked you for the lovely “travelling brush” you sent me for Christmas. May I now rather belatedly, say a huge “thank you”! The brush is lovely and believe me it is being put to good use.

As you will realize upon receiving this and the odd postcard I’ve sent I am again “wandering”. I left Oxford the first of January to join my friends in Boulogne for a wee motor jaunt in Europe. That, I would say, was starting the new year with a bang. We went first to Paris where we spent six days. Wow! What a city. Like good tourist-types we “did” most everything. Then we jogged our way to Spain – stopping hither and yonder odd spots in France. In Spain we went to Madrid, carried on southward to Granada, then to the coast and travelled backup to the Mediterranean coast to Barcelona. When returning to France we spent some time around Carcassone before going to the Riviera. By that time the weather decided to be good to us and the Riviera was absolutely glorious. Of course I tried my hand at gambling in Monte Carlo but fortune did not come my way. Then we came along the Italian Riviera which appears very shabby in comparison to the Côte d’Azur – and finally arrived here in Rome the first of February. Rome is a charming city in spite of the bitterly cold weather. I shall probably be returning to England toward the end of this month. My address there is the same as before – do drop me a line about how you are. I’m truly sorry about not writing sooner but I seldom have time to do even half of what I want to.

ok love to your family

Lois

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I am doing just fine so you can relax (FGK 242)

I can say that 60+ years later many Americans still have some weird ideas about Canada. Sooooo many people used to call it Canadia – I could understand a couple people doing it for a joke, but in Roanoke it seemed that the general public thought that was the name. They’d also sell hats with the Pom Pom of a certain style and call them toboggans. When I tried to explain the different between a toboggan and a toque I was laughed at like I was making it up. And I also was asked in a taxi on my way to the airport if I spoke the language up there in Canada. I responded by saying yes, and in fact I’m speaking it right now!!! On the other hand it was pretty humbling to see how much about the States I didn’t know or had misunderstood.

618 N. Halifax Ave

Daytona Beach

November 7, 1956

HI!!!

Sorry I didn’t get enough time to write you yesterday. With the elections and all it was quite a day! I’m telling you I’ve never been as utterly sick of anything as that darn election for a month or more now that’s all anybody I’ve met has talked about.

i went and saw Mrs. Franks yesterday and she thought I was doing just fine so you can relax.

I’m having an awful time trying to decide what collage to go to. Everyone says I should go to Rollins college in Winter Park, the university of Miami has sent me a lot of literature about the University and it looks very good. Ug Florida (?) thinks it is suitable and wants me to go and see them and Queens has sent me catalogues and even the application papers – nothing like rushing things.

Honestly, Jetty and I are just starved. It’s a long time between 12:30 and 6:00 when all you have at noon is soup and I haven’t enough money to go down Seabreeze and buy something to eat. Times are tough.

I haven’t had my nose off the grindstone since Monday long enough to do anything exciting. Monday morning Jetty and I slept in an hour. I broke all speed records getting ready to go to school luckily just as I came out the gate one of the boys from school was passing in his car so I got a ride and wasn’t late. The Colonel kicks us out for the rest of the day if we’re late. Last nite I could have gone to a views (?) but decided at the last minute not to. From what I hear I didn’t miss much anyway.

Nancy hasn’t been around hardly at all lately. I guess the novelty is beginning to wear off. I must go over and see them one of these days.

I’m starting to educate some of these Americans about Canada. I get quite a ribbing from some of the kids in class ‘cause some of them have the oddest ideas about Canada I’ve ever heard. Some just won’t be convinced that I’m not British because I’m from Canada!!! also I happened to say I hoped they’d knock Nehru’s head (block) off. Somebody should have done that long ago. American’s just don’t see it that way and Im not saying they’re not right, but I do despise the man so.

Are you still having snow and cold weather? I sure hope it soon gets better. Jetty just got drove out into some shade on the verandah to get away from the heat! How does that make you feel?

Say “hello” to everyone around there and don’t forget to tell me “what’s up”. You all should feel honoured you’re pretty well the only ones who get letters from me! Be good and don’t work too hard!

Love Margie xx

Jetty sends regards.

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Purple People Eater (FGK 237)

Monday night

July 21, 1958

Dear Margaret

How are you? How is work? What is new up your way? Everything is just about the same down here. I am still working one to ten. I thought I would write you once more and mail it before the mail goes up. The weather has been very hot down here.

“No Time for Sgt” is very good. It was funny.

Margaret, I went downtown last week and went into the dress shop. I now have two new dresses. One is a dark print, it is thin and will be nice when it gets cooler. The other is a party dress. It is navy blue and white stripped. It is sleeveless and goes up fairly high in the front an down low in the back. It has a full skirt. Around the bottom is about 6 inches of white organdy (I had to google this: a fine translucent cotton or silk fabric that is usually stiffened and used for women’s clothing” with lace. I just couldn’t help it. Mom also made me a very pretty pink dress with sort of full sleeves. I am just a hopeless case. Mom says I shouldn’t buy any more summer clothes, but with fall coming I can a start all over again. I only wish you were down here to go shopping with. I used to have so much fun when we would go on our sprees every Saturday.

We haven’t heard from Larry lately. I guess he will be pretty busy now. Boots is in the hospital over in Orlando now. She is in some pain after her operation. If you’d ant to write here write to:

Marion Hilton

Orange Memorial Hospital

Orlando, Florida

I am going downtown tomorrow and buy Elvis’ album from the picture. Have you seen it yet?

Wanda and I went shopping the other day, for a while, she likes her school work very much. She is learning about the hair styling end of her work. She has to go to school for nine months. Roy was home a couple of weeks ago. He was looking just the same as usual. He asked how you were. I guess he is in California now from what Wanda says.

When I tell you this you will die. At work the other day I was sitting next to this girl who was placing a collect call to some girl and guess who the cal was from? Freddy Peacock, our old friend. The girl accepted the charges. He must really get around these days huh?

Lila’s (however you spell) cousin works in Furchott’s. I was there the other day. She said to say hello to you.

I haven’t been to the beach or swimming in ages. I am so pale!

I painted my finger nails a really weird shade the other day. I put two coats of gold over two coats of apricot ice. It looked just like a new shade out now called “orange gold”.

The top song around here is still “Purple People Eater” I am getting so tired of that song.

Have you heard Ricky Nelson’s new record of “Poor Little Fools?”

I left my pen with the green ink at work today, I sure hope it will be there tomorrow.

Well Margaret, write me soon and tell me all the news.

Love Barbara

PS did I tell you Merle and Marty got married last month. Big deal!

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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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Easter Eggs for breakfast (FGK 232)

RR2

Calgary, Alberta

Dear Margie

How are you? Alvin, Dad, Mom, and I are fine. Did you have a nice Easter? We had a nice Easter. Alvin and I found 26 Easter eggs on Easter Sunday morning. We divided them and we had 13 eggs each besides 2 more each. We coloured some eggs for breakfast Easter Sunday.

Dad ran the horses in for Alvin and I on Good Friday, Alvin and I went to Grandma’s place Monday and came home Friday. Grandma and Grandpa bought Alvin and I a pair of shoes. I went to the dentist on Friday

Love, Lorraine

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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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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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Hope this envelope gave you lots of reading (FGK 226)

I’m not sure who this is, but it seems to be someone who knows the family and also was dealing with polio. The return address on the envelope is from the Vancouver General Hospital

(Postmarked May 31, 1954 from Vancouver BC)

Hi

Hope this envelope gave you lots of reading. I had a lovely note from your Mother and she said you were now walking with crutches. I know what a job that is as I have started to use them also. I hope that it won’t be long till you can go home now that summer’s here.

I guess by now you have finished your school year. Did you pass.? Or did they give you only some studies?

I was very happy to hear Sheila was training to be a nurse and that she likes it.

Did your Auntie Marg tell you of her visit to the coast? It was very nice seeing them.

You must thank your mother for me. I did so enjoy the card. Say hello to all the family.

Love and best wishes

Donna R.

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