By Mom — Part 2 of a long, 3-part letter (more like a booklet) she wrote to Tom at college in February 1982. Twenty years later Dad mentioned “that wonderful letter Mom wrote to you in college about a winter adventure we had.”

Christmas Visit to Aunt Pat's

New Years Day — 1/1/82

(As I remember it — this 5th day of Feb. 1982. I thought you would enjoy some news and notes about your city cousins.)

New Years day morning was really quiet here at home. Dad was working, Mark & Bill were working, we were not expecting any company — I had a ham baked and potato salad made, and Sue & Deb did not want to think about sitting home all day. So real quick we decided that Sue, Deb & I would make a holiday visit to St. Anns. The weather reports were calling for maybe some bad weather late that night, so we decided we could stay all night if we had to. (In fact we would stay all night anyway.)

Linda was working and Kathy was house sitting at Chesterfield. We called Kathy & she met us at Aunt Pat’s house. When we got to Aunt Pats we naturally had to eat and visited some.

Then we went to visit Becky & Barry — Aunt Dot, Aunt Mary, Aunt Pat, Donna & us four Beavers — & Uncle Warner & Uncle Les met us there. I had never been to Becky’s home before. It’s similar to Aunt Pat’s, but a miniature version. When big, tall Barry walks into one of the rooms, it reminds me of a bull in a china closet. Their home is cozy and comfortable & nice. Not ultra modern & not old fashioned — the type of home anyone can walk in and feel comfortable. Nice furniture, photographs displayed, picture albums on the tables — Barry has a video recorder & player, he has a den with a cluttered desk — Becky does needlework & has knick-knacks all over from flea markets, has pretty plants — they’re all settled and comfortable like they have been married for years & years. We visited for a while and then moved on. Becky & Barry seem real happy, proud of their home and looking forward to having a new baby in the house about Sept. this year.

Aunt Pat, Aunt Dot, Aunt Mary, Donna & us four Beavers went out for dinner. They took us to a new restaurant — a smorgasbord. The food is set out on a giant lazy susan that turns continually. You stand in front of the lazy susan in a sectioned space and fill your plate, then find a table. Well, when the eight of us got in front of that turn table, it reminded me of a “Lucy” movie. Some of the choices were placed too close together and you had to really move fast to get them or you would have to wait for the turntable to go all the way around again. As you know — when the “Sisters” get together everything is funny anyway — and we had a time getting our plates filled. It took us so long our food was cold before we had a chance to eat it — but it was a fun meal. After the main meal, you went to another section for dessert — everything from strawberry shortcake, cobblers, pies to ice cream. We left the restaurant full & happy.

Kathy was dressed for hiking, so she walked back 5 miles to the Chestefield house and Earl drove in later in the evening to pick up her car.

We couldn't believe the reports of ice because Aunt Pat had already taken Donna to work and been to the bakery, and no freeze in St. Ann. But naturally I began worrying how the roads were out our way. We had to leave because Mark’s sisters were in town and he had planned on Sue spending the day with them.

As you know weather doesn’t bother Dad — we did have some freze out our way, but Dad was going into St. Anns to pick up a vehicle and he said we could start home in about an hour if he didn’t call to tell us not to.

So, in the meantime, we made a quick visit to Kenny’s before we headed home. When you visit them, you forget Kenny and Terry aren’t married. They act as comfortable and happy as any young married couple. They have a nice home also. You look around and things seem real familiar. Aunt Pat has given them some of her things, and Kenny has picked up lots of antiques, some he has refinished, some need a little work on them. Everything is tastefully decorated — and you see Kens handy work here and there. New shower doors, etc. Terry has added her touch with big beautiful potted plants.

We drove home in the rain, but it was a warm rain and had washed most of the ice away. Except for our circle drive, it was a solid sheet of ice. We drove across the grass center section & made it fine. All in all it was a very enjoyable weekend, my treat for the Holidays.

Postsripts: Mike Schilling is separated from his wife & spends a lot of time with Aunt Dot. He also is working a second job with Mary Sharon at the Checkerdome.

Aunt Mary has been sick a lot this winter and it shows on her. She misses her babies terribly since they moved to Florida.

Dave & Debbie seem to be doing O.K. in Florida. Gary & Donna are real glad to have them close by. They had Christmas dinner together at Dave's place and the kids (Jenny, Jason, Tara & Heide) are thrilled to be together. Debbie goes to Church with Donna & Gary — Dave has even gone part of the time. Gary gave up his job at the Sheraton because his religious beliefs were incompatible with the type of work he was doing. He is working at several other things and Dave works with him some.

Francis was out of town again. We haven’t seen her for a long time.

Aunt Marion wasn’t feeling well so we didn’t see her. Uncle Les & Aunt Marion have now moved to Tenn. Uncle Les called me Wed. 2/3/82 to tell me they would be moving Fri. that week and he wanted to say goodby.

I’ve known for a long time that he would be moving, but he never did say just when it would be. I don’t know if he really didn’t know or if he just didn’t want to talk about it. When he called and said he would move in two days, I didn’t know just what to say. While we talked about the weather, thoughts were going through my head: it just isn’t fair for people to have to disrupt their lives, unwillingly, just to make a living. Our family (the Johnsons) have always lived close by and even though we don’t see each other real often — you know they are there. For me it was sad. I feel like I’ve lost someone special. They will be back for visits, I’m sure, but that’s not the same. Especially I feel so sorry for him & Aunt Marion. I know how hard it must be to break up their home, leave their family & friends and start all over again. They will be so lonesome for Connie, Tracy & Todd & Don and his baby Laura.

I believe I’ve mentioned just about all your city cousins on the Johnson side of the family except Woo (Little Warner). Didn’t see him — he is still going to college and he and Jackie will both graduate this coming spring.

And that reminds me. Donna Struckhoff started college 2 weeks ago. There was a new change in the social security benefits — if she didn’t start college this last semester she would not get any more social security benefits. So one week she was going to high school and the next — college. No advance notice — that was quite a change for her. Lucky she could work it all out so fast.

Will close thie portion of my “letter” for now.

Love,

Mom

(Aunt Pat always makes me feel like she is thrilled that we are visiting her. Her house is so cheerful — beatufiul Xmas tree, everything decorated Christmasy — lovely new carpet. She’s the hostess with the mostest. One in a million.)

P.S. Terry Baxter & Judy are expecting a baby about Sept. or Oct. this year.