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Bunk =son (the commuter who flies with the greatest of ease)
Dolores = daughter
Frank = neighbor Frank Vrsak
Harry = son
Jerry = son
Jinny = son Frank's wife Jinny Rose Wachdorf
Larry = son
Renk = son Art's wife Irene Safranski Wachdorf
Sabina = Sabina Masonick, cousin of daughter-in-law Irene Safranski Wachdorf
copies to Bunk, Dolores, Harry, Jerry
June 28th 1954
Dear Ones:
Our solitude was awakened and so were we by a sudden phone call yesterday, Sunday morning, by one commuter who flies with the greatest of ease to the west coast. And should I mention that he again used the T.W.A. cargo compartment to replenish our supply of some necessities, but we are still crabbing. Who is holding back on our sweaters that we left on our trip back there? We asked for some pictures, plural, and what came? One so large that it was a wonder he was allowed to board the plane with such a cumbersome package. But he says he can get away with murder and this proves his statement. Go ahead, we will continue to stare at our bare walls until some later date, or until our storage & Van can pick out wanted items. Even if you sent out some worn out slippers, it still would be great. It's the spirit that counts and not the contents of a big bundle.
Here it is Monday morning and by this time, Bunk is telling you all about his trip. See what I mean by a commuter, here for a day. As our stores of all nature are opened on Sunday's, we took him to the furniture house to exchange a rocker that was making your Mom sick each time she glanced in the corner of the living room. No use explaining, it did not match the surroundings and secondly she called it JUNK. Now she selected one and is having the upholstering changed to suit her taste, and that without salt. Also we picked out a floor lamp which seems to please all, even master Larry. You should see him sprawl out on the new sofa and read, drink beer, watch television and take off his shoes. But he objected to the lighting so now he has a lamp to alleviate his living condition.
Now for the big surprise. You all thought your Mom was a decorator. Bunk started to move chairs, sectional pieces and stands around, putting a lamp here and moving it until I was worn out watching him. But here's the finale. The place looks more appealing and has been inspected by Renk's cousin Sabina and family, also Frank and has passed approval of Larry and me all and is still in the same position as I write this morning. Of course I could crab at a job incomplete as he failed to hang the picture up that he brought. Says he gets his artistic touch from Jinny, so Jinny better give him an extra helping of pudding, as the job is perfect.
He also complimented our garden and grounds. Says they look great but would not give me the credit for having them in such a glamorous, pleasing and inviting splendor. Here I have been working like a beaver, getting the place back in shape, as the last tenants for the past six months were a little careless in the way they kept up the place. The weeds were getting to be the boss and the lawn was overlapping the walks, flowers needed pruning and in all the place needed a general clean-up. The place looked good all the while until we became the owners and close inspection revealed the appalling neglect of the last tenants.
Never worked so hard getting things back in shape. Even my hands are sore from pulling and tugging on some of that d--- crab grass. Think the roots go down footsies and my back is commencing to look like the Hunch Back of Notre Dame. Was working without my hat one day and did my dome get burnt. So sore I could not use a comb and it peeled for a week. Now some sense is knocked into the numbskull.
If I can paint this picture as tempting and magnetic as it should be, probably I might get some nibbles to allure some travelers. I previously wrote and said I was having some extra latch keys made and now we must confess that you are all welcome even if we have to give up our own keys to the house and the town. Who wants to be the first takers? Also who wants to be an owner of a five acre tract in the desert? Bunk will take up the necessary fees to get you prospectors to take up a grant. The temp out there has been around a cool 100 and better lately. What a lovely place for sand fleas and cactus.
We are very grateful for all your letters and can sense the lassitude of you all during the extreme pleasant weather you are having, such wonderful sleeping weather after such a lovely sunshiny day. Wonder who is pouring on the heat now? Also you are getting a nice cooling off from the lake. In fact we read about walls of cooling water coming your way. Must be great to have a swimming pool in your yard in such short notice. Keep those White Sox out of that cooling stream--they're too cool already.
As the work progresses out here and I get a little more leisure, I'll try to write more. Will keep you posted of the news and events as they are happening even if I have to lay aside my shovel and quit digging for worms. Larry will be the next to keep you on the jump in a few weeks so sharpen up your wits to banty with the Maestro on topography, the desert rat. It's got so that he drives into the sand traps just to keep up the feel of the stuff. Chances are that he will grub stake all comers. He's trying to talk us into leaving him have the back yard for a driving range and the house as a putting course, the little terrible blonde.
Just wanted to get a few lines off to relieve my conscience so now I can close as I feel better
So love from all of us
Mom Dad & Larry
To go to next letter, click here: 1954 July 10