Doug At Sixteen

I found a stack of old letters today from my teen years when I would always spend summers in the country with Granny and Grandpa (and then just Granny after Grandpa died.) I've been reading them for awhile now, I'm so glad I kept them! Grabbed one at random here, from the summer of 1979.

Feel free to click the back button now, I will understand. No hard feelings. This one is mostly only for me anyway, just reminiscing.

Sunday night, July 8, 1979
Dear Mom and Dad,

Well, let's see. Friday it was cool and dreary and just like Thursday. We did two loads of laundry and let most dry upstairs or in the pumphouse. Verna came in the afternoon and brought some green beans and new potatoes from their garden. She stayed a total of THREE hours. Jake was fishing at the pond on Barney's because he said he would like to fish there without Barney bothering him. Ha. Barney and Anne were gone for Anne to have the skin cancer taken from her forehead. Late evening me and Gran went up to Highpoint and got $5.00 of gas (the limit) and a few groceries. Then on to Barney and Anne's. Anne's head was all bandaged and she felt terrible. They had cut off the cancer and had to graft skin from her ear to put over the piece. We stayed awhile. When we were leaving, Barney gave me 50 cents. I tried not to take it, but ...

Saturday was the third gloomy, overcast day in a row. It was also too cool for me. Gran heated up the wood cookstove and had it going from about noon till late evening. We made a big dinner and Gran made a new cheddar cheese bread. It was GOOD! After dinner sometime I laid down and went to sleep. I had told Gran I would mow but I woke to her starting the lawnmower so I went out and mowed the yard. I took a break to eat supper and then mowed some more. Then Gran wanted to mow in the garden some so I came in AND WENT TO SLEEP!! So she ended up finishing the yard, but all there was left was east of the house. The yard was so wet and tall it would clog the mower and wouldn't cut right. Then Gran started a few dishes but Ida Delcour called so I finished up all the dishes.

Well, since Granny B seemed to be improving and feeling not so sore, Gran and I thought we would maybe go to church. But this morning her hips were real sore again and she didn't look good, so Gran said I could take the car and go by myself. So I did. I played the piano and since Jack and Pat weren't there, Velma Curtis first led the singing. Mark and I sat in the Bible class and then Velma and I went back to the piano. Well, I never liked to play that piano because I didn't feel comfortable. But on revival night I heard Jill play and add a lot so I figured I would. But Velma could hardly lead so I didn't. Then Elmer came in and took over and he just belts it out good and loud so I just played loud and added a lot in to it. I think we did great and I was glad I felt comfortable with him. I hadn't heard myself play that way for ages. We even played and sang extras.

Then this afternoon Ellis came and stayed awhile. When he got here I was eating an ice cream cone and the first thing he said was, "Make me one of those." So I did. With three kinds of ice cream. He got done and said, "Make me another, only bigger." So I did, and piled all the ice cream on it I could. He left and I took a long sleep.

Tonight Gran stayed with Granny B and I went to Bible Study and church. Jack and Pat got there late and I just played the piano like I did with Elmer, and Jack sang louder. We usually sing three songs, but Short said, "Sing another! You're doing good tonight." Then after the fourth he said, "Sing another!" So we sung five and he said, "I guess I'll let you quit, but I sure enjoyed that tonight."

Then Ellis and Mahala were there and sang a special. Then after church, Ellis and I sang a duet to "I Surrender All." He sang tenor or alto, I forgot now, and I soprano.

Well, better go. It has been a hot, partly sunny day.

Love, Doug