Delightful letters from Grandpa and Grandma

Sylvia shared these wonderful precious letters to Aunt Doris from Grandma and Grandpa.

From the description of my parents, Jim and Gerry, looking for a new place to live, we can date these letters to 1961 or 1962 and almost certainly 1961. Tom

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I am pleased to share a letter that Grandpa Boyer wrote to my mother Doris sometime in the 1960s. After reading it, I could see why she saved this letter. It evokes Grandpa’s voice so strongly. I did add a few periods here and there, but otherwise this transcription is true to Grandpa’s unique style and spelling. I now feel affection for his use of “frome” for “from” and “hoap” for “hope,” etc., preferences that never changed over his life. Folded into his letter was also one from Grandma, included below. From the references to family events, someone may be able to figure out the actual year these letters were written. Sylvia

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June 21 (1961)

Dear Doris,

This is one of those nice rainey days, just an ideal day to write letters. But I can’t get the letter writing spirit. I just finished a letter to Tom an answer to a letter frome him some days agoe. It took me most of the afternoon to write two pages. I don’t know what to write about and don’t know how to say what little there is to write. I told Mother I am going to stop writing letters and make a phone call about once a month. But Mother thought a nine dollar phone call to Japan plus a call to Hightstown was more than we could afford. I told her she would have to do the writing. But she said she could only write when I did. I said I would make believe I was writing while she wrote the letter. But she said no soap. So what do I do now. You say Write. That is easy for you to say. I get paper and pen, sit down at the kitchen table. Now I am all set. I decite I want a cup of coffee. I tell Mother. She says No I am going to make supper we will have coffee then. I say I want it now. Mother says no. I get back to the letter again which I haven’t started yet. I look out the window it is still raining. I look around the kitchen for inspiration but there is nothing there. Mother is mixing biscuit dough for a strawberry short cake. I have given up the idea of a cup of coffee til suppertime.

It does not bother me any more. Correction Mother just surprised me and sat a steaming cup of coffee in front of me. Now to writing. But the problem still is what to write about. I could tell you about the lousey T.V. late show I didn’t watch last evening. But I don’t think you care one way or the other. I like to talk about my akes and pains and all my other troubles but I don’t think you would care to hear about them. Of course there are the things that happen around here that you can use to fill in space. Like for example I got up shortly after nine oclock yesterday morning, had breakfast. Then got to work on the screen door and one window sill tore the old screen off painted the doore and window screen. While it was drying I had lunch mowed the lawn by that time the paint was dry. With Mother’s help I put new screen on both doore and window screen and put new moulding on the doore it made a big emprovement. Before we was finished Uncle Clate come. It was the first time we had seen him for quite awhile. He gets around good he still uses the cane but says he could get along without it. I finished the doore and Mother made a lunch then Paul called and asked if he could use the car. His car was at the place he works he had come home in the truck for some reason I don’t know he invited us along. Mother did not feel like going. But Uncle Clate and I went along. Roots Market is not very far frome Lancaster. So after we got done shopping we took Uncle Clate home. All I got at the Market was two boxes of strawberries. So strawberry short cake for supper.

We spent fathers day at home except my going to church in the morning. Gerry and Jim come here after church. Mother kept Tommy for them they stayed and had dinner with us. Pete and his family stopped off for a little while. Geneviave was in the hospitle on mothers day. So she brought a big two layer cake topped with icing and strawberries for Mother and I. Pete give a cigarett lighter. Jim and Gerry give me two of those heavy mittens you use around cooking. Also a pair of big tongs to use to turn stakes and other meat on the grill. We spent last Tuesday afternoon and evening with Ethel. We had a nice time it was the first time we visited with Ethel for some time. I suppose Mrs. Light told you we have a new minister at Cornwall. Frome what I have seen of him I think I shall like him. Uncle Clate is going to Rev. Wilkensons church in Lancaster. It is late now I listened to the news on T.V. then we watched T.V. for awhile then I had a long chat with Uncle Gere. Then Paul and Geneveave come they brought the mail among it was a swell box of candy. I have made a big hole in it already. It is very good candy. Mother has gone to bed some time agoe. I will close now thanks so much for the candy. I wish for you and the girls a very happy and restful summer vacation. And that goes for you too Harold when your vacation comes up. Give Barbara a hug for Grandpa. Mrs. Light talked so much about her. She made me homesick for her. Give my Love to all, Dad

P.S. I hoap you understand my writing Problim now.

Note: Grandma kept her promise to write a letter if Grandpa did. See below.

Thursday morning, June 22

Dear Doris,

I will add a little to Daddy’s letter. I enjoyed your nice long letter to me. It was also good to hear your voice on the telephone. There is something about your enthusiasm for life and things you are doing, that gives a person a lift.

I think I used to have some of it too But I’ve lost it somehow.

Last week Ethel had her vacation and Daddy and I spent a very nice day with her.

One week we entertained half of the family to a barbecued chicken feast. We had 20 legs and 20 thighs and franks. I made baked potatoes in the oven also a big bowl of salad and cup cakes with marshm. icing for dessert cold lemonade and watermelon to finish with.

The next week we did the same thing for the other half of the family. Of course we set the table out in the yard. The one day was beautiful and cool. The other day we had to come in and finish because of rain.

Jim and Gerry are home hunting either to rent or buy. They would rather rent for a year or two but the rents are from $80 to $100 a month for anything desirable. So they really have a problem. Things are really hard for young people these days to get any kind of a start. Did we tell you that Allen has his Masters now and accepted a new job at Jeffsville for about $1,000 more a year. That should help them a lot.

I wrote a big letter to Aunt Ethel yesterday. I haven’t seen her for quite a while. She writes pretty often.

Peter and Allen and Jim are all working at the gap this summer. Allen has an office job I believe, and Jim and Peter are managers of the P.X. I guess Allen is in a different part of the place and probably won’t see the other boys at work.

We had a nice letter from Alice with 4 very good pictures of Timmy. Alice is feeling better now as she is over that morning sickness. I guess you do know there is a baby on the way again. It will be hard on Timmie as he will be so little too. But it will also be nice for him to have a little playmate. I hope Alice doesn’t have any complications. I think it is hard on her system to go thru so much in such a short time.

We are looking forward to seeing you when you come up this summer. I will close this so we can get it mailed soon.

Much Love, Mother