1955 6 4 Irene Schnack to Vivian Cope

She didn't know it yet, but my mother was just four days away from my birth!  Aw, my dad wanted a girl!

I find it difficult to comprehend washing laundry in the bath tub.  And, even with her new washing machine, she rinsed her clothes in the bath tub?  Was that before or after the machine wash? 

The names in this letter and their relationship to my mother are:

• 'Viv' was Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, her sister-in-law
• 'Jake' was Walter J. Schnack, her husband
• 'Ma' was Olive Letha Rose Schnack, her mother-in-law
• 'Chuck' is Charles Elbert Rose
• 'Betty' is Elizabeth Ann Olmsted Rose
• 'Irene' was Irene Orvetta Cole Schnack

Wurzburg, Germany
June 4, 1955

Dear Viv and all,

We were real happy to receive your letter.  I got yours along with fourteen others.  I hadn't gotten my mail for about three weeks.

Jake got home Monday (30) morning.  I was sure glad to see him.  He has guard today, tonight, and tomorrow morning.  Monday is a holiday so he doesn't have to work.  Tuesday night he has guard again.  About the 14th he has to go to the field for three days.

I only have about two more weeks to go before the baby is born which will probably be four weeks instead.  I hope not.  Jake and I both want this baby to get here real bad.

I just gave the back of my right hand quite a burn with hot water.  It hurts to hold the pan and write but I have to get my letters answered.

When Jake came home, he brought me a new Parker 51 pen and a new camera.  It's an Agfa flash.  Real nice.  Now we can take pictures of the baby and all this pretty scenery over here.

I bought a new washing machine last

month.  It's a Blackstone and works real good.  I've found it's a lot easier with a machine than washing in the bath tub.  My middle got in my way.  I use the tub for rinsing still but that isn't so much leaning over.  The tub was $100.

Yesterday, I bought a new vacuum cleaner.  It's a Hoover with all the attachments.  I've already tried it and it works swell.  That was $32.50.

I was going to get a carriage but they were all out.  The next thing I want is a sewing machine.  We'd like to get it over here.  I want an Elna like yours but over here they only have Singer, Pfaff, and Bernina.

I got a yellow crib blanket from Camps.  Now I have three large blankets.  Roses sent two nighties that say "hug me", one yellow and one green, and a bib, washcloth, and pacifier.  I have plenty of diapers, nighties, and crib blankets now.  I was surprised to get diapers given me.  I have all the things ready to bring the baby home in and we have the crib.  It's one the government furnishes.  We didn't want to buy one as we hope to get a second hand one when we get home.

We are supposed to leave here Nov. 11th to come home by boat and will probably have to go straight to Ft. Riley, Kansas when we hit N.Y.C.  Jake has put in for government quarters there until we can find a place off post.  We thought that would be better than living in a hotel with a baby.

I'm not really fussy about whether I have a girl or boy.  I just want a healthy baby.  Jake is set on a girl, though.

By the sounds of yours and Ma's letters, you've been quite busy going back and forth from your own work to helping her and staying with Katie.

I'm glad to hear you folks are all in good health.  I can hardly imagine what a great change we'll see in the kids when we get home.

How do I like it here - well, it's great.  You'll probably think I'm crazy but I feel much closer to home here than I did in Kentucky.  I wish some of you folks from home could come over and see Germany.  I really can't explain it on paper.  It just seems like a real pretty country.  I'm planning on taking lots of color pictures while I'm here.  I think I will hate to leave when it comes November but Jake hasn't had any luck getting a transfer so we can stay here.

We'll be glad to see Chuck and Betty.  They are quite a ways from us though.  A lot further south.  We looked it up on the map.  I don't imagine Betty will be specialling me while I'm in the hospital, though.  I'm too healthy a gal for that.

I gained 1/2 pound last week, the first I've gained in three weeks.  I'm feeling real good - a lot better than I thought I would be by now.  I guess I'm doing a few things I'm not supposed to like carrying

groceries upstairs; that's only once a week because it's easier to do my shopping for a whole week.  It tires me to walk up the little hill I have, to get to the commissary.  I lug my wash up and downstairs, too.  Jake and my neighbor don't think too much of my carrying heavy things around but it doesn't seem to affect me so I'll probably go right on doing it.  Just because I'm pregnant, I can't get completely helpless.

I have a maid come in once a week to do the cleaning because moving furniture and mopping and waxing does bother me.  With the vacuum cleaner it will be a lot easier.  I pay her 5 marks ($1.25) a day.

I guess I've said all there is to say for now so I'll close hoping to hear from you soon.  The next time I write I'll have my little darling if he doesn't hold off too long and I hope not.  I want him in the crib and my arms where I can see him.

Love,
Irene and Jake

P.S.  Tommy is there, isn't he?
P.S.S.  There's no reason for anyone to worry about me as I'm the healthiest specimen you ever saw.  They are no old steins to be gotten over here anymore.