The family members in this letter and their relationship to my mother are:
- 'Ma' was Olive Letha Rose Schnack, her mother-in-law
- 'Jake' was Walter J. Schnack, her husband
- 'Cindy Lou' or 'Cindy' is Cindy Lou Schnack Arsenault Coffell, her daughter
- 'Pa' was Jochim Walter Schnack, her father-in-law
- 'Eddie' was Edward Alexander Schnack, her brother-in-law
- 'mother' was Ruth Elma Harder Cole, her mother
- 'Viv' was Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, her sister-in-law
February 16, 1956
Dear Ma and all,
I've been meaning to write now for about three weeks but just couldn't seem to get around to it. I have been quite busy and so has Jake. I have started taking in sewing and washings. Jake does most of the ironing. I have to sprinkle some fatigues this afternoon for him to iron tonight. Maybe I'll get around to doing a few myself. It is a nasty day out today and if it clears up this afternoon, I'm going to take a walk downtown with Cindy Lou to the post office. We got our income tax return so Cindy Lou got her high chair and a stroller. They are nothing extra fancy but are new and just as good as the most expensive. Her high chair is a plain wooden one with an adjustable sliding tray and adjustable foot rest. It can be made into a youth chair. Her stroller is heavy cotton twill with a shopping bag and a shade. I wanted a metal high chair but they are more expensive as are the strollers that lean back that I wanted. I have to get money orders made out for what we still owe Pa on the garage bill and what
we owe my mother for back and future life insurance.
The other couple who live with us are looking for a cheaper place to live and, boy, am I ever glad. We will rent the extra rooms out then. We will have four rooms to rent. And rooms are needed bad here.
How is Eddie making out with IBM? Does he like it?
We can't get another casserole set so we'll send you a Revere whistling tea kettle. We haven't forgotten, it just takes time to be able to get out shopping. I usually go right after payday and then not again for another month. I have been going out to the hospital so often that I'm rather sick of it. But now Cindy is well again, for awhile anyway. I should knock on wood though. Something else is sure to come up soon because she is starting to get a cold. This is sure good weather for it, too. First its nice and warm, then it gets chilly and rainy.
It's 11:30 now. I guess it won't clear up any today but the first nice day, I'll go down and get Pa's money off to him.
I started this before dinner; maybe I can get it finished tonight.
I just put Cindy Lou to bed and Jake is ironing fatigues.
Last night, I started letting Cindy Lou
feed herself. She still has no teeth but she's eating from the table and likes it better than baby food. She sure makes a mess of herself, too, but I have to expect that. She gets baby food mornings and noons and baby food pudding for supper unless we have a dessert. She loves raw apples. I don't know how she chews things up so good without teeth but she does. It sure made me feel good to see her feed herself. She holds a spoon in one hand and eats with the other and gets food in her hair, eyes, all over her face, and high chair tray. It won't be long and she'll throw it on the floor.
Jake is taking a one year G.E.D. college test so he gets home earlier. Rather, he has been taking it; today was the last. Since it didn't clear up today, I took the car after he got home and went to the post office for the money orders so now I guess we are even with you.
I will close for this time. I have to write my mother and Viv. She says she has more clothes for Cindy Lou if
I want them and I sure do. The less I have to spend, the better.
Love,
Irene, Jake, and Cindy Lou
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