Jan 5 1961

Dear Dick & Dad:-
Just a note to thank you for our presents. I just wore out a pair of P.J.s so now I’m even again. If the weather gets any colder here I’m going to start wearing 2 pairs at a time just to keep warm. Ruth was glad to get the sheets as that is something we can always use. We want to thank you for them. We didn’t spend a lot for each other this year as there wasn’t anything that we wanted at this time. we were glad to get useful items which we both need and can use. Bill sent me a musical toilet paper dispense which I got a big kick out of. When yo pull the paper down it play a short skit of “Moulin Rouge” its real nice and I know you guys will get a kick out of it. (Just what we needed-Ha! Ha!@) [in his wife Ruth’s handwriting]

Ruths mother is getting along pretty good now, she is able to get up and around to do her own cooking etc. She was real sick just before Christmas and had us all worried. We didn’t have the gang for dinner on Christmas just Burch and our selves.

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Ruth cooked a small turkey with all the usal trimings and we enjoyed a nice day at home. We took Burch back down to his place about mid afternoon noon and then went on out to Gahanna for the rest of the day. Burch was real pleased with his presents he got socks, underware from Parkersburg, four cartoons of cigarettes and $19.00 in cash money Rodenfels sent him $10.00 which I thought was real nice of them. We were going to bring Burch up for the New Years week end but the weather was so “stinkin” that we didn’t go out at all. He called on the phone and we told him we would make it some other week end, besides he had all the football games and the Rose Parade to watch which is probably what he would have done if he were here. I spent New Years Eve overhauling Ruths clothes dryer “the heater element burned out” and I also installed a new garbage disposal unit in the

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sink, both units went out the Chirstmas weekend. (Wouldn’t you know?) [in his wife Ruth’s handwriting]

Ruth is out this evening, they are having their “Rebecca Installation tonight” She’s being installed in an office but I don’t know just what it is. She’s been doing a lot in Jobs Daughters latley and seems to like it real well.

I got through my “Past Masters” degree without to many “goofs” so from now on I can take it a little easier. Our inspection in Royal Archie is Jan. 26, but I’m not worrying about that to much as I’ve had the part of K.S. for 2 years now, just need to brush up a little for this one. And for the first time in a couple of years I can think about doing a few things I would like to do for just me. Maybe a few pictures, who knows?

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I just have 6 grape fruit left. So maybe you better send us another basket when you get around to it. The ones off your tree were really good, much larger and oh so good. I gave Lucile one, just one. I’m inclosing a check to pay for the ones you sent for Acia Putman and you can apply the balance on what you’ve sent is. I know it don’t cover the total cost but it will help.

We still have all Kens presents here, I suppose he will want us to send them on to Chicago as I don’t imagine he’ll be able to get down for the until Easter. (He said not to send them till he writes for them) [in Ruth’s handwriting down side of page]

Well I’ve said about all I can think of, maybe Ruth will want to dash off a few words when she comes in so I’ll leave here a little space.

Love H.O. & R.S.

[in Ruth’s handwriting at bottom of page]
I just got home from installation. I am doing the same office I had last year as are several others. Our new noble Grand is real sweet. We should have a nice year. Thanks for the sheets and pjs-and also the candies. We are going light on sweets for awhile, so I won’t open them till a little later. I know how good they are & I would be eating too much. We’ve been having to many cookies at receptions, fruit cake & etc here. So I’ve got to coast a while. Herman covered the news for now, so I’ll writing later. Please send more oranges they were so good. Love Ruth