Monthly Archives: February 2009

Family matters

"I have told you a thousand lies I guess."

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The letters from my mom’s shoebox jump from 1918 to 1942. There was a good bit of migration from the Appalachian region to Detroit in the ’40s, and many of the remaining letters reflect that. This one has a dash of intrigue and a little romance, too. It’s one of my favorites.

Detroit, Mich
June 1, 1942

Dearest Mattie;

Will answer your letter I got Sat. It is the first chance I have had to answer it. I guess you have got the letter about Dixie Nell coming down there by now. I told her if she came back up here without you she was a goner. (Ha)

I would send this over where you stay but I don’t know where to send it. I guess you go home often though and you will get it anyway.

Dixie N is leaving here Sat., I guess you was glad to hear that. I was myself and I hope you are. I don’t know, but I just feel like sometimes that you won’t come or something like. I’m just crazy I guess. Well if nothing happens I’ll be seeing you about the 20th of this month. Boy I’ll bet you can’t get in the house under [illegible] and I gets through cooking and missing. We told Dixie we would get a blond to cook for us and boy does she blow up. You all had better hurry back or we might starve, you know we would before we get a blond, wouldn’t we? Maby we can make it if you all will hurry.

Say you are staying with Mack Tuck. Yes I know him. You live on the same street the hospital is on the lower side of the road, is that right? Maby it won’t be so hard to leave home now that you are already. They are lot of boys over there. I don’t know whether you are save over there or no? (Ha)

Mattie I love to hear you say I can trust you because I believe in you. I always have. I have told you a thousand lies I guess. You know it though. But not while I’m up here I haven’t told you a one. I had a few drinks Sat. is the first time. I’m not a sot like I usted to be Matter. I tell them I have to save my money to by baby …

[I think there must’ve been a page missing here]

… home [illegible] your myself if I had known it I could have left here Fri. night and got there the nixt night, but you can come with Dixie Nell and it will be all the same only I wish I could come with her.
Darling all I can tell you is that I’ll be waiting for you even forever, but I know you’ll be here. [illegible] that’s all there is to it. And please believe what I tell you. I quit lying long ago. I don’t lie, I guess lots of things to big sometimes, but I don’t guess when I talk to you.

Well I have to close now. Write to me everyday Mattie. I’ve just one letter in over a week. Please do.
Darling I love you and you and you

Your
[illegible, but my best guess is “Doug”]

Family matters

Two stories by Poppy

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Poppy frequently asks me to tell her a story, and I usually try to make up an adventure about a girl named Poppy and her brother Pete. This morning Poppy told me a couple of stories of her own, and I thought they were worth recording.

Once upon a time there was a girl named Poppy, and she was with her Mommy and Daddy, and she wanted a baby named Baby Addison, who was skinny. So her Mommy and Daddy took her to the grocery store, and Baby Addison was in a box. And they went up to the baby Addy, and they wanted a baby named Baby Addison, and she was in a box. And they wanted the right baby named Baby Addison, who had skinny hair. The baby lady brought Mommy and Daddy the right baby, who was named Baby Addison.

Lest you think we’re in the market for another child, Addison is the name of a friends’ baby.

I particularly enjoyed this story’s James Joyce-ian qualities. The second story has more of a Hemingway feel. It’s loosely based on some of the stories I’ve told Poppy, in which the kids ride their loyal puppies while they’re adventuring.

Once upon a time Pete was awake, and he rode on a puppy. But he didn’t know where to find Poppy, so he asked Mommy and Daddy. But Poppy was fishing, and she caught a fishy.

That’s the end.