Lots of snow and ice – Dave’s brother fell through ice several times. They talk about a previous visit, and Ruth is continuing with her classes at the National Training School for Certified Nurses.
January 14, 1935
73 Brookline Avenue
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
Please note the date, I almost forgot. I’m sorry to say that I am breaking a promise, but I feel it would be rather a mean trick to make one little stamp go places in a big envelope all alone. What do you think? I trust that you will forgive me this time and I’ll try not to let it happen again. (The promise being that I wouldn’t write to you this week.)
There is a rumor about, that the telephone poles between here and Middleburg are very discourteous. They won’t even move so a guy can pass. There is nothing to do but hit them.
So this is Florida? Wow! I think next year I’ll try Alaska, it can’t be much worse than Albany. I nearly froze my left ear today, only I didn’t stay out long enough. Believe me, when I get a pain in my ear, it is a darned big one.
Probably you are busy this week chopping holes in the ice so you can fall in. I thought you wanted to borrow my bathing suit.
My pin has to go back to the company. I won’t lose it for a little while yet at least.
I stopped to see Lydia tonight and she was in bed. Me thinks she can’t take it. Every time she gets ready to snatch a nap, I come along and torment her.
I hope you got home o.k. last night, at least you weren’t here for breakfast.
You didn’t tell me what your brother said about the kitten. Did he think he was cute or didn’t he get a chance to see it? I told you I would send a cat, but not Joe.
My eyes refuse to stay open, so I’ll be hanging up.
Ruth
P.S. Thanks for the use of the stamps. Did you see anything of a stray bracelet?
January 17, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dear Ruth,
I am glad you did reconsider your promise not to write. You know it is a long time from Sunday to Sunday and a letter in between helps to make it shorter. Anyway that stamp would no doubt have got lost if it had been all alone in the envelope.
Envelope, front
Who is responsible for all of the inscriptions on the back of the envelope?1 I rather think it was Lydia. Did you give the letter to her to mail? And how come it was written the 14th and mailed the 16th?
We arrived home safely Sunday night or rather Monday morning 5 a.m. in spite of all the telephone poles. The snowplow had been thru all the way ahead of us. It has been snowing and blowing here all morning so we didn’t work today. I haven’t fallen in yet
Envelope, back
this week but my brother created a record for himself by falling in three times Tuesday. He kept Mother busy drying clothes for him.
Francis stopped here on his way home from work last night. Had quite a struggle with him to make him stay for supper but I finally succeeded. Also tried to convince him he needed a dog in his gas station but I couldn’t put that over. Guess I’ll have to talk to Lydia about that. I don’t seem to have much luck in getting rid of a couple of cats and a dog.
I hope you can make out this scribbling but I’m afraid you will have quite a time. I’m sitting as near the stove as possible trying to keep warm. I must say this is unusual weather for this naturally sunny land.
Yes I found a stray bracelet. I’ll trade it to you for that pin when you get it back.
How did the exam go Tuesday? You probably came thru with flying colors. Did you go out with Ruth Distell? Better behave yourself if you do and don’t let me smell any cigarette smoke on your breath.
I’ll have to stop and get this letter out or the mailman will be gone. I’ll be seeing you Sunday barring collisions with poles and deep snow.
Thanks for the letter. I’m sending the stamp right back.
Dave
Footnote
- Note there is no street address or ZIP code on the envelope! ZIP codes (an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan) were introduced nationwide in 1963, and their use was encouraged. Prior to this, the US Post Office Department implemented the use of postal zones for larger cities in 1943. The last two digits of the 5-digit ZIP code contained this zone (example, Albany 10, New York). In 1967 the ZIP code was mandatory for 2nd and 3rd class bulk mail, but adopted generally for all mail.