Monday, June 26, 1944

Grandma know what's best for everyone, and heaven help you if you step out of line.  Not only does she have an entire paragraph for my Great Aunt Peggy, but she also reserved the postscript for her.

"Please let me know when to expect you.  After all, I think you owe me that much.  I have a lot to do to get ready for you and then you don't let me know what yo do. That makes me good and mad and I think I shall bawl you out when you get down here -- if ever."

"Remember Peg, I am your sister & I think I should come first in your plans, rather than everyone else & me last. B.S."

It does not help Grandma's cause that her initials are B.S.  

Most of my gumption, if not all, came from Grandma Robinson.  I've known how to speak my mind even before I knew how to talk.  Despite all of the positives of speaking one's mind, snottiness has a tendency to sneak in.  Eventually, you learn how to control it, and wield it only to make a point.  Grandma feels however that Great Aunt Peggy is deserving of such treatment because she will not follow Grandma's plans.  Did I also mention that this is the BIRTHDAY letter Grandma sends to Great Aunt Peg?

Thankfully Grandpa finds her willingness to voice her opinions charming.  I know they got into arguments, but what healthy couple doesn't argue from time to time?  Grandma and Grandpa found the people that they could each put up with each other's crap.  When you find that one person, hold onto them for dear life.

"Bud is taking me out to dinner and dancing tonight.  We heaven't been doing much of that lately, so I have a new white suit and am going to dress up in that and we are going to have a real nice evening.  He is really wonderful to me and we have such a good time.  He isn't a very good looking boy but he is a good boy and I know you would like him a lot.  He puts himself out to do anything I want to do.  He doesn't have any bad habits either.  He doesn't smoke at all, and he has real nice hands."

Grandma held onto those hands until the day Grandpa died.  She knew she found a gem, her gem.  A person who is patient and kind.  The type of person all us loud mouthed women need.  They complemented each other, and made all the sense in the world.

On April 23, 1944

Tuesday, June 20, 1944 - Wednesday, June 21, 1944

Grandma's lecture for Great Aunt Peggy couldn't just take up THREE letters oh no.  Grandma had to stop half way through the third letter and carry it through to the next day!

"I don't see why you have to stay for the wedding.  After all,Peg, the summer will be over before you know it and then you more than likely never got here.  If I were you I would take the train from Chicago on down here."

The lecture starts on one day and then starts on another and continues for about half a page.  She reiterates her arguments from the earlier letters and tells Great Aunt Peggy to take the City of Miami train again.  The City of Miami train was a seven-car coach streamliner inaugurated by Illinois Central Railroad on December 18, 1940.  Its route was from Chicago to Miami, a total distance of 1,493 miles.  Apparently, Grandma absolutely adored her trip on it.  I believe Mom mentioned that Grandma and Grandpa met on the City of Miami train.  Maybe that's why she's so gung ho about Great Aunt Peggy riding on it.  Maybe she thinks it will give Great Aunt Peggy the same luck with men. 

 Speaking of Grandpa Robinson, this is the first letter where he's given more than a cursory sentence.  I adore the detail that Grandma gives about him because those are the same details I would notice about a man.  I probably would not want to reject him outright for the potential of lost hair, but it makes me giggle.

"I am going to lunch with Bud today.  It is just about time to go.  I haven't had another date with anyone but Bud since I have been back. He is a nice boy and I like him quite a lot, but I don't think it is the real thing, cause he is going to lose his hair someday, and I have to think that over.  He has real nice hands though.  We took some pictures at the beach Sunday, so I am sending them on to you.  They didn't all turn out but the ones that did aren't good either.  I thought you would like to see them though."

She's questioning their entire relationship over whether he will lose his hair or not! HAH!

Bud and Betty at the Beach

On April 14, 1994

 

Thursday, June 15, 1944

The control planning continues.  Grandma needs Great Aunt Peggy to visit her.  She starts her control planning process by admonishing Aunt Peg for following orders.

"Peggy, please come as soon as you can.  I am getting so anxious to see you and I want to have you come down here while the weather is still good. ... We can really have a wonderful time, and there are a lot better looking guys down here than there are at home, and even better that the Sergeant. ... Also, get your reservations made as soon as possible.  Now, I'm not kidding about that, so you do it as soon as you get this letter, if you haven't already done so.  There is nothing to be afraid of on the train, Peg, no one will but you.  If I have been able to come down here by myself on the train 3 times and gone up on the train once and flown once and came through OK, so you can do it and do it soon!"

There was much more to the paragraph above.  Grandma essentially reprimands Great Aunt Peggy, then cajoles her, and then ends with what she hopes is a motivational speech.  Grandma then plays her trump card, and finally reveals her genuine motivations behind the whole control planning travel situation.

"All the kids have been getting presents for their Dad's and it hurst me that I can't send him anything.  I wish you could hurry up and get down here, Peggy, for that one reason, so I can talk to someone about it.  I don't like to talk to the other kids because ti makes them uncomfortable and they don't want to listen to my troubles."

Losing her Father made Grandma's control planning go into over drive.  She could not control the events surrounding her Father's passing, so she's trying to control what she can.  Thankfully she is staying busy in her office and Grandfather keeps taking her to the movies.

"I havent been doing much.  Tuesday night I had the watch so I had to stay in and so I cleaned the room, washed all my clothes and ironed.  Thrilling, isn't it?  Last night I went to the show with Bud and Andy."

I don't know who this Andy cat is, but I think Grandma and Grandpa end up living with him.  Also, I believe the show she mentions is the movies, but knowing the 40s it could also be a floor show.  I think I like envisioning her and Grandpa going to a floor show rather than a dark movie theater.  It's glamorous.  

At least Grandma has my Grandpa and she was able to verbalize what was wrong.  That doesn't mean my Grandmother isn't still annoyed that my Great Aunt Peggy didn't follow orders.

"Don't stay for Ruth's wedding.  It will be over in 10 minutes & then what good did it do you - just make you mad you're still single."

Sister's really know how to cut to the chase.

On April 8, 1944

Tuesday, June 13, 1944

Plans are like crack to me.  I plan everything months in advance, right down to every last napkin ring. When I was a child these plans would never come to fruition because as a child you are never in control of your schedule.  No one would follow the strict guidelines and paths I set them on in order to achieve these amazing jaunts we were never going to jaunt about on.  Did I mention I read a lot of British adventure stories as a child?  Essentially these plans I dreamed about for months always fell down about my ears.  Losing all feeling of control over this harsh cruel world known as my uncooperative family members, I would inevitably lose my tiny tot shit.

As I grew older, I discovered something wondrous and universe altering.  With every failed plan, it enabled me to contrive more convoluted and intense plans.  They usually had more details that I had to iron out and when those failed, it meant that I got to add on more detail.  As I write these words, my pulse is quickening and my brain is whirring.  For instance, if you ask me to plan a menu, but you want to have input, that's cute.  Along those same lines, if you try to change my menu, you will fail.  I know how this meal's taste sensations will work together down to the last candied flower.  In reading these letters, I discovered today that this too is a genetic trait.

Grandma's control planning category was travel arrangements, especially if you were coming for a visit.

"Peg, I wish you would tell me the exact date you are going to be here so I can arrange things.  I'd like for you to get here by the 1st of July if possible.  Now, when you buy your ticket, try to arrange so you can leave Chicago on the City of Miami streamliner.  Get your reservations for both ways.  Also, plan to stay here at least a month.  Make your reservations thru Missoula station.  When you get {to} Chicago stay at the Stevens Hotel.  That is close to the depot you leave to come down here."

Grandma gives Great Aunt Peggy exact instructions on how to make her transfer work in Chicago.  Some people might call it controlling, well, I do too, but it really is a way to show we care.  I know how to plan this out and make it as easy as possible for you.  We have your best interests at heart.  Could we sound more like Big Brother?

Big Brother from 1984 dir. Michael Radford

On April 1, 1944...