Thursday, February 8, 1945

Now it's Grandma's turn for birthday joviality!  I am always so shocked by her age.  She's only 23 years old and yet she's already done so much!

"Here it is my birthday and I am now 23 years old.  It doesn't seem possible.  I guess the years will fly by now."

Grandma and Grandpa exchanged practical gifts for their birthdays as they might spend their money on going out tonight.  Yes, it's Grandma's birthday but the most exciting news is about Grandma's friend Beverly.  She finally got married, but to a completely different man than the one she was engaged to!  

"Beverly was married Monday night.  She married another boy, not the one she was going to marry and couldn't make up her mind.  She took a ring from the other one but has sent tit back to him.  She was married at the Catholic Church.  He is a Catholic too.  He is aboard a DE and gets in about once every 6 months.  He will be leaving here about the 28th.  They both have 10 days leave now.  They are honeymooning over on Miami Beach."

Grandma only goes on to write that she can't decide what to give them as a wedding present.  I was expecting more fireworks from Grandma. She certainly got into a fine fiddle a couple of letters ago.  I guess we shall see in the next couple of letters or so.

Red still hasn't contacted Grandma and Grandpa yet, and she hopes he does, but they are pretty strict where he is stationed.

"As yet Red hasn't called me.  I hope he didn't come through here and couldn't get ahold of us.  I hear when they are at the Port of Embarkation that it is hard for them to get out.  They are on call at all time and they don't grant them liberty.  I hope he can get to a telephone and at least call me up.  I would like to have him meet Bud and also I would like to see him."

And now I am going to leave you with the last line of this letter.  It brought tears to my eyes.

"The war news certainly looks good.  I am hoping and praying that it will be over soon.  It will seem good to be a civilian again and Bud and I will be able to settle down and have our own home."

On May 25, 1945

Friday, February 2, 1945

February 2 is Grandpa's birthday.  Grandma is throwing a small dinner party and making one of her favorite cakes: Angel's Food cake.

"Today is Bud's birthday.  I got him a pair of pajamas and am trying to find him a pair of decent bedroom slippers.  We haven't got too much money to spend, but what I do have for him I want to be nice.  I baked him an angel's food cake last night and it came out perfect. ... I am still so thrilled at how well the cake came out that that is all I can think of.  Bud helped me make it -- he beat the eggs and that is what counts."

Grandma's old roommate Marvel is coming to Miami for a short honeymoon.  Grandma has not seen her since she left and she is so excited to see her.

"Tris (Marvel's Boyfriend) is in town.  He is getting leave on the 9th of this month and he and Marvel are going to be married.  They will be married the 12th and come down here on the 13th for a short honeymoon.  I am anxious to see Marvel.  She is going to wear a long white dress, but otherwise her wedding will be Navy style.  The Chaplain is going to marry them and her Commanding Officer is going to giver her away.  Her sister will be there to stand up with her.  Tris's Dad is going to be best man.  All of his boyfriends are in the service and are away so I think its is nice to have his father."

I love how she refers to this type of ceremony as Navy style.  Grandma and Grandpa's wedding must have been in the same vein.

It looks like a convention is coming to town.  Not only are Tris and Marvel heading to Miami, but Red is coming too!  Now Red is Marilyn's brother and we all remember Marilyn right?  Grandma's friend from back home who is always sickly and ends up marrying Grandma's old beaux?  Red is her brother and Grandma is anxious to see him!

"I got a letter from Marilyn.  Red told her to tell me that he will be here in Miami a few days before he goes overseas.  I am so anxious to see him.  He has my phone number and address so will get in touch with me when he gets here.  I am so anxious to see him.  I have been a little homesick and I want to see him badly.  I wish we could come home soon.  I am afraid it will be sometime in May.  That seems so far away."

I am praying that they get to see their families and friends soon.

On May 25, 1945

Tuesday, January 23, 1945

Great-Grandma Shannon is still trying to like she did when Great-Grandpa was alive.  According to Grandma, she is living well beyond her means and needs to quit feeding everybody but herself!

"You are going to have to move from that place as soon as possible.  Also you will have to quit feeding everybody & his dog & quit buying so many presents.  Bud's birthday is the 2nd of Feb and mine is the 8th, but we feel a nice long letter will be a swell present.  Don't buy us a thing."

This a very short and to-the-point letter, but I learned one thing about my Great-Grandma Shannon today.  Our spending habits are genetic.

On May 25, 1945

Monday, January 22, 1945

The Missoula new wire is hoppin!  Grandma starts out the letter with:

"There isn't much to tell you."

and ends 9 paragraphs later.  Well, one of the paragraphs is about her new fabulous diet so we can skip that one.

There is an awful lot of talk about Babies from Grandma and Grandpa.  You can tell Grandpa REALLY wants kids soon, but Grandma is the one pumping the brakes.

"Bud really like it when you said in your letter that you didn't think you would have an Xmas tree until your Robinson grandchild was there ot enjoy it.  I hope we will have one but I would like to wait a little while longer until we have money saved.  Bud says that things would work themselves out but I don't think we should have a child if we don't have a little money ahead."

Grandpa wants those babies so bad!

Not all of the news was good news.  One of their neighbors passed away and Grandma wants Great-Grandma to reach out to their family especially the grieving widow.  The widow is not handling it well, and Great-Grandma would know how to comfort her best.

"Did you see Laura when she was there for Mr. Crain's funeral?  By the way, did you send any flowers o his funeral?  You know, Bud and Laura sent flowers to Daddy.  I understand that Mrs. Crain has taken it very hard.  Why don't you call her up.  I know that I should write to her and I believe that I will.  Mr. Crain was always so nice to me.  Cancer is a terrible thing.  He didn't know he had it.  Nunnie was the only one who got home and he got there before his father died.  I guess Mr. Crain went to pieces when he saw Nunnie.  Nunnie has been in a lot of action and he is only 20 years old."

It is always shocking when the circle of life continues when a war is on. 

On May 25, 1945

Monday, January 15, 1945

Now Grandpa's starting in on the whole advice escapades.  Rather, Grandma is telling her mother that Grandpa said for Great-Grandma to move into a smaller place so that she will FINALLY listen to reason.

"Mother, Bud told me to be sure and tell you to move if you get a chance.  Don't wait for us to come home.  He feels that you are spending too much money and that you should move.  I know you are in a very convenient place and hate to think of your having to move into something real small.  Be sure to get a place where you can cook and won't have to take your meals out.  You might be able to get something near the Zehs."

Grandpa has also given Grandma the advice on becoming Lutheran.  Now I am totally biased, but that is the best move Grandma ever made.  Growing up Lutheran, and growing up in my church, made a hug impact on me,  Essentially we are Catholic light or also know as Catholic without the guilt.  It's pretty frickin sweet.

"Oh yes, we went to church.  We got to church every Sunday.  Bud wants to have me start taking instructions so I guess I will and will join his church.  That is one of his very strong desires and I know he will be very happy when I become a member."

Church is something you can always come back to.  That community is always there.  When we went to their church in St. Louis for Grandpa's funeral, it was standing room only in the back.  I don't remember ever going to church there but I was quite young when he passed. The snippets of the service that I recall were beautiful but I remember the limo ride to and from the cemetery more than the service.  Eight year olds remember the oddest things.

On May 25, 1945 

Friday, January 12, 1945

They finally received a letter form Great- Grandma Shannon!  It gave updates about her first Christmas by herself and how things are faring for her in Montana.

"We got a big long letter from you yesterday.  Your Xmas seemed to be very nice. I know it is hard for you without Daddy and I am so glad that you got through OK.  I only wish I would have been able to be there.  Now I think you had better go ahead and look for a place and if you can find a cheap enough one whey go ahead and move in.  I know that you hate to move but you may need your money later.  When Bud and I come home I know we will be able to stay with someone.  Maybe you can get a a place with a davenport that we can sleep on or something.  We hope to be home sometime in the spring.  Don't spend your money foolishly.  Bud and I are starting to really scrimp now.  Every time I want to spend some money why Bud says, "Do you want to go home?" and then I don't spend the money.  I also do like wise with Bud."

Grandma and Iare amazing people to receive advice from, just ask us.  Especially when we were in our twenties.  We knew everything about everything.

Grandma received news from friends back home.  It sounds like they had a high old time over the Holidays.  

"I got a letter from Marilyn the other day and here is what she said.  "New Year's eve Evelyn told me that we could bring any friends we wanted to her house.  Well, Louis Dwight called up and George and Lola Lawrenceson were with him so they went with us.  Also, a sailor from Kalispel and a friend of his went with us.  It seemed a little like old home week. We really had a wonderful time."

They even go to a Hollywood party and meet one of Bing Crosby's directors.

"Later on in the evening I went with Louis and Lola and George up to a producer's apartment.  I met a lot of movie people including Bing Crosby's director.  From there we went to Louis' brother's home You ought to see hims home.  It is really beautiful."

I think I just figured out that Marilyn is out in Los Angeles due to reading ahead in the letters, because I originally thought now what is Bing Crosby's director doing up in Missoula, Montana? 

On May 25, 1945

Tuesday, January 2, 1945

Happy New Year, 1945!  They finally got their packages form my Great-Grandma and Great Aunt Peggy.  Grandma went onto describe in full detail what the package entailed.

"We received the package form you, Peg, with the candy, perfume, and shaving soap and powder."

I understand letting people know that you are grateful for the items you have received, but the endless lists just drives me bonkers.  I guess when I incessantly plan things months to years in advance that could push some other people's buttons as well.  Well, moving on!

Now there is further news in the Beverly wedding saga.  We are back on!

"Well, I guess Beverly is going to be married after all.  She got a ring for Xmas.  She will marry the same boy.  They are both Catholics and are now waiting for the wedding to be announced in their churches.  She isn't telling everyone until she is sure, so don't send her a present until I tell you to, because I don't trust her anymore.  When she is married I will believe it, but I will have to go to the wedding to be sure."

Grandma always liked for the facts to be laid out in front of her. Heaven Forbid a plan change.  She did have one little last bit of information for my Great- Grandma and Aunt.

"I didn't feel good last night and went to bed.  I fooled you, Peggy, I had the cramps real bad.  You won't be an Aunty or a Grandma yet.  I wish you were but no soap yet.  In a way I hope that Bud and I can get home once when we are both (out of) the Navy."

Grandma has a couple more years yet before she becomes a mother!

On May 21, 1945