Letters From New York
APARTMENT C,
144-47 Charter Road
Jamaica. 35.N.Y. U.S.A
5th December, 1966
Dear Mum,
Killing two birds with the one stone here and am enclosing your Xmas card with the weekly epistle. Actually, we’ve had it really to go for some weeks but had the seeds of doubt planted in our minds when the U.N. postal authorities then said it might not get to you in time, and decided to hold it back and ship it airmail to be sure. Would prefer of course to be sending the greetings in person – Xmas, somehow won’t be the same but you can rest assured we’ll all be with you in spirit if not in body. The variety of Xmas cards available over here is enormous – we’ve discovered we’ve sent out something like 85 – and the display in W’worths really has to be seen to be believed.
If my writing hand seems a little shaky, it’s simply because I’m just beginning to thaw out after a freezing weekend. Friday, it began to get cooler and we woke on Saturday morning to the radio announcement that the city temperature was 17° – with a promised high only up to 20+ °. We apparently got the rake off from some very early (and heavy) snow-falls in Michigan, Wisconsin etc. and worse was to come. Though Saturday was very cold, Sunday dawned with the temp. down to 16° and I nearly had my ears frozen off on the way to church. Greg had warned me of this possibility and you n\may not believe it that, as I made the warmed Church, my ears were actually aching with the cold. The “freeze” persisted all day – a pre-winter spell of winter so the experts called it (it was supposed to be January weather) – and though we had quite noticeable snowflakes on Friday (insufficient to accumulate) there developed no snow. Puddles, however, iced over, icicles formed where water dripped and the insides of the windows iced up. Greg and Jill, doing their Xmas shopping, saw a fountain, still flowing, but with the expelled water frozen stiff.
Despite it all, the crazy Dwyer’s went out on a window shopping spree on Saturday morning (all of us) as, with only 18 shopping days left till Xmas, to give the kids a chance to make their selections. The variety, of course, was enormous and minds were firmly made up only to be broken at the very next counter. We came back with many conflicting ideas – Mum and Dad abhorred by the likely cost of it all – but some sound reasoning out that afternoon and yesterday the position is ALMOST resolved. Top o’ the list is a communal (and very necessary) sled which will likely cost about $10.00; Anthony’s settled for bits & pieces for a battery operated car set he scored on his birthday; Phillip decided (?) on a mechanical set of boxers; Cathy went for perennial doll and accoutrements (the range of dolls and little domestic things e.g. electric stoves; washers; dryers; irons; hair dryers etc. etc – all of which actually work! – is phenomenal); Michael for an animal game and a carload of zoo animals and, of course, Jenny had no say – but plenty of advisers. With all these instructions Joan sailed off alone yesterday afternoon – yes! Sunday shopping – and bought a ton of stuff (mainly little do-dats for the children of friends – about 10 in all) for $10.00. Tonight, I’ve let her loose with Jill to get the big stuff and hope our troubles will now be over – till Xmas 1967.
Delighted to hear of your weekend away and pleased it was so enjoyable. Can imagine Margaret fussing about for her visitors and particularly her dear old mother and big son. As for Joan & Ron, well, like us, I think it’s definitely vital to get to see something more than the local surroundings when you’re in a new place – and this, aided by Greg and Jill and so many others – has been the secret of our “success” here – thus far. Glad to hear Glenn’s exams went well (I must drop him a line!) and hope the results come up to his expectations. I’m due to sit for my French exams next week but afraid that, even if I was given the paper tonight to study I still wouldn’t pass. As always, however, I’ll be in there hoping that the age of miracles hasn’t passed.
No doctor for Joan! She works on the misguided policy of time & nature being the best healer. The back’s pretty good; it comes at her occasionally only, but the toe’s as black as the ace-o-spades. She says it’s giving her no trouble and there’s no sign of the nail lifting, but we’re keeping it under observation. Better tell Margaret to take a firm hold of herself; after a break from routine is the answer! If she keeps up the pace she won’t be fit enough to enjoy the good life they’ve been building for themselves over the years. Interested to hear of the return of the prodigal and trust that things are on the improve. Bad luck you won’t get to see the youngsters – would like to say “mother knows best”, but can’t bring myself to do so! Did she pass on any news as to how they’re doing. No doubt the thought of them is always a source of worry to you.
Can’t imagine how I’m down to the end of page 2 (and my writing’s becoming awful) – I just seem to ramble on. Slap my hand if I’m boring you. No more teeth either in or out for the children, though Cathy has another loose and the first of her two front teeth poking through. Jennifer’s are at her still – she’s now sporting two bottom teeth ( as I think I probably told you last week. She’s had a few restless nights of late (as has Joan, of course) and has developed a cold & sore throat over the weekend. Despite it all she’s still as chirpy & mischievous as ever but, whereas we really expected her to walk by Xmas, this may now be delayed. ‘Twould take pages to tell you all about her – she’s proving a constant source of delight to all of us and to everyone with whom she comes into contact. Michael, too, has had a cold which has confined him to the house, but he’s on the improve now & was not seriously indisposed. Anthony’s developed a croaky voice but otherwise is fit. Phillip and I are in the best of good health but often at loggerheads as I detect Vince appearing in him – poor Vince, he gets blamed for everything!
Growing busier at work, but I prefer it that way and really don’t seem to have too much time spare at home either. Find the days are flittering by and they’ll probably go faster after Xmas is done! Had the experience of luncheon with the Sears man last week another instance (like Westpoint) of people & places that have been merely names for so many years coming suddenly to life. Finding anywhere & everywhere that the mere mention of my being Australian “defrosts” the other person and opens so many doors and opportunities. The car’s going beautifully and, on Friday morning, I go for my driver’s test. Hope I can pass and become less reliant on my friends.
Can’t remember whether I told you of the Bishop’s withdrawal of the Friday fish–eating requirement – it’s been left optional, much to the fishmongers’ chagrin, from last Friday though we’ve been allowed meat because of the festive occasions for the past three weeks. Next Thursday we have a Holy Day over here – the Immaculate Conception – so hope we don’t get a 16° morning. The children are still attending religion classes twice a week, but we’re not particularly impressed either with the approach (there seems to be an aura of unwantedness about the thing) nor what they’re being taught. Indeed, were it not for the probabilities of Cathy making the Communion class & Anthony the Confirmation group, we’d be tempted to withdraw them. Of school, generally, the news is still good and they seem to be going along famously. Cathy’s improved out of sight and the boys are spoken very highly of. Anthony has scored (by popular vote from the class) the leading role of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Xmas play. They break up on 16th for 2 weeks!
Something tells me I should give your eyes and ears a break, so will sign off my contribution. If she gets home early enough from the shops will have Joan give you the womens news. Till the next time, then, lots of love & every best wish, from
Your loving son
Bill
Xxxxxxxxxx
Dear Mum,
I am just home (10:30 pm) & still have not finished. The game Phillip wants is very hard to get, so I’ll be off again early in the morning to see if I can pick it up for him. Jenny is a bit hard to buy for. I am very tempted to buy her a baby doll (I know she is a bit young for a doll) they are so cheap and beautiful I thought it might be nice for her to have one to keep from America, anyway I will see what I can get tomorrow.
You might ask Margaret if she has been invited to Mr Cornock’s daughter’s Wedding. If so she might look for Jill Bartels Mother there (Mrs Coy) Jill was saying tonight that her Mother is going. Would be nice for them to meet.
The Rogers family are spending Christmas Day at Collaroy. Kerry & Joyce are having a holiday there so the family (what there is at home) are going there to join them. This is the first time in about 35 years Mum has not had to cook Christmas Day & have dozens of visitors. Next year she will have Neil & Brian & his family home, so it won’t be quite so bad. What are you doing Christmas Day? I hope you will be spending it with Margaret.
Well Mum, it is now 11 o’clock & I’m pretty tired so think I’ll turn in. Hope the summer not too hot for you.
All our love
Joan & children
Xxxxxx
Axxxxxx
Pxxxxxx
Cxxxxxx
Mxxxxxx
Jxxxxxx