Letters From New York
Monday 12th June 1967
Dear Mum,
Sweated on your letter which duly arrived on Thursday last and was pleased, as I imagine you all are, with the news of Margaret’s progress. Can imagine what a harrowing time you must all be going through – particularly the patient herself – and trust that this weeks bulletin will bring even better news of her progress. Modern medicine seems to be mad on getting the patient back on the feet at the earliest and its generally a good sign when the authorities start to permit the visitors to come a calling. Give her our love and best wishes and tell her she’s a damned sight better off getting rid of her troubles down there than over here. Nowhere is the saying “if the operation doesn’t kill you the bill will” more true than here in the land of the dollar.
We’re mad at Vince that he caused you such a long, fruitless trip down to Newtown last week and hope that the awaited letter has arrived in the meantime. Suppose you’re being kept pretty busy at “54” with your two boys and imagine you could have throttled Vic when he hung up the phone on Francis. Delighted that he was able to contact and have a talk with you later (as reported in Auntie Bern’s latest epistle). He went out to see them – typical of him that he should attend to those “chores” as soon as he arrived – but couldn’t stay long and promised to go out again with his family one evening. I’ve asked Bern to let you know when it's on so you can go too and see our new batch of slides and have a good chinwag. Glad Lindsay liked the present, but won’t hold my breath till his letter arrives! His last one was finished by Margaret and from the gist of the opening, he must have started it before Xmas last! Oh well – the intention’s the thing.
Have been rather lax myself in my letter writing of late and have quite a pile of it about me. However, one can’t be a busy worker and socialite as well as a chronicler of events and correspondent and I’m afraid it's the letter past times that have suffered. There’s been much activity (as usual, did I hear you say?) over the past week with rarely a dull moment. Have virtually decided to go up to Montreal (myself) for a few days in mid-July by Greyhound bus (the round trip costs less than $25.00) to take in Expo ‘67. Wrote on Monday last to the brother of an Australian friend who lives there and hope that he’ll be able either to put me up or find reasonable accommodation for the 3-4 days I expect to be away (will take a day or two “sick” to save my leave!!!). News filtering back to New York already suggests the crowds to be enormous and the waits to see exhibits very long indeed.
Got Brother Norbert out for dinner on Tuesday night and by slow process had him remembering me. ‘Tis all of twenty years since I was in his class but by the time the week was out, it seemed like only yesterday. He’s pretty well preserved at 72 and, as he said, he’s returning to Ireland to see his older brothers and sisters expecting to bury one or two of them during his three months stay. He’d spent some little time with the brothers Margaret visited in California and was here in New York – only 15 minutes drive from our place – for a week (staying with an Irish couple who are somehow related to him) before flying out last Saturday evening for Ireland. Had a very pleasant night with him on Tuesday and had him meet Jill and Greg. Me with he and the wrens on Friday at the U.N. and gave them a grand tour of the place after taking the three of them to luncheon. Norbert was tickled pink – one could see the interest and delight in his face – but completely overawed by the escalators on which the poor fellow was a nervous wreck. He was to have reported back to Bro. Rodan (& Glenn) by mail on leaving the States so imagine his letter is on the way.
Was taken out to lunch on Wednesday and mixed in with some movie types. Later on in the day saw Lorne Greene (of T.V. Bonanza fame at the U.N.) so am moving in distinguished circles. On Thursday night received quite a boon when I was invited as a guest to a private box at the Yankee Stadium to see a first class baseball match. Sat only three rows from the front above the Yankees dugout (i.e. fortress when they’re batting) and who comes to sit beside me but Joe Louis the ex World Heavyweight boxing champion – not bad eh! The baseball was fantastic and, as a visiting V.I.P. was given the run of the stadium and club facilities.
A quiet night on Friday, thank Heaven but on Saturday the whole family – with the Bartels – packed off to an International Festival held here in the Village where over 1,000 people enjoyed servings of food from many countries; dressed in national costumes and danced within an enclosed part of the streets. There was a mixed international concert of Phillipine, Indian and African dance groups, an American folk singer and a marvellous negro four piece band. Festivities went on until 1.00AM and I had to drag the boys away at 11.00PM after Joan and the littlies had gone earlier. Sunday, we were up at 7.00AM and off to the beach returning for a quiet afternoon at home about midday. After Mass at 6.00PM we had the Bartels over for an “at home” Barbecue on the front porch. The fare was excellent, even the kids voting me to be a pretty good cook.
Tonight we’re at home again. Joan is busy making a “monkey” suit (couldn’t be better named) for Phillip for the school breakup concert on Wednesday. Also we’re minding the baby son of our young Queensland friends who are having an overdue night out. Joan is still very much bothered by her back and legs & has developed a very bad right knee. Is too busy tonight even to write to Fivedock. Everyone else is in the pink – literally – and we hope this finds you the same.
Love and best wishes,
Bill