Letters From New York
20th May 1968
Dear Mum,
Cheating slightly as I’m commencing this weekly epistle at the office so as to steal a march. Yours duly arrived last Sat. morning and delighted to find you still in good fettle. My head cold which I may have reported to you last week developed into quite something by late Tuesday afternoon when I was driven home in a state of collapse and put on an antibiotic by the doctor for a throat and sinus infection. Spent all day Wednesday in bed and, feeling very much improved went off to a baseball match in the evening (to Joan’s dumbfounded horror & disgust) and to work on Thursday where I became progressively worse. Home again to bed on Thursday night and to the doctor on Friday where the malady was now diagnosed as acute bronchitis and sinusitis requiring more antibiotics and bed rest for 2-3 days. Very much improved by midday yesterday and back to work this morning though getting slightly weaker as the day’s worn on and the pressures mount.
So much for that – all other members of the household are fit and well and Joan has been her usual tower of strength in getting me back on my feet and looking after the organisational problems of packing. The two baby girls are sporting enormous sores on their left arms from the smallpox vaccinations but don’t seem to be unduly inconvenienced by it all. There’s an element of night time coughs and splutters about but nothing to be concerned about – touch wood. Generally, the kids have been pretty good and are now beginning to look forward with relish to going home.
Some form of disaster with the trip home arrangements this afternoon when the Matson Line wrote us saying that the sailing date from San Francisco has been put back to June 8th, requiring us to spend two extra days in ‘Frisco and so arrive in Sydney on Sunday 30th June. We’re caught like the ham in the sandwich but an extra couple of days in ‘Frisco, though expensive, won’t be so hard to take. Have lined up people to meet and look after us everywhere we stop so hope not to be too inconvenienced. Our first shipment of goods has been delivered to the pier today and is due to be despatched on Thursday (thus should reach Sydney about a week before us). We’ve also shipped two trunks and a suitcase to San Francisco (and the boat) by rail today so we’re pretty well organised. Had a quick trip out shopping tonight with Joan and I purchased a couple of suits and a blazer & jacket – becoming quite extravagant.
Note that the “prodigal” has returned North and that you seemed to relish his short stay with you. He seems to have waxed somewhat homesick. You, for your part, never did tell us why he was down – was it annual holidays or a business trip? Seems your Mothers Day went over quite successfully and 57 must have seemed like the “do Drop Inn”. Pleased Bern got over to see you – she wrote recently that she’s try but has been quite busy as usual.
We ourselves had quite a hectic week, what with my illness, the packing etc., etc. I went to the baseball on Wed. night principally because I’d been given free V.I.P. tickets (a private box) and was able to fulfil a promise made some time ago to Anthony & Phillip that I’d take them before we left. We had a good night and the boys loved it. Then on Thursday night we were invited to a party at the home of some English friends but I had to decline and Joan went along with the Bartels. Saturday, we had another baseball day on and with me having to decline – I was again the recipient of good quality free tickets – and sent Anthony & Phillip out for the afternoon with our Queensland friend. Again, they had a ball.
Sunday, we were guests at the Travis wedding when their eldest daughter Toni was married to a Yale University graduate in Art. It was a simple affair – Presbyterian ceremony set in idyllic surroundings in park and woodland area and only about 50 guests. Had a wonderful dinner afterwards at a waterside restaurant and imagine the deal must have cost poor Art a fortune.
So goes the news. Will, as usual, leave the back to Joan. Will try to write next week.
Love,
Bill
Dear Mum,
Believe it or not we are almost on our way. We are all very excited with only 8 days to go. Michael asks every day “how many more days now”. Your big boy has been very sick but is well on the mend now, as long as he looks after himself. We seem to be back to Winter today it has been very cold, last Friday it was 80° & today it was 50° & very windy. Nice to hear you had a good Mothers Day. You will have to push the walls out next Mothers Day with this gang back again.
God bless, all my love,
Joan