(Note: Like most of us, Aunt Martha made a few spelling errors in this letter. However, I probably made more in typing it! I just let them all “autocorrect”.)
February 24, 1988
Dear Colleen,
Your letter came today. I will tell you a secret, I had forgotten who owed who a letter. In fact, it has crossed my mind several times lately that I should write to you, for I really didn’t know who wrote last. You do not need ever to apologize for being slow about writing. You have a ways to go yet, on that line, before you can catch up with your old aunty. I think if they gave prizes to the worst correspondent, I would win hands down.
This leaves me busy, and happy, and as well as an eighty-five-year-old lady has any right to be. I had a physical check-up just recently and the doctor did not find a thing wrong with me…except of course, my arthritis, which is gradually gaining on me. I do not get around a lot anymore; on my good days I walk with a cane, on my bad days I use a walker. I have a feeling that if I live a few more years I shall (graduate?) to a wheelchair.
But I do not let that thought worry me. I shall cross that bridge when I come to it. In the meantime, there’s lots of things I can still do, and I manage to stay busy and very well content with my lot.
(I left out a very personal exchange between them about a family matter. I didn’t feel it was appropriate to share since this was not written to me.)
Well, you want to hear about my cruise and if I could only be with you, I would probably talk your ears off. It was really a wonderful experience. I am sending you one of the pictures that was taken of us and the folder which shows a picture of the ship*. The Star Dancer is by far the largest ship I’ve ever seen. She has a crew of 435 people and capacity for 1,400 passengers and she was full on that cruise. If you have watched the show, “Love Boat”, you can imagine something about what it is like to spend 7 days aboard, pampered and waited on like we were royalty. Luxury the likes of which we poor folks had never known (but oh how easy it would be to become addicted).
We docked at three different parts in Mexico and so we went ashore and toured some Mexican cities. Did some souvenir shopping, and just generally enjoyed ourselves. I saw quite a bit of Mexico and the people. Some evidence of wealth, mostly poverty and people who have been kept in ignorance and who are far behind our own country in progress. I came home very thankful that I live in the good old U.S. A. I could tell you so much about the cruise, but its hard to write it all down. Oh, yes, I did have one day of sea sickness. We had run into a wind and the sea became rough. I was so disgusted with myself until I was told that almost half the passengers aboard were also sick. That sort of comforted me. Just to think I had the company of about 500 seasick people!!! It didn’t last long, most of the voyage was very enjoyable.
The Star Dancer was in the news 2 weeks ago. Maybe you saw or read about it. A newly married couple were supposedly taking their honeymoon aboard her. The bride’s body was washed ashore and the groom was arrested and accused of throwing her overboard! So bad things do happen even on the Love Boat.
I do enjoy your letters, your clippings, and all the news you write. You are about my only source of news from any of the folks. I do get a letter from Hardin once in a while and sometimes Betty writes. I am always glad to hear about any and all the kinfolks. So glad Curtis is doing so well. Sorry to hear about Roy and Fanny May and also very sorry to hear about church trouble. Oh yes, I’ve experienced it all, and it breaks your heart.
(Note: Aunt Martha wrote a 31-page memoir for Mom. I mistakenly “remembered” that she had sent it to me, but the following paragraph, and a re-examination of her letter to me, shows the original went to Mom and she then sent a copy to me.)
It seems that Jim and Joyce are extremely interested in family history. Twice they have mentioned that they would just love to see that letter, and just recently Jennifer (Jim’s daughter who is attending Pepperdine College) wrote and asked me if I would write a record of my memories for her, as she put it, “Like you did for Colleen.” I will if I have to, but I thought, if by chance you still have it, if you could send it either to me or to Jim, so we can make a photostatic copy and then we will send it back. If you don’t have it, don’t bother about it. I will do my best to duplicate it for them. My memory isn’t so good anymore and I just plain don’t like to write, which partly explains this unusual request. Also, my right arm is one of the most badly affected with arthritis (which explains my bad writing).
But I will come up with something for them in the way of family history if that letter is no longer available.
Must close now.
I love you,
Aunt Martha
P.S. I met Billie Borders at Howard’s. She is some way related to Barbara’s family. They used to live in Atoka and since coming to California, have always subscribed to the Atoka paper. She said she was always an avid reader of Della’s column and since her passing had been reading yours. I told her you were writing a book about early Oklahoma history and she said tell you she wanted a copy as soon as it was finished. I promised to pass the word on to you. (Billie’s address is attached.)
*I don't have the photo or folder.
In a letter to me:
I did especially want you to have a copy of My Memories. I am sure that in the future you will do some writing and you may find something in here to help you. I do not guarantee that history is in every detail correct. But I did get in on pretty good authority. I’m pretty sure it is all fairly correct. I wish you a Happy New Year. With love, Aunt Martha