Dear Justine, Thanks for your email. Sounds like you are doing well, despite this
quarantine craziness. As for me, I don’t
think I can handle it much longer!! Maybe
the best thing the government can do right now is declare a national FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF DAY. We certainly
have enough reasons to “celebrate” that!
To make myself feel useful, I made a list of things driving me to
depression. Let me know what you think.
1. My favorite stores are closed during
this social distancing thing! Do you
know how difficult it is for me to not $ buy things? In person shopping gave me a sense of
accomplishment, even if it meant just walking and thinking about possible purchases.
2. There’s no coffee shop conversations,
catching up on my friends’ family news and enjoying high calorie treats. Drinking a lonely latte at home, just doesn’t
taste as good. As for treats—I ‘d have
to bake my own and that would mess up my kitchen.
3. Boy I miss Friday nights at a
restaurant with other couples, then out for music or a movie! Instead, these quarantine rules only allow the
blah-ness of home cooked meals, and garage cleaning for entertainment. L
4. How was I supposed to know that
purchasing an RV a few months ago was going to be terrible timing? Maybe I will park it in my backyard and
pretend it’s in the mountains. Gas
prices are finally down—but we can’t go anywhere! I want to cry.
5. And to top it all off, my cell phone
reception is spotty and internet is intermittent. The one way to connect socially is not
dependable. What’s next: suspended cable
tv service??
Because of
all these INCONVENIENCES and more, I’m going to allow myself a big bowl of self
pity ice cream today. Maybe tomorrow too.
Can’t wait
to connect in person, Kate
Dear Cousin,
Good to
hear you are still alive and kicking. That was quite a frustration list you put
together. Did you
know I have been reading up on our family history? Fascinating. I found some information about our relatives’
lives that might interest you.
When Grandma Anna’s parents lived in
Milwaukee in the 1930s, there were more Army and Navy goods stores than traditional
department stores and overall more stores for men. Other than eggs from their backyard chickens,
they got food from a tiny, neighborhood grocery store (where the owners lived upstairs.)
Remember how much our great Uncle
Ray loved coffee? He said that during
World War II rationing, Americans were only allowed one pound of coffee every
five weeks and one-half pound of sugar per week.
My mother-in-law gave me an
“American Woman’s Cook Book” that was used by her mom in the early 50’s. I would be happy to copy and send any
recipes. How about Pig Knuckles and Sauerkraut, Calf’s Brains and Oysters,
Potted Pigeons or Roast Opossum? Seems
they ate what was readily available. Because the family worked long hours on
their dairy farm, socializing times were Sunday church or an occasional
Saturday wedding reception.
Did you say you had hoped to travel
route 66 with your RV? If so, you will
like this—a cousin to great grandpa (on the Hansen side) was part of an Army
convoy on that same road! The newspaper
clipping said, “The World War I victory tour was comprised of 78 army and other
vehicles. Due to muddy road conditions
through Illinois, driving through soft sand in Utah, and various other
formidable difficulties, the 3,000 mile Lincoln Highway trip averaged 58 miles
a day. One observer saw several damaged,
abandoned trucks.” Quite the expressway
system, hey?
Well, I should stop my rambling on and send off this email. I will attach some photos of the house and garden projects I’ve been able to tackle during this slow down. Also been enjoying reconnecting with some friends, and checking on church members via phone calls. Even played cards with the hubby—and won!
Feeling
very blessed to be healthy,
Justine
P.S. If you
are bored, I’d be happy to do a porch drop of some highly recommended books,
old family photos, puzzles, or face mask material to sew.
Attch:
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