Bobbie Flasted Lee to Edna Spenentta 10/16/1973

Oct 16 1973

Dear Aunt Edna,

I’m so sorry we weren’t home when Betty & Harold stopped by. The optical convention was rather a bore and I really would rather have stayed home. When I’m working, I never get cvaught up on things at the house.  Adrian felt he got a  lot from the lectures, though and he enjoyed it.  

Grandma Ruth was so pleased to see you all and I’m sure it made her weekend much nicer. I was so glad she wasn’t alone both days. I hate to go off and leave her alone.

I hope yuou’ll come back again when I’m home and maybe we could all go up and see Mother and Al.

I was so sorry to hear about Sally’s surgery. Hope she’s getting along fine. I recovered quickly and I hope she’s as lucky as I am. I’m feeling real good.

Love, Bobbie

Miriam Baker Campbell to Edna Spennetta 10/27/1969

10/27/1969

Dear Aunt Edna:

I want to thank you for all your cards and notes this summer. You are always so sweet and thoughtful about writing and I’m so terrible about replaying. I certainly envied you your wonderful trip. I spent the summer recuperating of course.  I suppose Mother told you I had a very large gastric ulcer that had perforated thru the stomach wall and the pancreas was infected also, because it was lying right against the place where the stomach was perforated. So the Dr. repaired all of that removed the ulcer, severed the Vegas nerve which controls the flow of acid, and also repaired a small hiatal hernia. I recuperated and recovered quite rapidly and felt really good until about a month after surgery and since then I’ve had a good deal of pain around the diaphragm area. I’ve been back to the Dr. several times and he doesn't think there’s anything to worry about - so I guess it just takes time. I can eat just about anything and am not nauseated or anything.

Virginia and Jim moved to Riverside the middle of July and we’ve been up there several times. I suppose you also know that Patty is getting a divorce. We all felt very sad about it but I really think it was the only thing she could do. She said if there had been any chance that things could have worked out and that the children would have been better off she would have stuck it out, but they were all being torn apart.  It’s a long story, of course, but I really think John’s psychological make-up was the cause of the real trouble and even John says so. John sees them all very frequently and takes the children on many weekends and I think they all have much more peace of mind and stable relationships - altho I know its always tragic especially where children are concerned. Patty is working part-time as a tour guide at the Scripps Memorial Ranch. It is interesting and not too confining. Patty loves it.

That’s really something about Betty and Harold’s place being broken into again.  Mac was sick all over again when he heard about Harold’s guns.  

I expect you had a lot to do when you got home. Virginia (Jackson) took Denny over to Germany to spend a year with Shirley. They toured thru the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Switzerland while she was there. She and Harold are both planning to go next summer to pick Denny up.  Thanks again for the nice cards and letters.

Love Miriam

Dorothy Baker Bladorn to Edna Spennetta 3/7/1970

March 7 1970

Dear Aunt Edna,

I don’t seem to have Sally & Jim’s new address so I’ll send this to you for delivery.

I hope you’ve kept well and dry during our big rain. It’s so beautiful out today - can’t believe there is snow in the mountains all around us.

We had planned a trip to Phoenix this weekend and outing at the Lost Dutchman’s Mine - but the tickets were all sold before we found out about it. had no idea they would reach their thousand quota.

The twins are trying their wings in an apartment of their own. I just got home after taking them to the commissary to stock their larder.

I’d better run to the mailbox with this in case it’s important.

Love,

Dorothy

Dorothy Baker Bladorn to Edna Spennetta 11/20/1969

Wed  11/20/1969

Dear Aunt Edna,

Your nice long letter was here when we got home. Thank you for the picture - you got more people gathered together than Al did.  It must have been a deceiving day for lighting - you both got them a little overexposed, but it’s nice to have them anyway.

This last month must have been the wrong zodiac or something for our families. All the robberies and illness etc. Mac & Miriam’s family has had a terrible month. Mac has been having blackouts and Miriam has had a lot of pain also her eye is very inflamed and sore. She is going to go to an eye specialist this week. Then several weeks ago Christi (Vir Lee’s) broke a little bone in her foot. Then last week Vir. Lee was fixing lasagna and took a bite of cheese. It went into her windpipe and she had trouble for a few days. She finally went to the Dr. and they put her in the hospital. The cheese had gone into her lungs. She stayed three of four days and they couldn’t get it out. She has an infection already so they are terribly concerned. They let her go home for the weekend and four doctors are consulting. I haven’t heard if they’ve decided what to do. Anyway she got so upset she went all to pieces. Then when they got home Vicki was in bed. She had just gotten over a siege of pneumonia and Vir was worried about her anyway and she had been crying and had been in bed all the time Vir had been in the hospital. She was afraid that she had cancer of the breast. Her breast was swollen and very sore - so they took her to the doctor and Vicki had an abscess which has to be removed. Did you ever hear of so much happening to one family all at once?  Miriam is so worried and with all the turmoil at school over teacher’s strikes, she doesn’t dare take off anytime. Jim’s mother has gone to Riverside to be with them.

Mac has had some tests on his lunch and the doctor told him if he didn’t quit smoking he could count his years to live on one hand.  Of course they have warned him before - but he just can’t quit. I sure wish he and Miriam would start feeling better.

We had a lot of fun on our trip. You couldn’t believe the number of trailers and campers over in Death Valley. The estimate was around 10,000. Row upon row in several spaces. One at Furnace Creek and one at Stovepipe Wells.  There was a lot of activity. Pancake breakfasts, hikes, nature talks, dancing, song fests, a ‘49er trail ride (50 people for 125 miles) etc. There was  a burro race that was fun too.  The weather was just perfect. A little rain the first night but that made us sleep.  

The mailman is due so I’d better get this out. I’ll write again when I have good news.

Love Dorothy

Dorothy Baker Bladorn to Edna Spennetta 4/28/1969

Thursday

Dear Aunt Edna:

I’m baby-sitting at Sharon’s so while the babies are asleep I’ll write a note to you.

I’m so relieved that you understood about us not being there. Al couldn't go and I don’t like to drive when I’m upset. I was afraid the trip would too tiring for Mother if we came home that night, and if we’d stayed it would have brought more confusion than comfort. Yes our thoughts have surely been with you.

I’m sorry we didn’t see Paul & Helen and Betty & Harold. Maybe they can all come for the picnic.

I must tell you how impressed I was with Sally at Easter Time. I have always been fond of Jessica but never felt I knew Sally . She’s such a sweet person, and I thought she was so lovely and thoughtful to you. I’m so glad I have been around her a little now and know her better. I guess we should have more gatherings!  I never knew Bunny very well for so long - I felt so much closer to Betty in our short visits I’ve enjoyed her so much.

We are all enjoying the books on Montana. Especially the one with detailed information on each town. I even learned new things about Baker!

Oh Oh The babies are walking up. So it’s diapers and feeding time. I’ll finish this at home and try to get the name of the magazine Norma told us has so many articles on Mont.

Monday

I’ve called Norma a couple of times, but I guess they get out early. Haven’t caught her at home so we’ll get this in the mail.  

Love

Dorothy

Dorothy Baker Bladorn to Edna Spennetta 5/3/1968

Friday 5/3/1968

Dear Aunt Edna:

Thank you for the pretty hanky and cute card. So nice to hear from you too.

Yes it is strange about Susan and Adrian. They just might be room mates! He was pretty surprised when he received his verification of a room at the dorm addressed to Miss Adrian Lee. I guess he wrote right away for a correction. Bobby & Adrian spent a day at the school and liked it real well. Adrian Jr. had gone up for the weekend at the school’s invitation.

I wonder what has happened this year. My peach tree has so few blossoms. I thought I had trimmed it too severely. I know I over did the plum tree. I meant to but my peaches are a late variety and I think this year I’ll be home in Sept. and hoped I’d have a lot.

Mother mentioned the same thing that you said “I guess I’ll never have another automobile trip now.” So Al said we should take her as far as Montana with us. If she gets tired riding, she can go back and lie down. We plan to let her stay at motels at night unless she’d rather stay with us in the camper. We’ll see. I hope she has nice time. Everything here is settled for her and she shouldn’t have a thing to worry about.

Al Raymond had a prostate operation Wed morning. Norma is having a fit because they don’t tell her anything. They said he was fine, barring complications, so now she’s dreaming up some complications. I hope he gets along alright.

We should be leaving in three of four days. Want to get the accounts at the garage paid first.

I haven’t talked to Barb Brant lately. They are so depressed over Idel. She is so discouraged and it’s awfully hard on her sisters.

Our baby is such a sweet thing. She’s so good and a real character.

I have so much to do, so better get busy. Hello to everyone and Love, Dorothy

Dorothy Baker Bladorn to Edna Spennetta and Sara Pryor Chuning 10/1/1961

Sunday October 1 1961

Dear Mama and Aunt Edna:

I’m at the new garage trying to help Al get straightened around a little. I’ve just finished getting the office in order, and remembered that I wanted to write to you folks and Aunt Mary and Uncle Lynn.

We’re having the Golden Wedding Celebration Oct 14 - Saturday. Virginia said they couldn’t come the 13th. Maybe you could ride down with Lynn and mary. We’ll want you all to stay over until Sunday afternoon.

Will you let me know for sure if you are coming as I have to let them know how many reservations we want for dinner as soon as possible. We’re planning dinner at 7:00.

We are to see the proofs of their pictures tomorrow. Surely hope they are nice. They seemed to be good photographers. [she might be referring to the formal portrait of them]

Be seeing you in two weeks.

Love Dorothy