For the Love of Dirt: May 2022

Monday, May 30, 2022

MARCH 27th, 1942. "My Eyes have seen..." (a story about Grandmother in Bethune, Saskatchewan)

"My heart wants to sing in hopes to sing your love language..." -Unknown

Stuart, Isobel, Nessie, Bill

Grandmother, Grandfather. Jessie the dog

(This is based on a a REAL letter she wrote to my mother, Nessie....)

I was so glad to hear Davy was working again. You shouldn’t have sent the dress. Looks like you made it. Not keen on flowers and Lord knows you could use the money. But it will be good for church, I suppose. As long as Lavinia Delbert doesn’t show up in the same one.

One Sunday we were twins. Didn’t she like to point out she got hers from the Big City. Big City my eye. More like the church barrel. But I ramble on.

Dad and I went to the Big City. He stayed at Queens Hotel for 16 days while I had copper burned into my eyes at the Hospital. Every other day, mind you. I swore like one of the farm hands.

After the fourth time, I got tired of cussing so much. I started singing “My eyes have seen the glory…” . But the men in the ward did NOT seem to appreciate that. All screeching like banshees when it was their turn for the copper. Babies the lot of them.

Bill

Copper’s a new fangled thing. Doctor charged us $12. I gave him two pounds of butter, freshly churned, instead. He better not give it to those men.

Bill and Stuart

Your brother, Bill, went to the winter fair. He finally bought that blue pencil stripe suit I saw in the store. I think he has a date. He also got another litter of pigs. Nine in total. And a seeder for $225. The pigs are cute. They will be good for bacon and for selling when I’ve fattened them up good. I wonder who Bill’s going out with?

Bill wittles

Hens are laying, but the cows are stupider with the late winter wind blowing. It’s like the devil has taken over. Dust all over. No wash outside for over two days. And my eyes having trouble seeing .

Had a letter from your sister, Isobel. She wants money for a new coat. I might send her the dress you mailed to me. She likes flowers.

Winter 1942

Got a cable from your brother, Stuart. He wanted $30. (Don’t tell Dad.) I sent it thru the town bank, so he should get it tomorrow. He’s not keen on the barracks. Cramped and lights on all the time. Poker games, of which he does NOT partake. Much.

Grandfather

He’s a good boy. Put his entire pay into Victory Bonds ( $200) when he went. Poor guy. In truth, I suppose he owes money . When will he learn.

I was supposed to send him a big box of candy, about $5.75 worth, wool socks I knitted, and a couple of cigars .(I was going to give them to Dad.) Had two parcels to mail in the end. Couldn’t see the addresses. My eyes were hurting.

Goofed and sent the cigars, socks and candy to Aunty Barbara. And to Stuart I sent a parcel of a pound of butter, and sugar, and a large fruit cake. I used all the fruit I saved for the year.

Apparently, he lost them in a poker game he just happened to join by mistake. Before he was shipped out .

My dad, Davy, and Grandmother

(Don’t tell your Dad) Soon he should be home to work with Bill on the farm.

Grandmother, 1930's

I ran into Mrs. MacLean at the bank. She had a bunch of tumours removed about twenty years ago and is still kicking around.

Isobel, Stuart, boys

She and her friend, Mrs. Parker went galivanting around the Big City. She was styling a “victory roll” and “peep toe” shoes. SNORT. At HER age.

My eyes are tired

Nessie and her horses

I have another copper treatment next month. Maybe this time I’ll not be so weary when I write to you. I still have one more letter to Isobel and to Stuart, poor boy. I wish he’d come home.

Today I still have 19 quarts of beef to put up. But first I need to rest my eyes….. (Mother)

Hunting

P.S. Don’t tell Dad I goofed with the mail. I don’t think he’d like it to find out his sister, Aunty Barbara, smoked his cigars.

Stuart

(Over the next few years, my grandmother went blind. My grandfather held her hand during those days, and became her eyes, until the day she died in 1958)

1957