Just a few lines to let you know I'm still alive. I am
writing this slowly because I know that you cannot read fast. You
won't know the house when you come home--we've moved. I can't send
you the new address because the last Polish family who lived here
took the numbers with them so they wouldn't have to change their
address.
About your father, he has a lovely job. He has 500 people
under him. He is cutting grass at the cemetery. There was a
washing machine in the new house where we moved. It isn't working
too good. Last week I put 14 shirts in, pulled the chain, and
haven't seen them since. Your sister Mary had a baby this morning.
I haven't found out if it is a boy or a girl, so I can't tell you
if you're an Aunt or an Uncle.
Your Aunt Christine gave up birth control pills when your
Uncle John bought a condominium. Your Uncle Dick drowned last week
in a vat of whiskey at the brewery. Some of his fellow workers
dived in to save him, but he fought them off bravely. We had the
body cremated and it took three days to put out the fire.
Your father did not have much to drink on Christmas. I put a
bottle of castor oil in his beer and it kept him going until New
Years Day. I went to the doctors' on Thursday and your father went
with me. The doctor put a small tube in my mouth and said not to
open my mouth for 10 minutes. Your father offered to buy the tube
from him.
It rained only twice last week. First for three days and then
for four days. Monday the wind was so bad that one of the chickens
laid the same egg four times.
We received a letter from the undertaker. He said if the last
installment wasn't paid on your grandmother in seven days, up she
comes. Remember your friend Tom? Well, he is no longer in this
world. His father died and wanted to be buried at sea. Tom
drowned digging the grave.
Your Loving Mother
P.S. I was going to send you money, but I already sealed the envelope.