121 9/15/1947 Helen Carlson to Sadie Erwin

Helen Carlson 3409 Fremont Ave. South, Minneapolis 8, Minnesota Monday, September 15, 1947

Sadie Erwin Box 44, Enumclaw, Washington

Dear Folks, Well today I went back to work after being gone eight years but in a few minutes it seemed quite natural to be working again. The ones I knew who are still there looked just the same and it seemed funny to have two children to talk about now because it seemed almost like eight years ago. I got along just fine and didn't worry about the children because Florence got here before we left and I know she takes good care of them. Right now Grandma is feeling very good so that helps a lot too. I called Jimmy up at noon and he was all ready for school and Suzie, the fifth grader across the street, was waiting to go to school with him. She almost forgot him this afternoon though. He waited and waited and finally everyone was gone and his teacher was going to call up the house when Suzie came for him. Our office is right on Marquette between 6th and 7th so the location is just right. It is upstairs of the Nagel Hardware building. Elmer and I went to work this morning together but he got the bus ahead of me coming home, although mine caught up with him and we both got off at the same time. Jimmy and Mary were glad to see us but haven't fussed at all about my going to work. I think I told you I am going to get a hundred and twenty five a month. We sure can use it too because we all need winter clothes this winter. I have to buy Jimmy a heavy jacket right away because the one he wore last winter out there is way too small for him now. Our weather has turned real chilly so I had to get my coat out of the trunk and the blankets. We went out to look at the house tonight and the brick layers are coming along pretty fast. Elmer calls the plumber all the time and he usually says he will be out at the end of the week but so far he has never shown up. I have no idea when that house will be finished. I sure would love to have it by the time Glad gets here but I can't plan on it. Jim's school bus job will help him a lot, but it will probably make it kind of tough at the store when he is gone. What is wrong with his car. I hope you folks will all be able to have a little more time off now that summer is over. You certainly deserve a rest. Oh, before I forget it I want to tell you about seeing Gwen and John Winter yesterday, Sunday. I took Mary and Jimmy and stopped up at their place and they were home so I stayed a few minutes and talked. Rose must have told John I said he was nice looking because he certainly seemed to shine up to me. He isn't working of course and Gwen is still working at the drug store. They have a cute little boy. He looks like both Gwen and John and doesn't act at all like John did when he was that age. John wanted me to name a night when we could all get together and I told him I knew Elmer was anxious to play a game of chess with him, which he is, so we are supposed to go over there one night next week. They said Rose has been working hard and didn't take any time off this summer but worked straight through. I like Gwen and the way she fixes her hair now makes her look much nicer. She braids it and has the braids come up around the front of her head and it really looks nice. I'm glad the candy and underwear arrived o.k. but mother you certainly shouldn't have sent me the five dollars. You always keep way ahead of me for doing things. I'll tell you where I will put the five though. I want to buy a set of silverware while I am at General Mills so I will put it toward that. I haven't figured out yet how much it will cost but want to do that. Each person can buy just one set. I think of Ruth every day and am anxiously waiting to hear about the new baby. I hope they can get some pictures of it while it is still tiny so I can see it. Does Jimmy seem excited about it. Well maybe that will come later if he isn't now. Dorothy Cochrane expects hers any day and Florence will take care of her little boy too and they will pay her. Florence wanted to do it, otherwise I would have waited and gotten my job afterwards. Well Folks, Elmer just made some coffee so I will stop for now. Thanks very much for the five dollars. Love, Helen