171 7/2/1948 Stella Benson to Sadie Erwin

Stella Benson 4008 Randall Avenue, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis 16, Minnesota Friday, July 02, 1948

Sadie Erwin Box 44, Enumclaw, Washington

Dear Mom and Pop: We arrived in Minneapolis Wednesday night. We got in town about 9 o'clock and got lost on the belt line. I called Helen and she asked me where we were and I didn't know so we rode around and landed in Hopkins so called again and they came out and got us. We finally got to Helen's about 10:30. They had ordered chow mein. We fed the kids and got them to bed and then we ate and talked. Helen and I stayed up until about 2:30 talking. Thursday Eden and Wally and the girls came over to see us. Harold and I rode around by our old houses and schools for a while. Today was hot. At 7 o'clock tonight it was 95°. This afternoon we all went swimming at Lake Calhoun on 32nd. Bernice had her presents and liked her stockings very much. We all enjoyed the card from you. We had her birthday cake at dinner time. After dinner we went to Lake Harriet and rode on the launch around the lake. Afterwards we listened to the band concert and saw some exhibition dancing. We rode downtown to see all the bright lights and Harold is thrilled with it all. This morning we went to Selma's for a while. She has a nice home and some darling girls. This afternoon we also rode all around Lake of the Isles. Harold can't get over how beautiful the city is and all the beautiful large homes. He said the city must be full of money. Sandra only had the mumps on one side and just a faint swelling. Helen and I didn't even tell anyone that she had them. They were completely gone today. The girls were wonderful on the trip and Bernice enjoyed it so much. We sure made good time. The first night we stopped at Phillipsburg, Montana. It's quite a ways beyond Missoula. The second night we were at Glendive, Montana and were at Helen's the third night. Hope everything is fine at home and sorry you folks have to work so hard. Love, Stella Tell Ruth and Jim, also Dahstroms, hello.