172 7/2/1948 Helen Carlson to Sadie Erwin

Helen Carlson 4008 Randall Avenue, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis 16, Minnesota Friday, July 02, 1948

Sadie Erwin Box 44, Enumclaw, Washington

Dear Folks: Stella is writing to you now too so our letters will probably be a lot alike. We were certainly surprised when Stella called Wednesday night and said they were here. It was about nine o'clock when she called and she had a bad cold, and Sandy had the mumps, and they were tired and dirty and besides they were lost. Stella didn't know where she was to tell me so she said she would call me back later. In a few minutes she called and said they were on East Minnetonka Blvd. The number she gave made us think they were near Hopkins but actually they were practically at our place but we told them to find Matt's Place in Hopkins and we would meet them out in front. We drove to Hopkins and met them o.k. and came back to the house and got the kids into bed and Stella and I sat up until two in the morning talking. We ordered chow mein when we heard they were here so had that and soup when we got back to the house and coffee. Sandy and Bernice were hungry too and after eating it didn't take them long to get to sleep. George came back last week but he really isn't in the way and we don't mind having him around. He has a bed upstairs. Stella and Harold have our bed and one of the kids sleeps on an army cot we put up in their room. Mary and one of the girls have the twin beds in the kids' room and Nellie has a davenport which she just had upstairs as she had bought a new one so we brought that over here too and Jimmy sleeps on that and Elmer and I sleep on the studio couch. Thursday Elmer and George went to work as usual but we took it easy around here. Eden and Wally and their girls stopped over in the afternoon and we had coffee and something to eat. Thursday night we didn't do anything as it was so late before we got the kids to bed. Oh yes, about the mumps, Sandy hasn't felt one bit bad and we haven't mentioned it to anyone and no one could possibly tell it and by today there wasn't any sign of them. We did tell Nellie but all her kids had had them except Karen, the youngest, but Nellie said she wasn't a bit afraid of them. Today again it was late in the morning before we got moving much. I went shopping for groceries and Stella and Harold and girls took a ride around to our old places where we used to live and then they went out to visit with Selma for a while. It was Bernice's birthday so after we had a little lunch we all went down to the beach and went swimming. We stayed a couple of hours and came home and I made her birthday cake. Then we had supper and the birthday cake with candles. By the way, your nice birthday card for Bernice came and it was nice hearing from you too. After supper Harold and Elmer took the kids over to the riding stables as Bernice wanted to ride a horse but the horses were all out. When they came back we all went over to Lake Harriet and rode on the launch and then listened to the band concert and saw the stage show they had which was ballet dancing. The kids had popcorn and ice cream cones and had a wonderful time. Then we left and drove downtown to see the bright lights. Harold and Stella like Minneapolis a lot. Sandy and Mary fell asleep before we got home and the kids were all anxious to get into bed. At seven o'clock tonight the temperature was still 95. This is our first real hot day as we have had lots of rain for the last three weeks. Bernice didn't like the hot night when she got into bed and said she wished she was back in Enumclaw where the nights were nice and cool. Tomorrow night, Saturday night, I am having quite a big party. There will be fourteen of us. I hope everything turns out o.k. but don't know why it shouldn't. I think Sandy is the cutest little thing. The first day they were here there were a bunch of kids down in the basement, mainly boys, and they were making so much racket. I had just told Stella I thought I would kick them all out and then we heard a lot of hollering and racing up the stairs and we ran out to the kitchen to see what was going on and here all these little boys were running out of the house with Sandy after them with a croquet mallet. She looked up at me as she tore through and her eyes were just dancing and she was having a wonderful time. Bernice got acquainted with Nellie's two girls right away and they are together all the time. Nellie and her family left for Michigan today for the weekend but will be back Monday night so Bernice will see them again. I told Stella she can't possibly leave next weekend as we won't have time to do everything in such a short time. Stella is getting me caught up on all the news of you folks. I love to hear her tell about everything. I'm glad the store is going so good. Harold is sleeping on the studio couch right now and Elmer on the davenport and I'm ready for bed too, so is Stella, so guess I had better stop. I wish you folks were here too but it surely is wonderful having Stella here and at least hearing all about you. Goodnight for now and I will write more soon. With Love, Helen