54 4/7/1945 Gladys Dahlstrom to Sadie Erwin

Gladys Dahlstrom 9007 South Elizabeth, Chicago, Illinois Saturday, April 07, 1945

Sadie Erwin Box 44, Enumclaw, Washington

Dear Folks, Mother's letter mailed April 5 at 1:30 P.M. came yesterday. I can't understand how it could get here so fast. That is delivered to the house in 25 hours. We have been home working around the house every night this week except last night. I went to my club and Cully had the fellows here. They played a little poker and had sandwiches and coffee. We have 10 girls - 6 are Catholic and 4 otherwise. They are all nice though and we do have a good time. Today Cully cleaned our dirty basement. Tonight he plans to wash the bathroom ceilings and walls. I want to get our closet. I will not make any plans to go west unless something just happens to lead me that way. It will be the last summer Ruthie can ride "Free" by train but perhaps when we make the trip again it will be by car. Cully will get about 10 days vacation though last of June or first of July. We will go to Minneapolis then north to fish. If his dad can get away at the same time, they will go with us. When I read about Susie to Ruthie she almost cried. She thinks Susie might be lonesome up there all alone. Glad you heard from Jim. I just wonder how long he will have to be over there? Have Schweigle's hear anything from Marvin? Do you know Frieda Orest's address yet. I sent Elizabeth Close a linen lunch cloth and napkins. It was one I had and never used but far nicer than anything I could buy now. My girls went to a birthday party yesterday afternoon and to another one today. Ruthie takes real good care of Jeannie. Jeannie gets so excited and when she comes home she tries to tell us all about it. Our pictures came. I will try to get yours and Stella's mailed this next week. I may enclose a small one for Bernice Allen too. Another one of our Guyon Hotel gangsters was killed last night. That makes 3 out of the 5 we knew in that one gang. The other two were warned that they would be next. They are hockey fans and real friendly fellows. They always talked and kidded the little kids. They always called Ruthie by name. They sure do lead a double life. I'm plenty glad to be out of that dirty old hotel just the same. Next Saturday night, April 14th a week from tonight, we are invited out to Humberstone's for dinner. Then later 8 of us are going to the Barn Dance Radio Broadcast. Maybe you can listen to it that night. We know so many in the show and haven't seen them in quite a while so know we will enjoy it. We usually go out with some of them afterwards for a bite to eat. Baby Genevieve is a man about 45 years old and weighs between 250 and 300 lbs. Today a cute doll came from Ralph for Jeannie's birthday. She is a native Panama girl with a real string of beads around her neck. I will put it away until later. I'll enclose a couple of stamps from there in case you are interested in saving them. My dinner is cooking and almost done so guess I'd better set the table. The girls usually help me do that but are out playing. Will be glad to get Jim's letter when you are through. More soon, Love, Gladys. Ma Jones is supposed to be in the hospital again with pneumonia.