199 1/5/1949 Helen Carlson to Sadie Erwin

Helen Carlson 4008 Randall Avenue, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis 16, Minnesota Wednesday, January 05, 1949

Sadie Erwin Box 44, Enumclaw, Washington

Dear Folks, I just put Mary into bed and Jimmy is still listening to the radio but will have to quit pretty soon. We certainly had some funny weather. The blizzard that was expected didn't get here, but instead more sleet so everything is a sheet of ice. I was going to drive downtown this morning but the brakes on the car were frozen because they had gotten so wet from the freezing rain. So Mary and I took the bus down but had to hold each other up, walking down to catch the bus. I bought a new dress. It is gray with green around the skirt and the skirt is real full. I take a size 12 now and a year ago when Gladys was here I wore a size ten so you see I have gained weight. I weigh 120 and everyone tells me how good I look. The after-Christmas sales are on and I bought Mary a storm coat. It is bright red with heavy pile lining and was marked down to eight dollars. It had been $18.50. She can't get cold in that coat and I bought it plenty large so she can wear it next winter. Poor Elmer has worn his old overcoat spring, fall and winter ever since we have been married. Yesterday, a man who he is doing a job for took him to lunch at the Curtis Hotel. After eating, the check girl held his coat for him and in putting it on, his arm went in the old lining the wrong way and he had a awful time so I just made him go to Donaldson's today and buy a new coat. He bought a grey storm coat and it looks just swell on him and he wore it home and said it is so warm he doesn't see now how he got through last winter with his old coat. Frances Woodfill called tonight and wanted me to go over to the high school to the gym class. They play volleyball and basketball. I couldn't take our car because of the frozen brakes and Frances wasn't driving because their driveway up to the garage was so icy she knew she couldn't get back up once she took the car out but Frances could take the bus conveniently to get to the high school. Nellie wanted to go too so said she would drive her car but Pierce wouldn't let her on account of all the ice and they have no insurance so I stayed home. I forgot to tell you I met Selma downtown today and we had lunch together. Wally Haemig has started his new job in Anoka and said it's like living a new life. He's independent and says it's wonderful. They have prospects of getting a winterized cottage to rent real soon which is two miles out of Anoka on a nice lake. Agnes and Fred were over Sunday evening and we had a nice time. I like Agnes very much. Her husband is nice too. They just got their new Ford which they have been waiting for a long time. We had a big time New Year's Eve. Got home awfully late but this Mary whose house it was at didn't serve lunch until so late and their house is on 69th and Cedar and we drove a couple home who live way up in North Minneapolis so that took a long time. I told Stella about this Mary being a sister of one of her old friends - Jane Carroll. Saturday night we are invited over to some neighbors who live around the corner from us. Their name is Bonander and Florence Bonander and I have been getting acquainted because our boys are in the same room. I wear the gold bracelet you sent me a couple of years ago so much - whenever I'm dressing all up. Saturday night I'll wear my new dress and a gold necklace and the bracelet. Dolores Carlson is being operated on next week. She has two cysts the size of a large orange and they cause her to have this terrible pain all the time. The doctor said they will grow back again and she should have all her female organs removed but because she is so young and just starting her family he doesn't want to do that yet. Nellie said Dolores looks just terrible on account of her trouble. They asked Nellie to take care of the baby but Nellie thought since Dolores has 6 sisters and a mother living in the city that Dolores should first ask one of them so I guess she is going to. Mary doesn't play with her doll house much so I took it upstairs as it took up so much room in her room. After taking it up there this morning she played up there a long time with it. Jimmy's train is also up there and Elmer mounted it on boards and there are four switch tracks so the kids spend most of their time upstairs. Well Folks, I have to sprinkle my clothes so better stop but will write more soon. The monopoly game is still going strong. Love, Helen