a little bird told me…

Sentimental Old Fool

Vol. 27, No. 10 [Pauline] 

Washington, D.C. July 27, 1947 

Dear Dan and All: 

I am acting as assistant nursemaid this weekend while Rose, Howard and David are at Virginia Beach. I agree that all mothers should take the opportunity to get completely away from the routine. On the other hand, I find taking care of Steven much more interesting than Insurance. 

I want to thank those of you who comment on allowing Mother’s things to remain intact, and I shall take good care of them until such time as it may be wise to distribute them. I am looking forward to my trip to Ohio and Indiana. Mr. Lipscomb said I am probably doing as I want to, but he thinks I should go to the mountains. I assured him I am doing “as I want to” and the mountains have been there a long time and will no doubt continue to stand for a few more years. 

I am so glad to be able to attend Elaine’s wedding and more about this in the next round. For the record, I want to say how much I am enjoying having Mother’s diamond earrings which are made into two rings, courtesy of Mrs. Bishop for my last birthday. I never realized how lovely the stones are and next to the miniatures, are my greatest treasure. 

Sadie mentioned in her letter and also in one to me recently, that Aunt Ellie is failing. Why don’t we make an effort to write individual letters to her? She loves to receive mail and there may not be much time left. 

Gene, I am sure you are as happy as your letter sounds and how I admire you for pulling up stakes and being where you enjoy life so much more than you did previously. If you stay in California long enough, I aim to get there someday. I liked it very well and should like to return. 

Since I shall be seeing many of you in just two weeks, I’ll save the rest until then. I enjoyed this round ever so much and usually have to wipe my bifocals after reading it—sentimental old fool that I am. 

My love to each of you. 

Affectionately Paulie

in the present day...

I have lived in this house for five years. I have had a wasp problem for all of those five years. It's not just my house, it is more of a neighborhood problem. I have had exterminators come out. I had the tree at the side of my house (where they would nest and procreate in the wintertime) removed. I think they have some sort of DisneyWorld going on under the deck. I should just buy the company that makes wasp spray—it would be less expensive. 

I thought I had won the battle this year. I had not seen a wasp all year—until Sunday. I had spent many enjoyable hours this year reading on my deck. On Sunday just as I sat down with my book and my Diet Coke, I was swarmed by a dozen wasps that came up from under the deck. The Diet Coke went flying as I jumped up and I got stung SIMULTANEOUSLY by two wasps. One under my arm and the other on my wrist. After about 20 minutes, it stopped hurting. I thought that was the worst—I've been stung many times by bees and it has been no big deal. After 24 hours, I thought my arm may fall off. My wrist/hand was at least twice its normal size, my skin became disgustingly scaly and it really, really, really hurt! And the cure is....ice packs and Benadryl. What? I guess the arm actually has to fall off for anything else. It's been 72 hours since the attack. The wrist/hand is back to normal size, but the area 4 inches around the sting is still beet red. It's supposed to go away in a couple of days, so I guess I'm gonna make it. 

The wasps? Not so lucky. $300 to the exterminator yesterday took care of them—at least for now...

Procrastination Again

Vol. 27, No. 9 [Helen] 

July 19th ‘47 

Dear Paulie and All— 

As you can see by Gee’s letter, the delay was caused by Ann not being home. And since so much time has been lost now, I have decided to skip taking it out to Aunt Ellie this time, and anyway it would be rather difficult to read it to her while the controversy continues. I do not mind in the least the effort expanded in getting it out to her. The pleasure she derives will more than compensate for any trouble it may be. It is almost impossible to concentrate but I am going to dash this off, as I know you will be accusing me of procrastination again. 

At the present time, Dolly Spellman is here. She came out Saturday to spend a few days with Aunt Ellie, then we persuaded her to take an extra day so that we might have a little time with her. 

Gee is coming over today and we are having a nice little get-together with Sadie. It is such a pleasure to have Sadie here and inasmuch as her time seems to be pretty much her own, we have had many nice and interesting visits. We had a glorious time in Michigan. The weather was delightful and it was a complete rest for all of us. One day we drove up to Sault Ste. Mare. 

Most of you remember the Maloneys and know how often Mother and Dad visited them. Mary is the only one living there now of all their big family. Her husband, Bert McCarthy, was Chief Engineer when the Locks were built. We called them and Bert met us and explained the details of the construction, as he walked around the locks with us. We went out to their home for a few hours and enjoyed talking over all the old times. 

You undoubtedly all heard about David’s jaunt to California. He was gone for a month and I only wish you could hear the tales of adventure. He is ready to settle down now and plans to take his pre-law at University of Dayton. He found a nice job for himself with a construction company and is determined to earn enough for his tuition. 

Howard, your letter was most interesting, and I am sure everyone enjoyed it as much as we did. Have had at least a dozen interruptions since I started this letter, so I am going to give up and hope to make a more interesting contribution the next round. 

How about all of you who can, plan to meet in Anderson in August? Paulie, we are looking forward to seeing you in just a few weeks now. Will write in a few days giving you our plans. 

Dearest love to all, 
Helen

in the present day...

I have been really busy preparing for an annual event at work. Some events in the past couple of days have basically put us back as square one. I guess if it were fun, they wouldn't call it work!

Admitted to the Family

Vol. 27, No. 8 [Gee] 

Anderson, Ind. 

July 13 —1947 

Dear Lal and Family 

Every time I get the chain letter you are just coming home from some place, Lal. did not send it while you were up North, lest it be too long on the way and might miss you. Enjoyed your letter and Kay’s. It will be interesting to hear more details of your restful vacation. Surely enjoyed each and every letter this round. I like Dan’s description of Janice’s wedding best of all. He seemed to catch the real meaning behind the scenes. Other than to mention that the hustle and bustle of the E. Voss —Ed. Thaman wedding is in full swing, let’s not go into any more talk of it until after it’s over. Not that we haven’t thoroughly enjoyed every item leading up to and following Janice’s. We sincerely hope all of you can be here for Aug. 16 — come before and stay as long after, as possible. 

Howard’s letter (written while Rose held the whip) is the kind of a letter I like. Betcha’ each one of us will try to discover the bad qualities he mentions and go about a method to correct them. We’re glad you have been “admitted” to the family, too, Howard. You can write in the chain any time as far as I’m concerned. 

Larry, Jr., has been transferred from Chinhae to Puson, Korea—a point north on the Peninsula. They are living in reconditioned Jap barracks while waiting for some Quanset huts, sent from Alaska, to be set up. The boys expect to be back in the U.S. before the end of this year. Pauline is home for the summer. It’s like a big family again, and we love it. She is studying for her State Board Exam in November, while relaxing from her three strenuous years at the Good Sam. The Delco medical staff has invited her to step into Elaine’s place. She may do so about Sept. 1st. 

Shan, those fancy names sound like the ones that make up a large percentage of our parish. Bakinski, Sokoloski, Hosekvac, Kumkoski. Guess that is a typical set up in an industrial center. But there are some might purty gal secretaries, smart ones, too, among those folks. Did you succeed in finding one to suit you? Maybe you’re prejudiced having had O’Connors, Camerons, O’Malleys, Burkes, Cochrans, and such like, working for you in the past. 

Lal, we’ll be seeing you and Sister Rosella the week end of July 19 - 20. I’ve asked Rose Abbott to drive back to Anderson with us. Larry will take her to Dayton the following day, when he goes over to meet the new boss of Central. He’s going to miss J. W. Matthews. 

We are looking forward to seeing each and every one of you in August. 

Dearest love to all. 

Devotedly 
Gee

The Last Word

Vol. 27, No. 7 [Sadie] 

Good Samaritan Hosp. 

Dayton, Ohio July 5, 1947 

Dear Gee and Everybody: 

The long delayed “chain” just arrived, and as Elaine and Pauline are here for the week-end, I am going to save a little time by “answering” it at once and send it over to Anderson tomorrow with them. Of course you all know that I am assisting with the teaching of Microbiology to the nurses here, and will be here until Aug. 24 at least. 

I saw Helen and Fred the night before they left for Alpena, and on Saturday last, I went out to see Aunt Ellie. She is failing very much, tho’ she came down on crutches to see me, and insisted on going out to the park to visit. I know that Helen will get the letters out to her the week she receives them, and will not delay sending them on. 

Let me add my vote to that of the others, that Pauline should keep everything intact as long as she wishes (including my silver spoons received at graduation, which I hereby give to her as I did to Mother, when I entered. That is surely “home” to all of us, Pauly, and I felt Mother’s dear presence every minute I was in the house. 

I’m looking forward to seeing all the “middle-state” members of the family at Elaine’s wedding in August. My brief visit with the Bishops was very pleasant. The enclosed pictures of the cherry blossoms, taken the last day I was in Washington, were part of my thrills n Washington. The pictures of Helen, Kay, etc., were taken two days later and show them in full bloom. I’m still enjoying that wonderful visit to Washington and Wilmington. 

I wish you could all see how Sean, Jamie and David have grown, and Stevie is a precious baby. They all cuddled up to me and were not afraid of my habit, as most children are, at first. 

The wedding on April 12 was “the last word.” The next round will either find me in Lansing or elsewhere, as we receive our appointments around August 4. Gee, I’m sure that each one of us would like to take up your offer to drive to California with you, and I’m sure that someone will try to make it, tho’ their vacations are planned by this time, I guess. 

God love and bless you all. Love and continued prayers for all. 

Sadie

Cream of the Crop

Vol. 27, No. 6-A [Howard Hackley] 

Washington 16, D.C. 
June 29, 1947 

Dear O’Connors— 

It has been over a year since the idea of allowing each in-law the honor a adding a note to you chain letter was put into effect. At that time I was all enthused and impatient to contribute my letter—I swore that I would frankly state my personal opinion of each and every one of your family. Unfortunately (or perhaps most fortunately) I married a younger member of the family—and now my enthusiasm has cooled somewhat. Moreover, I didn’t anticipate that when my turn finally came around I would be reminded of it by my wife at 10 p.m. on a hot, stifling, sultry, oppressive Washington night—when my thoughts are marvelously uncollected. However—there are a few things I must say while I have an opportunity which may never come again. 

I have been an associate member of your family long enough (nearly 6 years) to appreciate all of your qualities—good and bad—and the good ones far exceed the bad ones— I won’t go into that. What I really want to say is that I’m glad it’s a big family—you cannot know what it means to be an only child—and not to have brothers and sisters to grow up with—to fight with—and to commune with. 

Don’t misunderstand me—an only child is not to be pitied—I mean simply that the bigness of your family helps to compensate for what I had missed in mine. More than that, yours is an interesting family—and it’s rather exciting to be mixed up with you. 

One thing more— I applaud the idea of the chain letter and I sincerely hope that it will go on until the two hoary, hobbling, senile survivors will write childish (second-childish) and undecipherable notes to each other and still call those notes “the chain.” 

I could say a lot more—but Rose advises me that strict rules limit my letter to a single sheet—and how can anybody express an adequate opinion of O’Connors within that limit! I only wish it were possible to see you more often—and I am looking forward to your next reunion. Thanks for the privilege of writing this—for being admitted to your family. I have Luck to thank for that I got in by marrying the very cream of the crop—the flower at the top. 

Love to all of you— 
Howard

Raise One For Use Absent Ones

Vol. 27, No. 6 [Kay – letter missing] 

Vol. 27, No. 7 [Rose] 

Washington 16, D.C. 

June 29, 1947 

Dear Gene— 

Since there was a slip-up and you didn’t get the chain in your turn, I am going to send it to you instead of Sadie. I now she won’t mind, but I suggest that you air mail it back as she has been looking out the window for it for the past month. Her address will be Good Samaritan Hospital, Salem Ave., Dayton. 

I’m glad that something has made me write you. I am thoroughly ashamed of not having done it sooner, but God knows my intentions have been good. I think it is fine that you have taken up nursing. It is better, I should think, than sitting in an office all day; and you meet a much wider variety of people, to lend interest, and also you may regulate your free time to suit yourself. Plus the fact that you’re doing good. 

Congratulations. Shan, old pal, I’m sorry I didn’t make it, but it seems someone might have kept you up to date. I decided that, just having seen Kay, Helen and Sadie, it was rather silly to come busting out there two weeks later. Also I thought I would be likely to stand more in need of a vacation after the summer (what summer?) and so I postponed my visit until September. I’m planning to be there the latter half of the month. Now I won’t say another word about it until my reservations are made and my ticket bought, for I know you are all tired of hearing about it. 

We have the pleasure of looking forward to a visit from Junie this coming weekend. Eloise and the babes are still in Tulsa, so he is driving down Thursday night. We are very happy about it, as it is long since we have had a good visit with him. We are planning a get-together Saturday night at the Cahill’s, to see Janice’s wedding pictures, which are reputed to be excellent. 

On July 24th we are taking David to Virginia Beach for a long week-end. We are gong down on the boat, and of course he is wildly excited about it. I hope he’ll have as much fun as he thinks he’s going to have. I’ve been trying to talk him into taking swimming lessons, but can’t convince him that it’s a good idea. Of course there’s plenty of time, but I understand the younger they are the less fear they have. 

I wish I could be in Anderson on August 16th, but things just haven’t worked out that way. I now all the members who are present will have a wonderful time. Raise one for us absent ones, huh? 

Love to you all 
Rose

Intact at One Place

Vol. 27, No. 4 [Shan] 

6/16 – 1947 

Dear K. and Family 

The long delay has been occasioned by Irene’s letter to Gene being returned to Washington for lack of adequate address. Will enclose the address side of the envelope. Anyone who possesses Gene’s last address better send it on to Irene so that she will have it available when the round comes her way again. 

Again, I have nothing of great interest to write about. Continue to commute between Youngstown and Columbus most week ends. We engage in the usual home and kitchen activity. 

Weekend of June 7th – 8th, Rose Abbot had us over to Dayton. Bob and Rosemary were there with their two daughters resulting in a most enjoyable visit. I concur with Dan in his answer to Paulie’s inquiry as to what to do about making distribution of some of Mothers’ things. As long as it is convenient for her believe they should be kept intact and at one place. 

Sadie’s visit to Washington must have been quite interesting. It has been some years since I have been there with the opportunity to get around, but I never was bored doing so on the occasions when I did have the opportunity. 

Everyone was talking about Rosie’s anticipated visit to Ohio up to a certain point, then all of a sudden there is a vast silence on the subject. What happened, Rose? 

Don’t happen, at the moment, to have a curb side view in a Midwest village, but did have occasion several weeks ago to advertise for a secretary. Here are the names of some of the girls who applied—Toarokki—Ficcoelli—Parella—DuChanois—and so on. Should Gee sit a long a curb in Youngstown for an hour she could fill a half a dozen pages with interesting observations. 

This represents all the trivia that occurs to me at the moment, so may as well get this on the way. 

Love Shan

in the present day...

On Monday, I made my trek down to the cemetery where several generations of my family (including my parents) are buried. It is a tiny cemetery in the middle of the country about 30 miles from where I live now. Near the cemetery is a house that my parents had looked at purchasing in the 70s when my Dad retired from the Navy. Instead, they bought a house about 15 miles South in another county. Every time I drive by this house, I wonder what my life would have been like if they had bought that house. I would have had different friends, gone to a different school system, maybe even pursued a different career path. I think about all the teachers that influenced my life and wonder if teachers in another school system would have influenced me in the same way. I have this conversation with myself EVERY time I drive down to the cemetery and see that house. Would I be married? divorced? children? no children? Would I have become a graphic designer or would I have wound up working a factory job?Of course, I can never resolve this. I will never know "what if." I have no complaints with my life as it is, so I wonder why I ponder this every time!

Quite a Time

Vol. 27, No. 3 [Gene] 

Bellflower, Calif. 

July – 1 – ‘47 
(Just remembered Rose suggested I send this to you Sadie) 

Dear Shan and All O’Connors: 

Was beginning to think the chain letters got lost and I never would get them. I am so sorry about the address. Thought I had written everyone so here it is. 356 E. Artesia St., Bellflower, Calif. Phone Torrey - 7-0350. 

I enjoyed each and every letter this round and know the wedding was beautiful. Will be so anxious to receive pictures of it. By the time the next round reaches us, Elaine’s big day will have come and gone. Know that too, will be a beautiful one. 

Why don’t all of you who can accept Gee’s kind invitation for a trip out this way? It would be wonderful to see you all and I am hoping Larry has his car very soon. 

Mother and Dad came out on May 1st and both have improved in health since their arrival. They like Calif. almost as well as we do and think the trailer life is fine. They want to be remembered to all of you. My neighbors (Prendergast) came out on May 22nd and stayed for six days. We really had a wonderful visit and got around quite a bit. 

The girls continue to grow and are enjoying their vacation to the fullest. Expect to have some pictures of all of us before too long. Our neighbor’s brother takes pictures and does his own developing and has invited us over to have some taken. 

Roberta has joined the “Brownies.” They meet at some park every Tues. and have quite a time. They are to go to the mountains for a few days, the last of this month. Diane is improving in her speech by degrees and is getting so much older. She will go into the Brownies when she is seven and Roberta into the Scouts in the fall. As usual, there is never a dull moment. 

Dr. Nichols has kept me pretty busy for the last few weeks. He has a confinement case coming up in a few days. I have met some lovely people and think there is a good possibility of a good job here in Bellflower by Fall. Working for Dr. Nichols is grand, because my pay is clear profit. Get transportation to and from every day. Usually have a few days between cases which gives me a chance to catch up on my work at home. 

Will be glad to get the pictures back Dan—seems like they have been gone a long time. Received the letters this afternoon and will get them off to you Shan in the morning to avoid further delay. Till the next round—

All our Love Gene

The Day Already Has a Good Start on Me

Vol. 27, No. 2 [Irene] 

Tuesday — 9 a.m. 

Hello Everybody, 

Enjoyed all the “uninteresting” letters very much, especially Mrs. V’s vivid portrayal of Union City, Ohio. 

Just had a note from Dan, saying that they would hand us the Technicolor pictures of the wedding, as their train passes through Silver Spring. We can scarcely wait to see them. 

Janice and Jack are getting their apartment very much in order, and even though they are not quite settled, J. had a dinner party Sunday eve, and I hear that it was quite successful. It is well that she is so close-by. She stops in every other day or so. 

It was a great thrill to have so many “O’Connors” present for the 12th. And speaking of O’Connors, you should and shall see the grand pictures of us all taken at the Broadmoor that morning. I shall have some finished for each one. The candid shots are all splendid. We shall have difficulty in selecting the ones that we can afford to have finished, as there are so many of them. 

I am attaching, as per Dan’s suggestion, the notes that J. handed Frank and me before going to church that morning. They are so much “Janice” they could easily just be a “portrait” instead—and needless to say, we shall treasure them, always. 

I must go now, as the day already has a good start on me. Am enclosing a picture I recently snapped from our kitchen window and it brought to mind a poem from my scrap-book. 

Love to you all, Irene

OK With Me

Volume Twenty-Three 

Vol. 27, No. 1 [Dan] 

May 7, 1947 

Dear Cahills and O’Connors: 

Life doesn’t have to be jam packed with thrills and excitement to be pleasant and interesting—thus the protests in some of these letters that they “have nothing much to say” are unwarranted. For example, Gee’s folksy description of the natives of Union City I found very amusing. I sense that the general feeling is that we should not break the chain to include Aunt Ellie—which is O.K. with me. I think it would be an undue hardship on Helen to have to take it out personally each time and suggest we skip the idea. Anyway it would just give LaLa an excuse for her usual procrastination. Hi Lal! 

By the time this letter gets around you all will probably have sent me the $19.31 share for the cemetery markers, so I’ll use this medium to say, thanks. 

I will add my voice to those who have said that Janice’s wedding was a very inspiring and beautiful thing. No one could escape the feeling that all the warmth, devotion and love of a lifetime was bearing its grand expression on this occasion. As an indication of what I mean, Irene, I suggest you attach to the chain copies of the notes Janice handed to you and Frank the morning of the wedding. The colored movies, which I took of the events, turned out beautifully and I hope you all can see them someday. 

Speaking of wedding dresses, I had a brief preview of Elaine’s when I was in Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago and it is stunning. 

Gene, I am the culprit who has the pictures of Roberta and Diane which you sent around about a year ago and I shall send them to you before much longer. I hear your mother and dad are now in sunny Calif. with you. Give them my best regards. 

Pauline, I believe the whole family is content to see you keep Mothers’ things for as long as convenient to you. 

Did you ever note such unbounded enthusiasm as Sadie’s, over her trip to the East. It was refreshing and makes me wish I could enjoy life as much. 

The D.F. O’Connors are about to embark on their semi-annual excursion to Tulsa—will be there the first 2 weeks of June with everybody, including the dog. 

The Voss boys (Joe, Dan — and David) may visit us in Wilmington in August. We hope they can make it. 

Speaking of dull letters, 

Goodbye, Dan