October 24, 1989
Dear Ones,
It is hard to imagine but I simply do not have any work to do this afternoon. Of course, it could change momentarily. I have had a work study student this semester which has been a great help in keeping the filing caught up.

It is a beautiful day here in New York – a nice warm fall day. I took the week of Oct. 9 off work. It too was mainly very nice and the trees were at their peak of color. When we cut our summer vacation short I put in for the first break week off (no students on campus) it will soon catch up with us as it will soon be time for the spring registration and then it will be busy until exam time and the next semesters, etc. Better enjoy it while I can!!!
Mert has been splitting some of the wood pile up all around the house and keeping track of the chipmunks, etc. We did have some turkey for a few days, but guess they were annoyed by the dog that adopted us, barking at them. Also has been helping Bert some with some repairs on the tractor.Bert has been on some additional medication for the last two weeks and Mert thinks it is helping him some. I went down there Sunday the 15th to see Hope's baby and Laurie's as there were both there. Hope and Keith had been to Ohio to a wedding. Two nice little babies – but already growing bigger, of course. Also saw Sue and her family.
Burnie says they are all doing OK and his volleyball team will probably be in second place in the divisionals. Says Janelle can pull herself up now and walks around the coffee table. I talked with Jonathan a bit and he too keeps sounding older all of the time. Everyone keeps busy. Julie just had a birthday so it is safe to say that we all keep getting older!! (I know I do.)

Sharon and the boys were down last weekend for Sat. and Sun. It was good to have some company. We tried to spray a puzzle that Mert had finished and was too pretty to put back in a box (1,000 pieces) but it remained tacky. She carried it upstairs and put it on the bed or someplace. We will have to find something and try spraying again. Went to the flea market and found one in an unopened box so he can work on that when the weather is bad outside. talked about getting a hunting license but has not shot a gun in 2 plus years.
I had bought another puzzle but he likes the scenic ones better, then wonders why so many pieces are alike! Every once in a while I am tempted to work on it also. It was rather a rainy weekend until Sunday so the boys enjoyed the TV and their books and playing some Monopoly – I think they beat Grandpa.

Sunday afternoon, Mel and children stopped in for a few minutes. I did not know it until they came, but Deanna's Grandpa Foster's funeral was that day and they had come up for that. Deanna had come up on Sat. and they were on their way home.. There and gone before I knew what was going on. Didn't even have time to offer them some cookies and milk. Or didn't think of it anyway. Matt says college is OK and he is also working in a convenience store. Kathy has been playing soccer. She looked very nice in a black and white outfit, tall and slim. I forgot to tell her that Burnie wants you out there to play volleyball!! Luke too is growing up and says he is still practicing his viola and doing quite well with it. Ben and Luke were on the scales and weighed within three pounds of each other. Now I have forgotten which was which, but 97 and 100 lbs. Joe is the third baby of that group. I think he will top them.
The news from Arkansas is that they will be moving to Elgin, Ill. in the Chicago area. Joseph is going to be senior chemist in the Research and Development dept. for Rawhide Rubber Co. the type of position that he has wanted for a long time. Congratulation, Joseph! Joan and Joseph went ot Chicago this last weekend to check out more about the area, schools, housing, etc. Joseph had to come back on Sunday, but I think Joan was staying a couple of more days – the company flew them up there, etc. Joseph will be starting Nov. 7. I think I heard. As always there are mixed emotions when one moves but I for one am glad they will be closer to our area so we can possibly get out there and back and vice versa once in a while. Also a good 'stopping point' if one was traveling East or West. I am sure that the children will find different school situations and we hope what they want as far as their interests go. Guess it was a good thing Joan took the year off. It seems that our grandchildren are growing up so fast and we do not see any of hem as much as it would be ice to do. Guess that is life.
Jane is on the unwind part of her schooling – I think she has all of the courses completed (except possibly one) for her degree. She has been substituting i the business dept. for the last two weeks and plans to get her teacher's certification as soon as possible – then she says she will be ready to whatever may come – or at least be able to take course that she wants to take. I haven't heard anymore about Danny, but he was not feeling just right and she had taken him for blood tests, etc. Joe was going to be getting braces on his teeth – for starting the process. Like I say – they all are growing up. Steve has been playing football this year and Mike is in junior high along with Nate and Jeremy. Jeremy is taking Latin and doing well with it. Mert can't figure that one out. Latin!!! Glad he (Jeremy) didn't know I took it and test me out on my knowledge – that is in the past.
Well, I guess I have gone on long enough, this week I go back for another cholesterol test – a free one with just the finger prick type and I am hoping to get Mert to go with me – I have an appointment for him, too. Then next week, I will be going to the dentist – what thrilling things to look forward to.
Someone needs this typewriter, so good-bye for now.
Love,
Mom and Dad

Yesterday a.m. I finally took time here at work and wrote once again to the NYS Retirement Arrears Dept. Told them I thought I had been patient long enough and thank YOU for helping me get it all straightened out. If I get another letter stating that they are too busy, I will then turn it all over to my Congressman. All I ever get is letters telling me to be patient, that there are pressing matter or people for them to attend to. I have several letters that I have written and the same reply since Nov. 1985 when I started to work here again. It will soon be five years ago and the rate they are going it will take me until 1990 to get it all figured out. I just hope that they do not say that I have to wait until I rejoined the system in Oct. 1986 plus five years!!! Not when I thought I was a member all of the time.

June 11, 1970
Bagdad, Ariz. P.O. box 84
Dear Maretta,
My apologies, I intended to write a letter, but guess I thought about it so much that I finally thought I wrote or something! I remember we got the letter while we were yet in Utah.
A lot has happened in the last year. We were home (NYS) a year ago now and then came here last August. Joan has just graduated from high school here and they have done OK. here in Bagdad. Jane is in Tucson this week as Girl's State Representative from Bagdad, also she was voted in as Student Council Pres. for next year.
Mel is back in NYS for the summer, don't feel bad about his not stopping in Indiana. He actually didn't come that way as he was traveling with a boy from NYC So they came more a south East route from Texas up through Virginia and Penn.
Burnett (he is now 14 now) flew back to NYS last week and is back there now helping Uncle Bert with the haying. So both our boys are in NYS. There really isn't much to do for a teenage boy here during the summer, during the school year there is always something going on, but now it is just the swim pool and baseball, etc..
Friday a.m. I'll add a line this a.m. before I get ready for work. I work 4 days a week, sometimes 5 at the Copper Market which is a company store. I work in the dry good department. I like office work better but this gets me out and I now a lot of people now etc.. Also I enjoy a pay check to spend on kids and to help with college expenses, etc..
We don't have any of Melvin's colored picture left, just the ones we had made up, but hope it will be better than none. Guess his hair is longer now, of course he is also almost 2 years older than when the pictures were taken. He is working on building fences along the right-a-way on the roads back home.
Home, NYS will always be, but this Ariz. weather and country kind of grow on you. We have a nice 3 bed 1 3/4 bath home here and we are quite content in our end-of-the road copper mining town. It is open pit mining here, no underground work. If you make that trip to Calif. and turn off route 93 to hit Bagdad you will be sure you are headed for the hills. It's not steep just follow the old wagon rail in and winds and wanders. 11 miles of dirt road, then 5 of hard top again. It really is different, but we have a hsp. and Dr. here, schools, of course, garage, Laundromat, P.O. bank and general store (divided in 3 parts) with a pretty good selection of items. Oh yes, there are several churches in town, restaurant, barber shop and beauty shop but not enough for recreation like bowling, skating, etc.. We do have a drive-in movie and the school is always humming with activity when it is open.
I just thought, remember how Uncle Mert was so strict about boys, guess what he still is with early curfew hours and limits on how much they go out etc.. Thought you might be interested.
Oh yes, Jane made the cheerleading squad so she will be a cheerleader next year if she keeps her grades up. And I'm sure she will. Right now she is the highest in her class for all 3 high school years. Sharon does OK, too, but one girl keeps a little ahead of her, so far. They have 40-50 in classes or grades.
B.J. will be a freshman in the fall and of course he is looking forward to basketball in high school He really likes it.
Well it is 8 a.m., time for me to get around and shower etc. for work. Mert usually works 3 shifts a week as night watchman at the plant, but one man is on vacation so Mert has 2 full weeks of graveyard, so he is sleeping. Jane is at Girls State and Joan and Sharon are still in bed, too. Mel and B.J. are in NYS, it is 11 a.m. there. Sure miss them, but they have each other plus most of the rest of the family.
Again, I'm sorry I didn't write, but I guess I don't get much farther than Grandma and G&G Hibbard most of the time.
I enjoyed reading your letter to Grandma. (I'll send it back to her) and I hope to hear from you, too (and try to answer sooner.)
We are hoping to go to NYS in August and get BJ, se the family, leave Joan back there, somewhere until school starts. Maybe leave her luggage in Goshen. Send us a directions of how to find you and maybe we will be able to catch you off work if our route hits anywhere near. Also do you have a telephone?
Must go to work.
Love Aunt Doris.
Maybe we will see Jerry in NYS.



Maretta thought you might be interested in this letter about our winter.
We have had questions about our weather and our location - and reference to the Sun Belt. Well now I am not sure just where the sunbelt is, but this winter it sure makes me think it must be south of us. We aren't that many degrees north of where we lived in Arizona, but we are at a higher elevation, approx., 5,400 and we are experiencing a much more sever winter than we ever did there. We live approximately 75 miles from some high mtn. country in Colorado. One o the ski resorts is north of Durango, CO and they have approx. a base of 7 feet of snow according to TV. Today it is 41 degrees here and it feels like a heat wave. It goes below freezing about every night and has been to 0 degrees and below many nights. We only have about 4 to 6 inches of snow on the ground n the shade of the trailer, but more outside on the hills. I guess it is an unusual winter for here, but it feels about like a usual NYS winter to us! Maybe not as much snow, but here 3-4 inches can throw everyone into a spin and a panic (how will I drive home!) as much as 10-12 inches does there. They just do not have the equipment to handle it.. One day after about 3 of very slippery city streets, I saw a truck with sand on it with 2 men throwing shovelfuls on the stets like we used to see in NYS, many years ago.
Well, I guess I have covered the weather. The prediction here is for rain changing to snow here today. Skies are gray. Mert has been to Globe, Ariz. should be in today, gone overnight. I heard they had snow in mtns off there, too. He had been going each day over a pass to Colorado, but they have shut down that run temporarily. I heard on TV that some passes are closed because of avalanches and some closed to everything except small cars and trucks, guess the bigger vehicles can trigger the slides.
Next day - Mert go home safely, We had a thaw and rain here, but lots of snow on the passes, I guess so Mert is home catching up today. Did some work around trailer and rested.
((Mom drew a map of the four-corners and Bloomfield in N.M.))



Jan. 28, 1978
Dear Maretta and family,
I talked with your mother yesterday and she said all is going quite well at your house now. I'm glad and know that your baby has lots of love. I went looking for a gift, but had not idea what you needed so decided I would let you do the shopping or put it toward a large item or in a savings account, whatever you want.
I hope you have not had a hard winter there, this one isn't really, we jut expected a milder one! I am enclosing a letter (copy) I wrote about our weather, also one I sent to a few at Christmas time. I now have your address in my address book, guess I had lost it in copying sometime.
Mert is out on a trip to Colorado. He left yesterday and will be in soon. They have to take an 8 hour sleep break. He really like it out here, also likes driving truck better than working inside someplace.
Burnie called this A.M. and he expects to be going into the Air Force at the end of March. He will be in Texas for the first 12 weeks. He will be going into computer technology. He has been talking of it a long while and since he has his 4-year degree he will be an officer and hoping to be doing some teaching as well as learning more himself. Bet you think of him as a little tow-head about 5 or 6! He is still blonde, but almost 22 in May. Don't ask me where the years have gone.
I think you finally got pictures of the three older ones - senior pictures - but here are Sharon's and Burnie's, if you don't have the others, let me know and I'll do some digging.
Sharon now has short hair and bangs - an easy care hair do for a busy housewife and one the baby couldn't pull as easily!
Well guess I had better get some food ready for Mert to eat when he comes in. Should be calling me soon to pick him up at the terminal.
I know you are going to be blessed by the new little baby, enjoy him and we are happy for you all.
Love, Aunt Doris and Uncle Mert



Dec. 1978
Bloomfield, New Mexico
Christmas greetings from the land of Enchantment - New Mexico
Our thought at this time of year is Peace on Earth, good will toward men. Peace comes through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ made peace through the blood of His Cross." Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God," Colossians 1:20, Romans 5:1.
As you see by the address we have returned to the land of sunshine, but right now we are enjoying New York State weather: 0 and sub-0 temperatures for the last week and an unusual snow. We are only about 50 miles from the mountains in Colorado so I guess we can expect some cold weather. We came back out here in June and Mert went back to work for the same trucking company he worked for a year ago. In September, Doris got a position as bookkeeper here at city hall so that keeps her busy, also. We still have our log house in the woods back in New York State, but we purchased a used 12 x 60 trailer, that was all set up in a nice park so we do not have to totally rent out here. The trailer space, but that has fenced lot, lawn, garden space, irrigation water and a patio so we like it. It is just a little ways from where I work at city hall so it eliminate the need for two cars.
I know some of your are wondering where have the children gone, so I will bring you up to date on each of them. Melvin and Deanna are living in Canisteo, N.Y. and he just go a new position of field planner with the New York State Electric and Gas Co. Matt is 7 and in 2nd grade, going to be another Hibbard in Math. Kathy is 4 and goes to Nursery School. Deanna is working at the hospital, but they are looking for a little addition to join the family in March. I should say a big addition. Ml says that he does not remember that Deanna was this large with Kathy and three months to go. Maybe twins will shop up yet in the family.

Joan and Joseph and their five boys live in Wakarusa, Ind. Randy is in High School already and Tim is in 5th grade. Mark started kindergarten and helps the two older boys deliver a few of the 100 papers each day - the ones on their street. He is getting along quite well and the competition of other boys and girls is good for his exercising which he has to have to keep up the strength on his left side. He is a good student, too. Merton and Nathan are enjoying being home with Mommy and keeping her busy along with her course. She is taking in Spanish by correspondence. They completed two summers of digging a basement under their home and they are lad that the biggest mess is over and for the added space for the boys, too. They have done a lot of remodeling. All the time since they have bee married, but you sure can see the difference.
Jane and Michael have moved from Bagdad Ariz. to Paonia, Colo, In July, Mike went job hunting while he was on vacation and got a job right away at a coal mine in the heart of some of the most beautiful country in the U.S. Really, and good hunting and fishing, too, which is where they like to be. They are hoping to buy a home next year up there and they too are expecting an addition to their family. Stephen was 4 in November and Michael was 2 in September and in May they will have another boy?? or girl. Since Kathy is our only granddaughter, we are looking forward to seeing at least one little girl out of the coming three more grandchildren. They have also been having snow and cold weather, but when I asked if Mike was ready to go back to Arizona, Jane said he wasn't minding it at all and they feel they made a good move. We have been up there several times camping with them and it is good that they live about 200 miles from us instead of the 600 when they were in Arizona. The mountain passes are high, but there is a lowland route which they will probably travel when they come to visit us at Christmas time.
Sharon and Bob live in Rochester, N.Y. and he just received a promotion at Kodak and they also bought a home up there. Jeremy will be two the end of June and about the same time in May that our Colorado baby will be born, they are expecting a brother or sister for Jeremy to play with. Bob has been taking a course in electronics, been fixing up cars and reselling them. So I guess they keep busy. Sharon is a bookkeeper for all the little projects and thoroughly enjoys being a housewife and mother.
Burnie’s is the only single one let of our five at the ripe age of 22. He taught school at a school for wayward boys last year - Spring Semester and this year is teaching at a Christian School down on Long Island. He teaches 7th and 8th grade Math, two classes each, a class of P.E. and a class in bible. He gets back up to the cabin about each month or so and he and some other boys are planning on being there a while at Christmas time. Kind of a retreat away from the city. I expect some day he will pick one of the many girls he dates and say this is the one, but meanwhile he says his family consists of 17 boys and girls that go home each night! He lived at home last spring and we miss having him around, but then even if we were in NYS, he would be 300 miles away. Another part of parents growing up ...
May we sign this off with the prayer that you all will have God's richest blessing in The New Year and hope to hear from some of your. Thank be to God for His Gift to us.
Merton and Doris Hibbard

Dear Maretta and family, 5-22-79
I was going through my mail and see you asked fro the children's addresses. Well I just updated a piece of genealogy that I had written for someone that was going to do work on the Hibbard clan so I'll send you a copy of that, That has their addresses as well as I've added our three latest grandson to it. Lucas Hibbard, Joseph Vigueria and Benjamin Stein. Do you think all these little boys will grow into their names? Mert wonders what the world is going to do for little girls – everyone we know almost – have had boys and sure lots of babies in our family on both sides. Our three grandsons plus 2 great nephews on the Waight side and a great-niece (Tim Hibbard's) and a great nephe (Sue's) on the Hibbard side. WOW baby year 1979.
I appreciated the baby's picture and it doesn't seem possible he could be so big so soon, after being so tiny!
I keep busy at work - as bookkeeper here at City Hall and Uncle Mert is driving truck. He goes all over Ariz. and N.M. sometimes to Texas to haul diesel or gasoline from the refineries here.
We hope to see Jane's family this Memorial weekend. Burnie will be going to summer school in Flagstaff, Ariz. so we will see him a little more as he will be closer. He came out here to teach in March. He likes the West and is dating a girl he dated when he left Bagdad at the end of his sophomore year in H.S.! Must close - about time for Mert to come home.
Love - Aunt Doris

Aug. 24, 1982
Dear Maretta and family. 412 Salmon Drive, Box 8, Space 48, Bloomfield, N.M. 87413,
Well I guess your sweet little baby girl must be one month old today! Probably by now you are both getting used to each other. I hope you are feeling quite well and able to enjoy each new day. I know you must be keeping busy with both of them and enjoying every minute I am sure.
Probably by the time you get this, you will be going to NYS for the wedding? Wish I could be there to see you all, but guess our traveling for the summer is over – and we really haven’t been anyplace since we flew back to NYS in May. I have been to CO a couple of times to meet Jane and the boys to come down here and also for a few days when she was sick but other than that it seems it has been a quiet summer – also it has passed very quickly. B.J. and Julie were over one long weekend from summer school and they do plan on coming over the weekend after Labor Day - the next thing we know it will b Fall. Mert keeps busy on the truck and I do ride along with him once in a while when he is going on longer trip on a Saturday sometimes. He has a nice truck to rid in with A/C and not a cob-over so it is fairly easy to climb into. We went to Pagosa, CO one night last week after work – about 6 hours. up and back and unloading etc.. I had just rained and the air was so fresh and smelled of pines and sage. A really nice ride.
I guess you knew of Mel's moving to Vestal, N.Y. – down around Binghamton. He is sill with New York State Electric and Gas but it was another step up and they just seemed to have really stepped right into the community life in hurry with sports, baton twirling etc.. Their Lucas is just a bit younger than Brannen – his birthday is in April. Of course, Mat and Kathy are both in school, 6th and 3rd this year I think. Or maybe Grandma is mixed up! Kind of hard to keep track of so many!
August 25 - I'll have this worn out taking it in and out of the typewriter!
Joan's have moved to Arkansas. Joseph has a new and better position with Cooper Rubber Company there. They have already old their home in Indiana and have bought and moved into a brand-new home down there. Actually the company was putting them up in a motel for a few days until their home was ready to unload the moving van. I am glad for her. She won't have to spend another 10 years of fixing up. The older boys are in Indiana. Her three boys are in school with Nate going to K, Mert into 2nd and Mark into 4th, I think! So just Sharon Joy at home with Joan each day. They still do not have their telephone in so I haven't talked with her since the day they moved into house. Jane spent one week with her boys down her and we enjoyed that. Mert was off work three days while they were doing truck repairs and then I took the last two off so we could go shopping in Farmington a bit. They grow up so fast. Steve will be in second grade and Mike in K– of course Joe was only 3 in April so he is still at home. They are all nice boys. Mike came down to get them on Friday night and they went back over the mtns. on Saturday. On Sunday they had a call that his father was very low (he has cancer) and they went to Bagdad, AZ to see him. They were down there a week and stopped again last Friday nigh at our place, ate breakfast and went on home. School and work go on and school starts this week in Colorado, also here in N.M. and Ariz.
Joan's boys started last week – the same day they moved into the house.
Of course New York does not start until September and then Sharon's oldest will start Kindergarten - just the P.M. I think but she does hope to have Benjamin in nursery school part of the time if possible, but that will not start until October. Jeremy is very shy, but after he is in school a while, I think he will get better. He starts off slow until he gets to know you and then he loosens up. I don't know when we will ever get them all together, but we sure could have a circus if we got all of our little boys together sometime as well as the few little girls there are.
Burnie and Julie are both back at their teaching jobs after spending 10 weeks in summer school. He finished all of his requirements for his Master's Degree in Math but ha to go before a board of professors (about 3 I think he said) and take and oral exam which will probably last 3 to 4 hours. He does want to do a bit more of brushing up and hopefully will take that before the end of the year. Julie teaches 3rd grade and already has her master's degree and bout 1/2 way there to her doctorate. I think she hope to not teach another year - they are hoping to start a family according to reports, but I have not heard any real news to that fact YET. Time will tell!! Both she and B.J. have really blonde hair sooo---I tell them I am looking forward to having a red-headed grandchild! But her mother is looking forward to it even more than I am as they have not grandchildren at all.

I keep busy or anyway put in my time working here in the Real Estate Office. We have two phones here a well as two different answering service, but somedays it seems all of the phones are pretty quiet. It is an interesting place to work with people coming and going and all kinds of different problems and situations happening. I have some free time so I can type a letter or such. It looks better to be doing that than to have someone come in the door and find me reading a novel! Keeps me out of trouble and I am only about 1/2 mile from work so I go home at noon. Mert drives his tractor-trailer home as he goes directly to the refinery each morning to pick-up a load of gas or diesel to deliver to one of the coal mines to start his day off. He knows that they use at least one load - then calls the dispatcher to see where else he wants him to go.
Well, Maretta, I guess I have gone on long enough and had better sign off and get this card in the mail before your daughter is 2 months old! I know you would have enjoyed another little boy, but know that this little girl will be even more special to you. girls are that way!
Well time to get back to work. Again congratulations to the Kirk Family!
Love Aunt Doris and Uncle Mert


Greetings from New Mexico ... Nov. 28, 1984
Yes, we had a nice Thanksgiving, thank you, even though we did not have company after Jane's family went on down to Arizona Wednesday A.M. Mert had to go to Jol, NM on Tuesday and he did not get back until Thursday forenoon, but I had Mr. Big Bird cooking and then we froze some later. Also, we are eating some very good turkey soup this week. We had talked of going out to eat, but decided we would rather have left-overs instead of just going for one meal and then no leftover turkey. We did manage to go to the big city of Farmington Fri., Sat. and Sunday anyway and did quite a bit of our Christmas shopping. I managed to read a couple of Danielle Steele's novels (part of one Wed. at work(?)) and watched Macy's parade Thursday A.M. before Mert got in to watch the football games. Think with Thanksgiving being a bit earlier this year it got me in the mood for Christmas a bit earlier.
Today is Mert's birthday. He had some early A.M. telephone calls and I was trying to bake him a three-layer peanut butter frosted cake. Well as all of you children know, my layer cakes always do not stay layered but like to slip and slide. It may be edible, but it sure was laughable, also. I knew there was a reason I always made sheet cakes!!
Tonight is school, so I knew it was this A.M. or not at all. He is home today -- work ha been super-slow for the last two-four weeks. He did get all of the weeds cleaned up around the place. Makes it look much better and even bigger. They finally moved the burned out trailer from the place behind us so that makes us look all the more like we are in the country. Nothing between us and the river except about 20 acres. We can only see the house and barn to the East and that is about all.
Had a phone call from Joan this A.M. telling us that she managed to total out the little car they had just fixed up. Going to college and hit the back end of a pickup truck which had stopped for a school bus. A bit of a hurry, slippery and wet and looked at Sharon Joy and didn't realize everyone was stopping. They were both O.K. as they have a very good habit of "buckle-up." Today she said her back hurt some and I told her she had better go to the Dr. to have it checked out. Didn't break the windshield but the light, grill and crumpled hood, etc.. and apparently they figured it was damaged in the front-end drive etc.. They did have collision ins. Just glad they were both O.K.
Jane's did get to Arizona and back safely, but did run into some snow on Sunday when they were coming back up. Dan developed an ear infection but Dr.'s medication and he was better. Joe also got sick while they were down there, but she already had some medicine for that problem and he is back in school this week. He goes in the afternoons so he can rest extra in the mornings. Everyone else there is fine and they saw Burnie and Julie while they were at Mike's brother's (B.J. and J. came out there to visit them) and they were doing fine, also.
Received a very nice letter from Mel right after I sent out my last copy letter. He is still working two nights (15-25 hours extra each week) a week extra on his job and Deanna keeps busy keeping the home fires burning and I imagine taking children here and there. Luke is doing O.K. in school but told his Dad e got a little bored and continues to really enjoy life and likes to just sing – and as we all know, sing he can. Kathy had all A's on hr report card with 100 in spelling! Also she is doing gymnastics, baton, Awana, soccer practice and I am sure someone said she is taking flute, too. Sounds like she keeps busy. Matt also is doing very well in school and keeping busy with extra activities as well as his paper route.
Christmas is speeding onward and I can think of many things I should be doing at home. Finishing some shipping and shopping or doing the shopping and then the shipping! Considering that we are not sure what the new year will bring to the area, we may have done something crazy- if so it won't be the first crazy thing but we bought an almost new king-sized bed from some friends that are moving back to NYS. He got hurt on the job, but is better but cannot do the work he did and her mother is terminally ill so they are leaving today, I guess. They sold all of their furniture and just taking a U-Haul of personal things. They brought the bed out to the house in the U-Haul last night. We also bought their 6 1/2 foot Christmas tree that she had used one year - $20 and here it would have cost that much to buy one for one year. I do enjoy the real ones but will not have to worry so much about this one getting all dried out etc.. Mert sat it up, but I have to do a little adjusting on the branches etc.. and of course find some more things to trim a larger tree with. Grand Central's sale continues with prices dropping more each week. Socks were down to 50 % off last weekend. Looked like they had enough to put a pair on everyone in San Juan County. I want to get over there to buy a set of sheets or two for the bigger bed. They were 40% off and will probably go lower soon. Everything is supposed to be closed out in mid-January. Also we are going to have a new store in town next spring. WalMart which is a big competitor of K-Mart. Joan has WalMart in her area. They are just moving into New Mexico. Guess we are quite a shopping hub for quite and area. You would think so when you see the cars in the parking lots. Always you can find cars from N.M., CO, AZ, Utah and usually some from other states where they are in the area temporarily. It sure would take more than my shopping to keep the stores open.
Well guess it is close to noon time and I will end this for now. Have to go buy a few things at the store at noon as well as going over to a couple of apartments and unlock them so they can turn on the gas so they will not freeze. No renters, sure would hurt the cash flow direction when you are the owner of the apts. Jane says that B.J. did rent their house in Prescott Heights with a two-year lease on it or almost anyway. Guess there isn't much news, but we are fine and everyone else is too as far as we know. Mel said they were up to Sharon a bit ago., I haven't hared from her lately, but know she is keeping very busy with her H&R Block course, which must be about completed. Think Joan will be done the 20th with her semester. Bye now, love to all. M&D

Dear Maretta, 12-4-84
A picture is worth a thousand words and I appreciated them. Unlike the Maretta I know you didn't write any names on pictures!
I assume that is your Jerry's little girl and Marion. You are too young to say your granddaughter! Also your two little ones, I have never seen a picture of your little girl. She looks a bit like hr mother! Also think she and Joan's Sharon Joy (1 year older?) would make quite a pair.
We are planning on Joan's Burnie's and Jane's sometime over the holidays – probably at New Year's weekend. Joan's maybe earlier, also. Hope the weather is good. I just retyped the current addresses for the family so thought you might like a copy, also the latest news sheet and a couple of birth date and anniversary sheets. No pictures, but I'll find some of Uncle Mert and I someday. Maybe we avoid cameras
Thanks again for the pictures
Love, Aunt Doris and Uncle Mert

Christmas greetings from New Mexico! December 10th and I do not know when the next letter will be written, so I want to be sure to send everyone our greetings for the holiday season as we rejoice in our Lord Jesus and for the new life He has given each one of us.
Also, I realized suddenly that the letter I had written has not been mailed.

So I will include it. We did have a very nice Thanksgiving, Christmas and Mert's birthday, all rolled into one. Jane, Mike and boys came down from CO and Burnie and Julie over from Arizona. Despite very bad weather around us, they all had good roads to travel on booth coming and going. Jane brought apple pies and made some pumpkin while she was here. Julie brought over some homemade bread, so that made lots of baked goods along with a cake I made for Mert's birthday. They cam in on Thursday. We put the big bird in the oven along with Vigueria stuffing on Friday morning and then left B.J. and Mike watching a BIG tennis matching on TV and also left Steve, Mike and Joe with them.

The weather was nice to play outside, also. Jane, Julie and I went to Farmington to finish a little shopping and to check out the new Mall. It's not huge, but big enough for me. Mert had had Thursday off, but came in , in time on Friday to enjoy our supper and then he was off Saturday, Also. WE had time to play some games and to hit the flea market. Nice weather and we had a good visit by all, especially the young people. That could take the late hours! Could hear them laughing after we had gone to bed, so I guess the games and memories were fun.

Mert worked Monday, but came home early as he was not feeling very well in general and on Tuesday morning decided he would go to a Dr. in Durango to see what was the cause of the rash on his fact. I think possibly he has helped with some pills he gave him to take. Also a few days off seemed in line. Mert was not sure if he would have time off at Christmas or not and figured a lot had asked ahead of him, so wondered if I wanted to go to Ark.
Sure I wanted to go at Christmas, but if it was a case of now or not at all, I would take not. So in order to miss a storm that was coming in, we left Tuesday evening for Arkansas and Joan's. Thought we would stop in Albuquerque, but Mert fired me up with a couple cups of coffee and I was good for a tank of gas and the drive to Amarillo, TX. He got in the back seat and went to sleep 24 hours later and about 1,170 miles, we were at Joan's. WE took a different route back and it was only about 1,050. We were at Joan's from Wed. evening until Saturday A.M. I had thought we might stay a bit longer, but Mert was anxious to go, and anxious to get back to the job. He felt better on our way after we had gotten part way to Albq.!


WE had a really nice trip and got to see Joan and Joseph's new home and Mert enjoyed sleeping under the pine trees in the vacant lot next door, about like in a forecast. It was unbelievable warm for December, about like N.Y. in July. The next day it rained and around us there were tornadoes and warning but it was O.K. where we were. We had a good time with Joan and Sharon during the day and saw Joseph and the boys at night. We think they got a really good buy on their home. It is well built and in a nice area. There are areas that look even worse than our slums, but where they are is really pretty, being in a pine forest. The boys are growing and doing fine. I saw some of Nate's school papers. It seems like he is going to make out O.K. even f he is young. Sharon knew how to make Grandma happy, go to sleep in her arms a couple of times, also laugh at the pictures and talk about them in a book. Boys, has she got everyone wrapped around her finger!

Friday nigh and time to go home. Maybe I will type some over the weekend - if I come up with some news. Good night.

Monday December, 13, 1982. Guess I had better get this finished and off in the mail as I have had some request for correct addresses. So addresses and phone #'s of Merton Hibbard family enclosed. In case any want to add my at work # is 505-632-3353, or 2068.

We went to Mert's Christmas party at the Country Club Saturday night. A big crowd and lots of good food and too much coffee! So after we got home, we watched a movie on ShowTime. We do have a color TV now. t makes everything look different! Oh, yes, the movie was the one about Howard Hughes and the guy that picked him ups as a hitch hiker and the story of that case.

Sunday I went to Smitty's and Jean's son's wedding and reception. Mert didn't want to go as he said he didn't know any of them, which was true and I guess I realize I do and they called me up to see if I wanted to ride out to the mission church where it was being held - 50 miles from Farmington. So I decided they really wanted m to go. I brought Mert home a large piece of cake and some cold cuts from the reception tat was held afterwards in Farmington so he enjoyed that part of it. I guess as many did not show up as anticipated so when Steve told me to take some of his wedding cake home and Smitty said to be sure to take some of the other stuff home for Mert, I did. Then after I was home a while and had dropped off to sleep on the couch, the phone rang. B.J. was calling asking "who is Alfred Mowatt?" You know me after I have been asleep a bit (goonne) He had found a note on his house saying, "Hi! I just stopped by, your second cousin, Al Mowatt" or something like that. I finally got it through my head to be bale to tell him who he was and where he lived.

I will send his address in Sun City in B.J. and I think he will look them up sometime. Thanks Aunt Cora for sending the addresses around. B.J. says "real relatives!" in Arizona! Now a question to you, Aunt Cora. I know that Albert also knew the Hibbard side of the family. Did he go with Aunt Mildred Herrington some or what?. I remember years ago, before I knew Mert that Albert was at the farm and we were taking him to the train in Addison, I think. HE stopped at East Woodhull to see Grandpa Holt, as I remember him going to the house there – before the store was even built that Grandpa Holt had later.

Possibly he knew them from Borden when you lived there? I will try to get a letter off to them, also. Not sure when we will ever get over to Arizona, but I am sure Burnie would hear a lot about the Williams and Waight part of the family if he ever visited his cousin (that he didn't know he had). Burnie, your Dad didn't even hear the phone ring and it was right beside the bed. I was telling him your question and he was trying to go into the Hibbard family to figure that one out. I guess what is so pleasing to me is that I wasn't sure that Albert would even know who I was? Let alone have him stop to see on of my off spring!

Burnie said that Julie had had another musical at the church with about 40 involved and most of them under 7 years-old. I think I heard right. And it was a really good program Well received. This week her class in school is putting on a Christmas program for the whole grade school. I guess there classes were supposed to have done something, but didn't. It is hard to think it is almost Christmas.

B.J. had also talked with Mel a bit ago and said they were doing fine and he was glad he had talked with Mel and found out how well they like their new home community. I think it was a big relief to Mel to be through with his degree and continuous classes. Now he has more time to enjoy and not just study and go to school besides trying to do the necessary things and activities. A little less pressure, even though I know they are constantly busy.

I forgot to tell you the pleasant surprise that the UPS brought one day. Mert had said to Sharon that he hadn't had a Northern Spy in he didn't know when. She said she would get him some. It wasn't many days later that they came in a box of the biggest spy apples I ever saw. Each one wrapped in newspaper by Sharon (I presume). I think Mert has eaten one each day since they came, so I think I will take my Colorado Winesaps and make them into sauce. They sure do taste good and one is a meal. We are keeping the box on the porch, which keeps them cool, but not too cool. We have not had any of the bad snowstorms you hear about in New Mexico, some rain, but now snow like they have been having all around.

Tuesday. I have not talked with Jane lately, but Mike is going to school in Denver for three or four days, I think it was this week. I think they are going to be in Colorado for Christmas as he does not have the time off between Christmas and New Years, but probably it will be a last minute decision to go if they do go to Arizona.

Sharon says they keep busy. I think she said they sent out another bulk mailing of 200 plus answers for more information on the waste oil stove. The boys are taking swimming lessons and Jeremy is doing quite well. Benny is trying and charming his instructors. Earlier they had gotten rid of their big piano but now Sharon has a spinet or console, which is much smaller, of course. She says she really enjoys playing now and it is easier for her to practice and enjoy, now that the boys are older. They are both going to start lessons before too long. A teacher that says the younger they are, the better, I guess. Not brand new, but a good tone and in good condition.

A letter from Joan and she says that Tim will be coming down after Christmas with the elder Hershbergers to spend a few days. They were hoping he would be able to get down over the holidays. While we were there, we had time to hit a garage sale ad one day Mert, Joan, Sharon ad I went to a nice place to have catfish! I had to check around to find out where it was going to be served, but we found one in the motel and restaurant that stayed in while waiting for their house to be completed. Complete with a nice salad bar and complete buffet. We enjoyed it.

Also had some in Texas on our way home, Joan – but just the portion they put on our plates. At the buffet we could go back. They had an office potluck one weekend (with Joseph's workers) and everything turned out fine for that. Joan enjoyed being able to fill up a dishwasher and get things done up in a hurry. She said Sharon was a little lady wit a pretty pink dress. When were there she had some new maroon velvet shoes that she had just gotten and wanted on over her P.J.'s even. Her hair was curling with all of the dampness. This was right after we came home. I think they are rather proud of their little lady as well as their boys! Nate is doing great in school I thought but the looks of his papers and later a written report said he was doing very well in everything except deportment when he had to change gears for rest time. He will make out O.K.

Tonight is our office pot luck. I am going to take pickles and a green salad. I hope Mert gets in and feels like going. However he want to do, I guess. Well about time to sign off, so will. Know there are other things I probably left out, but love to all and Merry Christmas.
M&D

Monday, Nov. 8, cloudy skis in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico, 49 degrees

Well my best laid plans went astray over the weekend, but I had a nice trip on he truck with Mert. I left a batch of clothes soaking in the washer, a few dishes in the sink and headed for Farmington when Mert called to ask if I wanted to ride to Springerville, AZ.

I had planned on working, cleaning up flowers and leaves in the yard now that they are really frozen. They are still there, though Mert did go over the tomatoes again in the shed after we got back Sunday afternoon. He had already run a load Saturday A.M. and was supposed to meet another trucker in Gallup and help him load (a new driver) and go through procedures.

Also, we were supposed to pick up some different loading cards, but didn't make contact with the person, but wasted one to two hours with looking, waiting and phone calls back to office. Ate our lunch and finally loaded with regular cards and headed down through Zuni, AZ and dropped part of the load in St. John and then 20 miles to Springerville to leave the rest of the load. It was very dark and about 7:00 and Mert was supposed to pick up another load in Gallup to return to Farmington to one of the mines, so he called it a day and we stayed at Whiting Bros. Motel in Springerville.

It was just about new by the looks of it and the room was big and clean. It was quiet, different than the motels in Gallup. They had a little store next to it, so I went in and bought some hot broasted chicken and some nacho's (little tortilla chips with hot cheese sauce over them) and Pepsi. Then back over for a pint of ice cream to settle Mert's stomach.

We had a rather different experience in the A.M. Mert had gone across the road to start the truck. I was doing a last minute motel check when I got over by the truck there was a young man with a large suitcase and a little blonde-haired girl 2-3 years old, hoping to hitch a ride to Texas. (Graves Oil and Bune of Midland, Texas is what is on the side of the trucks) But we were not headed that way. So the guy started on down the street trying to mange the little girl as well as the suitcase.

Well, after we discussed what was going on briefly, the young man and his wife were getting divorced he said and he had taken the little girl from his wife and run, but he little girl wanted her Mommy, Sissy (about 9) and he was taking her back to Texas again. I think he had hitch-hiked all night as he sure looked weary. Said some relatives were supposed to be there, but they didn't show up. Mert figured possibly he had realized he couldn't go any farther, anyway we went around the block and found him walking along the street with BIG suitcase and Little girl. Took them on to a restaurant, gave him money to buy breakfast and extra to buy a bus ticket back to Texas.

We assume a bus goes through there once a day, but didn't stay to find it all out. Just told him to remember that Jesus loves you. Guess that is the end of the story until we get to Glory. Well, I just called local Trailways and they do have a bus that goes from Springerville, a child under 5 can travel free, so we pray all worked out O.K. As Mert said, someone could do away with him and steal the little girl while hitchhiking like that. We have so much to be thankful for in our family!!! The young man realized he had done wrong and was trying to do right by taking her back. Maybe we should have stayed and eaten and talked, but did what we felt led to do and as Mert says, sometimes one can preach too much.

We went to Gallup, ate breakfast, loaded to Cinez, unloaded at San Juan Coal Mine outside of Farmington. He dropped me off to pick up the car and home by 4 p.m. So went the weekend, it is another week.

Talked with Calysta early Saturday morning to see what was going on in Jasper. She has been busy getting settled and has more to do. She said that Bryce and Lisa Wheatcraft Foster had rented Mother Hibbard's house and had don a lot of remodeling and repairs for part of the rent. They had removed the wall between the family room and kitchen which made it more usable and lighter. Also, had wound up gutting the bedroom and redoing it as one thing lead to another, but they had really done fine work. She was glad to have someone improving it instead of it being empty or someone that was going to downgrade it.

(Bryce is one of Deanna's cousin's, Sharon.) She also said Sarah was planning on doing her graduate work at Fredonia College which will be in state and of course closer to home. She is majoring in music and will have majors in piano and voice. I guess she really didn't care for her secretarial or business curses. Said communications were not good between her house and Erma, but guess she was doing what she could do and figured they had to live their life and she hers. We had quite a visit and she was glad I had called.

She feels badly about Hope's dropping out of college (as Sharon had said) but no one is talking to her about it, except that it is her fault, which, of course, it is not. Wish someone could encourage Hope to go one year to Corning or Alfred and get a business degree, but guess I am not the one that can do that either. Sharon says that was her idea, to be a CPA, but of course that comes after years of experience and you have to start with accounting. I imagine some good computer courses would be great, too. She has too good a mind to just slave over people's heads! We have not had any letters this year from Hope. So guess we are still on the bad side of the sheet.


Out of space.
Love to our five, wherever you are!!
Mom & Dad

October 26, 1982
You all have seen the ad about the Maytag repairman? Well I feel rather like him this week. Smitty is off hunting, again or still. Two of the girls are sick with bad throats and upper respiratory infections. The phones are pretty much quit, the filing is caught up and here I am.

Besides the sky is over cast so it is a gloomy day! How is that for a starter?! Makes one think there is going to be a long, slow winter ahead. Had a man come in today from Bloomfield Construction. He was wondering about us possibly being his answering service, also and he wants someone to do bookkeeping part time. I told him I might be able to do that on the weekend on my own as he didn't think it took more than a day or two a month? How much do you charge for something like that Sharon? The bookkeeping. Smitty charge $75 per month for the answering services. I have thought if I had any ..... whatever I could rent a building here and have an answering service. That is one thing Bloomfield does not have, but I guess I haven't the .... Later, I decided I don't want to do the books and he didn't return, anyway.

B.J. called last night to say that the car is already for us to have. All we have to do is work out the details of how we get it. Guess Mert and I are going to try to figure that one out tonight. Probably before that we have to get our muffler replaced on our car. It has a Midas guarantee. It came off Sunday afternoon while we were on some of our famous back roads. But, even thought it had only been on two years, it was partially rusted - even out here. I went to Farmington and checked out the new mall Saturday. I took Mert into work and then had the car for the day. I had a couple of freebies to pick-up and I bought the toy you wanted at LaBelle's, Jane; went to Grand Central and bought a case of Pennzoil at 89 cents a quart. That ought to keep the Comet going for a long time again.

I checked out the flea market and exchanged a tape that did not work. It wound up with a duplicate somehow. Poor memory, I guess. Anyway I got my shopping out of my system. It doesn't take much and home again about three or so. I missed going to Pagosa Springs with Mert. I had to go back into Farmington about 8 or so to pick him up at the terminal. He has been running local most of the time lately. He covers the 7 to 11 stores a lot of the time as he seems to have a better relationship with the people that run them than some of the other drivers do. Some places you can just go in and unload. At these you have to have someone check their tanks, check the loaded tanks, check in again after unloading to see how much is in theirs and if yours are empty, etc. And some don't like the hassle or whatever.

Been having a little go-around with payroll at Graves. They have a computer, but made a hand-written check for one week of Mert's vacation when we came East this summer – never have gotten it into the totals so it will reflect correct amounts for Fed, FICA and state and had the worst time trying to persuade the lady it really had not been added in as I wanted to get it straightened out before income tax time. Also, so Mert doesn't overpay on his FICA. Today she called to say it would be corrected the next pay period. We will see. Some people are always sure they are right. Maybe I am one of them, but I can add and multiply. She was mainly talking instead of looking and trying to figure it out. I had called her before last pay period and I guess she didn't think about it. Mert says, "Now be nice about it." I was. He wouldn't go see her as he knew he wouldn't be able to get the message across. I hope I did!

Christmas is coming! Do I hear any ideas coming to Grandma and Grandpa? I know what I would like to do, but do not know if anything comes of it. Do you know if you are going to be home, Joan, or if you are having company? Probably it will be the same old story. Graves will be busy. Jim and Grace will be down here for the month of December from Alaska Smitty's son Steve is getting married on the 12, I think it is.

I had a line from Joyce and John. She said to tell everyone in the family "hi" and that she was going to buy some matching glasses and dessert dishes with the money we had sent for a wedding present - to go with her Strawberry Design Correlle.
Their address: Mr. and Mrs. John Pierson; 2 Dogwood St. Bath, NY 14810.

A letter from Aunt Cora included a clipping of the wedding account. Thanks Aunt Cora.. Marjorie was planning a family dinner for Aunt Cora's and Bea's birthdays. She said she was going to split for over Halloween as she didn't feel up to it. I don't either Aunt C and if Mert isn't 't home I just leave the light off and ignore the door knockers. They just come in swarms in our trailer park. She was going to go to her sister-in-law's near Troupsburg. I didn't treat either. I didn't want to be involved.

I untied my monster split-leaf philodendron yesterday morning. Turned it half way around, washed the window and the curtain and last night put them back up and put in some more tacks to string it out. Jane those leaf wipers you used keep it looking nice. When you come, bring more and I'll let you use them! I'll pay for the wipers. The dust seems to just not settle on it with the was on them. She only tried them on part of the leave!

Well I guess I have written enough of nothing for today, so bye for now. We will see what the mailman brings to the box today. Letters, maybe?
John is a double cousin of Doug Pierson, husband of Carol I worked with at Corning Community College, the worlds just gets smaller and smaller!

Well now this is tomorrow, Oct. 22. Talked with Mel's this a.m. and as we did know, they keep very busy. The two - Matt and Kathy are both still on Soccer teams They are divided up by age groups as well as boys and girls. There are 5 teams in Kathy's division and they are No. 1 About 75 teams in all. She said 12 teams of about 18 in Matt's division. By the time they hit H.S. in Vestal, they have a very good girls team. Do they still play soccer for the boys, or do they get into football? Matt is playing trumpet and today was going to have a challenge for first chair. They go to the South. Vestal Baptist Church and the children go to Awana. They had a breakfast and then a wood bee for Lake Arrowhead Camp which kept them busy one day. Some others, (Deanna) took in lunch They have been having quite an extensive open house at the school system, so they can learn more about that. Matt's age group has computers to work with and I think they are working it down through the grades. Kathy will also be learning about computer etc. either this year or next. I think they are really happy with their school system. Deanna goes to the spa three mornings a week, usually and Lucas does, tool. They have a nursery with toys, TV with Sesame St. also, they have started an exercise program for the children. Then Lucas want to stop at Dunkin Donuts across the street.

ON some of the others days or the afternoon, he doesn’t need a nap, there is little girl about 4 and a half day kindergarten boy to play with. Deanna says about everyone there is from somewhere else. Mel says he is feeling good and his BP is lower as he has shed a few lbs. since he has a chance to exercise more. He has been playing basketball some, also was riding bike and now has a new jogging suit. So goes out for a run every night.

He is thinking of taking some (mostly home study) courses for his professional engineering license, but he said that would take quite a while. a lot of studying. And thought it was a three-day exam, two of worlds and one oral. I told him everyone wonders just what his job is and he would have to write a job description. He just kind of laughed. I wonder if he knows what he does!! Just kidding, Mel. Well anyway they are all fine and like everyone else, very busy. Also, all have been busy going to the dentist. Either old one didn't do it, or this one was doing everything. Good reputation, though, Deanna said.

Guess I am out of space, so I will sign off and get these ready for the mail. Love to all from M&D

Oct. 5, 1982
I have just returned from P.O. and mailing some letter to you all so I want to pass on the lesson I learned. Tis better to use a legal size envelope than a regular one, if you mail is OK on the weight side, but they measure it for thickness! So some of my letters required an additional 9 cents even though there were not overweight. IF they had been folded and put in a legal, they probably would have gone OK. Didn't I tell you we have a peculiar PO - in more ways than one. If the telephone company doesn't get you, the PO will They have requested a huge jump n our telephone rates. Base rates. Smoke signals, anyone?

Oct. 12. Guess I had better get back to the typewriter instead as guess the distance is too great for the smoke signals. We tried a bit of eye to eye contact this weekend and went to Colorado. Work was a bit slower and Mert had plenty of hours in so I took Friday off and we made a leisurely trip over the mtns. The colors were pretty on the south side of the mtns. But most of the leaves were off after we went over the first pass. When we got to the third one, we found a new shade, pure white. Some in the air, some on the road and when we came back Sunday we decided quite a bit had fallen over the weekend, but had to admit it was pretty, as long as the road was mainly clear.

Had a good visit up there and took up a few tomatoes and cukes. Jane had bought some tomatoes to use in her green chili salsa and I helped her prepare some of the ingredients for that. Now I can say I helped can a bit! I will have more tomatoes as they ripe,. I will put some in the freezer as I have no canner out here. We had a great time enjoying the boys and they got grandpa to take them for a ride or two out in the hills and Jane fixed some delicious doughnut puffs (Betty Crocker's recipe) to go along with some fresh apple cider. They just melt in your mouth.

We did bring down one box of Winesap apples. A good keeping apple and I have been enjoying one each day. The boys are growing, all of them. "Since Steve and Mike are in school, she takes Joe along with her one day a week when she and some others go to a new elderly care center for services. He helps get chairs arranged, goes around and shakes everyone's hand and wonders how they are doing. One who has a leg amputated, his name is Doc, Joe went up to shake his hand and says, "How are you today, Doc? And how is your leg? Did it grow this week? Well maybe it will next week! Guess the guy really gets a kick out of Joe's seriousness.
Also Jane says some will respond to him when they ignore the women's talk. Out of the mouth's of babes.

Sharon has really been doing great on the letter writing and I appreciate them also. Also had a phone call over the weekend.

She says that Buck now has a working partner in his business, another Kodak employee, I think, and it give him someone to discuss the project with intelligently. She said they were working on parts for assembling, etc. and ads would be coming out in the October trade journals. I hope everything works out well for them and that they can sell as many as they want to sell.Sharon says Jeremy has started K now and though he cried a bit the first day when she stopped back after going to the Nurses office he saw her and said "Good-bye, Mom" and I guess that was the worst time.

Said his teacher gave him a homework assignment of learning to smile at her a little bit more often! He will, once he gets to know her. Sharon said lots of the parents were shedding as many or mere tears than the children but she didn't feel that way. Not that she was glad to be "rid" of Jeremy but that she knew he wants to learn. I said "part of parent's growing up" and she agreed. I do remember the feeling myself though of thinking I should take B.J. to school and his informing me that he knew where to go and that I didn't have to go in with him!

Now it wasn't really long ago! She isn't sure yet if Bennie will be attending Nursery School in October or not. It will depend on how many 4 year olds are signed up but then the early ones to register in the three years old have first priority and he is one of the early ones.

He would like to go as he visited some when Jeremy was there. They have a trailer for the bike and she cycles them to school. Or Jeremy and Ben goes along for a ride in the good weather. It is over a mile but the bus does not pick them up and it is not safe for him to walk even if it was one straight line. Gives her about 4 miles of exercise each day. She has joined the Weight Watcher's and is pleased with results so far. Today is Buck's birthday. Happy Birthday!

Mike J's was Friday. Jane called that night I guess it was to let Mike talk to us and tell about his birthday. He had a football cake, bought a Power Puncher Car with money we sent in his card and since he had already had his Fisher Price cement mixer – after he had the corrective and exploratory surgery a couple of weeks ago (Urinate and you may have a prize package) they had bought him a baseball bat to go with the baseballs that Grandpa had picked up for the boys at the flea market. They were going to have company and he seemed to be a pretty happy little boy. His teacher had called and said that he had tested about as high as he could. Also that he was the top one in his class and was a model student. (Just like all of our children. And, I think, grandchildren too!) As Joan says we always think ours are the greatest! And they are! No question about it.

Michael R. had gotten an antelope, also a buck deer. So now he is or was hunting for the big one – the Elk. Steve is doing fine too and think Joe was not missing them too much. He has time to play without being bothered with big brothers. Mike only goes half a day and that in the A.M. Think I told you that they are 'into' Amway Ja-Mi-Sons Enterprises.

Said they had one they were sponsoring now – the dentist across the street and he was going to jump into it full force. She quit her bookkeeping job for the water association – it was almost volunteer work considering pay and the number of hours involved. She is sold on Amway products but partially wanted to have the benefit of buying them wholesale for themselves. We do have some sad news from Colorado as Michael's Father passed away Sunday afternoon.

I have not talked with Jane since about 3:00 P.M. and they had just received the news and Mike had gone to find Art to tell him and she was beginning to pack things up and I assume they left and went straight down to Arizona. They do have a camper shell on the truck now and a mattress in the back so some could sleep and someone else drive, Also room for the boys to stretch out. It is a long trail.

I do not know any details but Mrs. V. and Mike's sister Mina and her husband Greg had taken him in a Motor Home to Old Mexico to see if some laetrile (sp.) treatments could help him. It seemed to be a positive response when I talked with her on Saturday but then this call came on Sunday. I called B.J. this A.M. to tell him they were either down there or on the way and he was going to make sure there were flowers there from our whole family.

I shall have to get a card or two mailed out also. Even though they have been expecting it, it is never an easy time to go through. I do not know what Mrs. V. will do either. I am sure they will all appreciate our prayers for the days ahead. Had a letter from Marion and I imagine Joyce and John Pierson said their "I do's" Saturday, Sept. 11 about 3 p.m. on the deck. Sharon said the weather was OK on Saturday. So hopefully they did not have to move it inside, though Marion had taken the occasion (we do need occasions, sometimes) to do some fixing-up, floor in bathroom, painting all the way through or having it painted. They were getting some baskets of dahlia's from Allan’s Again I must get a card in the mail. Maretta was expected home with the new baby (6 wks.) old to share and so she could be there for the wedding too. It was going to be small, about 30 people.

Also she said that Norva had remarried at the Buena Vista Church – a small wedding – (Allan's girl) and I do not know to whom but along with saying that Allan had three flower shows to attend – Syracuse, Corning and Rochester – that seems to be the latest news from Steuben County. They didn't go to but there was a farewell at Dale's a weekend ago or so for Julie – went into the service the 4th I believe. She graduated last June from High School. Guess she is the youngest of the Waight cousins in case you hadn't thought about it. I guess I hadn't really until right now. They were spread out farther than the Hibbard cousins. The oldest would be Maretta and she is 38. I think, Julie probably is 18.

Oh my – time is catching up with me, again. And now there are also lots of grandchildren besides.

Would you believe – I think I have about run out of things to write about. Guess everyone is perking fine – your Dad and I are anyway and keeping busy in our own little way. He is driving local today so should be in at a reasonable hour. It has turned out to be busier than I thought it would be here at work so guess it will be tomorrow when I get these ready and to the P.O. Love to all, Mom and Dad, Mert and Doris. Well I guess I will add a line or two to bring you all up to date on the Woodhull happenings.

Calysta has sold her trailer to someone from Addison and she is to be all moved out by October 1st. She was undecided as to what to do but made up her mind to go back to Jasper with Dick (he wanted her to do that for quite some time). Sarah said Mom if you go, do not plan to leave again but she is hoping it all work out. That was a week ago and she still had some doubts but this weekend she called and said that she felt better about the decision and had someone to help clean up there and had moved some books and things up and that the people had been to pay for the trailer and would be taking awning down and siding off etc. ready to move – it when she was out of it.

She is not sure what she will be doing with the house – probably would rent it if she could get someone that would take care of it or even do some of the fix-up for part of the rent etc. She does not plan to sell it at this time but we had already told her that we would be interested in it if she should ever decide to sell. I guess Bert told her they wanted to buy it – for Sue but she told them we had mentioned it first. If, we did buy it, we would probably sell the cabin – the other would be handy if we decided to live back there and we would have the convenience of state road closer – a good garden spot etc. Time will tell. I think she did tell Bert that she would rent it to Sue (if Sue wanted it but Sue had told her last May that she did not want to live down there – she likes her, privacy and the good spring water etc. ) and Calysta said she would buy materials for fixing up if they wanted to do the work.

Anyway the "fun" goes on – again last week Erma told her she owed them some money on the house. Bert called us and said that Calysta wanted to have everything evaluated.

Calysta said it would be interesting to have everything evaluated to Erma. Bert was down again and talked with C and they had a nice visit and she explained to him what she had said – he went hone and then Erma called her on the phone and was rather overbearing and told Calysta – you did say thus and so and Caiysta said I just hung up on her – everytime I talk to her she twists it around when she tells Bert. Guess like Mert said last summer. I am not dealing with you Erma, I am dealing with my brother and my sister.

Anyway the fun goes on or whatever. Later after she hung up, Erma came down with some flowers and a piece of cake! Calysta said "I can't eat that cake". (She called to talk about the whole deal) Guess C had asked Erma if they needed the money. Erma said "Yes – we have two children in college. C doubted that they were helping Tim – and didn't think they were Hope even.

As Mert says – the point is – the house is in Calysta's name and she isn't going to give us any money and I think Mother took care of that part anyway when she had Certificates of Deposit made out in Bert's and Mert's name along with hers but none in Calysta's name. Mert says, now the diamond ring is a different story. That is part of the estate (time will tell on that also!) And of course the mineral rights are still in the air. I guess the person that worked on that angle after Dad passed away has been on vacation until just about now. Guess eventually things will cone to an end but so far all the correspondence we have had from the lawyer is from a secretary sending us an interest check and the statement that they had asked the bank to send them directly to Mert from now on.
That's all for now,
Love, Mom

Greetings from the Land of Enchantment
Sept. 2, 1982

I have a new typewriter ribbons, so maybe we will have a brighter or bolder look at the news from around the country! I probably will not mail this until the first of the week. Burnie and Julie are coming up or over or whatever this weekend. Last weekend Mert and I made a short trip to Colorado or maybe I should say a short stay but a leisurely trip up and back. Friday night, after work he had to take a load to Pagosa Springs, CO again so I went along.

It was about midnight when we returned. He got up Sat. A.M. and called in to say he would like the day off. Before we could get out of the house they called back and wanted a load brought into the yard. Also the truck would be in there for someone else to run (not exactly Mert's idea of where he wants the truck to be – with someone else behind the wheel) so he went to get the load and I picked him up in at the yard. Then we stopped at the flea market to buy some corn, a couple of cups of coffee later we did get to CO. in the P.M. we enjoyed hamburgers and fresh corn and Mert and the boys had a good time playing along a creek someplace. Maybe Mert just watched. He wasn't muddy like the boys were! Anyway he had a good time. He says "they are good boys. They just need a little place to roam and play." Well they do have quite a space and enjoy the area on their lot that Jane calls "the back forty" but thank goodness the stream there – irrigation ditch – is well fenced off.

We left again on Sunday A.M. as Mert wanted to get home to rest up and we took our time traveling the mtns. and enjoying some rain showers. There was some fresh snow on top of one of the mtns. Sat. We stopped in Silverton to eat at the Bent Elbow. Had their buffet, listened to the piano player and had her play "Red Wing" for us, which was almost too much nostalgia as Mother H. had asked her to play it when we were there with her when we went for the train ride. They were busy. We went in just before a train came in and also a tour bus arrived. Back home in time to rest up and ready for another week. Oh yes, we did go pick up the truck later Sunday afternoon. That is Mert's baby. He was saying what a tricky transmission it has in it, etc. You should hear him. I think that is why he does not take anymore time off
than he does. Says they always mess up the truck when anyone else drives it and maybe he is right. It had to have a universal joint put in it on Monday!

July 19, 1982
ANNDD!! The latest news is that Joan and Joseph have sold their home in Indian. They listed and sold it in 24 hours, actually less than that as they signed up with a Realtor in the morning and signed the purchase agreement (as sellers) in the p.m. In case some of you missed the other news – Joseph is supposed to start work for Cooper Rubber at El Dorado, AR a week from today.

The company will be moving them down there, probably as soon as he finds a place for the truck to unload their belongings. Joan called Saturday to say :It was gone" and they were really pleased as they got a bit more than they had hope for the house. Their appliances, the stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer which were all in the kitchen went with the house, but they had had them long enough so they have had the best wear out of them and the stove was one they rebuilt.

They had recently put new parts in the 8 year-old washer/dryer. I just wish some of you that saw their house could have seen it after 10 years of remodeling. Joseph was working on one of the ceilings the day they flew down to the last interview with the company. They have certainly changed its total appearance. I do hope, Joan, that you can move into one this time that won't require that much work. Not sure what the moving date is but they will be busy between now and then. They had Tim and Randy over to tell them and Tim said he wanted to go. They told him he was welcome to go, but it was his move to let it be known that he wanted to go so Joan doubts that he will want to do it bad enough to take the responsibility of bracing his mother.

Another pleasant surprise they had was that they found out he will have 17 (I think it was) days of vacation pay coming to them from Western Rubber. I am sure we will be hearing more about the job and move after a little. Anyway, that deal is done. Joan said she thought the basement really sold the house. And everyone knows how that got to be there, shovelful, by shovelful and many miles of dirt tracked in over many moths. Selling price was $28,000. I don't think she will care if I tell you. All I can say is that there is no such thing as a home for under $30,000 out here. Hardly able to find a MH on a lot for that amount.

The new thing in Bloomfield is that I start work at 8 a.m. now instead of at 9. The plumbing company wants us to start answering their phone earlier, so I said I would just as soon work an extra hour. Also, I soon will be doing some of the Chamber Commerce secretarial and banking while I am working here. Keep track of my hours and get extra pay for that time. Would you call that Double dipping? Anyway it suits me OK to pick up a bit more and I seldom feel rushed. I could do the chamber work at home I imagine if I did not have enough time here.

Mel called over the weekend and told me to tell his Dad to not work so hard, and wondered if I didn't get lonely. But I guess the way it is, is that I am so slow that it takes me most of my free time to do the things I do do that I do not have too much time to think about it.

The lawn mowing and watering, the garden watering, dishes, laundry, a bit of sewing because when Mert is home, I usually just drop everything and spend the time he is home with him. Even to leaving the dishes to do later, etc. It has just been lately that he has been gone overnight once in a while, and that is when it does seem like a really empty house.

Usually mornings, I keep busy until time to go to work ad guess that is why I am working, to keep busy and this around the corner job does take care of, now 8 to 5 each day. Have been thoroughly enjoying the new stereo and radio. WE have a couple of FM stereo stations, also. Think the home box office is going to go back at the end of the month. It is nothing we want, just as I thought. We had it installed. I would rather use that money to buy a new record or tape each month.

Guess Mel's are all OK, they were trying to keep cool in the 90's and a high humidity. Do they have A/C at your place of work, Mel? The downstairs of the house was cooler than the upstairs. It is partially under ground, but I know what they are talking about. Out here we have been having the high temp. But of course lower humidity. It drops 30 to 40 degrees after the sun goes down and of course we have two evaporator coolers here in the office, and the refrigeration unit on the trailer. The next thing we know it will be winter time and we will all be trying to keep warm! He also asked about Joan's move and wondered about B.J. and school, etc. And how Jane was feeling now.

Had a letter from Julie and she said they received A's in their classes and she was really tickled and surprised about one of hers. Was sure that since it was known that the one professor only handed out 3 or 4 A's that since it was known that the one professor only handed out 3 or 4 A's she would probably not get one, but did out of a class of 44, I think. Says that this session of BJ's is more listening and hopefully he will take his orals by the end of the 5 weeks. He did have an opportunity to teach at the Aviation College (not sure of the name) but Superintendent May would not release them from their contracts. The school told them to keep in touch.

Of course, Bagdad is where the money opportunities are, but not necessarily all opportunities especially if Bagdad Copper situations get as bad as some communities. We hope to get to see them before they leave summer school. They mentioned getting to Arkansas before school.
Just so some of you can see the corner of the U.S. Joan's are moving to I thought I would enclose a bit of a map showing the relationship to Texas and LA. El Dorado's population, according to Arkansas 1982 map is 26,685. I will have to find out where Carley Dunn lives. She is married and in Arkansas.

I think that possibly BJ and J are thinking of visiting Joan's after summer school, if they are moved. I think maybe they already are planning on going to Texas as Julie has a good friend that lives there. Oh yes, Deanna, I also want to tell you that the So. Canisteo Methodist Church cookbooks went over well with the others. BJ was tickled looking at theirs and recognizing some of his old classmates and saying so and so is a good cook.

Their husbands gained a lot of weight after they married! The girls liked theirs, too. As Jane says, you put your best recipes in a book like this. Ones that are tried and true. Another thing, BJ wonders who Barry Brutsman is. He lives in Bath, NY, now I think but worked in Bagdad and married a girl from there and some friends of theirs were visiting back East and called them to tell them that they had been in BJ's old homeland. He married a girl that had been married to a McClure. He was trying to figure out if he should know the guy. Help, Mel or Deanna to cure our curiosity.

Not sure if I gave you BJ's address for the next 4 1/2 weeks: Mr. and Mrs. BJ Hibbard, NAU, CU Box 8017, Flagstaff, AZ 86011.

Guess Calysta is home from Alaska by now, but we had a postal card telling of going on a trip in a Winnebago while she was up there. Some people from the church invited her to go along. 1,000 miles in Alaska over 5 days, sounds like she got to see more than Anchorage and the card was pretty!
Another lie from Sharon – keep up the good work, Sharon, I appreciate hearing from you.

Says the boys are learning a little about swimming. Anyway getting over their fear. Dee is probably there now (Bob's mother). Sharon was getting ready for her visit and then they were going to spend some time at the lake. Bob had been painting their basement floor and walls. I am sure they must really look nice. Also had made some work benches for his production line. Sharon had been doing some special cleaning and threatening to warm some back sides if there were crayon marks again to clean. Jeremy was helping clean so probably he will realize they do not come off as easily as they go on!

But maybe it was Ben that had made them. I know all like to try them out on the walls, anyway: markings and pictures.

I haven't talked with Jane this week, but she called last Friday a.m. to say they were going camping this weekend - up around Leadvill, which I think is above 10,000 feet or close anyway. They were going to a Bowhunters Convention or something like that. Around 500 people were expected with campers etc. They have a tent trailer, so I am thinking that they probably got cooled off while some of the rest were trying to do so. I know that there were areas that they were talking about snow.

But think further north than they were but at that altitude you get cool anyway. Probably back in Paonia now and according to the TV having fairly warm temperatures in that corner of Colorado – as we have been here in N.M.
Mert didn't make it home last night. He and another rig were down around Santa Fe waiting to unload, around Lo Alamos, home of the atomic bomb. I expect he will be in tonight. I kept thinking he would be in last nigh and then I got the phone call. Usually he tells me ahead of time he is leaving, but sometimes are phones are busy and he can't get through. Well it is noon time, so I guess I will sign off and get these ready to mail while the news is NEWS. You all write, now, Love M&D

Expect next letter we will have news of Maretta. Marion writes that Joyce and John Pierson have picked a date of about Sept. 11. Bought a really nice MH all set-up. Hoping that Maretta will be able to be back there. She is ready to go when the doctor says the baby is ready to come.