16 Dec 1943
Dorothy Griffin to Maude / Arlington, VA
Dear Mother Griffin
We've had a bad time of it here now for almost two weeks - but I think we are through the worst of it - and now I'm hopeful of a merry Christmas after all. Bob had us scared to pieces with a bad strep throat that sent his fever raging to 104 and 105 - he went into a coma one day and that scared me terribly. Well, what with staying up five nights in a row to administer sulphadiazine, our resistance hit a new low and with this flu epidemic sweeping the city, we all got it. This is the old 1918 variety out here too and like nothing I've ever experienced between times. For three days I alternated first high fever then chills. John stayed home from work to take care of us and he got sick. Finally Paul fell victim. Meanwhile Bob recuperated and now he is the liveliest one of us. John and I still are pretty much all in and go to bed as soon as we clear up the dishes at night.
So you see what ever intentions I've had about writing have had to be shelved. Fortunately we took Uncle Sam at his word and mailed our packages and cards early. The only shopping that remains to be done is for John's things and I have most of those too.
Bob missed a week of school but brought his card home with a superior grade (S) in reading and writing this time as well as oral expression. I was really thrilled and it proved to my satisfaction that my contention is true - Bob is no show-off and one has to know him to appreciate his ability. He is reading extremely well -- works out most of all the new words he comes across that are workable phonetically. He loves to read and I only wish I had more things about simple enough for him to tackle alone. We have a little catholic school reader left by the old tenants and he goes about reading about the "Blessed Mother Mary", but I don't imagine it will hurt him much.
You probably recall I have charge of the junior Sunday school - from 3 years to 6 years. We have charge of the Christmas program for the 26th - and I have worked out the story of the birth of Christ told in story and song. About 12 to 16 children tell the story in short paragraphs. At appropriate intervals the songs are introduced. It was working up nicely, but two weeks ago was conference so no Sunday school. Then last Sunday I spent in bed so I am a little fearful of it - but hope next Sunday to polish off the rough edges and have it ready. I sent the master copy to Helena to work with the children Sunday but when I get it back I'll run you off a copy to give you an idea how it goes. Anyway the emphasis is put on the star throughout and I hope to work out a backdrop with a huge shining star to add a little glitter to the occasion.
Yes we did have our thanksgiveing luncheon and I finally [persuaded] them to have it at the perfectly adorable inn I told you about - all very rustic with wagon wheels for chandeliers, a huge fireplace, lots of iron and copper stuff hanging about and colored glass at the windows. It was perfect and the girls seemed to like it ever so much. The committee wanted a serious program so they got it with a vengeance - all about the four freedoms. They worked out little programs depicting the freedoms. These were clever and I'm sending on one to you. Sorry I don't have one of each as all of them were darling. I think the girls really like the idea of working out everything by hand and I'm looking forward to some awfully cute spring parties. The Christmas party is next Monday night. Floss [Florence] has chare and has worked awfully hard on it so it should be really pretty. I'm just hoping I can get there.
As you probably know, Merrill Tribe has been sent out to Salt Lake for three months. They may be transferred there at the end of that time. Marge, his wife, was thrilled to pieces over it. She is expecting a new baby early in the spring. I had to announce the new babies born in the club during the year - There have been eight, and all eight were girls! Isn't that funny? I surely should have got my bid in. Ruth Rich is going to have a baby in the spring (you remember - her father was Dr. Smith from Logan).
We got a big box from you the other day and I was dumbfounded as you already left our Christmas under the barrel! But I've hidden this away and last night John said "I can't imagine what box mother meant in her letter unless it hasn't come", so pay no attention if he writes that it hasn't shown up.
Mary Willey's daughter in Philadelphia has a good second hand scooter that we just heard about so we are getting it for Bob. He will be thrilled to pieces I hope as he is determined to have either a scooter or a two-wheel bike. He can actually ride a two-wheel bike and John has a hard time convincing him he must wait till he's nine to own one.
Paul is going to be the step child on Christmas. Everything we've ordered so far we get word "no more" The "pj's" are all grand and they've been in constant use as he was quite sick when they came and I opened them right up and started using them. Bob is saving his package for Christmas Morning.
Bob is on a school program tomorrow so I'm going to try and get over there. He is so thrilled about it and so anxious that I be there. We got a big box of fruit from some friends in California last night. It made us quite homesick for there.
MerryChristmas to all of you from all of us. Love, Borothy
I've been going to send this sample of Bob's handwriting for almost a month to show Dad what a good writer he is - looks like he doctored it up with a pen.
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