Daily Archives: February 7, 2023

First Letter to Parents After Move to Pittsburgh

Events, Life, People, Pets, ,

Dean and I started dating in 1979. He moved in with me summer, 1981. We moved to Pittsburgh mid-summer 1981. My parents, brother and cousin helped us move. Here’s a letter I wrote to them.

We had no idea that we would not be able to use the money we put in a bank for two weeks after opening an account and could not cash any checks that were not certified. Not only my parents try to help us out, so did Dean’s. We lived on $40 worth of change that I’d serendipitously been saving since moving into an apartment in Elgin.

The comment about pink, not blue, fingers was because of my Reynaud’s syndrome and stress sometimes made my fingers turn blue.

Also the description of my 25th birthday makes me tired just reading it!

August 26, 1981

Dear Mom, Dad & Kevin,

So — this is the second letter I’ve written. Letter #1 is stale (and besides I’ve already told you everything that’s in it).

Like I said on the phone — the apartment actually is livable now. Each room still has a lot to be done, but at least we can move. Today we cleaned out the desks and put some books away. Our next big project is making shelves for the stereo and albums and the remainder of the books.

We have no hot water yet. The plumber never showed up. I guess it’s quite a job. Ask Dick Palmer why he thinks we are having so many problems. 🙂 (Actually I think our landlady is worried about $$$)

My birthday was really special. Dean made me a wonderful breakfast of strawberries & cream, kippers, pink champagne, soft-boiled eggs, bagels & toast (this was all before we knew how poor we were 😑)

Then we went to a festival downtown at Point State Park. That’s where the three rivers come together. We watched the speed boaters and Dean “frolicked” in the fountain.

For dinner, Dean mad a roast and Yorkshire pudding. It was all very wonderful dean gave me my favorite cologne, a blue rose, peppercorns, kerosene for my lamp, a bottle of wine, and from a small garage sale, a salt shaker and pepper mill sett, directly (long ago) from Italy.

After dinner and cake (yes — he baked a cake, complete with 25 ! candles). We took a long leisurely walk around our new neighborhood.

Cinder has settled in very nicely. It’s almost as if no move ever took place.

We still have to thank you properly. I wish I could have said more in the way of thanks when you left but I was ready to cry at any moment.

Also we owe you money for gas, etc. That will be paid as soon as we can.

Well, take care,
Love,
Dona

P.S. Got the checks today.
Thanks for the loan — I feel awful, asking for the money — thanks so much.

Dona

Hi again —

Enclosed, you have found the two checks. Thanks, but the bank won’t accept it except to go into our account and that won’t be good until the 8th of September. (That’s the $50.00) Then — the $15.00 check — it’s not certified. Seems that certified means the bank guarantees the money. We even went to the assistant manager. But luckily we found out that the book store takes VISA (Dean needs books) and that leaves us with enough cash to get by. There is $40.00 in my change bottle. I appreciate your help very much. If you can’t get your money back (but I am sure you can). Send me the check back and I’ll be able to cash it and send you back one of our checks.

Don’t worry — my fingers are still pink — not blue.

I called the school district and they are sending applications for subbing. One district (Pittsburgh) isn’t accepting subbing applications until next week.

Love,
Dona

Birthday Note to My Dad

Family, , ,

I wasn’t sure what the movie that we missed out on was or what restaurant we went to, but I remember the jazz bar where we listened to new-age jazz (I don’t know why I put them in quotation marks). It was a dive bar where one could hear live bands at the time. Since then it’s been a German Octoberfest kind of restaurant and a Belgian Mussel bar kind of place. I am not sure the building is even there anymore.

My dad’s birthday was March 7 — I was always late sending cards and gifts. Still am. It’s kind of pathetic that I spent much of the birthday letter berating myself for it being late.

We hardly ever had a babysitter, so this was pretty special. Too bad we didn’t really enjoy it.

March 6, 1996

Dear Dad,

As you can tell from the date, I won’t get this mailed in time to get to you for your birthday. I always have good intentions, but don’t act on them. Sorry once again.

Hope you had a great birthday. Your present will be even later than this letter. Mailing things just isn’t my favorite thing to do. If I had been smart I would have gotten you something and mailed last Friday when I mailed Brandon’s gift. (Don’t feel bad, I also mailed a gift to Chris Culler, Diane’s son, whose birthday was in January.)

The kids are drawing pictures. Dean is doing the dishes. I am really tired. I think it is the pollen in the air. (or could it be the late nights and early mornings?)

We got a babysitter last weekend. It was a “teacher” from the kids’ day care. I think we will use her again. She played with the kids the entire time. They both woke up asking for her.

Actually I think the kids had a better time than we did. The restaurant where we ate was overpriced and not so good (the food was delicious, not exquisite). Then we didn’t get into the movie we wanted to see. We ended up at a “fern bar” listening to “new-age jazz” played by a clone of Terry O’Connor. The music was fine but I ended up having too much chardonnay.

The kids found out it was your birthday and now you have a bunch of drawings for the fridge.

We love and miss you.

Love,
Dean, Dona, Clare, and Andrew

Thank You Card to my Parents for Their Help with My Wedding

Events, Family, Memories, ,

Our wedding reception was a bit unusual. We opted for a picnic in my parent’s back yard instead of renting a space somewhere. The day was beautiful. The food, cooked by my parent’s friends, delicious. Definitely a reception to remember.

Dear Mom and Dad,

The wedding was perfect. You put so much time and effort (not to mention $$) into it. I/we hope you know that we thank you for everything. I had my doubts that it would work out — but I am now ashamed of myself. You are the best parents a girl ever had.

Thanks also for the croquet set. We had fun with it in Chetek. Someday we may take it to the green space between the Capitol building and the Washington Monument. Marie says I have to improve first!

All our friends loved you. I am so lucky to have you for my parents. Dean loves you too. It’s hard to smoothly say what ones heart aches to say — I tried.

Love, Dona & Dean