Category Archives: Writing

Letter to Grandma Green 1978

Family, Life, Memories, Writing

Let’s see. I was twenty-one when I wrote this and still living at home and didn’t have a driver’s license. I did get into the student teaching program in England. J and I broke up in December of this year. Mom and Dad did not go to Maine for Cynthia’s wedding. I don’t remember that I was in summer school at Northern. I should have gone to Cynthia’s wedding.

April 20, 1978

Dear Grandma,

Goodness — it’s been a long time that I’ve written to you in Chetek, hasn’t it? How is everything? The green things are going to be showing up soon if they haven’t already. Our iris leaves are all up by the house and garage.

I am babysitting right now. I seem to be dedicating my life to others — if I’m not at the Manor I’m here, babysitting. School is my own, but even that’s a drag. I kinda get sick of catering to drunks at the manor each time I work. The ones who are the most difficult leave the smallest tips. But my savings account is growing. Slowly but surely. And I am very pleased.. I still plan on student teaching in London — if I am accepted into the program.

I got a letter in the mail yesterday telling me that I am assigned to work with Nancy Meier during my student teaching for special education. I almost flew! Nancy and I are good friends. She and her husband, Mike, had J and me over for a few evenings. I am really pleased!

Today was a really ugly, cold and rainy day. I wish I could drive. I am for sure learning very soon.

I usually watch TV when I am here, bur the only programs on tonight are ugly, violent ones. And one I have already seen. I could be reading my homework but it puts me to sleep.

J has just finished his very first exhibition. His paintings won 2nd prize and we are all very proud of him. I do miss him so. I remember I used to feel all sorry for myself when I’d think about being apart from him. But I’d think of you and other women who’d lost their husbands and realize how lucky I was — we’d see each other again.

Mom and Dad were supposed to go to a play tonight. The play starred Nanette Fabray but Dad got sick and they couldn’t. I would be so disappointed if that happened to me.

Does John call you every Sunday? Give him my love when next he calls, okay?

My parents are seriously thinking about going to Maine this summer for Cynthia’s wedding. I probably can’t go — I would miss far too much summer school.

I’m hoping that I can persuade Mom and Dad to go to England after my wedding. I think we will have a small wedding here, as inexpensive as possible and then have an open house type thing in England after the honeymoon. I’d like both sets of parents to be at both.

Sometimes I get so angry. I am back to catering to people again — I work so others can play. When was the last time I played? Christmas, probably.

Sorry about my outbursts — guess it’s that time of the month.

One of the bus boys at work got into a mess of trouble and is now in Joliet State Prison. I feel sorry for the kid, but I also believe he almost got what he deserved. He was always bragging about stealing tires and other things. The evening before he was to appear in court he gave me a ride home. Poor Chris.

Well, that’s my news. I hope you are feeling just fine. I hope to see you soon, but in the meantime know that I think of you often.

Love, Dona

Letters to George Bush (the elder)

Memories, Politics, teaching, Things, Writing, , ,

In the spring of 1991, probably because it was close to Earth Day or maybe I’d just taught a unit on environmental studies, I had my students write letters to President George Bush requesting he be more concerned about the Earth. It’s actually odd I did this at that time because he’d just announced Proclamation 6274 (Earth Day).

We received a reply, but I may have thrown it away. It was pretty exciting though.

Here are the letters:

Dear Mr. President,

We are Michael and Callie and we are interested in saving the Earth. We would like you to try to stop people from littering. And to make a law to stop people from littering.

Sincerely,
Michael and Callie

Dear Mr. President,

I understand that you have a lot of work to do but anyway I know that you want to be known as the Environmental President and I want to help. The first way is you could try to provide a safe place for animals. The second way is you could set a new law. It could be that you could arrest people who litter. You could also try to stop pollution by banning hairspray and just use mousse. You could also try to ban cigarettes and try to stop anymore oil going into rivers, streams, oceans, and seas. I would be pleased if you wrote back. If you write back can you send some of your ways to help the Earth? Tell Mrs. Bush I said hello.

Sincerely,
Jessica

Dear Mr. President,

I think you should help clean up the environment and air. I think you should shut down the smoke factories for ever and ever. That would be nice to breathe clean air. I get sick when the air has too much smoke in it. I think it is wrong to pollute the air because it destroys animals and plants. When I see dead animals I feel sad

Sincerely,
Dallas

Dear Mr. Presidident,

Can you help stop pollution a little and litter too? Can you help clean the air? Can you help clean the water?

Sincerely,
Daniel

Dear Mr. President,

How is congress? Can you make a law about pollution because the cars make the pollution? Can you make people pick up trash?

Sincerely,
Ian and Mark

Dear President Bush,

How are you? I’m fine. How’s congress? Any new decorations for the oval office? Didn’t think so. Well, I wrote to say you’re a great president. BUT can you help us around here? The environment is getting really polluted and littered and the animals are disappearing. Please help. Pass a law or something. Build animal shelters. But please do something when and if you have the time, and if you come here in person please sit by me and we can talk. We have lunch at 12:05. If you come on Friday they have pizza. This school (unlike others) has great pizza. We sit at the last table with another class. Anyway, write back soon.

Sincerely,
Edward

Dear Mr. President Bush,

I would like you to help the nation get most of the pollution out of it. I would like you to make a home that is safe for animals and make a law to show that the world is in danger.

Yours sincerely,
Sarah

Dear Mr. President,

I wish you would stop the littering. You would not like what you see. Please do a good job. Please do me a favor and make a new law. If someone litters they have to pay a fine.

Sincerly,
Eric

A note from Richard

Death, Dreams, Family, Friends, Memories, Writing, , ,

In Mom’s final years she reconnected with Richard, a friend from school. He was kind to her and genuinely loved her. He spent part of each day with her, sometimes spending the night. This was especially helpful after her dementia diagnosis. He knew about it long before my brother and I did; although I’d seen some signs I chose to ignore them.

While Richard was staunchly Catholic and went to church every Sunday, he didn’t force his religious views on anyone.

Once Mom was moved to my brother’s house Richard visited her at least twice weekly even though she rarely seemed to know who he was. She was always very happy to see him, so she must have known he was someone she loved and who loved her.

The night Mom died I had a dream that she rose out of her bed and seemed to want to escape the house, standing at the window on her tiptoes, arms fluttering behind her like a moth, eventually shattering into millions of sparks. I recounted this dream to Pastor Keith who we asked to speak at her funeral and he included it verbatim in his sermon. After the service Richard asked for a copy of both Pastor Keith’s sermon and what I said at the funeral.

A few days after the funeral I received this note from Richard:

Dear Donna [sic],

Thank you for your letter of your mom’s life and last night.

I really liked your dream of Pat’s looking out of the window at a bright light on tippy toes.

I think that whs the time she passed and touched the face of God.

May she rest in peace,

Richard Peabody, September 2016