Apology

(1968 January, first Tuesday)
Some traitor may have gone behind my back, whispering to you about my being lacking in business acumen.  To illustrate his theme, he may point out that had I been so minded and alert, I should have given you this mail [when you were here for Christmas] so you might have cashed your check.  On my part, let me point out that:  (1) My mind is on more important things, such as feeding the starving.  Ask any man whose faintness is due to lack of nourishment which he would rather do, sit down to dinner or cash a two-bit check, and you will see my meaning.  (2) Not having x-ray eyes, how did I know it was a check anyway?  (3) I wasn't to blame anyway.  Why wasn't I asked if any mail had come?  At any rate, here's your old mail, and really, I am sorry.

Car reader

(1994 January 8)
Christie the mail person says she knows Skip's writing by this time, as today when she brot the mail around and said, "A card from Skip - I know his writing by now."  Skip, let's work up a code to fool her!

Not thinking

(1992 July 12)

Today Geraldine and I were doing house work when I said, "I better run out and see if there is any mail." And she said, "Do you get mail out here on Sunday?" That is the first intimation I had it was Sunday! Mary M has gone to Madison to her family over the weekend, and being alone I wasn't thinking. ... Geraldine is coming to stay all night. MM thought I'd feel safter.

Postal reader

(1992 March 11)

Have not yet received the book you sent. Where can it be? Maybe postman is reading it.

Out of reach

(1992 late January)

Today I am going to try to mail your calendar. January has already gone with my prevaricating. MM is sleeping late today and no doubt has plans, but shall try. I need her help to get a bag or folder to put it in. I used to carry a stool and climb up to the saved bags, but I seem to be getting too old to be so frisky. Shall try to walk out to the mail box, tho.

Junk mail

(1991 September 21)

My desk is piled so high with stuff. Working on it and throwing out a lot of ads etc. Sometimes I lay the mail down and read only the personal - a very bad habit - better to throw some in the waste basket then. Shall try harder.

Junk mail

(1991 March 16)

We are having vile weather and freezing drizzle with periods of falling snow. I got all buttoned up, laid aside my glasses in case I fell, and made it to the Box. Only an ad for Anglican Digest, which I pitched.

Save this

(1987 early December)

Again - let me say - do not use space on postals saying "Save this" as now all cards are saved. Really.

Small-town fun

(1974 Good Friday)

I was late in buying Easter cards to send to the kids this year. Only to Ben, Lawrence, Tenaya. I thot I could get them at the Empire [drug store] and address them there and drop in [mail] box at corner, so brot stamps along. But no cards. So I went to Schultz [dime store], Keegan's [drug store], and found some at Noeer's [office supplies]. I addressed Lawrence's there and asked the clerk if there was any box closer than Empire (I was so tired by then - to go back) and when she said no, a woman customer spoke up and said she would mail it; she was going right there. Looking at the address, she said, "Is this for the one they call Skip?" I said his son, and she said, "I am Mrs. Lawrence, and I think my daughter Jo Ann knew him." (Fund in a small town.)

Torching

(1970 March 4)

Monday when I opened the mail came one douzy of a letter from Father Gutman to L. He is all for this Trial Liturgy. I answered it at once while the iron was hot and said I wasn't going to carry a torch for L, but just this once would answer for L.

Rum cake?

(1965 April 21)

Now I must explain about your cake. It fit into the pan so nicely, my love, because it was baked in the same pan. It is an apple sauce cake in my Settlement Cook Book. It is a cake with great keeping power, and so I thot it better to send than one of the usually thot of cakes for birthdays. More fragile, etc. It was only the frosting flavored with rum. Heavens! Surely am glad it arrived [in Kentucky]in such good condition. Misgivings. But the postage!!

Excuses

(1949 September 29)

Now why I don't write oftener is complicated. (1) I am out of downstairs ink. (2) When I'm upstairs with ink, my pen is downstairs. (3) Mailing them is hard. I don't often get to town, don't trust rural boxes, don't like to bother Frank always. (4) I gave all my envelopes to Daddy [to take on his trip] and have all my good dishes from the dining room piled on the window seat [while redoing the dining-room floor] and therefore can't get to other paper. So while I put it off, another letter comes and I add to mine. But I shall reform for sure now.

Two-pagers

(1950 July 12)

I counted my new paper and as I have 80 sheets and 40 envelopes, so I will have to take the second sheet whether I have anything to say or not.

Cancelled plans

(1990, Maundy Thursday)

I never did get the post card you said, last Sunday, was in the mail telling of your detailed plans for summer. I'd really rather have it separately on a paper anyway because so often the post office stamps right over your writing - that is the round stamp of place and time.