September 27, 1964

Sun.
September 27, 1964

Dear Mom and Dad,
Yesterday was another beautiful St. Louis – type day. It was so lovely we decided to walk downtown. It is a nice ½ hour walk. On the way we passed they big Gas Works. We had to laugh because even there we saw the ever present geranium planter and all swept neat and clean.

ON the way we stopped to see Jim’s office. IT is really something – a great big room with a great big desk. He certainly looks like the big executive now. So far he has been put to reading all the old newsletters and bulletins which they put out. His boss was only in one day and is now on his 3 week vacation. The other people in the office have been very kind and friendly to him.

The stores and streets downtown are just filled with people. Jim says it is that way during the week too. It looks like Famous on Downtown Day. We bought the kids their slippers for school and an umbrella and some gloves and mittens for the little ones. Everyone tell s us the cold weather will be coming soon and it is so hard to believe because the only flowers that have stopped blooming are the hydrangias.

Yesterday evening the two Spanish girls from Asturias came up to see us. They are both very sweet and friendly. They brought their record player and we listened to some of ours and some of their records. On named Teresa has been here 2 ½ years and the other 1 ½ years. They made friends with the children right away altho’ they do not speak or understand a word of English. They thought P was quite a character. You know how she loves to show off for people. They both said we must go to Spain. Pilar says “Allé versa a la ente de España Aquí si pidas __ una calle a alquien – lo indicant – fýeśe – En España te acompañan – por sequro! Nostros españales no tenemas donde cale cuando morimas pero tenemas corazones como catedrales. She showed me a booklet about the fiesta en Oveido wich was this week. They miss Spain very much but they just can’t live there. She told me that a good job in Spain if you can get it pays 1000 to 1500 pesetas a month. Here at the hotelll they get 5000 pesetas plus their room and meals. Both of them work in the laundry. They said they work is not hard. There is a large automatic washer and dryers and a big mange for the sheets. They work and iron and are all to themselves . They play their phonograph and sing. We can hear them all the time. They offered to stay with the children if Jim and I want to see anything at night. One of them will go with us and the other will stay with the children. Both of them are going home to Spain for Christmas.
I am sure you are getting calls from people asking about us. I haven’t forgotten – I have been buying a few post cards every time we go out and I now have my list of people ready. I will need a few addresses! Could you send me the addresses of Anita Felon, Fina, Josephine Orcutt, Ruth Rodriguez, Ethel Guardado, Corona’s, Lela Sorrells. Also if you have heard from Don please send me his letters to read and I will mail them back. I hope you will write soon as we are so anxious to know how all the loose ends are going there.

Hope you haven’t been feeling too badly. Must stop now and get the kids ready for Mass.

Love to all,
Jim and Dina