The Zembal Family History

HELLO EVERYONE:

ITS STILL THREE HOURS TILL THE NEXT "PARTY" ... TILL 5 O'CLOCK WHEN GRANTS FOLKS ARRIVE FOR DINNER. RIGHT NOW OUR FAMILY LEFT AND GRANT TOO. HE TOOK HIS DAD AND THEY LOADED UP OUR BETSY (car) WITH STUFF THAT HAS TO BE MOVED TO THE BEACH HOUSE FOR LACK OF A BETTER PLACE. ALL THEIR GOOD THINGS WILL BE STORED AT OUR STATION (Grant's Radiator Service) AND HERE UNTIL THEY FIND A HOME. THEY SOLD THEIR PLACE AND HAVE TO VACATE 8Y THE FIRST.

WE DIDNT REALIZE HOW TERRIBLY HARD IT IS TO LOCATE A HOUSE FOR LESS THAN $6,000. THEN MOM AND POP WONT CONSIDER RENTING FOR A WHILE. THEY FEEL ITS WASTED MONEY AND YET OFTEN IT'S CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN. WELL, TEMPORARILY THE PROBLEM IS BEING SOLVED BY THE SUMMER SEASON AT THE BEACH AND WITH HOPES THAT BY FALL SOMETHING WILL BREAK.

GRANT IS JUST WONDERFUL. MOST EVERY NIGHT THIS WEEK HE HAS CHASED DOWN HOUSE ADS THOUGH WITH NO SUCCESS AND NOW HE IS PACKING THE LOADS MOM FIXED UP. THEY HOPED TO MAKE TWO TRIPS BEFORE DINNER TIME. THIS MORNING WE DIDNT RUSH AS ITS NOT OFTEN BOTH POP AND MOM COME IN AND IT WAS SO SWELL TO BE CELEBRATING FATHER'S DAY.

JEANNE I GUESSED WRONG ON POP'S FAVORITE CAKE. HE WAS SUCH A GOOD SPORT. HE PRETENDED IT WAS ALL RIGHT AND CUT HIMSELF A BIG SLICE. THEN MOMMY TOLD ME IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WHITE ONE. SO WE TOLD HIM THATS A RAIN CHECK. WE WILL HAVE THAT THE NEXT TIME HE COMES IN. MOM LIKED THIS ONE CAUSE IT HAD LEMON FILLING AND CHOC. FROSTING.

LAST NIGHT THE CHIEF AND I TOOK TO BAKING TWO OF THESE TWO-LAYER CAKES IN SINGLE BATCHES S0 IF ONE WENT WRONG AT LEAST IT WOULDN'T BE A DOUBLE LOSS. WELL NONE WENT WRONG BUT WE WERE TILL ELEVEN JUST BAKING AND COOLING AND FINALLY WE PUT ON THE LEMON FILLING. BUT BY THEN THESE TWO MASTERPIECES BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE AND TO LOOK RATHER DELECTABLE SO WE QUIT LEST TEMPTATION MIGHT GET US. I FROSTED THEM THIS MORN. S0 NOW WE HAVE IT EASY ON THIS DINNER TONIGHT WITH BOTH OF THESE OVER WITH. I HAVE A HAM IN THE OVEN AND THATS ALL EXCEPT FOR SALAD AND A COUPLE OP VEGETABLES. I CAN TAKE TIME TO WRITE YOU INSTEAD.

MUST FIRST OFF THANK EVERYONE OF YOU FOR THE SWELL LETTERS AND CARDS THAT CAME TO POP. TIL, YOUR SPEC. DEL. ARRIVED YESTERDAY, AND EDDIE YOURS TOO. RED DID THE SHOPPING FOR ME THIS TIME. HE WAS OUT TO FIND A PAIR OF TROUSERS FOR DAD. SOMETHING TO WEAR ON SUNDAYS WHEN HE DIDN'T DRESS UP IN HIS SUIT. WELL RED, KNOWING WHAT DAD WOULD LIKE WAS MOST DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN IT WASN'T AVAILABLE NOW. HE BOUGHT HIM A CASE OF BEER THOUGH AND THEN WE PUT SOME MONEY AND THE SPIRITUAL BOUQUET CARDS TOGETHER AND MADE IT FROM ALL OF US. MOM AND THIS CAKE, WHICH THOUGH IT WASN'T WHITE, WAS MEANT FOP POP AND HE DID LIKE THE SPECIAL ATTENTION.

YOU KNOW HE IS A DEAR WHEN HE ISN'T "RIDEN HIGH" OVER MOM. HE IS STILL AN OUTSTANDING FATHER. THE WAY HE INSTILLED ALL THAT'S HONEST AND ADMIRABLE IN HIS KIDS, EVEN IF SOME TIMES WE DONT STICK TO ALL HE IMPRESSED ON US.

CONSIDERING HOW HARD HIS WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN, NO TIME FOR SCHOOLING OR CHILDHOOD BUT WORK, WORK, WORK. THEN WHEN ONE THINKS BACK ON ALL HE WAS DEPRIVED OF IN NOT KNOWING HOW TO READ OR UNDERSTAND THE RADIO. HIS LITTLE WORLD CONSISTS ONLY OF THE THINGS HE MEETS IN DAILY ENCOUNTER. NO WONDER AT TIMES HE IS INTOLERANT OR AS WE SAY "INTOLERABLE." THE THINGS THAT OPEN FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING ARE GOOD BOOKS, GOOD STORIES, LOVELY MUSIC OR SOME SUCH INSPIRING WORK.

AND OUR POP HAS MISSED ALL THESE. REALLY HE IS A REMARKABLE MAN. JUST LIKE MOM IS A SAINT. BUT ITS EASIER FOR HER. SHE FINDS A GOOD REASON FROM HER CHRISTIAN LITERATURE FOR EVERY HARDSHIP. BUT POP, HE HAS TO CARRY ON ON HIS OWN LIMITATIONS, ACCEPTING THINGS WITH ANGER OR BITTERNESS BECAUSE HE CANT UNDERSTAND THEM THE WAY MOM DOES. YET MOMMY STILL HAS THE EASIER PART OF THE TWO.

YOU KNOW I LOST MY VOICE A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND STILL TODAY CAN’T TALK ABOVE A WHISPER. IN SHORT, NO ONE AT THE TABLE COULD HEAR ME AND THE CHIEF WAS RIDING HIGH. HE CLAIMED THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE HAS HAD "VOICE" OVER THE SQUAW.

HE AND MOM ENGAGED IN SOME BANTERING AT THE TABLE. GRANT HAD ASKED FOR DAIRY CREAM AND MOMMY BRINGS IN SOME AND SOMETIMES IT HAS A FLAVOR. MOM PASSED HIM THE RIGHT PITCHER AND SAID "MABEE ALL COMIN' FROM SAME COW, I THINK SO. NEXT CUP I TASTEM. WITH YOUR CREAM." SO NEXT CUP SHE TASTED IT AND AVOWED THE CHIEF WAS A SPOILED "MISTER".

SHE WENT ON TO TELL NEWS FROM ANNE, ABOUT BETTY'S EXPECTED TRIP TO CALIF. AND HOW ANNE MIGHT COME HOME FOR A VISIT AND LEAVE THE CHILDREN WITH "BERRY", THAT "BERRY, SHE SMART, SHE CAN TAKE GOOD CARE OF THE FAMILY AND ANNA GET A GOOD REST."

BUT THIS GOT HER TO THINKING ANNE GAVE THAT CHILD AN AWFUL NAME. "BERRY" WHATSA MATTER, THAT IS LIKE BERRIES."

WE EXPLAINED IT IS B E T T Y AND AFTER THE SAINT ELIZABETH, TO WHICH GRANT ADDED, "SURE. THEY COULD CALL HER LIZ, LIZZIE." WELL MOM PICKED THAT UP. SHE IS GOING TO WRITE YOU ANNE IF SHE DOESNT FORGET THE WORD. I DONT THINK SHE WILL FORGET IT. FOR HER AND GRANT KEPT REPEATING IT, "LIZ, LIZZIE. LIZ LIZZIE." MOM THINKS IT SOUNDS SAINTLY. WELL BETTY THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL GET GRANDMA TO CHANGE NOW IS TO ENTER THE CONVENT AND TAKE ANOTHER SAINT!

ANNE I AM TO IMPRESS ON YOU, THAT WHEN YOU COME HERE IT'S FOR A NICE REST AND FUN AND MOTHER AND DAD WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND ‘ERE YOU ARRIVE. THERE IS NOT TO BE ANYMORE SCRUBBING OF WALLS AND CEILING WASHING LIKE LASTTIME. I WANT YOU TO BE PROPERLY IMPRESSED WITH THIS, LEST YOU GET HERE AND TEAR INTO THINGS BEFORE WE HAVE A CHANCE WARN YOU. I HOPE YOUR PLANS WILL WORK OUT. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL FOR ALL OF US. MOM AND POP ARE COUNTING ON IT.

PEG I DONT SUPPOSE YOU ARE EVEN DREAMING OF SUCH THINGS BUT MAYBE WE'LL GET TO SEE YOU. SIS PEG I HAVE SCADS OF JARS MOST OF THEM FROM YOU AND ANNE. I SHOULD GET THEM DOWN TO YOU AND ITS TOO BAD I DIDN'T THINK TO SEND THEM WITH RED LAST TIME.

I DONT KNOW WHAT HE WILL BE DOING OVER THE 4TH BUT MAYBE HE WILL GO TO ORE. I COULD MAIL THESE BUT I AM BEGINNING TO JUST HATE PACKING PARCELS. WE HAVE SO MUCH OF THAT IN THE SHOP AND IT FALLS MY LOT TO DO IT. AND NEVER ANY BOXES THAT FIT.

PEG, DAD WAS SO TOUCHED BY YOUR LETTER THAT YOU ARE OFFERING THIS MONTH YOUR DAILY ROSARY FOR HIM. YOU'RE A DEAR. ITS A WONDERFUL PRACTICE ... THIS FAMILY ROSARY ... WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE SMALL BUT NO EASY THING TO CONTINUE WHEN SOME NIGHTS YOU MUST BE PRETTY WELL WORN OUT FROM THE DAY. THIS ROSARY IS SOMETHING YOU CAN NEVER MEASURE THE WORTH OFF UNTIL YEARS AFTER.

IT'S LIKE IN OLD MR. HOGANS CASE. HERE AFTER 63 YRS HIS OLD AGE BROUGHT HIM BACK SO MANY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES AND HAPPY THINGS THAT HE FINALLY SICKENED OF HIS PRESENT STATE AND WENT BACK INTO THE CHURCH. ITS LITTLE MOTHERS LIKE YOU WHO INSURE THEIR CHILDRENS FAITH INTO OLD AGE.

BETTY I RECALL YOUR SWELL LETTER IS NOW, ALONG WITH THE REST, UP AT THE FARM. RED TOOK THEM AS JOE AND MARY WERE GOING UP AND JIM MIGHT. ANYWAY IT WOULD GIVE THE OTHERS A CHANCE TO READ THESE FORE THEY GOT PASSED TO JEANNE AND ED. I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW IMPRESSIVE THE ENDING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WAS. AND HOW FEVERISHLY YOU AND PEG ARE SHOPPING FOR YOUR TROUSEAU EVEN HAVING FUN OVER THE EXCUSE TO GO TO MARKET AND GET AWAY FROM THE LITTLE ONES. THE DAY YOU TWO AND ANNE WENT IN TO TOWN AND HOW YOU HARDLY SPARED A MOMENT FOR ANNES PURCHASE OF THE ALL IMPORTANT "CHAPS" WHILE YOU TOOK HOURS TO TRACK DOWN YOUR ESSENTIALS. NOW GRANDMA WOULD SAY "NO WONDER ANNES HATS ARENT TOO BECOMING" YOU KIDS JUST DON'T TAKE THE PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD THIS IMPORTANT BUY.

BET DOROTHY AND DARLENE DID GOOD AS SUBS FOR THEIR MOMS. COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN INTO ANY MISCHIEF WITH THAT MUCH ON THEIR HANDS TO WATCH. IT'S SO GOOD TO KNOW THE FAMILY IS EFFICIENT AND GROWING UP TO WHERE YOU CAN TAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER ANNE AND PEG. EVEN IF BETTY LEAVES, DOT WILL BE ABLE TO CARRY ON. THATS WHAT DOROTHY NEEDS. PRAISE TO BUILD UP HER CONFIDENCE AND SHE WILL BE AS GOOD AS BETTY AT THE HOME WORK. SHE IS A SMART LITTLE ONE ONLY WITH BETTY OVERSHADOWING BY BEING SO VERY EFFICIENT DOT HASN'T MADE ANY EFFORT. SHE WILL.

SO YOU KNOW, THE POLISH LADIES ARE GIVING A SHOWER ON MARY THIS TUES. OR MAYBE ITS THURS. NEITHER MOTHER OR I CAUGHT THE DATE AS WE DIDNT ACCEPT. MOM, BECAUSE ITS ON A WEEK NIGHT AND SHE CANT MANAGE THAT AND I. WELL I AM HARDLY EXCUSED BUT I DECLINED FOR THE REASON THAT THOSE POLISH LADIES BECAME A REAL NUISANCE UNTIL I HAD A BREAK WITH THEM. SO f DONT WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR FRIENDSHIP AGAIN. THEY WOULD COME IN COMMITTEES OF 4 OR TWO CONSTANTLY TO THE SHOP AND WANT ME TO DONATE FOR DRIVES FOR POLAND AND DRIVES FOR THEIR CHURCH AND DRIVES FOR SOME ONES SHOWER OR WEDDING WHO WAS A POLE. SMALL MATTER I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THE PERSON. IT BECAME SO CONSTANT I WAS AFRAID THEY WOULD TAKE IT OUT ON MOTHER OR DAD IF I DIDNT PLAY BALL SO ONCE WHEN THEY HAD A BIG DRIVE I TOLD THEM I COULDN'T EVER AGAIN CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR DRIVES AS MOM AND I DID OUR OWN SHARE FOR POLAND AND I HAD MY SHARE IN ST MARYS. WELL NOW COMES THIS BIG SHIN DIG THEY ARE PUTTING ON IN THE POLISH HALL, ASKING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BRING $1.50 FOR ONE GIFT AND A PORTION OF REFRESHMENTS.

WELL I DONT WANT TO GET INTO THAT BUT I FEEL BADLY NOT TO SIDE ALONG WITH MARY. ITS TO BE A SURPRISE ON HER. THEY TOLD JOE TO BRING HER THERE AS IF IT WERE FOR A KEENO OR SOMETHING.

WE WERE TELLING JOEY AGES AGO TO JOIN ST MARYS PARISH WHERE MARY WILL GET IN WITH THE YOUNG FOLKS AND SOME THAT SPEAK HER LANGUAGE. SHE DOESNT BELONG WITH THE POLES. OH WELL SUCH ARE THE EVENTS ON THE SOCIAL CALENDER.

ON GEE I SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST GIVEN THEM THE $1.50. I DIDN'T CATCH ON. WELL I WILL SEND A GIFT THERE. YOU SHOULD BE HERE KID SIS. YOU COULD TAKE ON THAT MRS. HAWRILLA FOR A COUPLE ROUNDS. YOURE THE ONLY ONE BRAVE ENOUGH TO HAVE ONCE TACKLED IT.

JEANNE, YOU WOULD HAVE ENJOYED A CUTE NOTE I RECEIVED DURING THE WEEK, WRITTEN FRANTICALLY BY MOM AFTER DAD HAD A THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE GRADUATING BECAUSE RED SAID YOU NEEDED SOME MONEY TO BUY A GRADUATION OUTFIT OR THINGS. POP THOUGHT OF IT ONE DAY AND DASHED IN TO MOMMY TO ASK HER TO WRITE ME THAT HE WOULD PUT IN $5 AND MOTHER WOULD PUT IN HER $5 AND TOGERRY WE WRITEM CONIRADULATIONS. WE EXPLAINED TO THEM IT WONT BE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS YET. HE SURELY DIDNT WANT TO MISS GONGRADULATING YOU KID SIS. YOUR SUCH A DEAR, ABOUT THE ONLY ONE IN THE FAMILY HE FINDS COMPLETE ENJOYMENT IN. WE READ THEM YOUR LETTER, ABOUT TED TOO ... THAT HE ISNT QUITE THE ONE AND ONLY ANYMORE. MOMMY SHE SAYS "OHHHH TOO BAD." WE ASKED HER IF SHE WERE SERIOUS OR JUST MAKING CONVERSATION. ALL WE GOT WAS HER MERRY LAUGH FOR A REPLY. SHE SAYS A LOT OF YAMS AND NO'S WITHOUT THINKING.

HEY SIS DID YOU KNOW KAY AND BUD GOT MARRIED FRIDAY? DON'S WIFE CALLED ME. THEN TIL, YOUR LETTER MADE MENTION OF IT. HE MAKES ME THINK A LOT OF RUBEN. OH YOU WOULD LIKE HIM TIL. MAYBE THEY WILL TAKE THEIR HONEYMOON TRIP THERE.

JEANNE I WAS SPEAKING TO YOU WHEN THAT CAME TO MY MIND. I WISH TO ASK YOU, FOR ALL THE REST, WHEN IS ANOTHER WEEK END OFF FOR YOU? IT'S BEEN AGES SINCE YOUR LAST (weekend off). ARE YOU SHORT OF FUNDS OR WHATS DOING????? WHEN YOU PLAN IT JEANNE MAKE IT ON THE WEEK ENDS. MOM COMES TO TOWN. AS FOR THE SUMMER. GRANT IS PLANNING ON US TAKING TRIPS OR GOING TO THE BEACH TO HIS FOLKS ON THE SUNDAYS ALTERNATING. THAT IS IF YOU CAN.

TODAY DAD WAS TELLING US THE LITTLE BLACKBERRIES ARE BEGINNING TO GET RIPE. THE FROSTS DESTROYED MANY OF THE PATCHES CLOSE TO THE HOUSE BUT THEN NOT ALL AND ANYWAY RED WILL HAVE THEM SPOTTED FOR THIS AFTERNOON HE WAS GOING TO DO JUST THAT.

DAD SAID ONE OF HIS ROSE BUSHES WAS PUSHING THROUGH A BUD. LORDY. HE HAS THE PICTURES AND IS WAITING TO SEE WHICH ONE IT IS.

ROSE, DAD MENTIONED HE HAD A NICE CARD, LETTER TOO? FROM YOU AND WOULD I PLEASE SAY THANKS. THE SAME TO ALL THE REST OF YOU. ITS GREAT THE WAY YOU EACH REMEMBERED HIS DAY. HE WAS VERY HAPPY OVER EVERYTHING WE TOLD HIM THE TROUSERS WOULD COME LATER

I HAVE TO GET BACK TO THIS DINNER.

OH SIS TIL, I FORGOT TO MENTION HOW THRILLED WE ARE OVER THE NEW HOME, OLD HOME, YOU ARE BUYING. IT SOUNDS GREAT. LOTS OF FUN TO CAMP A WHILE AND THEN BEGIN FIXING. THE YARD WOULD WIN IT FOR ME OR GRANT. ALL APT. INMATES DOTE ON A YARD, THE BIGGER THE BETTER. TO HECK WITH WHAT THE HOUSE LOOKS LIKE. ESPECIALLY IN CALIF. WHERE YOU LIVE OUT DOORS FOR NINE MONTHS A YEAR.

BYE.