1934 – 1940 Timeline
Friday night
12 PM E.S.T.
5/24/1935
Dear Dad,
This may be a long letter or it may be a short one – as yet I know not. We will be sending the package up sometime at the end of next week. This is the third letter I have written to you this week so a two letter week will seem small after this.
I have a proposition to make with you. I was wondering if you would let Aunt Anne stay with us for two or three weeks until I once more get settled, for if I have her with me for my first one or two weeks at home I think it will be easier for me. It could be on the same basis as it was while you were down here at Christmas time. You could give her the apartment if Astrid has moved out by the time we get home.
I got a Good Housekeeping for June yesterday and it says to give 3 to 5 weeks notice for change of address – but to get back to my proposition – I figured it would be nice for the kid brothers to have Don and Gwen for company for a while for they are here so seldom and I also thought it would be nice for you to have a grown person to keep you company for a while. She has no place to go when she does get up there and that is one reason why we are staying on here. Of course the other reason is money. Aunt Anne is thinking of getting a job. It is now Monday and Gwen and Aunt Anne have gone down for a lesson in knitting.
We took Carl and Dot out for a picnic lunch yesterday. We had loads of fun playing baseball and catch. I am going to miss them frightfully when I leave and how I wish I could bring them home with me for keeps. The only thing I can bring home is a picture of them but I am hoping that they will come up and visit me – but I doubt it for they haven’t much money. I ate dinner there yesterday and had lemon pie! How it makes my mouth water to think about it. Carl is going to graduate this year and he’s going to have a picture of himself taken in his graduating cap and gown – what a laugh I’m going to give him. Dot is only a sophomore but she looks more like a Junior. Exams commence next week. How I dread that! We have two weeks counting this one – left of school. I hope I pass – and thinking of learning how to knit. Have you seen if Peggy since she has been home? How is she – I mean how sick? I have finally written to Grandma. I am hoping to get a letter from you this morning. Have you gotten any pictures of Mack? This seems to be limited to asking questions and so I had better quit and give you a chance to draw your breath and answer the questions.
Love,
Biss
This is the last letter I have found from Biss. I’m guessing that she came home and Aunt Anne, Don and Gwen all stayed at the Trumbull house for a while. From June, 1935 until January, 1939, I don’t have any letters. I’ll try to fill in the space with information from her daughter.
Tomorrow, we jump ahead to the fall of 1939and check on Lad in Venezuela and the rest of the family.
Judy Guion
"Greatest Generation" Life Lessons 
Well, I do hope that we hear more about Biss through her family. Didn’t you also interview her when you were on the Erie Canal trip?
Mrs. P. – Yes, I did. I’ve posted most of her early memories but I may go back and look for memories from that particular time in her life. I’ll see what I can find. Thanks for the suggestion.
Biss was a responsible and thoughtful young lady, such a shame she should always worry about money at such a young age, but that was the times and how things were – weren’t they. Now she’s worried about adjusting to the return home – poor dear.
I don’t know how much we’ll know about her adjustment at home. It all depends on how much Grandpa tells Lad in his letters to him. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Your stories are great. Between the way you lovingly, respectfully present these letters and the letters themselves, anyone can see a great family headed to war, still believing in themselves and holding on to what really counts.
NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE – Thank you for your compliment. Yes, we are very fortunate that we are still a close bunch – even though there are over 150 descendant’s from Grandpa and his wife, Arla !! We still own the Island on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and the Homestead in Trumbull, and I’m sure that helps. But I do believe it was Grandpa’s foundational values that he inspired in his children, and they passed on to their children, etc. that helps us stay connected. Stories also connect families and I encourage you to gather and write down stories to share with your children and grandchildren. Children feel loved and connected when they share family stories and traditions.
You’re so correct. I’ve always felt sharing family stories and experiences among a family is the glue that keeps that family together…it must be done and applied in liberal doses, frequently. I don’t even want to imagine what my life, or anyone’s life is like, without a family, be they wealthy or penniless. Thank God !
NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE – You are absolutely right. Help spread the message on your blog also. The more people who are promoting that idea on blogs, the larger the number of people who will hear, and hopefully, act, on the suggestion. We all need to be the glue that holds our families together.
Appreciate the suggestion and I will do it… That topic is always worth the effort and needs to be spread all over the world.