Trumbull – Dear Partners in Crime (1) – Aug., 1940

Alfred Duryee Guion (my Grandpa)

R-93                                September 15, 1940

Dear Partners in Crime:

Gosh, but you boys certainly did make me feel good on my natal day! It started before I was up on the morning of the 11th. I had my radio going as I lay in bed trying to learn what had occurred in the intervening 12 hours in the day of war news and thus did not hear the phone ring, but long legged Dick, clad in his pajamas and with sleep still in his eyes, said Western Union wanted me on the phone. And this was the message: A night letter from Anchorage, Alaska for A.D. Guion. Congratulations to O D A. Birthday greetings we joyously send, to Pop on whom we can always depend, to see to it we are always presented, with swell birthday gifts – kinds not resented. The man who the deep in troubles steeped, has always thought just of our welfare replete. (Signed) Sourdoughs Dan and Ced.

This was getting off to a good start. With the warm glow in my heart I shaved (without cutting myself), had my usual frugal breakfast, started the old Plymouth, which quite surprisingly started without the usual trouble, sailed down the drive and made my first stop at the store. P. O. Box 7 was bursting with mail. Yes, sir, believe it or not, letters awaited me from Aunt Betty, Lad, Dan and Ced, all with birthday greetings right on the nose. (And this has no reference to hay fever). And what greetings! Aunt Betty, the usual card with the usual dollar bill parked underneath the first sheet, Lad with a nice letter accompanied by a blank check, as it were, to get me something for myself, Dan with a $25 money order together with a letter and verse, and Ced with a four-page letter willingly me his entire bank balance here. Dick offered to blow me to the movies, which offer I could not accept because I had a job I had brought home from the office which had to be completed by the morrow and Dave donated his service in getting supper and also with a birthday greeting card. As soon as I poked my head in the office door George and Miss Denis burst out singing “Happy Birthday to You”, and Mr. Coville dropped in during the day and left his felicitations and asked to be remembered to Dan. I splurged a bit on the supper which consisted of a thick juicy beefsteak, delicious green asparagus (a frosted food), potatoes and Apple pie à la mode. All in all, a most momentous day. My little contribution took the form of a box of writing paper to each of the Alaskan contingent, a photo album to Lad, a waterproof, windproof jacket made of airplane cloth to Dick and to book of complete Gilbert and Sullivan operas for Dave. I hope the parcels post packages reach you “outsiders” promptly and in good shape.  Lads three-page letter, just to hit the high spots, mentions the fact that because of high costs of everything down there he is losing his perspective on the cost of things and the value of money and sites as an instance the fact that his watch, which Arnold had repaired here in Bridgeport for him, cost six dollars, were down there it would have cost $16-$17 for the work. The smallest denomination in paper money down there is 20 Bolivars (about $6.50). The movies he gets down there are two or three years old. He has seen “Robin Hood” and “Juarez”. It looks now as though at long last some of the oil wells they have drilled are coming through in the Guario field and they are starting another — the fourth — in the same location. His two years under contract with Socony-Vacuum is up May 31st but that does not mean necessarily that he is coming home at that time. His boss, Chris, may be leaving early in November when his contract expires, and Lad will probably get his job. Lad and the new airplane mechanic have struck up a friendship and he spends quite a bit of his spare time at the airport. He is thinking of the possibility of buying himself a small plane when he gets home and says they can be run more economically than even my little Willys that was.

Incidentally, both stock transfer blanks were received, duly signed. Thank you both.

This is another very long letter and I’ve broken it up into five parts. I’ll be posting a new piece each day the week. Judy Guion

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