NO. 101 November 10, 1940
Dear Lad:
I have just been examining the map after reading in your last letter that you visited Cubagua and will be much interested in reading your account of the trip when you get around to finishing it. If it has not already been sent by the time you get this, here are some of the things I hope you will cover: purpose of trip, business or vacation, and how it came about. Route taken from Pariaguan. Instead of motoring to Maturin as you did enroute to Trinidad, I suppose this time you went by way of Aragua and Barcelona, thence by concrete road to Cumana. All this, of course, on the assumption you went either in your own car or another’s, and not by plane. According to the map there are three steamship lines that run from Guanta and Cumania to Porlamar but it does not show any stops at Cubagua, so maybe after all it was a plane trip. And by the way, will you please locate for me the exact location of Guanta so that I can find it on the map?
The second news item IS sumpin’. I have expected this for some time, and I suppose you have too, but to have it finally come through and to know definitely that you have fallen air to Chris’s job and that you are now heading up repairs and transportation is mighty pleasing. Does that mean an increase in pay too? Is it only a temporary job until Chris returns from his vacation or will they give him something else to do and keep you on that permanently, or at least until your time is up in May? Of course you know I want to present you my little fatherly nosegay with all the other good luck horseshoes and floral bouquets you merit on your forward step. (Hold on now for Jack Benny). Do you see Fred Chion occasionally? We are still having typical autumn weather here. Clear cool days. No snow yet. I have not started the furnace yet; in fact it was not until yesterday that I finally got it in running shape. The only thing remaining now is to cement up the cracks where the smoke stack enters the brick chimney, and get some coal. Do you suppose I can get a Christmas gift to you this year under the “sample of no commercial value” ruling and if so, please tell me what would be most acceptable to you. And if you can answer this query by return mail it might be possible to get something off to you in time to arrive before December 25th.
DearCed:
Last Monday, in the same mail bringing Lad’s letter, I also received yours (without date) but postmarked October 26th telling me about your first piloting lesson. Tomorrow I hope I will receive another from you or Dan or both of you telling me about Dan’s birthday and also about registering for the draft. Tuesday, hoping there would be some good election news, I took Dave and Dick to New York (Times Square) to hear the returns. Don Whitney went with us. Needless to say the results of the voting marred what might have been a very enjoyable celebration. Some of the sting and disappointment and general dis-heartedness was relieved by your letter and Lad’s of the day before, but I hate to think of four more years of the Raw Deal. Nobody wants to shoot Santa Claus and I suppose some 10 millions of those who voted for FDR were those who have received handouts or hold jobs in the inflated boards and commissions that would be pared down if someone with less recklessness in the spending of the taxpayers money for other than defense purposes came into office.
Tomorrow I’ll finish this letter with news of Dave, Dick and other local news.
On Thursday and Friday, I’ll post another letter from Grandpa to his sons in Venezuela and Alaska.
On Saturday and Sunday, more Special Pictures.
Judy Guion
"Greatest Generation" Life Lessons 