Backpacking through Europe in 1994
Day 34 • October 10, 1994
A Card From Mom and My Sister Tammy
My Mom wrote me this card thirty years ago today. Although it would be two weeks before I received it, I am putting it here in the story. My Mom, as you can see, was always my #1 Supporter and Fan!
Day 34 / 10-10-94
A Card From Mom!
My Mom had a beautiful habit of continuing the verse in the card into her own words with every card she sent.
In this case, Snoopy says in the card “…You’re right here! Miss You!” and Mom picks up with “LOTS and think of you OFTEN EVERY DAY. All is fine here and full swing of fall activities keeps us all busy. We Love You Bud! Mom, Tams, & Speed Bump [My nickname for our poor dog Brandy who had been hit by a car and lived to bark about it]
Then my Mom continued to use the left inside panel of the card to write me a letter [as she always did], and continued it on the back of the card, utilizing every tiny bit of space to write as many of her thoughts and feelings as possible.
Mon. Oct 10th
Dear Todd,
Hey guy!! Gee it was great talking to you yesterday & a great surprise to hear Roger’s voice first & learn he placed the call so you could talk to us!
That was so very kind of him & I do hope you gave each of them a big hug from me.
I was very very anxious to talk to you again, Toddo!!
It was great to get your letter & hear about everything so far. We’re glad everything is going so well and that you’re happy & having fun. Of course I knew you would = NOT having to go to school OR to work or anything!!
I can’t believe you’ve been gone 5 weeks already - - man where’s the time gone?? And you’re right ….. I’ve definitely slowed down in my older age. Just can’t believe I haven’t written you yet. I do feel very bad & especially having you notice & wonder!! But it’s not just you = it took me over 2 weeks to write a thank you note to Johnnys & Hardys after being there, I just missed Mollie and Scottie’s birthdays & Les’ anniversary = 1st time ever :-(
(over) [to the back of the card]
Once I went 2 full weeks without talking to Joyce & 6 weeks without calling Les or Pam :-(
And it has now been 1 full year since talking to Jackie - - of course that is my choice - - Ha!!
I am definitely really slowing down & so sorry :-(
Tim stopped by yesterday afternoon and we saw Kyle & Jen 2 weekends in a row after their honeymoon & I’ve seen Curt V. and Kreg Gilson once.
Everyone asks about you & how & what you’re doing. I hope you’ll enjoy your travels once you start on the Eurorail. I’m sure you’re very anxious to see everyone again & I’m so happy you’ve heard from so many that are still around.
Have fun & do be very careful honey.
I’m helping out at the college 3 days a week from 8-4 or so for the next 6 weeks. I’m monitoring computer based tests. I was totally zapped last week plus had the flu.
Stay in touch & take good care of yourself T.
How’s the photo business there??
This is the letter from my younger sister Tammy, who was 14 years old then. Being in junior high, this letter reflects the style of the day of folding up notes before passing them to friends.
October 9th
Dear T-Dog -
Hey! How are you? It was great to talk to you today. I can’t believe tomorrow you’ve been gone for 5 weeks. Tim came over today to get some magazines. He found all but one.
We talked to Tracy today too.
I’m so excited for Thursday because I’m going to watch the State Golf meet. It’ll be fun, I hope. Dad says he wouldn’t be surprised if we won. At conference we won by 27 strokes and set the record by 10 strokes. At districts we won by 38 strokes. Districts was here at the Country Club. Next summer I’m going to try and golf every day because I would really like to be on the varsity team, and if not that, one of the better people on the JV team.
School’s fine. My hardest class is APS (advanced physical science. I think my average is an 87%. And it’s gotten a lot better than it was a couple of weeks ago. Then it was an 83%, then an 84%, and now and 87%. We had this really big test and I got an 89% on it, so it got better (my average). I like my class, though.
My clothing class is really boring. We did instruction, color, lines and other boring stuff. I thought we were going to sew the whole time out of the semester, but only about a quarter I guess.
I really miss golf after school It was a lot of fun.
Guess what? Only 4 months and 10 days ‘till I turn 15. It will be so cool. I’m so excited. Only 2 months and 15 days until Christmas.
Yesterday I got all of the Halloween stuff out and now hour house looks really cool. But only because I decorated it.
You’ll be home for Christmas, won’t you? You’d better. Otherwise I’m not going to get you a Christmas present and you’ll have to get me 2.
Just kidding, but you’d better be here by then. Well, not too much else going on. I’ll try & write you more letters. Miss you TONS! Write back soon.
Love You LOTS,
Tams
W - Write
B - Back
S - Soon
M - Miss
Y - You
T - Tons