Late October 1943 - A Letter From Margaret Waning

In late October Margaret Waning sent a letter to her parents to wish them a Happy 30th Anniversary. 

Letter - Page 1

"Oct. 27, 1943

Dearest Mom and Dad -

Congratulations you two!  I hope you can have some sort of celebration on your anniversary - 30 yrs. isn't it?  If I were only nearer, would love to have you to dinner or something in way of celebration.

Barbie & I got two nice letters, when we stopped for out mail, on way to Montavilla1 for groceries.  One from you (guess I owe you two now) & the other from Mildred2.  She told about Bob's deer - said she knew the piece of meat you got wasn't first class, but she couldn't help it.  Also said she had gained 20 lbs - & told Bob it must be twins - he says perish the thought.  Today first we've been away from home for week &..."

Letter - Page 2

"...a half or so.  We had decided to go over to Charlotte3 & Ike's last Sat. - but but was just too stormy out.  Barbie is sure getting anxious to see that baby.

Used up my points4 (meat) today - bought what I needed - can. milk & etc (only let you have 1 lb butter to a customer) then finished up my points in bacon - 55 of them - $3.68 worth.  People standing around looked as tho' they thought I must be slightly off or something for buying so much - but will use it.

By the way your newly butchered beef sure sounds good - wouldn't mind having a doz. jars or so with some in it - it sure tasted good last winter.  Listen - I didn't mean to sound like a king or something - just wishing.

It was too bad neither you folks or Dad Wanings got any pork5."

Letter - Page 3

"We ate supper tonight at Montavilla - just hamburgers & such - no real restaurant there.  Jim & Bill each ordered one a piece then they ordered two more each - the girls sure looked at them as if they were daffy or something, instead of just plain hungry.  Barbie had a half a ham & half a toasted cheese & milk - she sure enjoys that a lot.

Barbara - Portland, OR - Summer 1943

Well Mom, guess we are on our way back to Eugene6 - Jim put an add in the paper tonight (course that isn't saying it will be sold right away.) & I've been packing all week - I'm sure getting good at it - should be I guess.

Would you consider taking in three strays for a while?  So we can look around & find what we want."

Letter - Page 4

"I had a letter from Ellen too, this week.  In mine she still seemed to think there might be a chance that they could get to go to Penn.  Too bad if they have to move again after just getting settled.

You didn't say in your last letter whether you had caught your rat yet or whether you & Mrs. Carr went to see 'Gone With the Wind' or not & if so how you liked it.

Well dears its (sic) nearly 10 o'clock & 5:30 comes awfully early so by(sic) for now.

Love & kisses -
The Wanings"   

1 Montavilla (a syllabic abbreviation of "Mt. Tabor Villa") is a neighborhood in the Northeast and Southeast sections of Portland, Oregon, and contains an area of 82nd Avenue lasting from Glisan to Powell.

2 Good friends Mildred & Bob Hammond - Bob worked for O.D. Upton for a while.

3 Good friends Charlotte & Ike Dorsey.

4 Each member of the family had ration books - purchases of rationed items, such as bacon, were  based on the number of points / coupons available for use.

5 Re earlier letter from Janet Waning - Billy took the pigs into be butchered, but no one would do so that day, so, rather than wait, he sold the pigs.  

6 The Waning family planned to move back to Eugene, OR before the birth of their 2nd child in the Spring of 1944.