Monday, July 10, 2023

Milliron Monday: Letters Home Nov 22 1959

Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith. 

"We're both so swamped with studies..."
― Jody Smith

Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. Backstory: Pete and Jody are in college at Colorado Sate University (then Colorado A&M), newlyweds, Gary is Jody's brother, Jody was a long-time member of Eastern Star, Pulicidae means family of fleas.

917 Remington

Fort Collins, Colorado
November 22, 1959

Hi Everyone,

          Certainly was nice to hear your voices last night, Mom and Dad. I certainly didn’t realize it’d been so long since I’d written. I’m sorry you were worried about us.
        Thank you for the Eastern Star dues. I received a pleasant little note along with the card.
          Thanks also for all the clippings, enclosures, Christmas stamps, etc. you sent us.
          Gary, it surely sounds as though you’re awfully busy. I hope things are going alright for you.
          We’ve been mixed up in rather unhappy and serious family problems. Pete’s older sister, Carol, is getting a divorce. We went down to Denver yesterday to see her and Debbie, her little two year old girl, off at the airport. She went back to New York to stay with her folks awhile and then to get an apartment, job, etc. It’s been pretty much a mess all around but I hope it’s settled for the best now. I don’t think it’s necessary to mention it to the Smiths unless they bring up the subject (when you’re writing).
          Mr. Smith sent us his third book, which has recently been published by Prentice Hall. It looks quite interesting.
          We’re not going down to MacArthur’s for Thanksgiving after all. When we first found out about Carol’s divorce, we were going to meet her and Mrs. Smith (who was flying to Denver to drive back East with Carol) on Thanksgiving Day in Denver, so I wrote McArthur’s that we couldn’t come. But Carol decided to fly back herself and got a reservation for yesterday.
          We’re both so swamped with studies that it’s really a good thing now that we’ll be here. We’re going down to McArthur’s as soon as school is out and stay for a couple of days.
          Enclosed is a letter which I was quite surprised and flattered to received. This organization is supposed to be CSU’s equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. Is it okay if I pay for it from my checking account? Pete said he could pay for it but I hate to ask him to right now since things are a bit tight. Please let me know before December 2nd (and send me back the letter).
Love, Jody

P.S. Almost forgot to tell you about “Pulicidae” (“Pooh” for short) our little five month old alley cat. He’s yellow, gray, and black striped and quite a character. Pete really does like him, Mom. Don’t forget he’s almost as chronic an animal lover as myself. Pooh eats any kind of scrap we give him – toast, cake crumbs, cheese – so feeding him isn’t a problem. We’re now getting milk for 40 cents a gallon so we don’t have to scrimp on milk or cream.

Previous Letters Home: 

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Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.

  

 

1 comment:

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