heading to Biloxi

Dear Daughter,

It is cloudy here, but the TV weather report says on a slight chance of rain. The temp is supposed to be 79. Isn't that amazing? But I guess we will enjoy it while we have it.

We will have steak (for Daddy) and a TV dinner for me. I love the TV dinners, most of them. We thought we would eat twice this week downstairs, Tuesday and Friday, Catfish dinners.

Daddy and and I enjoy the evening, watched TV, didn't do much. I think Daddy is doing just fine.

Of course he has his bad moments, but overall I think he is okay.

I don't think I will go downstairs at all today. I thought I would do to the Penthouse to do my walking. I am planning to go to Church tonight, so I will write a little earlier this afternoon.

I know your children will miss you, because I know what kind of teacher you are. You are the best, in my book.

Hope your trip goes well - hope you can read, if it doesn't bother you.

Have a good day - will look forward to hearing you tonight.

Much love, M & D

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Dear Mother:

It’s a cool, dank, drizzly morning. Our weather changes daily and one never knows what to expect. I don’t think I mentioned that, just as I pulled into the garage about 5:00 yesterday afternoon, it started to rain and it rained hard for the next hour. Rain had not been in the forecast so I was surprised but happy since we had been getting a little on the dry side. Anyway, the rain is supposed to be done in another 30 minutes or so which means that I think we will have a fine day for driving.

As I told you on the phone on Sunday, we are driving the school van. Gretchen has volunteered to do much of the driving and Alice has her bus driver’s license so I think the driving is all taken care of (at least from my point of view). I don’t mind driving when I’m by myself but I don’t much like to drive when there are other people in the car. So, we leave at 11:00 today, stop for lunch (probably in Grenada) and then drive to Biloxi. Gretchen (who is from Meridian and fairly used to going to the coast) says the whole trip should take about 7 hours so, what with stopping for lunch and rest stops, I imagine it will be 8:00 before we get to the coast. We thought we would eat before trying to find the hotel so it might be 10:00 by the time we have eaten and find the hotel and check in.

I will give you a quick little call when we are on the coast but well before we are actually in our rooms, therefore, so that you don’t have to sit around worrying all evening. It will be a long day but we are staying in the hotel where the convention is being held so all we have to do in the morning is get up, get dressed, and take the elevator downstairs. So maybe we’ll get some sleep!

Our return is a little more up in the air. Will we stay until the very end of the convention (2:00 on Friday) or will we leave after one or two workshops (11:00-ish) or will we skip everything on Friday morning and head back right away (9:00 or 10:00)? I don’t know but I’ll try to let you know. Anyway, I’ll call sometime late on Friday afternoon to let you know where we are.

So that’s about it. I will spend an hour and a half with my third graders this morning—part work and part computer day—before going to pick up the van in the bus shop. Fortunately, I will see NO second graders today! That should make for a good start to the trip!! So I’ll bid you adieu and hope that all is well with both of you. Enjoy the rest of your week and please write me a letter tonight and tomorrow night and Friday night. I’ll try to write you once or twice, also.

Bye--Ruth