13 Oct 1956

Postmark: 6:30pmm, Oct 13, 1956 – Montgomery, Alabama

Darling,
Two weeks down – 5 to go and the pressure never lets up. Boy, they can really throw it at you for a solid 8 hours. It takes up 2-3 hours to unwind at nite and we’ve been in the sack and asleep before 10pm lately.
The course is real fine but the mess of information per day is outstanding. I’ll say one thing – we’re exposed to so much, we should retain something when we leave.
Otherwise, it’s a real dull existence – the food in the mess hall is so horrible we practically eat off base every-nite. I don’t know how the cooks do it – it isn’t easy. What I wouldn’t give for your cooking right now.
We all made a mad mistake in not bringing a radio with us, too. These BOQ’s can get mighty dull and boring at times. We’re staying home this weekend instead of going to Eglin – will probably go again next week. We had planned to go but got out of school late tonite so just said the hell with it.
Had a short letter from Mury today – I had already written her Tuesday. Incidently, I goofed and put the article in the wrong envelope so she will send it to you.
Don’t have much news left – I miss you terribly darling and love you very much.

All my love,
Hubby

9 June 1944

Friday, June 9, 1944

Dear Nannie,

Well, here I am again after another busy day. School is almost over for me. It really ends the 21st of June, but I am getting out the 19th to go to Richmond for a week to visit my girl friend, Patti Bailey. When I get back from Richmond, I’ll begin work immediately.

I have my job confirmed now, I think. I’ll work down on 3rd and Independence Avenue in the New Social Security Building for the C.P.R.B (Combined Production and Resources Board) under the W.P.B. My job will be senior typist, although I’ll do a little clerical work such as filing at times. It all sounds very interesting to me, as of course, it is all new to me. I don’t imagine I’ll get up to see you before the 1st of September, but I guess you can get along without me, though I’ll miss you a lot. I’ll be thinking about you all summer long, and I sure will be glad to see you at the end. I’ll have to make Daddy’s and my breakfast in the mornings and we’ll both just buy a big dinner at noontime and have something light at night.

My garden is coming along fine. The beans (for that is all I have in it) are real long. They are acting like pole beans now. I don’t know what to do. The ones I bought are called “Bush or Dwarf Bean” and are put out by W. Atlee Burpee Co. in Phila. Do you think I should string them up anyway? I don’t ever remember having to put up poles for bush beans, but it could be, I suppose.

This is the writing paper I bought with the money you sent for my birthday. Isn’t it nice? I wanted some with my name on. I bought a whole lot, as I’m always running out of paper.

I hear Lloyd is in Australia. Boy, those Sebago Lake kids are sure a long way from home. Subby is in South America and Willard Moulton (who came to see us for about 3 hours between trains) is in Miss.

My recital was a riot. Mom thinks I played my piece well (even though I did skip 5 pages out of the original 12) but I think it was terrible. I guess I didn’t leave much of an impression. Next year I’m not going to take music lessons. I’ll go on practicing whenever I can, but it won’t pay to take lessons, as I won’t have time to practice all I’ll need to. That will be my senior year, you know, and I’ll have a lot of outside activities that will keep me at school longer after school. Then, too, there’s the question of homework. Next fall I’ll take Physics, American History, English, and another major subject which I haven’t yet decided. I’d like to take aviation, but daddy and my section teacher don’t think it is a good subject for college credit. I may take sociology. They both think that is good, but I don’t agree.

Well, I have to get this mailed if if’s ever to get to you. Next time I’ll tell you all about my plans for redecorating my room this summer!

Lots of love,
Sibyl

P.S. The enclosed bean seed is what I have planted. SMG

10 Oct 1956

Tuesday – 9th

My darling,

Received your letter today – what a pleasant event. I was really getting worried then shocked to hear of your troubles. I sure hated to hear about your fainting spell – believe me, I won’t say a word. Hope your teeth are ok now and they won’t give you any more trouble. Also take care of that cold too and get well quickly. Can’t have you getting sick when I’m so far away.

Baby, I’m going nuts here without you but we just can’t come home. Meil can’t get a B-25 and the C-45 is too small to fool with, with the weather problems staring us in the face. We have to be back Sunday nites – no excuses and bad weather on the return might ruin us. We can’t take the chance and its killing us. Nobody wants to get home more than I do. In fact last night I started having interesting dreams about you. A couple more like that one and I’ll be needing clean sheets. It may sound peculiar to some people but you have no worries – I just can’t get interested anywhere else. Like I’ve told you before I’m a one woman man and you’re the woman!!!

We may get to D.C. one weekend but this is also uncertain because of the weather. If we do it will be a last minute deal.

Millie’s phone is Em 6-8492 – it’s also in the phone book and Pat Spencer and Cat Moore both have it – TSK TSK…

About the money, so far I have only cashed $25 so if I interpret your letter correctly I used the $20 and $5 of the $8 you had left, so we shouldn’t be overdrawn. I won’t need anymore until payday next Monday when I’ll get another $25. So, for your checkbook just show me charged with the original $20 & $5 of the $8. My book will read $0 as of now and I’ll add $25 as of the 15th and cash it.

Congrats on your sewing job - I’ll know you’ll be lovely when I get home. Sorry about the toaster – please thank Spencer for me for fixing it.

Cass and I got the nuts from the State police while Meil was taking a driver’s license test. What a scream, eh!

We haven’t been to the Marsh’s for dinner and I doubt it we will. Skip any idea of having their Thanksgiving. I’ll explain when I come home. Invite someone you really want.

There’s no change in my face, will work on it when I come home – no time here. Tell Chuck and Shonnie I’m proud of them being so good and will certainly bring them something when I come home. Also will bring Chuck a birthday present.

The car registration goes in the glove compartment loose. I’ll get a holder for it when I come home.
Tell that “Tweetie Bird” he’s eating me out of house and home. He must be a doll – large size though. Can hardly wait to get home and see him – all of you too.

That sure was nice of Phyl Yancy to help out. It’s a relief to have such wonderful neighbors to help out. Glad we live where we do.

Stop worrying about the possible promotion – you’re going to be more disappointed than me. We aren’t sure when they come out.
Am writing Mury tonight and will mention your dress and Chuck’s coat.
The school is really moving fast and you’re beat at nite from the rapid pace. We’re usually asleep by 10:00pm.

The show at Eglin was stupendous – wish you could have seen it. It was complete with sonic booms and B-52s. The enclosed is a local writeup. Will tell you all about it when I come home. Please send the enclosed to Mury when you’ve read it.

Must write Mury now, honey, so will close. Miss you terribly and am really pushing these weeks by as hard as I can.

Take care of yourself.

All my love,
Hubby

***Note: The back of the envelope has a stick figure sketch on it of a man wearing pants, with the word “Daddy” below it. Judging by the relative ‘skill,’ I’d guess it was drawn by Charlie.

A couple of Birthday Cards....

Happy Birthday, Grandma. 

15 April 1927 - Happy Birth-day

April 15, 1927

My dear Little Sybil:

Welcome, thrice welcome, to your glorious city. The telephone announcement by the engineer of your train, which announcement was later confirmed by the fireman, that you had arrived safely, was greeted with three cheers by your Uncle Ed and Aunt Anna. My, My, how we have waited for you, Sybil. Do you know, I have been thinking about you all the time and wondering when you were going to arrive. I did not worry, however, because I knew you were on the very best train possible and that you had one of the most beautiful and efficient engineers that could be gotten. I was rather doubtful, however, about the fireman of your train because he insisted on feeding your engineer with candy, nuts, etc, instead of “ROUGHAGE” which I knew was so good for you and your engineer. I suppose your conductor (Grandma) has gone completely silly since your arrival. I know your fireman has, but your engineer, she has retained her senses since she appreciates her responsibilities as engineer of your wonderful train. If your conductor or fireman tries to tickle your toes or want to give you sour pickles to eat, you just yell at the top of your voice and I will be over and put a stop to it right away.

While you were on your way, I should imagine you were about in Philadelphia at the time, I was out to French Lick playing golf. My seventy-two year old caddy told me to keep my head down and I would get better shots. But I just simply could not do it, Sybil, because I was thinking about you. Now that you have arrived, I imagine my golf will improve wonderfully.

Now that you are here I am going to tell you a secret. While you were on your way I took your train, the engineer and the fireman out for a ride in my automobile. And, do you know, Sybil, I thought at one time you were surely going to get off your train and step right into my car. While I was a little bit nervous at the time, I would have been tickled to death had you done so. My what a whale of an automobile I would have had if you had done so.

Well, Sybil, your Uncle Ed and Aunt Anna are looking forward to having some great times with you and we are both coming over just as soon as you have rested up from your journey.

Sincerely,

Uncle Ed


****I love how he wrote this letter... very sweet.

6 Sept 1940

Friday Sept 6, 1940
3149 Newark St
Washington
DC

Dear Nannie,

I got home Tuesday all right but had a flat tire on the way. We got another man to fix it though so it was all right. Did you get the rents fixed up so you won’t have to bother with them any more? I hope so.

If we come up next summer I intended to help you much more than I ever did this summer. This summer I was just a lazy old goon. Sitting around reading books and enjoying myself but next summer I intend to make up for it. School starts two weeks next Monday and I’ll be glad for once.

When we got back my encyclopedias were waiting and I took them up to my room. The next day I brought out the bookcase I am to put them in and stained it with floor stain. I looks like mahogany now. It will be very attractive when I put my books in I think. I love the books and I am so happy you gave them to me. I have always wanted Encyclopedias. These just fill the order perfectly! I will use them a lot I know, for school, Girl Scouts and other things for home.

I took that picture clipping home that you said looked like me and hung it up in my room. Some of the kids thought it did look like me but I still don’t see any resemblance.

Did you notice my handwriting? Instead of getting better it’s getting worse. I’ll have to do somethings about it.

Love
Sibyl

9:00 P.M. time for bed goodnight!

5 Oct 1956

Thursday

Dearest,

I’ve started to write this for 2 nights but just couldn’t get started. Frankly I’m so darn lonely I’m going nuts. A week away from home isn’t too bad but with 6 more to go – ugh. I guess I’m a diehard family type – I miss you and the kids too much to be separated.

You know I owe you a lot of apologies for the way I act at times, criticizing, hollering etc. A person doesn’t realize what a heel he can be until he’s away from home.

I can’t even get my thoughts or feelings on paper, honey, but if you could only realize how much I love you and the kiddies, and more than anything else, how much I need and depend on you – I can’t express it – I never could and I’m afraid sometimes my actions don’t always show it, but the need and love is down so deep nothing could ever break it.

Married people take so much for granted, I guess, because of the proximity of their lives. When you are engaged you’re still separated a good share of the day and when you are together words seem to come easy. For some reason they seem to vanish or come hard after marriage. Believe me, this in no way detracts from the feeling. In fact the feeling of love and need goes so deep it seems impossible to bring out in words. Guess I’m not making much sense – I’m even a worse writer than a talker.

All I ask is that you believe that when I say I do love you deeper than you’ll ever realize, that I mean every word. You see, I have the advantage over you – I know what a wonderful wife, mother, and lover you are.

The school is fast and furious – eight hours a day with no let up. Its not hard, but it comes so fast you’re afraid to light a cigarette for fear of missing half the course material. We have a pretty sharp bunch in the class and so far I’m doing about ½ way between the average and top. They only base your grades on the class average so individual scores don’t mean much except to get a relative position. Cass is just a few points below me and Meil a few above – so we’re pretty well bunched.

So far we’ve played bingo (no winners) and been to one movie (Tea and Sympathy.) Other than that mostly bull sessions in the barracks – We have a wide spread of experience here and we are constantly learning about other peoples’ jobs. This is the place to cut an egotist down to his proper size.

We’re going to Eglin this weekend on orders to attend the Fire Power demonstration put on primarily for the Command and Staff College – it will be quite a show – all Sunday afternoon with a tour of Eglin Sat. Hope to get in some fishing too.

Write soon, darling. I need your letters to tide me over. Take care of yourself and kiss the kiddies for me. I’ll take care of you when I get back!

All my love,
Hubby

P.S. The address I sent you is all there is – use it as is.

35th Anniversary Card – 31 May 1983

Dear Sibyl and Charlie

Again, congratulations on your Thirty-Fifth Anniversary. May you have many more anniversaries. It was so nice to see you, and so wonderful, Sibyl, that the surgery was a success – I hope you continue to gain strength and will be free from back problems.

Thank you, Sibyl and Shon for the very generous piece of cake and the sandwiches. We enjoyed them after we were home, thinking of the pleasant afternoon with you.

I was glad to have a nice visit with Charlie’s Mother too. It is good that she is living near you. Today is a cool, very “dripping” day. Quite a change from the heat we have been having. Hopefully we will see you again soon.

With Love,

Ruth and Richard

China Yangtze River letters - 13 Oct, 1992

Intrav
7711 Bonhomme Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63105-1961

Attn: Larry R. Nolan, President

Dear Mr. Nolan:

My husband and I have recently returned from your China/Yangtze River Adventure and wish to tell you how impressed we were with the detailed planning that went into making a complicated itinerary comfortable for a large (50) and mostly elderly group of people.

Barbara McCollister, Travel Director and Mary Beth Proost, new Trainee, are delightful young people, so enthusiastic, full of beans, smiling constantly as they explain the details of each day’s excursion. It cannot be easy to be always “on” and especially when large problems occur – fog forced them to reschedule an airplane trip and the next plane did not have room for all of us. The difficult decisions they made were made thoughtfully and willingly – and still their smiles were on. You could not pay me enough to do what they do. (I hope you pay them enough!)

My metal hip was brand new when I first made reservations and then realized it might be more strenuous than I had originally thought. I called Nancy Schick to cancel and she not only reassured me (I was also worried about using the Chinese “facilities”) but sent me photographs of the steps and said we could take our time. Thankfully, I never had to use the “facilities,” either.

Your Intrav group is very pleasant and helpful. The one day I had expected to stay on board the Goddess, Brett came on the loudspeaker and said there were only 32 steps up to the village, so I quickly changed my mind and enjoyed the day in the village. We enjoyed the entire trip. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sibyl G. Beaumont
(Mrs. Charles R. Beaumont)



Response from Intrav:

October 26, 1992

Dear Mrs. Beaumont:

Thank you very much for your letter of October 13, 1992, informing us how much you and your husband enjoyed your recent China/Yangtze crusie.

We’re always pleased when our travelers are satisfied with the accommodations and arrangements of our programs.

It is especially pleasing when those providing our services have been singled out for commendation. I’ll be sure to share your letter with Barbara McCollister, Mary Beth Proost and Nancy Schick. I’m sure they will appreciate your recognition.

Thank you again for travelling with INTRAV on a USAA Special Services travel program. We look forward to serving you again.

Sincerely yours,

(hand signed)

Larry R. Nolan
President

LRN:tms


Response from USAA:

November 10, 1992

Dear Ms. Beaumont:

Thank you for your kind words in regard to your recent China/Yangtze River Adventure Cruise. Feedback from members is very important to us and we thank you for taking the time to write.

We were so pleased with your letter, we might like to use your comments in our promotional material and request your permission to do so. If this is agreeable with you, please sign the enclosed release and return it in the postage paid envelope.

Thank you again for your gracious letter. We look forward to helping you again in the future.

Sincerely,

(hand signed)

Bobby W. Presley
President
USAA Buying Services, Inc

BWP/hj


November 15, 1992

USAA Buying Services, Inc
USAA Building
San Antonio, TX 78288

Attn: Mr. Bobby W. Presley, President
USAA Buying Services, Inc.

Dear Mr. Presley:

I am most happy to sign the enclosed agreement and you may use any portion of my enclosed letter or this one for your promotional material.

As I am definitely not a gourmand, perhaps it would be best not to mention the food, which was the absolute pits! Most of the chefs apparently pop the whole chicken on the chopping board, take their meat cleaver and chop into small pieces. “Waste not, want not.” Yuck. However, I’m not a complainer. The rice was delicious, nourishing and filling.

We went to Russia with Intrav through USAA two years ago and loved every moment, so decided to go to China with Intrav as they have trained their Travel Directors how to deal with Communists courteously and patiently. They also suggest the passengers be “flexible” and most were, both in Russia and China.

I wholeheartedly recommend either trip.

Sincerely,


Sibyl G. Beaumont
(Mrs. Charles R. Beaumont)

Boldt Castle – 31 July 1965

Dear Chuck,

The castle you see in the foreground was never furnished and lived in but it has a room for every day in the year and a kid room for every week. It is a lovely spot. Hope Dad is home.

Love,
Mumu