Dearest Margie

It's officially the February of my senior year of college.  In February of my senior year of high school, I lost one of the most important people in my life:  my great-aunt Margaret.  She was - and still is - one of my heroes.  She would have been 97 this year.

She went to college at Bucknell in the 1930s (during the Great Depression) and studied Commerce and Finance (which, of course, was unheard of at that time for a woman to study that field). After graduation, she worked at various companies, eventually winding up as an Office Manager. Following her retirement, she volunteered over 6700 hours of community service at the local hospital.

Typed below is a letter written to my great-aunt when she was in college. I may continue to transcribe more of the letters from her parents and post those as well.  This is the first of those letters, and is my favorite. It was written to her from her mother on her last day of college. I absolutely love it. So, perhaps, it'll be a mini-series of blog entries from time to time. [PS: Anything in brackets are my little comments here and there.]

Friday Morning

Feb. 4 - 38

Dearest Margie: 

Well this will be the last letter I will write to you at college. I almost didn't get this one off. I didn't realize I hadn't written you this week. I knew Dad was writing and that was from both. Then when I awakened this morning and realized this was your last day. I hurried breakfast and now, I want to get this to the office by 9:30 so you will be sure to get it. [In the 1930s, and possibly even a little beyond then, there was morning and afternoon mail; much like how there's a late edition of some newspapers.] 

Now have a nice time at Johnstown and don't worry, every thing will be all right. We have thought of a possibility of you getting something at Harrisburg. Anyway it won't hurt for you to have a little vacation. 

I'm so anxious to have you home a while even if we do just talk. You know all there is to do here. 

Kathleen [my dad's mother, who I never met], Bob [my great-uncle who's still alive], and I went to see the Prisoner of Zenda up here last night. It was very good. [According to IMDB, The Prisoner of Zenda is about "an Englishman on a Ruritarian holiday (who) must impersonate the king when the rightful monarch, a distant cousin, is drugged and kidnapped."  Also, Ruritania is a fictional country in Europe where three books, including Prisoner, take place.] 

We have had horrible winter weather this year. I think the sun is going to shine today but that makes every thing look so dirty. I wish we could have snow instead that covers up the dirt. 

Well dear not much news in this letters but I just wanted you to know I was thinking of you on your last day of college. 

Loads of love from Mother and Dad

Unfortunately, I forgot to grab my great-aunt's yearbook so I could scan in some pictures, but when I go home next weekend or so, I'll definitely grab it as well as another letter.  I'm interested in what you guys think, if you like the idea or not, etc.