On Monday, June 6, mother, my two brothers and myself left Roanoke, Va. at nine-twenty in an airplane to Chicago, where we changed over to a DC and arrived in Las Angeles at six twenty the same day. It was the most thrilling day I had ever experienced.

The following day Mother bought a new car and had to take a driving test the day after that. On the third day after we arrived a cousin went along with us to break in the car by riding up and down the coast seeing the various beaches. We also saw several buffalo and Walt Disney's "Wonderland" being worked on from the road. It was magnificent!

On June 11 we moved into an apartment in Long Beach, right on the beach. The next day we drove up to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Pasadena and the observatory and went sight seeing.

A week later we got up bright and early and drove to La Jolla, San Diego, San Juan Capistrano and Tijuana, Mexico. In Tijuana mother and I bough 2 pair of shoes and a pocket book to match. From a street vendor we bought a tortilla and a hot tomale, which was really hot!

While we were still living in Long Beach my cousin's family went with us up to the mountains to see lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake. It was beautiful. The scenery reminded me of Virginia.

At Long Beach, mother and I often went to the park and heard a band that played there every afternoon. We also went to the "pike," an amusement park several times and rode on the various things.

On July 8 we moved to Phoenix, Ariz. For the rest of the summer we went swimming at a public swimming pool where free swimming lessons were given by the Red Cross at the beginning of the season. We also visited the library and BAKED whenever we were not in an air conditioned building. It was just too hot for me!

I started to school in Phoenix on Sept. 12, only to stay there four weeks, then drove back home to Virginia. Our Virginia mountains and lovely autumn colored trees looked heavenly to us and we were happy to be back home.

Mom, we go back a long way- from two weeks after Pearl Harbor on December 21, that Sunday morning when Dr. Lucas and Julia came over for early morning pancakes and a home delivery. Daddy and Richard had taken a walk to the P.O. and when they returned home, I was there to help greet them. This takes us back to 306 Eakin Street which was home for the first 10 years of my life. The neighborhood included the Gays, Duncans, Ussery, Trubesek, Heavener and others.

Early memories included Pancho (our Chihuahua) and her litter, competing with my brothers to climb the highest tree, vacations to the Florida Keys, Niagara Falls, Richmond and visits to Hillsville and Galax. Your were active with the Eastern Star and the bridge club where you were a shrewd competitor. Childhood Christmas trees were beautiful and I have many fond memories of going out as a family to personally select and cut down our family tree.

I will always remember your courage and perseverance when daddy died in 1952, the move to the ranch style house you and Daddy designed, the eventual sale, and the brief move to California/Arizona and back. You maintained remarkable dignity and humor through many years of single parenting at a time when single parenting was not the norm. You supported our participation ins scouts, school and church activities. I thank you for devoting so much of your life energy in navigation us through school, including college. I still don't know how you did it!

I truly appreciate your interest and skill in being the family historian You researched the Kyle Coat of Arms, maintained scrapbooks of your family as well as mine. Your correspondence through the years has been informative, funny and poignant, your penmanship always impeccable. I thank you for the many news clippings send through the years of people and events in Blacksburg and elsewhere. Your cheerfulness mixed with a dose of "directness" are most memorable.

Mom, your crisp, witty mind gives me much to aspire to - I am proud that you re my mother and want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have given me - the tangibles as well as the intangibles. You have been the only grandparent my children have know and have truly been a "Groovy Granny" to Kyle, Wyndham and Michael through the years. Thanks for being YOU!

Frieda, we've heard stories of your growing up in Richmond in a household of older brothers and sisters: scenes like your father talking with the boys about politics and your not being readily allowed to join in because you were a girl and it was not expected, or encouraged. You hated the black shoes and black stockings.

Do you remember the days coming home from school only to find one of your "pet chickens" missing, but a guest at the dining room table that night. Dolly was the oldest and Katherine and Florence just a few years older than you.

You got a job with the Southern Teacher's Agency and we want to now read a letter of reference you received when you left that position.

Dear Gayle,

I received your letter this afternoon and enjoyed it very much. I hope I will have time now to tell you a little bit about our scout trip. We got off from school Fri. afternoon so we could get there in time for swimming before supper. After supper we went under the bridge. It was dark by that time and they used light effects as they read Genesis 1-2:7 - They also sang the "Lord's Prayer". It was very impressive as the sound seemed to come from everywhere. AFter the program we all went back to the game room and played games till 11:30, closing time. That night I don't believe I got more than 3 hours sleep. One of the girls brought a record player and we listened to that till we got tired of changing the records. Then we read a little, took pictures and looked out the window at a senior class party. Twice we went outside in our P.J.'s and looked around (until our leaders caught us) Two of the girls from the party came over and we talked for a while. Around 3 o'clock we started writing post cards and doing exercises 'till we were so tired we couldn't stand up. The next morning we went to the game room again, went swimming, took pics or did almost anything we wanted. You might be wondering why I am telling you everything in detail. Well, yesterday Audrey, this boy in my class said that he drove to natural bridge fri too Gayle, I just know he followed us around the whole time we were there. He told me everywhere we were every minute. What scares me was that he even told me that color my P.J.'s were when we went outside. I would sure have hated to see the color of my face then. When is school out there? We have to suffer till June!! Your graduation dress sounds just adorable. I wish I could see it. Ah! Send me a pic of yourself if you have a spare one won't you. I gotta run now - write soon.

Laraine.

I'm floating on cloud nine, and very happy that my high school days are almost behind me. I'm planning to go to VPI for one year, and then to Mary Washington College. Thanks so much for the check, it will help me to get the many little things that I feel that I must have for graduation and college. Sorry that you can't come up at this time, but maybe a little later will be better when Richard is home and I come back down to earth.

Dear Gran,

I would like to go where your house is because I know that it looks like but I don't know what's inside.

I have lots of toys here - lots of cars, an alarm clock,, that gum you sent us but the rice crispy cupcakes are gone. We will make some more.

Love, Kyle

Hello Laraine,

I'm mailing today to your house Art Linkletter's book. Someday you may be asked to write an article for the Nursing Journal about habits of Golden Citizens. You may get a pointer or two to write about from this - Fill in, add to or take out.

After reading Art Linkletter's book, "Old Age is not for Sissies. Oooph! He forgot one very important chapter. "Golden Citizens must clean out their closets and dresser draws."

On one of my Moms trips out west to visit with me I told her how nice she looked - sharp and quite a becoming outfit. "Thanks! Oh, I bought this outfit to wear to Lee's funeral, also wore it to Frank's funeral." Without me taking a breath - I said, "Toss it! Oh - I paid - "I don't care if you paid $200.00 for it - toss it!

I'm making it clear to you right now. When you get home go through all our closets and through out all those old funeral clothes.

My mom came along during the early thirties - the youngest, the eleventh child in her family and has attended many funerals. I think she saved everything she ever bought. On one of my visits home I asked her why she was saving all those coats and dresses size - 12- 14- 16. You know as well as I that you'll never wear them again? Oh yes I will, old people shrink as they grow older. I'm telling you to clean out all your closets. Each time you decide just what to wear - memories like a streak of lightening goes though your head.

When I was a very young child I heard my mom and dad fussing. Mom had just come home form a family funeral; from about 200 miles away. She discovered that my dad had thrown out all those boxes of funeral hats that were on the top closet shelf. My mom fussed - "I can't be gone two days and you have everything turned around" I feel like flying to Egypt and join the mummies." those confounded hats were my season hats." My mom had seven brothers and she learned quite a bit from them. If ever you conferred her like a little mouse she would cuss. I dad would blaze. the reason people cuss - they have a short vocabulary.

Frieda Rosina Manhart - Kyle: Born April 22, 1910 - Richmond, Va.

Dear Laraine,

Congratulations! It isn't long now until you will be a high school graduate! I shall think of you on the eighth.

Now knowing what you would like to have for graduation, I am sending you a check that you may spend as you prefer. I feel sure that there will be something you will want to buy.

Love, Ethel

Dear Madison & Frieda,

I was surprised to hear that you had a son now. Awfully glad to hear you are both alright. I leave Holland for England tomorrow, then sail for New York Aug. 20. We changed boats to get better stateroom than be had coming over and this boat goes a little later but was all we could get, but is a cabin on A deck with two people in it instead of four. Was in Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium after we left Italy. Ethel went back to Paris Sunday. Will see you the last of August.

Love, Ada

Dear Laraine,

I know you're glad you are about through high school. I looked at some summer dresses of Hea? today this is "Junior? Miss" week down there and they have some lovely dresses but I just don't know what you like. Or would you rather just have a little money? If you will let me know what you would like I'll send it - or if you wait I'll be in Roanoke, we'll go shopping. I know, when does Richard come home? I suspect he'll be glad to get out of Korea and to get home.
I have moved into another apartment "201" in the same apartment house more room. You all must come to see what you think of it.

Why not come to see me? I'll have you for dinner anytime you'll let me know you're coming.

Love to Larry and Frieda - and to you -

Aunt Aida.

Laraine, in my last letter to you I forgot to tell you about a special box in my closet on the top shelf.

For years my family or friends were happy to give me gifts such as - I'll name a few. Well, I've collected six jewelry boxes to put on top of my dressers. Four jewelry pouches to take along on my trips. More than twenty house coats - bath robes, bracelets, costume rings. You would laugh out loud to see things in the box on my top shelf. Walk around my four-room apartment ands see things that I never use.

When my children ask what I'd like to have for birthday, Christmas etc. present; I'll tell them - just a jar of honey - Honey, or an Altlas. No more bath roves - pocket books. Invariably I get things that go right in the box or in the brakefront or on top, or the breakfast. I have told my family that I no longer care for chocolate candy, as chocolate no longer agrees with me. So I give it right back.

Please do not wire fresh flowers to me. Fresh flowers are like people - they wither and die. I feel as when I have to toss them out, as they rekindle old memories. I have a happy feeling to see silk flowers of all seasons around my apartment.