.....This is the only letter for 1947 - maybe inserts from Annie's diary should be included here....... Mason City, Ia. Dec. 16, 1947 Dear Circle: The "Robin" came in the mail today and I will add my sheet at once. I see by the sheet I put in last time that I wrote that our children and their families were in their usual health, but that was Nov. 7, and yesterday a telegram came telling of the death of Ruth on Dec. 15 in Seattle. She had been ailing for some time before and the Dr. & Rochester Clinic diagnosed her trouble as malignant tumors of the lungs and surgery was out of the question in her case. They gave her 6 mo's to 1 year to live. She sank very rapidly & got very weak. Yesterday she passed away. We hope to hear more particulars tomorrow as to the funeral plans. We are so helpless here now that we cannot do anything to help them in their sorrow. She was 52 years old and should have had 20 years more of life. I am gaining slowly. I walk with Cal's help from the bedroom to the couch when I get up and across the living room once or twice a day but cannot stand alone but a moment or take a step alone yet, but, I think, in time, I may walk again. Cal is my right hand man and is not away from me more than an hour or so at a time. I hope I may be able to use the crutches he has for me before long, so I can help my self more. Dale & Rena's daughter Jean and her husband, James Porter, drove down from their home in Canada & surprised them just before thanksgiving and they left for home again today. Janet is a nurse in the hospital at Iowa City. Here's hoping all of you have a Merry Christmas and good health in the new 1948. Love to all, Cal and Annie Mrs. J. C. Bitterman 718 N. Carolina Place Mason City, Iowa Jan. 26, 1948 Dear Circle: The letter has been here several days so I'll send it to Wendell today. I'm so busy getting up courage to try my crutches that I haven't wirtten before. Yesterday, I walked alone across the living room and dining room twice with my crutches while Cal sat and held his breath. Meanwhile, I intend to do that much or more each day from now on till I can walk without them. And, this morning, I washed my hair myself, but I can't comb it or do it up because I can't get my left hand to help yet. But these thing loom large in our days because we watch so closely for any improvement. There couldn't be a greater contrast between our lives here and the whirlwind program of the Smith's & the Owens. It's fine to have that much energy. Janet was at home last week, recuperating from her illness, that has made her a patient in the hospital where she works for three weeks or so, from a trouble with a name that would reach half across this page, that I can't even spell, but she is back at work, now. Jean writes that they have had 34o below in Weyburn, Canada and much snow, but they keep comfortable, indoors. Amelia, Rufus, Wendell and we take things on the quiet order these days, but we like to hear of the doings of the younger set. Best wishes to you all & love from Cal & Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mason City, Iowa Mar. 8, 1948 Dear Family: Just for the sake of doing something different, both Cal and I have been having the prevailing "grippe" the past week, but we are much better now, and Cal is pounding away at something in the basement at the moment. We were glad to hear from every family and to know what each is doing. I had a letter from Celia Holden Ramsey last week. She is Alice Holden's oldest daughter & lives in Otranto [??], Ia. She teaches school beside keeping house, We had almost lost track of Alice's family. She says they'll be coming down to see us before long. She wrote a nice letter. Harold, we're glad Ethel gave you a chance to tell us all about your family. I still take my daily dozen with my crutches across the living room & dining room but get impatient to do more and do it faster. Cal is not tied so closely to home now that I can move about some alone but they do not leave me alone in the house. Tomorrow, March 9, is Elizabeth Thompson's birthday. She is 15 years old and Soph in High S. Ellen is having this semester in Univ. of W. but will graduate in June with her High S. class. She also has a job in the Historical Library at U. of W. Alice Jones, Ruth's daughter, is going on with her work for the Deisel Oil Co. as stenographer till Ralph finishes High S. in June. He works part time in a drugstore. Then, next year, they both plan to go to the Univ. We wil pass our 58th anniversary on Mar. 19, and are very thankful for so many years of happy life together. Best wishes to you all & love from Cal and Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - April 29, 1948 Dear Circle: I am still a lady of leisure while my husband is busy making garden, for the first time in our 58 years together. He keeps busy at something most of the time, in the basement or outside, and if I seem to need something for my comfort, he makes it out of nothing in the basement. When I began using the wheel chair, he saw it needed a brake to hold it steady so I could sit down safely, so he made one I can operate with my right hand. -- Then when I was trying to learn to use crutches, he lengthened them to be right for me, and made an ankle brace to keep my left foot from turning on the side when I took a step. -- He made a table that fits on my wheel chair so I can eat at the table with the rest of the family. -- Then he made twin beds for us that have separate light switches for each, so we can see the time of night when needed by a shaded light by the clock without waking each other, also made an electric heating pad connection for me for my left side was always cold at night, -- and last week, he put strong hand rails down the back steps so I can more easily get down to level floor to go out doors. -- Then, yesterday, he invented a Rotorocker for me to be taken around in the yard, a rocking chair with rubber tired wheels that he pushes. He plans to have a picture of it and me in it soon, but it may not be soon enough to send it in this letter. -- I think he is a genius and the best husband ever. We have had fresh rhubarb & asparagus from the garden this week. We hope Amelia is better by this time. Thanks, Theo, for the Journal clipping. I have had two auto rides and hope for warm weather so I can go often with Cal in the car but will not try to get out. Love to you all. Annie Mason City, Iowa June 30, 1948 Dear Circle: The pictures of my jeep were finished yesterday, so I will enclose one with my sheet. Our next neighbor asked if we would like a picture taken, so, as we have no camera, we said "Yes" and went out, as we were, and were "shot". The chair on wheels is for use in the house where the hall & doorway are a bit too narrow for the large wheel chair. The jeep lives in the garage when not in use. So, with all these home made helps, beside my crutches, I get about quite a bit. I see Rufus tells us of a new grand-daughter. Well, we acquired two new relatives in June. Alice Jones was married on June 17 to Edward Charles Wilbur in Seattle, and on June 19th Noel James Thompson was married to Elaine Margaret Teisberg in Madison. Of course, we could not be present at either ceremony, though invited. And we will not be able to go to the family picnic on July 10 & 11. But Noel writes us that he & Elaine would drive out to Mason City on Thurs. July 8 and visit us till Sat. morn when they leave for the picnic from here. So we will have an opportunity to get acquainted with Elaine. Ethel, that is a cunning little grandson in that picture. It was good to hear of Paul & his family also. Theo is the one who takes her grand children in bunches and doesn't seem to mind it. How she can do all she does, is a wonder to me! I am glad that Amelia did not have to lie abed a long time as so many have to do. She had a long, useful life. We older ones cannot expect to go on many years longer, but hope to go quietly & easily as she did. [Ameila Pickford Sears b. 25 Jan 1861 in Shepley England, sister to Annie. Died 28 May 1948] Wendell, you say you drove 50 miles per hr. on your trip. That is going some for your age. We go to the farm on a less travelled road than the No. 18 now. They drive so fast on that one & there are so many cars now, I don't think I shall ever try to drive a car again with so much traffic. I did drive till last Aug. Dinner is ready so I will close. Love to all. Cal & Annie Mason City, Ia. Sept. 10, '48 Dear Circle: I was glad to get the "Robin" a week ago, but have been so interested in the happenings going on here that it has had to wait. Grace and Ellen & Eliz. came out on Thurs. and Noel & Elaine on Sat. morning in time for Janet's wedding in the PM at 3, Sept. 4. Our small house bulged a bit at the seams but we managed to make them comfortable and they stayed till Tues. morning. Then left for a weeks vacation in northern Minn. & Wis. Janet and Rod went to the Black Hills for their trip. [Janet Bitterman m. Rodney Wood Sept 4 1948] I was determined to go to this third wedding in our family, so, with some help, I got up all the steps to the church. It was a very pretty wedding & I saw many friends I had not seen for a long time. I also went to a shower for Janet a few days before at Alma Spotts'. Then, on Mon. we were all at Dale's for dinner. (Jean has been here for two weeks) and the Bittermans & Thompsons and Jean were at Florence's for a picnic supper & a very pleasant evening. The Thompsons left on their trip Tues. morn. & I have been resting the past few days. I was so glad to see them all & to get out among people again. We had a letter from Trullie yesterday in which she told of a birthday party for a former neighbor of ours, Mrs. Confer, who now lives in Cal. on her 100th birthday. She gets about the house & cares for herself & is still mentally alert ! I don't think I want to stay that long. Ethel speaks of their green lawn. We have had no rain to speak of all summer, so our lawns are dry & brown & covered with fallen leaves, and no flowers at all in our garden. Love to you all. from Cal & Annie [Annie Elizabeth Pickford died on 27 Nov 1949 in Mason City. She was buried at Park Cemetary, Nora Springs Iowa. She was born on 6 Dec. 1866 in Freeport Illinois.] Mason City, Ia. 6-1-52 Dear Grace Am glad to hear from you even if it only is to tell me how tired you are. Can't you let up a little even before the wedding? [Ellen had married Matt Champion on 2 Feb 1952. Elizabeth married Charles Davey on 11 July 1952] I am gaining slowly. I have discarded the crutches and use a cane part of the time but think I can discard that soon. In fact I went to church without the cane this AM. The doctors seem to think I am the toughest nut they have met in a long time. But I do no work. I hire the lawn cared for and a neighbor put in the garden. I can now dress myself and just today was able to tie my left shoe. Wore those slippers you gave three or four weeks Sunday and all. Or May tied the left shoe for me. No one could have been better help than May. I feel now that I will be in good shape for June 11. I am alone as usual on Sun. eve and expect to write to Ellen and Elizabeth yet this eve. I wonder if anyone sent you a copy of the Globe Gayzette with the account of Theo Marie's wedding? A great affair, but I could not help thinking of the first attempt. Noel and family certainly do their duty towards you and Elaine's family. I hope that they will eventually go to Madison to make their future home. [Rather than Cedar Rapids] Harold and the twins were in the city overnight. They are gone now, 6 PM. Harold has a housekeeper coming Aug 1st. That will be a trying situation for all. Hopefully, Father. [James Calvin Bitterman died 6 February 1956 in Mason City. He had been born on 12 Sept. 1866]