Here is the link

Myrna: The truth is that, somewhere, there is a birth certificate that you already

had when you went on your mission. Otherwise, we wouldn't have all those

photocopies. Love, Mom

Todd: Yeah. I don't know where it is though.

Myrna: Here is the link‏:

Your birth certificate copy is attached. I thought it might save you time.

Love, M

The link: health.utah.gov/vitalrecords/silver

Click on birth certificates.

Todd: Thank you. I just requested it. Cost $15 for the first one and $8 for copies.

WWII checks

"We could voluntarily remit part of our pay to our dependents. I volunteered to have $25 a month deducted from my pay check to go to my daughter every month. The Federal Government matched that with another $25 so that she got $50 a month from me.

"We could decide to buy life insurance up to $10,000 face value.

"The monthly premium for the life insurance was $6.40 a month which was automatically deducted from your salary if you elected to buy the insurance."

From: "A Soldier's Diary"

My Dad was in World War II. I knew that he had some of his check sent to me. I never did know how much. Somehow that question was never answered. I just wanted to know. I knew that some of the money from that withholding was used to buy me a piano and some was saved and used when I went to college. It was a curiosity on my part. I asked sundry realtives who were old enough to remember and none of them knew. Now I have a good idea.

Hello to the Trauntveins:
In answer to your question about what a dependent was paid by the federal government during World War II, we suppose it was about $100.00, but are not certain about that. Were there any records kept by Myrna's sweet grand-mother? She should have received money for your care while your Dad was in service. 

We bought a new computer, so are trying to learn how to use it. We think it will be great. Love to you both. Charles & Merle

Dear Uncle Charles,
Thanks for your help. I am going through some of the recepits that my grandmother had. It may be that I will find it there. There are a whole lot that I have just put in a couple portable file boxes. I have just kept them but have never really gone through them. Some people go through and shred all of that but I just kept them.

Thanks for considering my question. If I find out what it was I will let you know.

Have fun with the new computer. What kind did you get? It is sort of like getting a new baby--a lot of adjustment.

Love, Myrna

Myrna Keeps on Learning

Well, guess what? Laurel called today and apologized. She said Tom and she did not argue and he did not yell at her, ever. However, he did tell her yesterday that she was clearly in the wrong. He said I had as much right to be in Dad's house as she did. He told her she needed to repent and go to confession. He also scolded her for listening to Charlotte and for getting sucked into the stuff she was saying. He told her that she had been doing a good job as trustee but that she had just blown it and he was upset with her. Today, Sunday, she did not take communion because she had not been to confessional yet. 

She said when she called Charlotte back about the jewelry chest, Charlotte told her that she did not really want the "ugly" thing after all. She just wanted to make a point that I did not have a right to anything. She said Charlotte, by that time, was drunk and, in all likelihood had been drunk all along. She said she just didn't pick up on it.

So I guess, her priest had talked today about being forgiving. You know that President Hinckley did. I told her that it was OK. I did, also, say that I thought it was time to forgive Dad. After all, Edna was the one most injured by his drinking and she forgave him and they had a good marriage after that. If she could forgive him then so should all of us.

Thanks for all of your prayers in my behalf. I love you, Mom

So, I was thinking about the stinker-pot. If she is threatening you with court, just remind her that anything to do with the war is yours to recover in court. And, if they are looking for inheritable items for their children, well... You have eight versus their four. Might I also mention that only one of yours is medicated while all of theirs are.
Todd Trauntvein

Thanks for coming, Al

Alan Pitts

You have no idea how much your extra-effort in attending Dad's funeral meant to me. It was wonderful having loving people around me. Thank you!

Love, Myrna

Al: I am so glad that I attended. It was wonderful to learn so much about my Uncle Howard. Much of his history crossed my path many times without my knowing. Such as the water tanks he built in Price. I watched those tanks being built and had no idea that it was a relative involved. The joy and happiness was so present it was a real pleasant time for me.

I sat next to my cousin Lenna. I always referred to her and June as my Aunts when they were children of Uncle Leonard, who I never knew. Some of what she told me was a great curiosity to me. One thing, I was a favorite of my Grandmother Pitts, my Father’s Mother. I remember that I was terrified of her. I did remember the sourdough sugar cookies that she baked and they were a real treat. Lenna also remembers those cookies. 

It turned out to be a learning experience for me. I watched your husband and children relate to each other and was immediately very envious of that family closeness that was evident. Where I am as distant from my family as could be, always left out just as I was when I lived at home.

Thanks for sharing that experience with me.

Love you

al

Does anybody have a recipe for those cookies? I've tried to make them from other recipes that I have found but they are never the same. 

You were afraid of her? I was afraid of being hugged by her. She hugged hard and she wore a corset with bones that would smash against my ear. I liked her. I sort of remember her funeral. The dinner afterward was more like a party and we even had cookies (I thought they were her cookies so somebody must know how to make them). We were both really young kids back then. How much do you remember?