Envelope postmarked "9 OCT 1974", postage was 10 cents.
Return address on back:Cook - 105Mailing address:
210 Magnolia Rd
Maitland, Fla 23715Miss Marsha Morgan
Plantation Apts. - 60C
1000 Montreal Rd.
Clarkston, Ga. 30021
Friday p.m. Aug. 12, I think.[From TC: Aug 12, 1974 was a Monday. There are internal reasons to believe it was written on a Friday, days after Sep. 9 Labor Day and after school has started, and was started while they were visiting Uncle Jack's camp in Ocala.]
Dear Marsha,
Your folks tell us you are homesick - that's what's prompted me to write, because there isn't any sickness much worse than that, unless it's emotional illness which I went through. Right now it seems an awful burden to you, but it's only natural and part of maturing. I was younger than you are as a freshman in college, but it was my first real experience away from home for so long, and I was utterly miserable. But as time passed and I met other people more & studied, of course, I found that I had lots of company. Some were so homesick they just didn't try to fight it, quit school and went home. I often wondered how they adjusted to life's problems and joys later on.
Late yesterday Uncle Carl said "Let's go to camp." He called Grandma & she was all for it. So we started making lists of things to take.
We're here - we've had lunch and some have napped. But it's cooler outside - there's a little breeze. Uncle Jack and Larry have taken the car somewhere. Uncle Carl is getting material for his model railroad. Aunt Thelma just got up. I guess Grandma Cook is looking for deer moss. The reason Larry can be here on a Fri. is that he has mono. And I won't let him go to school. He's exhausted. In August he went to N. Carolina to his running camp but had a slight ankle fracture, so couldn't run. The man in charge was good enough to refund him $50 of his fee. So he went to Wash. D.C. to see Carl Jr. From there up to Mich. to see Rick. He so misses seeing his big brothers. Along with the bad ankle, his glands were bothering him. Well, it turned into mono and he was pretty sick. His throat was so painful, the doc put him on codeine for a while. Our phone bill got pretty big. He wanted to come home but we said No - that he did not have to be here for school's opening & that he definitely could not drive home in his condition. It finally worked out that he stayed there two weeks and then Labor Day weekend, Rick & girlfriend Maureen drove down with him. It was delightful for us to have them. I had invited R. to bring Maureen down for Christmas but he didn't think he could take that much time off so we considered it our Christmas with them. Gave them their gifts & enjoyed them so much. Tom took us thru the computer room at the Sentinel which was absolutely fascinating. He really knows his computer equipment. Sort of made my mouth drop open. He's such a dear -- Well, anyway, we sent Larry to the lab for a blood test and the mono count was still high but Doc said okay to school but no activity! Well he tried it and also tried working one day. After 6 hours he gave out & came home. One morning this week he drove just up to Maitland to the lab and when he got home went right to bed in a sweat - he's so weak - so I said no more work or school till he gets this rested out. Of course he's taken a lot of kidding because as you know, mono is supposedly the "kissing" bug. Not in this case - hasn't dated a girl since July. I warned him for months that he'd get mono if he didn't slow down. He ran so hard & long in the extreme heat & worked such long hours trying to earn some money to pay off some of his debt - that it finally caught up with him. On the phone when he told us what he had - Bless be - I had grace enough not to say "I told you so!" It may be months or it may be weeks, but his health is more important that [than...TC] school work, debt or all that, so it's rest rest & more rest for a long time & good food. I read up on mono & learned that if neglected it can result in liver damage which is just about as bad as heart damage. We really need a healthy liver to operate!
Oct. 9 - 5:20 a.m. - Dear, I think it's time I finished this, don't you? Uncle Carl had a successful hernia operation & is doing very well. Larry's mono is better. School and gradually back to work. His plans for after high school keep changing. It could be one of several things - service - Jr. coll. - work for a year before further school - FTU - U. of Fla at Gainesville - he just doesn't know! He's concerned now about his body - it's not in as a trim state as it was when he was running. Looks healthy & strong to me! But of course he seems to want to look like Atlas himself. This is a trying time for Larry. He needs our prayers for his judgment and right decisions. Thank goodness he has a new girl friend. Without one he doesn't seem to be able to feel complete. Of course you & I know he never will feel that way really till he gives in to the Lord and puts Jesus in the center where He belongs. But I say very little to Larry about his spiritual life. When I suggest that he pray for this or that - he does it right then. Money-wise the Cooks are in a rather puny situation right now which of course affects the boys, too. And L was fussing about the national economic and energy situation in general and said that the way he could help out was to pray for President Ford - that he would let the Lord guide him in his decisions to help straighten out the mess our nation is in at the present time. We were on the patio. L closed his eyes & prayed right then. He says his "finding" Lesli was an answer to prayer, too. I so pray for his real spiritual awakening. My! How I ramble on!
Uncle Carl was in the hosp. only 4 days. He was over eager to get well and overdid with the exercising so for a short time his blood pressure went up and had a fever - he started taking it easy & all was well again. He tires easily & of course is very impatient. He drives me up to Grandma's where I do the wash. I try to keep him from lifting or reaching etc. He's pretty good about it, forgets once in a while then he pays the price. Hurts & has to lie down for a while. With the cool weather noone is swimming. This is the first summer that I've really enjoyed the pool.
Back to your homesickness - By now you may be feeling much more stable. Before I finish this I want to call Mark and see if he has any word from your folks. The last time he was here for dinner with us, he was planning on having his hair cut, so I suggested he go to my hair dresser - She does men's hair and much cheaper than a man stylist. He was dubious but took the suggestion & he was very pleased, so then I was too. Saved him a little money & gave Betty a little business & helped Mark at the same time. She has quite a few men customers. It's 6:10, I'll wait til 6:30 to call Mark - oh golly I've got to get your adddress from him, too - I'm just not very smart -
Later - scared Mark half to death - he said he wasn't used to such early calls. I knew it was about time for him to get up. He's fine and heard from Myrtle last night from Virginia. As far as Mark knew they all were OK. Mark was shivvering. And I kidded him because he's dieing to get to Vermont where it will be really cold. He's not sure of his plans either. Youth is a rough period. No doubt about it. Can't see why oldsters like me want to stay so darn young. I want to stay feeling good but who wants to stay 18?
I'm on track again, Marsha, to quit the filthy weed - I'll need your prayers from now on. Am now trying to limit myself to just after breakfast indulgence! I think I'll make it this time. I know the Lord plans to help me. So many are praying about it.
Love, Aunt Bunny[P.S.] Uncle Carl sends his love. Do write and tell us all about you.
