From My Grandmother's Files: 1930s Teen Girl Writes Letter Home to California from Mining Camp in Rhodesia
by Shirley A. Littleford Johnsen, edited by Kirsten Ellen Johnsen
Luansha,
Northern Rhodesia
April 1st, 1933
Dear Berna,
We received your “newsy” about an hour ago. On behalf of the Littlefords, I take great pleasure in thanking you – etc., etc., and so run many a long drawn out speech. Heard three speeches last night each containing the same or words to that effect – but that is another story.
Holy heck! That is good news about the boat. I suppose by this time the secret is out, but if it isn’t, just skip this part if you read it to the folks. It sounds as though it is well equipped – and we hope you get it. Jeanne will love it I’m sure – I don’t see how she could help it.
And that reminds me – tell Jeanne I’m very complimented to be told that people think I look like her. The picture is certainly sweet of her. Don’t you think it’s very similar to Mary Lou’s for the passport? We found the passport the other day, and of course Mother had to weep – just on general principles – because Buddy was so ill when we had the picture taken – Mary Lou such a baby, etc. –
Oy—I’ve got myself involved! In other words I said I’d explain about the speeches. Well—Mr. Irwin, who was the G.M. until he resigned a few days ago, had a large farewell reception and dance in honor of his wife and himself. There were the usual speeches— “it gives me great pleasure to present” etc. etc—“it gives me great pleasure to accept—" and so on. It was quite a nice dance, and incidentally, my first public one. I had thought that I wouldn’t attend a public dance until I was eighteen, but this seemed quite an appropriate one. I had a lovely time, and about the hour when Dad is beginning to enjoy himself and (at private parties) we are trying to get him home—I was the one who wanted to stay.
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