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Leonard Kephart to Laura Kephart, March 9, 1945, page 1

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  • Saturday Night March 9, 1945 Dear Mama, Dicky is in bed, Frances is rocking the baby, Jane, Ralph and Barbara have gone visiting and I have a few minutes to myself. So I’ll try to pick up some long neglected letter-writing. I had to work all day out at the office today though Govt. offices are on a five day week- supposedly. I simply cant get the work done on five days a week so I workSaturdays [sic] and Sundays for free as they say. In other words I’m working harder than I have ever done before just when I thought I might begin to slow off a little. Our new 2, 4-D weed-killer is only one of the things that keeps me on the merry-go-round. We have a big job on with the War Dept. trying to find some way to destroy the water hyacinth that clogs the streams and bayous in Louisiana and Florida and another big job with the Reclamation Bureau out west. I’ve travelled more this winter than any three winters before and I’m still going. So that’s my excuse for not writing. I’m glad just the same to get letters or anything else from you. Its just about the only contact I have with the family. I’ve been in Chicago three times during the last year but George was out of town x each time. Unfortunately all my work is now in the far west and the south so I dont get to Ithaca or East Lansing at all. I did kind of hope to see Karl or Deacon this winter on one of their Florida trips but guess they did not go this way. I’ve been trying to figure some way to get you down here this spring. I’d sure like to have you see the babies while they are all here and while they are still babies. Dicky is almost a big boy now. Last night he graduated from his crib to a “big bed” to make room for Barbara Ann who had outgrown her bassinet. He’s in independent x little tyke and does not mind too well but he’s affectionate and lov- able and smart. Jane and Ralph have father adult ideas about training babies but it will work out all right. Buddy’s boy, Budjr. Is built like a football player and for some mysterious reason is blond. Mary Ann has to take a lot of kidding about that. Budjr is as non-affec- tionate as Dicky is affectionate but we all love him just the same. But he certainly is unlike either of his parents. Buddy is good nat- ured and easy to get along with and so is Mary Ann. Budjr is good- natured but just doesn’t want to be bothered. Well, as I was saying, I want to get you down here about the middle of April for a visit. My old Chevy is nine years old but I think I could make it up to Ithaca and buck if you could come. I’d bring Barbara along for company if she could get away. She is work- ing as Secretary of the Home Economics Dept. and may not be able to. If you will come down you can plan it any way you like. We would make the trip in two days so it would not be very strenuous. And you can stay as long as you like. I would not suggest after the middle of June because Washington is no summer resort but maybe you have had enough cold and would like to really bake for a change. Ralph is still in the army andwont [sic] be out for several months yet. He may, in fact, decide to stay in. He took an exam. today for that Purpose. He does not want to go back to teaching in Highschool [sic] and has not decided what else to do. Buddy has quit IBM to go to work for a Brother-in-law of Mary Ann who is in the cement and building-materials business. Buddy xx has
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