Letter 2 Honoring My Father's 92nd Birthday

Dad, My Brother John, & Mr. Bear at Lincoln Park Zoo c. 1949

Dear Dad,

You faithfully took us places every week.  What fun we had together!  John, Joan and I were no strangers to the Chicago museums, zoos, and landmarks.  If a teacher asked who has been to such and such a place, my hand always shot up.  None of my classmates had been to all the places you took us.

John at Gages Lake c. 1954

On hot summer days we could count on you to take us to Lake Michigan to cool off or, when we had more time, to one of the small lakes in Lake County.  We enjoyed the floating on the inner tubes from cars and trucks; and jumping or diving from rafts.

My sister Joan at Dickeyville Grotto, Wisconsin, 1962

Sometimes we went further afield.  Many times we went to the Carmelite monastery in Holy Hill, Wisconsin.  We also went to The Dells and Dickeyville.  Those trips made for a long day, and we'd be asleep by the time we made it home.

John, Me, & Joan in NYC, summer 1960

 The ultimate trip was to New York City the summer before I started high school.  We stopped in Philadelphia on our way so I could dance on American Bandstand.  I'll never forget that!  We swam in the ocean for the first time.  I nearly drowned in the undertow.  While I was under I prayed the Act of Contrition, because I thought for sure I would die.  At Radio City Music Hall we saw Ben Hur and the Rockettes.  We rode a boat to see the Statue of Liberty.  We visited the United Nations Building. It was a great vacation, Dad.

Thank you!

Love,

Ruth Ann