September 27, 1956 from Aunt Sis

Addressed to:

C.B. Preston
Veterans Hospital
921 NE 13th Street
Oklahoma City
Okla
4 East-Room A 473

Return Address:

207 N. Elwood
Tulsa, Okla

Outside of card

Inside of card

Signed: Aunt Sis

September 27, 1956 from Mary Lou Preston

Addressed to:

Mr. CB Preston
4-East-Room A 473
Veterans Hosp
921 NE 13th
Okla City, Okla


Return Address:

1730 E 22nd Place
Apt C
Tulsa, Okla


Dear CB,

Hi and how are you by now. We are fine. Sure do like these cool nights. Its nice to have to sleep under cover for a change.

Aunt Sis came over today. We visited and watched T.. Saw Art Linkletter. He asked one little fellow what his mother told him before he left home. He said "She told me not to get my shirt dirty." Art asked him why and he said "It is too small and we're going to exchange it after the show." !!! I bet he got it when he got home.

I washed early this am while it was cool. Will have to get my ironing done now. Russell is on call tonight and has already done an appendectomy.

We are just getting ready to watch a play with Casey Tibbs.

Well, I will close for now. Be good and we'll come see you.

God Bless You.

Mary Lou

September 26, 1956 from Mrs. H C Glaspy (Shorty & Mollie)

Addressed to:

Mr CB Preston
c/o Veterans Hospital
Okla City
Okla

Return address:

HC Glaspy
R2 Leoti, Kans

Inside is a letter:

Dear CB and how are you today. We are OK or would be if it would only rain. its so dry here you could allmost set fire to the ground. Well we sold our horse and Shorty left the corral gate opeb and it looks so lonesome out there. if I got rid of my hens and they sold the 6 hogs we would be out of the live stock business.

how is Carol & the Boy tell themhi for me and to write some time. I'd still love to see them. Well there just plain isn't any news around here so had better just quit.

By now and may the Good Lord take a liking to you.

Love,

Mollie

September 24, 1956 from Eldon and Mary Preston

Addressed to:

Mr. C. B. Preston
c/o Veterans Hospital
Okla. City, Okla

Return Address:

Mr and Mrs E Preston
1506 Fresno Ave
Bend, Ore

Outside of card

Inside of card

Inside is handwritten a note:

Thinking of you and congratulations on your new son.

Eldon & Mary

September 22, 1956 Card from Bro. Fred E. Brooks

No return address but postmarked from Beckley, West Virginia.

Addressed to:

Mr and Mrs C.B. Preston
c/o Vera Sennett
527 NW 11th St.
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma

Inside under the typical card wishes is written in shaky handwriting like on the envelope:

"May the Lord bless you and your little Family is my prayer."

Bro. Fred E Brooks

My Notes: The address this is mailed to is not too far from the Veterans Hospital in Oklahoma City. Close enough to walk.

September 23, 1956 from Mary Lou Preston

Return Address:

1730 E. 22nd Place
Apt C
Tulsa, Okla


Addressed to:

Mrs. C.B Preston
Fay, Oklahoma


Saturday Night

Dear Carol,

Howdy Dukie - My but it was good to get your letter the other day. We'll probably see you tomorrow but thought I'd try and write a few lines anyway. Russell is on call tonight and got called back awhile ago. It wasn't serious and I hope he doesn't get involved in a bunch of stuff that is. I've been sitting here watching T.V. There is a Roy Rogers movie on.

We sure been thinking about you and CB and Mom and Pop. And doing a lot of praying. It sure is hard to keep faith and keep wantin God's will when the ole devil stays in there tempting you. And so far Russell and I have just not been able to see any real definite indication as to what it is right now. Guess we've got some patience to learn. You know James 1:3 says "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." In fact that whole chapter is real good.

Glad to hear that you and Randy are getting along so good. He will sure be lots of company before long. Glad that the nursing is coming along too. He seems like such a good little fellow.

We sure have been busy. Russell is looking tired. It's been a strain for him too. He got a good nights rest last night and looks better today.

I made another uniform this week it is a 2-piece a blouse and jumper. It is one that needs no ironing and that sure is handy.

We went over to Aunt Sis's last night. Took some hamburger and had hamburgers and watched T.V. Uncle Dan went to bed at 7:00 as usual.

Well, I finally got my ole house cleaned up. For awhile any way. I've been trying to get a sweeper every day this week tho and they are always in use so my rug is still in a mess.

We had best get to bed. Russ is home now and we want to get a fairly early start in the a.m.

Dukie, you keep up the good work out there. God will and is helping you and all of us. And before long you and CB and Randy will all be together again.

God Bless You.

Love,

Mary Lou


*My Notes: I learned by reading ahead in the letters, that Mary Lou is C.B's sister-in-law, married to his brother Russell that was a doctor in Tulsa.

September 22, 1956 from Shirley and Rod

204 S. Duncan
Stillwater, Okla

Sept. 21, 1956

Dear Carol and Randy,

I sure was happy to get your letter and hear about that youngin! Sure would like to see you both! I'll bet he has grown a mile already. I probably won't know him the next time I see him.

I'm sure glad to hear C.B is improving all along. Buck had been wanting to go see him but he has been hauling for Dad every spare minute he has. He had to quit the book store in order to up his studies and if it wasn't for this hauling we would be sitting out on the curb eating worms. Rod probably would like that! He will eat any thing but food! He's gaining tho so he is surely getting plenty to eat. He weighs 21 pounds now. mom bought him a stroller yesterday!!! Boy I really needed one. My ole back was about to break from carrying him all over the place. He really loves it too-he just squeels & hollors all the time we are out! He is over repairing the cooler right now. He sure is a little helper! I can't keep him in the living room any more. He roams all over the house (except the bathroom) He gets in the cabinets & pulls every thing out & plays in the refrigerator drawer & in the stove drawers & pulls on my dress tail. Just wait- Randy is the sweetest little thing you have ever seen now- and he will get sweeter every day. There's nothing more wonderful than a little baby boy! I know you will agree!

Darla was here yesterday with Raylee. He is still a lot bigger than Rod. She says he doesn't eat any thing either but he drinks a gallon of milk a day. Rod just drinks about 36 oz. a day. Darla seems just as happy as can be. She showed me the watch that Keith gave her for her birthday and he is always doing something real sweet for her or the baby. I'm sure happy for them!

Dad & Buck are supposed to be gone for two days so Mom is supposed to come over & stay all night with us tonight.

Did you know you can get golf clubs, bag and cart for green stamps? Well you can & you can also get a movie camera with them- thats what I want so I am going to start buying groceries where they give stamps so I can get a camera. I sure would like to have movies of Rod and all the sweet little things he does.

I sure hope you change your mind about weaning Randy so early- I wouldn't wean one under 6 months for anything. I'm really sorry I weaned Rod at 6 1/2 months. If I ever have another I'll nurse it till its 9 months or more at least. Course thats up to you but I really think you will be sorry if you wean him early.

I'd still love to have you here but if you want to be in Guthrie well you can try it & if it doesn't work out my offer still stands-always. Anytime you need a baby sitter or any help of any kind you know where I live-don't forget.

Jane wants a birth announcement and she said she has something for him. Her address is 1227 N.W. 29th. In case you have forgotten. Your announcements are real cute. I'm sure glad you sent me one.

I've got to get on the ball. Let me hear from you often and tell me all about that little one! I want a picture of him-soon as you can get some-O.K?

Now take care of yourself & that little doll and let me hear from you soon. I hope C.B. gets well without having to go to Memphis. I'd hate to see you go back out that direction. I know you want to do what ever is best for him. Tell him Buck is thinking about him all the time & we are still praying for the three of you. Tell Mrs. Preston "Hello" too. I know she will hate to see you & the little one move.

Take care now and write soon.

Love Always,

Shirley and Rod


*My Notes: First mention of moving to Memphis. (He ended up in Kennedy Veterans Hospital and letters start getting addressed to him there later)

I did notice she said:

"I hope C.B. gets well without having to go to Memphis. I'd hate to see you go back out that direction." "back out that direction"....

Hmmm

I also noticed her mention of Darla. Some letters from Darla are coming up but I wonder if this Darla is the same Darla as mentioned in the first letter when Oleta Hood mentions that Darla "got married on the 20th to Keith Jefferies". I am assuming the 20th of August since the letter was written on the 30th of August. And Darla has a child already...Interesting. Pregnant before married or second marriage? Doesn't really pertain to C.B Preston and the letters but I found it curious.

September 19, 1956 from Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Dunham

Dated September 19, 1956

Dear Carol and C.B.,

Will write a few lines. We received the announcement of your baby boy. Sure glad it is over. Take good care of yourself and baby. Sorry to here of C.B getting hurt hope he is getting better by now.

I pray for him every day. How long will he be in the hospital? Try and not worry to much. They will take good care of him.

Sure has been hot and dry. We need a good rain. We thought we were going to get a rain last night and it fizzled out. The night are cool. We still run our cooler.

How is Mr. and Mrs. Preston? Give them our love.

Edna comes in quite often 2 or 3 times a week. Not much news so I will close.

With Love,

Grandma & Grandpa Dunham


My Note: Note that in this letter they say "Sorry to here of C.B getting hurt". My first clue as to what happened to him. He was "hurt". "Here" is not a typo on my part. I am typing these letters exactly as they are written. Sometimes though, so no one gets confused, I do add a little punctuation to spare any confusion. In this letter there was a lot of lack of punctuation and the words ran together in a lot of places.

This letter was from "Grandma and Grandpa Dunham" or on the return address:

Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Dunham
218 E Vilas
Guthrie, Okla

I may be wrong but I think they are C.B's wife, Carol's grandparents.

This letter was addressed to:

Mr. and Mrs. C.B Preston
Fay, Okla

Many of the earliest letters were addressed to them at home.

Also note here, the baby had been born. So this has the baby being born in the first 2 weeks of September 1956. I already know his name was Randy Justin Preston from some reading ahead.

September 10, 1956 from Marvin and Bernita Dewey

Sept 10, 1956

Dear C.B,

I don't know whether you remember us so much but we do you and know your folk & Russel real well and just have thought of you and all of your family since you have been so ill. We have been asking the one who is all Supreme to make you well again. Our church people prayed at our church yesterday too. We do hope you will soon be improved.

It is so nice Russel and everyone can be so close and come see you. Our Shirley is so far away should she get sick. I don't know whether you went to Fay school when she did or not. She met a Canadian (English) at University of Denver (He was an all around athletic student) and they were married in the spring. We miss them so much but they will soon be back to school and home. A belated wedding shower & reception is being planned when they arrive here so we have a big nite coming up in a few days. Wish all your folks, Russel John...(rest illegible) and all our friends could be here to help celebrate. Get well quick and we wish the best for all of you and yours (your wife and coming baby) and all your family.

With Love and Prayer,

Marvin and Bernita

*My Notes: This letter was from Marvin and Bernita Dewey and they lived in Big Spring, Nebraska at the time this letter was written. Also included in the letter was a get well card (I am loving seeing all the old greeting cards in these letters) and a newspaper clipping from the Big Spring, Nebraska newspaper called "The Enterprise" the article was titled "Water Ski Champion Home" and in the photo was Mr. and Mrs. John Godfrey. It was a "reprint from the Vancouver Sun".

The article is as follows:

Summering in his favorite province, Canadian Senior Water Ski Champion John Godfrey is enjoying introducing his pretty blonde wife, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Dewey, Big Springs. Nebraska U.S.A to his many friends and showing her all the B.C. beauty spots.

The attractive young couple are both taking business administration at University of Denver where Mr. Dewey is studying on an athletic scholarship and Mrs. Godfrey is a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.

They return to their classrooms in the fall and meantime are enjoying exploratory trips all around B.C., with holiday headquarters at the West Fiftyfourth Avenue home of Mr. Godfrey's parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Godfrey.

They are now at Lindell Beach on Cultus Lake and their travels also will take them to Kelowna where Mr. Godfrey will defend his title as water ski champion at the Canadian Open to be held in connection with the famous Regatta. Former Junior Water Ski Champion, he hasn't missed a Regatta in eight years.

August 30, 1956 from Oleta Hood

Addressed to: Mrs. C.B Preston Rural Route, Faye Oklahoma

From: Oleta Hood, Rt. 1 Box 75, Meridian, Okla

Post Marked: August 30, 1956


Dated; August 29, 1956

Dearest Carol and C.B,

Bill came in from town at 11:00 last night and told me about C.B. We sure are sorry it happened and do hope sincerely that he is getting better and at least able to be over the worst of the pain from it.

Herbert Hudson told Bill at Round-up practice so Bill called Mr. Gummow to find out about C.B. Darla doesn't know about it yet, but will write soon as I can let her know.

Now Carol let me try to comfort you some if I can only find a way to say it. Honey, you may feel this is the worst thing that could happen to you especially at this time but God promises us that he will not put more upon us than we are able to bear. Sometimes it seems we have to go through trials to help us see how truly loving and merciful God is to us and out of these trials we learn patience, pity and understanding. And we know that God is an ever present help in times of trouble. He is our comfort and refuge. He said he would give us strength and courage. So if we can only turn to Him and leave our worry and burdens with Him, believing and trusting Him to work it out for us, He will. Also He will ease your mind & heart if you can only turn it all over into His hands. It's hard to do things for ourselves, we worry, we try to solve our problems even when we think there isn't a way possible but when we can put our faith in God our worries & problems work out in a way that we didn't think it could. We have a strength inside of us that we didn't realize we had, we have courage we didn't know about and it carries us through these trying times. We even surprise ourselves some times but it is God helping us. Paul said in the Bible that he had learned whatever state he was in therewith to be content that God's grace was sufficient to carry him through and Oh! how true that is for each one of us.

Also God has a just reason for all things that happen, we aren't suppose to be wise enough to know why because God said His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

Several times during illness in my family I couldn't have stood to see them be so ill if it had not been for my trust and faith in God. Sometimes He brings us to the place we can even get humble enough to pray for strength to accept whatever may come and to me I've found that when I had done all I could and had humbled myself enough to bear anything, then was when God took over.

Now Honey if it should happen that your baby comes sooner from the shock you have had don't be afraid at all. It is near enough to time that everything will be all right. Also you need not be afraid if C.B should still be in the hosp. and can't go with you because he could not help you only by being present to encourage you. It is a normal thing and Dr's. give drugs that do help so much. I had Randy with out Howell and many, many women had husbands in service, even overseas when theirs were born and I thought of that when I went to the hosp. It's the frame of mind we allow ourselves to get into that causes fear. And in child birth the more relaxed you are the better you will do, even deliver sooner. We may feel we can't relax but we can especially when we know it's for our own good. So many "Old Wives Tales" is what causes fear so many times or else we imagine the worst. Also different ones deliver sooner but time of deliveries differ so don't be alarmed if you should be in labor longer than you had thought, just because someone you knew delivered right away. See. you may not dilate as fast. again you may, that we have no way of knowing. Our main thought is our baby and you will surprise yourself at how calm you will be. It isn't meant to be a time of fear, nature prepares your system to deliver, so it isn't a sudden change.

I wish you were near me and if you wanted me I could go with you.

I've thought a lot about how calm Darla was all through her delivery and not that I mean to brag one bit but I do firmly believe it was because I had tried to explain to her beforehand. It's the unknown things we fear and if you have reasonable knowledge of what to expect then you aren't afraid. I talked to Elsie and she was not the least upset when Pinkie came. I was scared with Jack, no one had told me, so it was the not knowing, see.

Also, Honey C.B will be so worried that he may not be able to be with you, that will not be good for him, so you must show him that you are not afraid. Convince him you aren't and believe me you won't be. There isn't any reason for you to be.

I don't know whether I've found words to show you or not in order that it will help you some, but I hope I have. I have had 7 now and I am sincere in telling you not to be upset and in saying you need not be afraid.

Tell C.B we are thinking of him and hoping how soon he will be O.K.

Love you both,
Oleta Hood


P.S. Oh! Lands I almost forgot Darla married the 20th to Keith Jefferies. I was sorry I couldn't be at your shower but for 2 days I had been in bed with Neuritis so bad in my neck & shoulders. I was miserable. I have had it a mo. & still have it. Canning peaches & apples didn't help it. Ha!

Let us hear how C.B gets along when ever you can please as we will all be anxious to know.