Jackpot!

Last week I got a package in the mail from my cousin, Ruby Nordmark McCord. Her mother, Magdalene, was my Dad's oldest sister. Magdalene took care of her mother, my grandmother, for awhile. She passed this year, as did my father. Her daughters sorted through her stuff and sent everything that pertained to my father or his children to me. I am thrilled with the treasures that are in the box. It contains pictures from my Grandpa Miller's mission to Hawaii in 1920, Grandma Miller's yearbook and probably all the letters that my father wrote to his mother and sister. I have been delighted as I read these letters that started 1953 and continued until 2006.

I want my father's posterity to have access to the letters so they can know Robert Wayne Miller throughout his life. I will be publishing the letters on this blog a little at a time starting here.

Provo, UT
332 N. 3 E.
Oct 21, 1953

Dear Mom, Daddy and Jeanene,

I sure was glad to recieve the box. That bread really tasted great even if it didn't last very long. I use the flour to make pancakes as well as cereal. We're eating pretty well this week. Butch is cooking. Those dried pears sure taste good and the cookies too, thanks alot Mom.

I got a letter from Milo yesterday, he sounds like he expects to stay in the hospital for a little while.

I went down to Monroe last weekend. I sure had a good visit. I stayed with Stan, his folks sure were good to me. I milked some of their cows for them. It sure seemed fun to get back on the farm again. Boy, they really farm the right way down there. They don't have to spend a lot of time and money messing with there milk cows and their crops are stronger, worth more, and don't ruin the ground like grain and rain does in Oregon. I [picked up spuds for one of the farmer this Saturday. I really did all right I think. I made $8 in 6 hours. Stan made $9 but he's pretty fast and experienced. What really surprised me was the girls working out there. They can really keep it up good. I believe some of them made a dollar an hour. Thats heavy work for anyone, I think, if they work at it. That was heavier work than I've seen women doing for quite a while.

John and Butch went hunting while they were in Monroe. Butch got a four point buck and John got a small doe. Now we have enough meat for a while. I saw more deer this season than any in my life. I can't see how there can be any left in the hills considering all those they wounded and din't get as well as the ones they brought down.

I saw Aunt Martha at Aunt Amelda's. She said to sent her love. I saw Aunt Rula, Uncle Carlyle, Richard; Donnie Holgate and his wife and Aunt Amanda(you know her she's related to relation or something, she must be Uncle Jon's sister) also Lynn Hansen and his wife, Faye Hansen, Uncle Joe Olsons's Brother and Uncle Joe and Aunt Rubies boy that I stayed with in Portland. I saw all the folks at Aunt Kerry's.

The farmers there are sure going broke. Their crops are okay but the price is shot. They're only getting $1 a hundred for spud, field run. The fellow I worked for gave me a big sack they're sure nice spuds.

I'm okay financially I work 3 hrs. in the cafeteria from 6-9 am washing dishes for $.70 an hour. I don't get any free meals but I snitch just as much. It sure helps the fruit in my diet. I don't imagine they should care. I have $150 left in my bank account. I have a little trouble getting my sleep if I go out then get up at five, but I'm doing okay. I don't have any trouble with my studies. Sometimes I think I don't carry a heavy enough load. I've been thinking about taking both Trig. and college Algebra along with Chemistry. That might be too heavy though.

I've sure been having fun. There are loads of girls who are really swell. I took a real good dancer and a swell gal to the Mat. dancing last week. Her name was Georgia Allin. I think I'm going to take Louise, the blonde, this week.

It's been raining here today. It's sure different here the way it stops raining with in a day or two. Well, I guess I'll close for now.


Love, Robert

PS Please give the letter for Eddy to him the next time you see him. I don't know his address.

PPS I'd sure appreciate it if Daddy could pay the insurance for me. I'm pretty well off financially but I only have this terms tuition paid and I have to get an overcoat. If I sent home the money you'd probably have to send it back next spring. If Daddy sells any of my cows he can take the insurance out of it. On second thought I just changed my mind. I'll feel better if I pay it. It makes me feel like I'm on my own and free to do what I want more this way.