Letter from Christine Wallace to Bess W. Truman

CHRISTINE M. WALLACE NARA Dear Bess -- My typewriter has a key that needs to be fixed - the "Q" so I'm using Margo's - the type on hers seems smaller than my Smith- Corona (hers is an Olympia) - I expect to make lots of mistakes as it has been months since I've done any typing - We think and speak of you often - do hopeyou are well - I was in LA with David from January to June - helped him move from an apartment into a house - a chore - he has so many books, records and kitchen things - the apartment wasn't good for Christopher - he's a very active little boy and needs room to run and jump - I like California and enjoyed being with them - summer in Maryland was a hot one - we are now having beautiful Fall weather - cool and sunny - could use some rain - the trees are just begining to turn - I believe I've told your Jerry is practicing law in Annapolis - he's with an old well established law firm - Crofton is about fifteen minutes from Annapolis - Cynthia was four in March - goes to pre-school three mornings a week - she's a precious little girl - she will have a brother or sister any day - Margo is on maternity leave from teaching - she plans to start teaching again in February - wants me to be her baby sitter - I haven't said yes or no - I miss Denver and my friends and Marian and her family - I've been trying to find a small apartment in this area - no luck so far - not many apartments and the ones available just too expensive - at present I have a room and bath in a private home about five miles from Margo - I have kitchen privileges however I just cant seem to bring myself to go into another womans kitchen and cook - I'm at Margo's every day so I've been fixing some- thing there and bringing here to eat - I have a shelf in the refrigera- tor here - they have two - one in the kitchen and one in the laundry room - my shelf is in the latter as my room is near it aNd the family room - I have a hot pot so I can heat water for tea or coffee (I use instant) also heat a cup of soup - Sylvia from whom I'm rentinGis a divorcee, works in DC for NIH, has two daughters, one is 18 and works the other 15 - nice girls - they cant seem to do enough to make me comfortable but I'd prefer to have a small apartment with my own kit- chen - my car is in the shop today - needs a muffler - so I'm stuck in this room as there is absolutely no public transportation in this area - also it is just residential (that is, withing walking distance)- in LA I could walk to a shopping area or bus have just finished knitting a sweater for David - his birthday present - I'm also knitting a sweater for Cynthia - a fisherman knit - its about half done and a sweaterfxrxx for Beth (Marian's second oldest - she's married to Bob Gladu - they're expecting their first child in May - I'll be a great grandmother) al- most finished - then what - I have yarn for another sweater for Cynthia and a sweater for Christopher - keeps me busy - I also read a lot Margo will have her baby at Holy Cross Hospital - its just off the belt- way on Georgia Ave. - not too far from her Doctor's office - a new Mall has opened in Annapolis not too far from Parole - was Parole there during your DC days? its near the Annapolis west city limits - very convenient - besides small shops there's a Sears and a Woodies - the new Mall isn't too far from Parole - in the new Mall besides the small shops there's a Garfinckles, Hetch, Wards -- During the summer Cynthia took gymnastic and swimming lessons at the "Y" - the nearest one is in Severna Park (about 15 minutes from Crofton) - she can dog paddle with- out a floater but still afraid to jump into the water from the side or