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   Mother came up for Thanksgiving, and her visit, at least so it seemed to me, was a fiasco. She eschewed everything about our living quarters and drew her skirts around her in her own inimitably ungracious manner. I don't know whether she thinks that is being a lady, but I suspect so. We shall let Christmas take care of itself. I shall have several days off, but have to attend a wedding of a scheming cousin as the family representative on 29 Dec. and so I think we will remain in Boston for the earlier holiday.

   This cousin is a barbarian. She is about 25, and after a wild (and I mean WILD) scramble, has at last SNAGGED herself a man...an unsuspecting insurance salesman from the midwest. Of respectable middleclass people like ourselves, my mother puts it. I cannot imagine anything worse, but then Alice is dreadfully eager to do just what the book says, so I guess it better be middle class. She would drive even a bookkeeper to drink. During Christmas two years ago, she went around KISSING everybody good night before she went to bed, including my brother, who hasn't been kissed by a female relative since he was 10, and he nearly upchucked in her face he was so shocked.

   So, because Mother is all prepared to go into a state of nerves on 29 December, anyway, I have to attend the nuptials. She will have her nerves in the peace and quiet of Waterford, to the distress of everybody around for miles.

   Isn't being a New Englander wonderful?

   The lunch hour has ended, and I shall go back to my list of government owned motor vehicles. It is absolutely fascinating...all Pontiacs and Chevrolets and Fords of various types, and their locations.

   What are you doing?

   Please remember me to Dolores. We have an extra room to put up all and sundry if you should come up on a flyer sometime.

Affly 
30 Kenton Road 
Jamaica Plain 30 Mass. 5 December 1951 JA 4-4776
B [[signed in cursive on bottom]]