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[8 March 1931]

Friday Evening

Dear Folks,

It hardly seems possible that another week has gone by. I hope that you are both keeping well and that you are not minding the snow and cold weather too much. About two weeks ago I broke out on my back in small blisters that were terribly sore; but the worst was the deep-seated pain and soreness in my left side. I kept thinking that it would get better, but got a little worried at last and so went in to see Dr. Ott last Tuesday. I suppose you know from the description what the trouble was. The Doctor said he thought he knew without looking but that he thought he had better have a look to be sure. I said that I thought that I knew too. Then he wanted me to tell him what I thought. He said that I was right, that it was Shingles. Herpes Zoster is the technical name, I believe. He seemed to think that if I had come sooner that it would have been easier to straighten me out; but I am feeling better today. I went in this fore-noon and had another treatment. He thought that perhaps I had better come in again the first of the week, but I feel as much better by that time as I feel now over what I did the first of this week, I guess I shall not hurry about going in. I guess it didn't do me much good to hurry on White's papers the way I did.

He came for them last Saturday as he said he would, but I have not received the check as he said I would. I am going to tell him, if he asks me to do more, that I don't want to do any more until I get paid for what I have already done. Furthermore, I think that I shall not hurry so on any more he may wish me to do. If he can't let me have them along as they come due, he will have to wait for them, do them himself, or get some one else to help him.

I guess I have let off steam enough to relieve the pressure at present.

A week ago last Thursday, that is a week ago yesterday, a little girl brought Mrs. Pettengill some pussy willows. She put them into water and they came out a pretty rose color. I think that I never saw any like them before. Then last Saturday I saw some lilac buds that were pretty well out. Some were fully 3/4 inch long, I should think. I imagine that you have violets out whenever the snow goes away enough for you to get a look at the ground underneath the rose bushes. Only about two more weeks and spring will be here! Miss Garland said that a tree near their house in Portsmouth was filled with grackles at Christmas time. I said that I guessed they were starlings. At this suggestion she immediately blew up, and said that she knew what grackles were, that she had known them all her life, -or something like that,- and that they were grackles and not starlings. One Sunday later she went up to visit the Bucks, and she came home to say that Mr. Buck said they might be around during the winter. I kept still in order to avoid any further argument, but I did long to show her Doris' letter in which she wrote that they were expecting the Grackles at any time then.

I wore my green silk dress in town today and a pair of new oxfords, thinking that perhaps I might stay in to the classical association meeting, but the shoes hurt, and I came home.

Miss Dawson seems happy. I hear from her rather often.

All good wishes,

Lena