Needlepoint, Piranha, and Tussaud

Dear W,
I was so happy to get your letter. Thank you for the description and sample of latch hook. It sure puzzles me that I never heard of it, much less did it. It's interesting, but not my type of hand work. I hope someday you will get to needlepoint and bargello (or florentine stitch). Sweaters, socks, scarves (knitted or crocheted) wear out or get outgrown; but needlepoint hangings or coverings of chairs, sofas, etc lasts forever practically and increases in value each year. Not only is it very beautiful, but one can be so creative with her own designs.

I am sorry you had chicken pox, but, at least, you remained faithful to your love of wildlife: (chickens!)

Now you and I go right along together with our love of all animals, of all those that fly, of all in the water (do we have to include piranhas - those six-to-eight-inch voracious South American fish that travel in packs of hundreds - and with their sharp teeth can reduce a cow to the memory of a moo in less than an hour? All right. I can hear you say yes. So we shall.) But we definitely part company without any compromise on bugs, insects, rodents, and snakes - of all kinds. I loathe them all with a passion; any one of them can reduce me to a quivering pulp. But look on the bright side: we agree enthusiastically on three species out of four!

I really feel I know Hillsboro from your colorful description. I guess School Street is your Broadway - as in New York.

What a grand vacation you had! Even one buffalo was great to see. (It's more than I have). You must have gotten a good look at the koala bears at the Washington Zoo? I ache to see them. And I was interested in the Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum! Have you any idea if it's connected with Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London? I went there many times in the months I spent in England. Gruesome mostly (all the known criminals in the acts of committing their crimes), but enthralling. (Of course, they had famous good people also). "Tussaud" is an uncommon name, but I never heard of one in our country.

Now the next thing I want to know are of you and your family. Parents? Sisters? Brothers? Mrs. Clarkson spoke of a grandmother. All old New Englanders or migrants from Oklahoma? Where would you prefer to live? I take it you aren't a city gal at heart as I am?

I love your picture. Thank you. I was sure wrong again about you. I imagined a fair blonde with short curly hair! I regret I have none to send you. It's one of my few idiosyncrasies - never to let a picture of me be taken. So long as I don't have to look at me, I can imagine I resemble the late and lovely Princess Grace or the ditto Ingrid Bergman.

I keep two envelopes on my desk for you: one has pictures of animals you'll just love; the other has Hawaiian bits so you can get the "flavor" of this Island with its many cultures and ethnic groups - and the dozens of festivals and celebrations that go on every day in one form or another. I think this envelope will fascinate you. You'll soon know more about Hawaii than you do about New Hampshire or even Oklahoma!

You can go all around our Island of Oahu in about 125 miles. Everything you see on water's edge is a beach. You're never far from one - even "inland". The Pacific Ocean over here is a lovely blue. Gentle, soft, fragrant. Much more later. And I'll get to my stamp collection disaster soon.

You are probably tired out reading this.

Love,
E.R.G.