Montana Anyone?

I had a fun week. Wednesday was really the day of most of my activities.

Greg, who owns the Yellowstone Basin Inn a little north of where I live wanted to have fun with me on July 14 since it was his birthday. We started our day off around 12:30 or 1:00 pm (since I get up late in the day because of my strange schedule). We took our bikes up Crevice Mountain at the edge of the Crevice Mountain Guest Ranch property. From there, we rode down the mountain about 9.2 miles to Gardiner. We've had such bad weather for most of the spring and summer so far, so I was really grateful to God for such a beautiful day. We drove down Crevice Mountain Road, and then down the Jardine Road. The views were magnificent as much of western Montana's views are. Once we got down to the bottom, we took my car to the top and picked up Greg's and then went to our next fun spot.

Greg and I went white water rafting on the Yellowstone River. It's pretty much an annual tradition with me to go. Because Greg and I are hotel workers, the rafting companies and other businesses in the area like to give us either discounts or free rides because they want us to recommend their businesses at the front desk when anyone asks us about area activities. We started from where the Gardner River merges with the Yellowstone River and went to a pick-up point just south of Corwin Springs. Greg and I have been doing this a long time so we both took front positions. Yellowstone River is not very difficult at all for us.

I still think it's amusing to think about one of the people that was on the raft with us. It was a hot day and the river, of course, was cold. Greg and I would get water in our mouths from the splashing and whatnot. This guy said that it was tempting to even swallow the water because it was so refreshingly cool, but then again he knew that the water wasn't clean. It's funny. I had no such temptation at all. I'm a jaded local! Ha ha.

When I got home from those two activities, I found that Dad and Bonnie were at the house. They were working on their Suburban in one of the garages and had sat down for a moment's rest. Eventually, Steve, Dad's friend, came by and then Dad, Bonnie, Jean, and Steve had lunch out on the picnic table by the river bank. I had already eaten and I was looking forward to a good barbecue that night (I eat at strange hours) so I just sat and visited. After their dinner Dad and Steve continued working on his Suburban and finally went back home to Livingston.

That night I went to Trever's and Veronica's apartment to have dinner with them. Originally we were going to have a barbecue, but the plans slightly changed. We had prime rib instead! It was good to have fun with them and to hang out and talk. After dinner Trever and I watched a movie; Veronica had to get up early to work so she immediately went to bed.

Thursday July 15 Jean and I went to Livingston because I made a doctor's appointment. Since about a week ago, I have been having sinus problems. Having hay fever, I am no stranger to a clogged or runny nose, sneezing eternally, itchy and watery eyes, and eczema (believe it or not eczema and psoriasis are conditions related to hay fever). Unfortunately I had some kind of irritant in one of my nostrils which I couldn't remedy. The doctor couldn't find any obstructions or anything like an obstruction, so it was his opinion that I had inflammation. He prescribed for me some better medicine for my condition (including a nasal steroid) to help deal with my summer allergies.

After the doctor's visit, Jean and I went to Dairy Queen for some ice cream. We've had kind of a difficult week because of decision making at the house, and sometimes comfort food makes all the difference. I washed the car since earlier that day when Zana and the kids were at the house during the morning someone fingered "Wash Me" on the hood." I love people with a sense of humor! When we got back to Gardiner, I showed Jean where Greg and I biked since she hadn't been in that area in several years, and then we went home. I was kind of tired after all the activities I had done this week, so I veged in front of the TV until bedtime.

Next week Jean will be out of town, so I don't know if I'll see her at all. I always enjoy her company, so I'll miss her.

Mush

Yesterday while I watered the lawn, I worked on some of my family history information.  Among the things that I saw was a love letter that I had scanned into my computer awhile ago.  It's written by Albert Bolt to Angie Parratt.  They are my 2x great grandparents on my Dad's side of the family.  From the content, I can gather that they were probably engaged by this point—even if not formally.  The letter was written February 11, 1891.  At the time Albert wrote it, he was 25 years old.  Interestingly, they married February 9, 1892 on Angie's 20th birthday.

Albert was living at Hillsdale College in Michigan and Angie was in Fond du Lac County in Wisconsin.  After this letter, either Albert graduated from Hillsdale and went to another college for post-graduate study, or transferred to Kalamazoo.  I know that he graduated from Kalamazoo in 1897.

Their marriage lasted until Albert died of typhoid pneumonia in 1911—two months short of 20 years.  They had five children, but one of them died as a baby.

Here is what was written in the love letter from 119 years ago:

Hillsdale College,

February 11, 1891

My Own Dear Aangel [sic],—

I am quite sure you will look for a letter next Fri., and so I will not disappoint you because I love you very dearly; and then if you did not receive a letter I am afraid you might invite the “Blues” in Fri. evening to help you overcast your future with somber “improbabilities.”  Now, dearest, don’t say I am “naughty” and so begin to scold me for you know your Albert only tries to help you by telling you that he loves you and that he very seriously objects to your being so familiar with the “Blue” family.

Now, my “prima donna”, if you don’t stop having the blues I shall whip you, —or shut you up,—or let you alone—or—“h-u-g” y-o-u, or—kiss you 1,000,000 times.  Therefore if you will have the “Blues” around you must suffer the awful consequences.  Which of the above penalties do you prefer?  Either of them is almost equivalent to a living death.

Last Sun. afternoon when you were feeling so bad and wanted to see your Albert he was alone with his tho’ts and so slipped your letter out of his pocket and read it—wishing that he might answer it by coming to your side and giving you many sweet kisses.  Strange wasn’t it?

My dear, would you object to telling me as much as possible about what you and your mother said concerning “our wedding” (if it should occur)?

I am very curious about such discussions, you see, because—well because I am an interested party.  Do you wonder at it?

I know how very hard house-cleaning is because I have helped do it many a time.  Only last spring I helped clean house for a wk.,—beginning at the garret and stopping at the bottom of the cellar—and I know how very, very, very tiresome it is.  There is much about house cleaning that a man can do so much easier than a woman—and I am afraid my dear, that you will overtax yourself and have a relapse of your trouble.

Of course, it would be impropriety for me to help you in that hard task—under circumstances that will then exist but you know I would gladly do the house-cleaning for you and let you have the time for rest.  I love you, my little darling,— I do indeed love you with all my heart.

Do you doubt it any more?  Do you fear that I will see some one else within a yr. and change my mind?

I do wonder how my Angie if is feeling tonight!  I hope she is happy and is remembering how much Albert loves her.  Oh! It has been a lovely day, but I had to stay in the house and study.

I send my regards to “grandma”,—you may kiss her for me but don’t tell her of it, i.e. that you kissed her for me.

All my love to you, dearest.

Your Albert.


[On the last page in the margin] Good-morning, my little darling.  It is indeed a “good-morning” here, it seems so much like spring and so forcibly reminds me of those boyhood days in the “sugar bush”

[On the third page in the margin] Will you get tired of that old, old, message “I love you”?  I am afraid I say it too often.  I wish you success and a happy day.

[On the second page in the margin] Darling, I must tell you again this morning that I love you, love you, love you, love you.

[On the first page in the margin] This is the fourth letter you will receive this wk.  Have you rec’d them all right?  I love you dear.

[On the first page in the top left corner] 200 Kisses my own true love and 3 long embraces all of which say I love you dearly.

[On the first page in the top right corner] 10 very sweet extra kisses for Sun. 10 Mon. my dear