Lorenzo Swensen (1887-1955) and Beatrice Eloise Wride (1893-1979)

Incoming Correspondence, 1942

Paul [to Folks], 1942 Jan 3

Bath, New York
January 3, ‘41 (42)

Hello—

Your letter came today, and I was very glad to get it. The check came all right and part of it is already spent. Your are undoubtedly wondering where it is all going, and so am I. I went down to the dentist to have him do a couple or three fillings I knew I had, but by the time he was through he really had to do a job. With a thorough cleaning it amounted to $15.00. It was a whale of a sum to have to pay but I am glad to have it done now. Most of them were small so it is much better to have them done now than to wait until they get large. I also have to buy another Clergy Book, but then that is a great saving in the long run so I don’t mind. For the past week, our food bill has been very low. We have had just about one meal a day, and have eaten candy the rest of the time. I enjoyed the cookies more than all the candy put together. I should say ‘we’ enjoyed them, because Elder Fish really liked them.

Sad to say, we had a very boring time on New Years day. It was raining and blowing, so we just sat home. We didn’t get any invitations to dinner so we didn’t eat much of anything. We went skating on New Years Eve andhad a good time but that was all. I am getting so tired of these Holidays that I could almost die. We will certainly be glad to get back to work again on Monday. We didn’t get to have that little trip around the country. It was raining and the roads were bad so—it was just another day to sit home and wish there was something to do.

We haven’t heard anything about this draft question. We don’t even know when the registration will be. I had planned on having my registration sent out there. I think I can get a little better deal from the draft board out there. I had a nice letter from Marriner and Della. They said that one of Della’s cousins had been called home from a mission and sent into the Army so it is hard to say just what will happen. He was a Reserve Offices but I didn’t think that made any difference as far as deferement goes. Have they heard any more about Gene?

That good old blizzard sounded mighty good to me. We haven’t even a little bit of snow now so I don’t feel so good. It has stayed cold however. Most of the people are complaining about how cold it is but I enjoy it very much. The ice has been good but I am afraid that the rain we had has ruined it. We will probably go out later in the day and see just how it is. We have to walk about a mile so it is just good exercise. Not many have been out so far but maybe they will get started. Rollar Skating and Bowling are the big sports here.

Our dear friend ??? the D.P. moved down to Elmira. He left on the 20th and we haven’t seen him since. He was always so busy andhad to get around and see all the other missionaries but I guess he just didn’t like to live with us. While he was here, weonly saw him one or two days. We are our own bosses and do with our time just as we want to. We do have to keep rather complete reports so they know just about what we are doing. Our reports for the past week are certainly very poor. We haven’t been able to go visiting or tracting so I have been doing a little studying but that is all. I could study more but after three hours of the ‘Children of Israel I am ready to quit.

I appreciate all the papers you send. It is fun to read all the news and to know what everyone is doing. I wish you would tell me how the skiing and ski lift is coming. I was following it in the paper but I have missed anything recent. Orin sent me some of the ‘Student Life’s’ which I enjoyed very much. He is expecting to have to go into the Air Corp just as soon as school is out in the spring.

I’ve run out so I’ll wait until you give me a chance to answer another letter

Love to all
Paul