A Found Family Treasure

Wiki zilizopita, I was looking for a copy of Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott from my grandfather’s old library. Babu Gilbert P. Ellis alikuwa maktaba ambayo yeye alinipa katika miaka ya 1990. Vitabu hivi na dawati lake ni hazina ambayo itakuwa kukaa na mimi mpaka siku mimi kufa.

Kama mtoto, I used to sit in his office while Grandpa Ellis wrote letters to his friends on his old manual typewriter. Even after electric typewriters became popular, Grandpa always typed away on his old manual typewriter.

After I found Ivanhoe, I was thumbing through the pages when I discovered a new treasure. Grandpa had written a letter to his friend Jim during the summer of 1932 but had never mailed it. 82 years later, I found it in a book that I had thumbed through before but not got around to reading yet. For the benefit of my family, I am going to record it here. Grandpa wrote the letter on a Monday at noon.

Dear Jim,

Received your letter and was glad to hear from you. Would have written sooner but met a couple of girls. Swell looking and being my room mate you know how I am where girls are concerned.

Went over to my aunt’s house and her daughter was there (hakuna uhusiano). It took me three mornings to cut the lawn. I came home at twelve o’clock. Elevate your mind brother.

Are you going back to school? Don’t think I shall as the damn depression has hit us rather hard. Cramalia, I won’t be able to report you next year. Sorry, I won’t be able to come up this summer but may have a chance after the depression. If ever. Franklin was down in Santa Luis staying at Major Brown’s house. He wanted to see me but was unable to so because some foolish romance. Jinsi ni dada yako kidogo?

watu ambao mimi kuishi wakati huu wa sasa kuwa na binti ambaye ni tama ndogo kuliko dada yako. Una huruma zangu za dhati.

Wakati katika siku za nyuma mimi uliofanyika mawazo yako katika shahada chini, Mimi kupata wewe ni kidogo mkali kuliko mimi. You hakutaja msichana katika barua yako. Mimi kufikiria wewe si katika upendo. Lakini mimi kuwa mjinga damn, Mimi niko katika upendo na wasichana watatu. Lakini bila shaka, Mimi kama blonde kidogo nilikuwa hadi saa shule bora. (Wakati mwingine) Nasema mambo kadhaa Lum kumpiga querides tatu, moja mbaya wakati kwamba DIAZ mapema. Goodbye Friend, Bert.

This letter was a treasure for a couple of reasons. Kwanza, inatupa glimpse ya babu yangu katika 17 umri wa miaka. Alipokuwa ilikua nje ya msichana wake mambo awamu na ndoa bibi yangu miaka sita baadaye, uwezo wake wa kurejea maneno na maana yake ya ucheshi ni wazi katika barua hii.

Nakumbuka ameketi katika ofisi yake wakati yeye linajumuisha barua kwa marafiki zake. Yeye alikuwa daima kujaribu nje maneno yake juu ya Grandma na mimi. “Ziwa, kama mimi shaka kwamba risasi yako umeongezeka sana, uwezo wako wa uongo kusadikisha kuhusu uwezo wako bora sana.” Yeye aliandika kwa Rais Ronald Reagan mara moja, “Zaidi ya muda, Mimi kutembea katika kibanda cha kupigia kura, kushikilia pua yangu na kupiga kura kwa ajili mdogo wa maovu mawili lakini mimi kwa kweli walidhani alikuwa na kitu kwenye mpira na nimewachagueni.” Rais Reagan akajibu barua.

Pili, Sikujua kwamba babu milele akaenda kwa Bert. He must have used it in high school because Grandma and his friends called him “Gil”, wakati familia yake alimwita “Gibbs” kupanda juu. Sijawahi kuona yeye au mtu mwingine rejea yake kama “Bert” kabla ya barua hii.

The challenge of history and genealogy is that if someone does not record the information, ni hivi karibuni waliopotea. Kupata barua hii ilikuwa kama kugundua dhahabu. Natumaini kufurahia ni.

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