A Found Family Treasure

幾週前, I was looking for a copy of Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott from my grandfather’s old library. 吉爾伯特P 爺爺. Ellis had a library that he gave me in the early 1990s. 這些書籍和他的辦公桌是珍品，將留在我身邊，直到有一天我死了.

作為一個孩子, 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 年後, 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 (沒有關係). 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. 遺憾, 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. How is your little sister?

The people with whom I live at the present time have a daughter who is a trifle smaller than your sister. You have my heartfelt sympathy.

Whereas in the past I have held your mentality in the lowest degree, I find you are a bit brighter than I. You did not mention a girl in your letter. I imagine you are not in love. But I being a damn fool, I’m in love with three girls. But of course, I like the little blonde I had up at school the best. (有時) Yo say muy loco par lum tunda tres querides, uno as malo a uno temprano en eso diaz. Adios amigo, Bert.

This letter was a treasure for a couple of reasons. 第一, it gives us a glimpse of my grandfather at 17 歲以下. While he grew out of his girl crazy phase and married my grandmother six years later, his ability to turn a phrase and his sense of humor are clearly visible in this letter.

I remember sitting in his office while he composed letters to his friends. He was always trying out his phrases on Grandma and me. “Lake, as I doubt that your shooting has improved much, your ability to lie convincingly about your prowess is greatly improved.” He wrote to President Ronald Reagan one time, “大部分時間, I walk into the polling booth, hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils but I actually thought you had something on the ball and chose you.” President Reagan answered the letter.

第二, I never knew that Grandpa ever went by Bert. He must have used it in high school because Grandma and his friends called him “Gil”, while his family called him “Gibbs” growing up. I have never seen him or anyone else refer to him as “Bert” before this letter.

The challenge of history and genealogy is that if someone does not record the information, it is soon lost. Finding this letter was like discovering gold. I hope you enjoy it.

別起來