These are a few letters that Grandma Jansz sent to mom (Marie), when mom was in the hospital with Valerie. The typos are Grandma Jansz's, or they're possibly mom's as well since she typed the hand­written letters. Mom stated that she purposely left some of grandma's spelling in these copies. She also stated that it was amazing that she had acquired an amazing vocabulary and a remarkable grasp of grammar since all her education had been in Holland. Mom also said Grandma learned a lot of her English from going to the movies. I remember she took me along on many occasions. I have visual images from two movies that we saw. One was from "Mrs. Miniver", and the other was from a western with Rhonda Fleming. Funny that I should have those two images burned into my brain... their fuzzy but there.

April 12, 1941 9pm
Dear Marie,
Thought you would like to hear from us, mening Dennis and I. We are doing fine but first of all I like to tell you that I was sorry to hear that you had such a hard time, but am glad that it is all over now, and that you have your girl. Hope that you will be all right from now on. Make the most of your stay there as that will help you later.
Told Hansons (Marie's note: (they were landlord and landlady and lived next door) and they seemed to be pleased that I did tell them. Wrote to Grand Ave. (Dennis' note: Grandma Jansz' sister Anna, lived on Grand Ave.) and kept the announcement. Am not worrying yet, am doing the best I can, no person can do more. Am keeping Dennis happy without spoiling him. ha ha.
He had his bath and a nice nap afterwards. We had oatmeal and toast this morning. Am going to the store with him, so that Nick doesn't have to go tonight, at least, as I imagine that he will be plenty tired without the extra trip. He is coming to see you tonight.
Will send the (Pella) Chronicle along. Keep it for me if you can. We have five days to the good now anyway, even if it was an broken up Easter Day for you again. I hope that you may have a lot undisturbed Easters from now on.
I think it was very pleasant that Bill was here to take you. Eveline wanted him to go back to the hospital again and wait, but since it took so long it was better so. Bill offered me to come back Sunday if I wished to come down to see you, but he dislikes the drive thru traffic, and I really think he has done his part already. What do you think? Of Course I am anxious to see the gal, or rather both gals, but you don't get a very good looksee anyway at the hospital. If you are doing good, then I can wait
You know you handed me the baby’s clothes for the return trip and told me to add large blanket, but how would it be if I gave the shawl along instead and that blue envelope, you know what I mean? I don't know what to call it so quick. I thought it would be a more compact package. I am going to send you a few sheets of paper, so that you can write to me too, as Nick may forget to ask all the questions as he has so much to think of. I kind of enjoy talking to you this way as you can't talk back. ha ha. Am so anxious to hear tonight how you are. Didn't talk much to Nick as he had to hurry so.
Dennis had a good night, cried a little a few times but I just had to make him comfortable and then he slept again. Had not much sleep myself, but was dead to the world when I did sleep. Nick had only one hour, luckily that it was his easy day today. I think it was a blessing that it all worked out so nice, with Nick home too so that he could be there.
Penny had a nap after you folks left for the hospital, and was awake until Bill came back. She was real good. Eveline and I and the children had our lunch together after Penny was awake and then Eveline put Diane on the daybed in the bedroom and as soon as she slept I put Dennis to bed. It was nice for me to have them with me as you have to have your mind on the youngsters
We had some of your cake. I did feel so sorry that you couldn't have any of it, but how would it be if I sent you some. I washed an empty coffee tin to put it in. I don't know if they approve, I should think it was all right, if I was sure I would give some along tonight all ready. Maree, there are a few slices of bread in different wrappers in the pantry. Is it all good for toast, or is some of it too old. If you read this while Nick is there tell him. The rest you can answer on when you write. I will keep the home fires burning and the rest we can figure out after you are here again.
Dad (Grandpa Jansz) kept my pen so it is the pencil for me for the present
Had Dennis outdoors a while this morning and did the rascal enjoy it. He said right now to tell you that he was very much pleasd to have a little sister and that he would look after her when they both were in their teens. He said a girl needs looking after then.
You won't know the place when you come back as Grandma put some things out of reach if Dennis seems to quick for her, which is most of the time. Right now he insist on covering up my writing, REAL HANDY. I am sitting on the couch. Say, he climbs on it without any help. Has he done before?
He wants to go to the store now, so to the store or market we go. What about Beulah? Marie's note: (Beulah Rascon came to the hospital to bring me and Valerie home) .
Nick told me that Valerie looked something like Dennis. What do you think? Tell me about her.
Wet kisses from Dennis and dry ones from me.
Oodles of love, Mother

Thursday Morning - second letter

Dear Maree,
Dennis and I decided that we would play at housekeeping a little bit this morning as there is nobody as the two of us anyway. He woke up at seven this morning and as the mornings are awful cold, we had to go where we could get warm. He is nice and warm now inside and out and as content as ever.
I hope that it will be warmer when you two girls come home. The house feels not a bit comfortable in the morning.
Did the washing yesterday and will iron this morning. Am glad that you enjoyed the cake, if Nick comes home first tonight I will send you some more. Don't worry about our stomachs ha ha We didn' starve ourselves yet I wish that I knew how you fixed that tomato dumpling dish, it isn't in the cookbook.
Sorry to hear that you still have pain. I only remember that I had those pains awfull bad after Bill was born. It makes me mad when i think of it that they din't help you any when you was in labot.
I can't get to sleep at night so last night I got up again and wrote to the girls. Marie's note: (that would be my sisters, Martha and Cora) When I finely go to sleep I do sleep as a person drugged or something.
Daddy was late this morning so left in a hurry,
Dennis wants me to tell you that Grandpa Clyde brought him a pretty rabbit. He likes to pull his wiskers, the rabbits. ha ha Right now he is playing with his Easter present from Eveline.
Just for fun I had a chocolate chikie and two candy Easter eggs of Dennis ready for you, also your hardboiled egg with your name on it. But Nick didn't get to take it, so I took the boiled egg out again. I will fix you some when you come home if you want me to. We used the pickled ones too as I don't know if they would keep.
Whenever I pick Dennis up, he climbs up on me like I am a stepladder or something. Don't worry about him. I look after him if I don't do anything else.
Mrs. Hanson comes in a little bit every day. Her husband put the curlers in her hair for her, isn't that sweet. They seem so devoted. They never had children. It seems to me that they have their heaven on earth allready.
I'm kind of curious to know what was in that airmail letter. She probably hurried it so that you could have it before you went away. They must have been surprised just as we were. Marie's note: (Valerie was a couple of weeks early). It doesn'y matter that you left me in the lurch as you call it. It would have been more difficultif I had not been here before.
Dennis does not miss you when he doesn't see you, he is too young for that, but I expect him to be tickled pink when he sees you again. He said to tell you that his grandma is good to him without spoiling him. I'm too afraid that he would suffer for that later. H sleeps real well and stays under the covers. I don't get up at night for him. I hope that everything will go fairly smooth when you are home with your daughter.
Hope Nick will get to Grand before you come home. Marie's note:(Grandma and Grandpa Jansz were living with the Lagerweys at this time. John and Cato Lagerwey. Cato was Grandpa Jansz's sister and they lived on Grand Avenue in Los Angeles)
The following was added by Dennis: Anna (Cato), married Jan Lagerweij in 1906 in Alkemade, a short distance south of Amsterdam. Cato was born in Alkemade and Jan in Alsmeer. Both of these places were very close to each other. In 1910, they went to America. It was a normal practice then when names were spelled phonetically, ergo Lagerweij was written down as Lagerwey… weij is pronounced wey, and Jan was changed to John… welcome to America! They lived in Oude Wetering at the time of their departure. Anna passed May 03, 1971, in Santa Barbara. She was 93. John Preceded her in 1966. He was 86.
We could sure use thosae blankets from Grand.
It will be so busy I think but it will work out somehow I hope. No use worrying yet. I hope that you will feel good, that will help a lot.
That boy of yours is bossy allright, now he thinks that I better start working so later more.
We will have a lot to talk about when you are back. I am not half as lonesome as when I I am in Los Angeles. I really enjoy being by myself with nobody to get on my nerves like in L.A.
Dennis’s book came all apart, but he reads it just the same. He loves it. He is singing right now. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if we would hear him some day over the radio, ha ha
It seems like we are living, Dennis and I, in a little world all our own, no paper or anything. Not that I read the paper so much myself, but I hear Dick ad Cato discussing the Europian war so much, In fact too much. Am wondering what Dad wil do and gertie will do then. We will see what we will see, eh.
Wrote your addess to Dad. I thought he might like to visit you.
I don't know what Nick thinks about it, but I think that we get along fine, of course we don't see much of each other, but when he is home it is teasing just like always.
Glad to hear that your appetite is so good. Now learn all you can about the care of your little girl, while you are there, so that you know something when you come home. ha ha Don't be afraid or too cocksure ha ha, to ask questions. After all, we can always learn something which we didn't know yet, so nice that you can't talk back to me now ha ha. I'll bet that you will take that out of me later, won't you? Never mind. We both will live thru it. Sometimes I want to come and see you awful bad but as it is only one hour it isn't hardly worth while.
Dennis is a great hand to upset everything. Just now he upset his nursery chair. Yesterday he pulled the high chair all over the kitchen. And the straight chair all over the bedroom floor, with some of the rugs in a heap and he does it all in such a quiet way. But he certainly gets results.
Signing off now. Do you like my prattle? I thought it would help you so you will not miss him too much if I talk about him to you.
Do you want Nick to bring the bathrobe and what will you wear coming home? If you stay 10 days, then I expect you will come home Wednesday.
Love, Mother

Dennis wants me to remember him to you. ha ha

Saturday afternoon - third letter

Dear Mama,
Baba told me that my daddy is visiting with you so I am going to talk to you as they don't take me to see you.
Grandma and I are getting pretty good used to each others tricks. She keeps me filled up all the time and imagines that I am getting fatter. Isn't that a joke? She hides some of my playthings, an empty coffee tin and an empty salt carton, etc, in the cooler and I just love to find them and think they are grand playthings. Right now I am playing with the dust pan. I don't know how long she will let me keep it though.
This morning she sure gave me the once over, a bath, a hair wash, even cutting my nails. I do look nice and clean She also taught me that a wet pants is 'bah' and I can say it myself now, but I refuse to pee in a bottle, that seems so funny. I did waste a lot of grandma’s time. She wants to train me so badly because I am just wet all the time, even if she changes me a lot.
How are you and my sister getting along. I'll jump all over the place when you two come home. I just took grandma by surprise, tore the back cover off of the new Redbook, she scolded me but I didn't get a LICKING.. She had cleaned the front room while I slept and forgot to put it out of reach. There aren't vary many places I can't get into if they give me half a chance.
Grandma is waiting for Daddy now to help her moving the furniture around in the bedroom. She wants to mop the floor. She is going to put me in my low chair then, with some white raisins which she bought for me yesterday.
Grandma got the basket out for Valerie and I pull it all over the floor. Grandma said I am a darling nuisance. Yesterday Grandma was awful tired and sore, she said I was wearing her out allready, but I think she better get used to it, don't you?
Sunday morgan my daddy fixed something on my training chair and I am sitting in it complaining. I have to learn something all the time, Last night grandma taught me to help her to pick up my playthings. I did it very nice. I had grandma out of bed my 6:30 this morning. I was cold and wet so we enjoyed the warm kitchen. Daddy is still sleeping at 9PM and I am getting sleepy again. With daddy sleeping so late grandma can't do much. She doesn't like it because that means hurry and probably confusion later in the day if Uncle Bill and family happen to come. She wonders how that will work with you and the baby home. You can't stay out of that bedroom half the morning. Children need to be helped.
(Marie typed that there must have been more to this letter, but it must have gotten lost.)

Monday morning - fourth letter

Dear Marie,
Will not write much anymore as you'll be coming home tomorrow. We will have a lot to talk about. Had lots of company yesterday. The same people you had in the hospital. And last night Clyde Jr. came with a very sweet girl. Nick was gone to the show but they stayed anyway and we had fun. Dennis wet only once in his pants yesterday after I took off his nightclose. But this morning he broke his very good record and did his B.M. in his diaper. Well, accidents do happen. It is a lot of work tho, to train him
Will save you some of Eveline's cookies. Eveling has a baby book for you but forgot to bring it. Maybe you can get baby's foot prints on a piece of paper, and paste them in.
Had a very nice letter from Martha this morning.
Be sure to bring everything home with you. Special the baby. ha ha Am getting anxious now the time is getting near, and I guess you are too. Wonder how Dennis will act. He seemed to remember Clyde Jr. after he was here a little bit, and he hadn't seen him for a whole month. He was shy towards your old neighbors from Rangley but we took him up out of his sleep, that makes a difference too.
Did Nick tell you that he wet right in my slipper one night thru his diaper. I had his rubber pants removed because it did hurt his skin you know. He loves the rabbit that grandpa Clyde gave him, he is talking to him. Dennis act like he is leading a band sometimes, you will enjoy watching him. The house is getting almost too full. They brought quite a few things yesterday, more than I wanted and Nick went after some more today at Grand Ave.
Untill tomorrow and be carefull coming home.
Love, Mother

Dennis:It's a darn shame that we, at least Me, didn't know that our Groot Tante Anna, lived in Santa Barbara. This is the reason that we should always ask our elders about their history.