The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc.

"Preserving, Exhibiting, Interpreting and Teaching the History of the Manhattan Project"

Back to Directory

Fran to Her Mother; Jan. 13, 1947

Fran to her Mother in Conn.

(no envelope) from Oak Ridge, Tenn.                              

                                                                                         Jan. 13, 1947

Dear Mother,

Not at all!  Not at all late.  We took down the Christmas tree this weekend and put away the presents.  The tree was so dry it practically fell down by itself.  It sure was beautiful & we miss it.  Bill started to dress it, as we say down here – cedars are so prickly I didn’t want to rush into it – and by the time I had supper ready Christmas Eve, Bill was half finished and for art’s sake finished by himself afterwards.  It was a lovely thing.  It is hard to believe there’ll be a baby around next Christmas!

Such wonderful presents were yours.  I was surprised and very delighted with the miniature garments.  I didn’t think I could get interested until the creature actually arrived, but Ruth Godwin, who just had one, said she felt the same indifference until the dear one started to move around.  Which it has done – and I have gotten all pertinent books out of the library!  We have hung the little white knit doll up on the corner of the Oak Ridge map on the wall along with two rabbit tails I saved from Bill’s hunting trips.  Very gay.  I love the apron – it looks wonderful with my black maternity dress and one of the pair of black ankle sox with my yellow leather loafer shoes.  Wish I could wear it out in society – it’s so nicely concealing.  The belt is perfect – adaptable.  The slip is perhaps the best of all as I have looked for something similar & decided there were no such things.  For such a baby producing community one would think that there would be a supply of needed articles, but no.

 It pays to be dilatory.  Do you remember that size 42 pink slip you fitted to me long ago?  Well, I never fixed it.  Now it is just right!  So two slips are all I need as I wear Bill’s trousers mostly during the day.  And the new one is a honey to wash and iron.  All the gifts were marvelleux.

 I do not know exactly what you meant about knowing how to take care of myself after the baby.  But maybe the hospital will know all the answers.  I picture myself gamboling about in the sunshine with the little one & Bill doing all the work.  He won’t let me do Anything now even to picking a sock up off the floor because according to all the books, it is up to him to relieve the mother - that’s me! we keep telling ourselves – of all household duties after delivery so she may devote her time to the newcomer! 

 I am certainly healthy right now, and my main interest in life is eating.  Every minute I want to be eating.  And I have already gained the allowed weight for the entire time.  As Papa said I would be a big woman when I got my growth.  From now on I guess I starve.  I wish I could figure out some way of losing weight before going to the doctor again.  Wish he would take x-rays & discover twins so I would not feel so guilty about the whole thing!

 I’ve had some new taste experiences this winter.  Squirrel & duck, not to mention various fish, and a couple nights ago we had dove.  Delicious.  Cooked to perfection by me.

 Yesterday, Sunday, was just like a summer day.  Bill & I and another fellow went fishing but caught nothing.  It’s a nice ride out & back to the dam though – about 20 miles each way.

                      Love, Fran