Elisabeth & Otto
May 28, 1952
Dear Elis,
I received your dear letter and heard everything, yes Elis you’re right when you meant that when we are together it will be quite beautiful, and your plan suits me as well, you painted a beautiful picture and your household plan is very modern, with a small house and also many flowers — yes that must be very beautiful. It will indeed mean sacrifice and take time, but as the saying goes one who wants to achieve something needs to start early. We want it, and we want to make it a reality right?
Now you want to know how my siblings are doing. It suits them very well. They all already have girlfriends, go to school, and are also slowly learning English. Elfi is very satisfied here. Now they have a singing exam in school and our brother Fritz sang the dance hit “Only Delores’ Legs Do That.” At home he thinks nobody knew what song he was singing and he prefers it that way.
Now I also want to tell you how the three of us live here. Our father is also with us now in Mason City where there is too little work. We used to pay $12 a week for 1 room, now we have 1 kitchen and 1 room free. The kitchen has a gas oven and refrigerator — for this Herman and I spend an hour after work in the house for the landlord. I keep the meadow in order, repair windows, and so on. And Hermann keeps 3 rooms in order since they have renters, our father cooks for us as he knows how to cook. 1 hour in the day isn’t too much and $48 is also saved a month. Yes, it’s going very well with us. We also made our room shiny which it will stay until we’re all together again.
1,000 kisses, your Otto
