DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | May Tangen Christmas Letters, 1975-1982 | 1977-12-26 May Tangen to Mr. and Mrs. John Stanley Page 1

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May Tangen Christmas Letters, 1975-1982

1977-12-26 May Tangen to Mr. and Mrs. John Stanley Page 1

422 Rankin Circle
Holly Springs, Mississippi
December 26, 1977

Dear Mary Elizabeth, Helen and Ed, 
Jo and Betty, Marian and John, Sarah, and Jo and John:
Why these six groups? This carbon paper won't do well with a greater number and you six were on the top of my next list. Mary Elizabeth. Helen, and Jo know each other well, all having been at Indiana U. when I was in 1944-46, but otherwise you are beloved friends from different times and places: Marian a librarian at Iowa (how appropriate), Sarah my good angel when I was benighted at Library School at Chicago in 1946-47 and later, until a couple of years ago, at the Library School at Indiana (after we'd all left), and Jo and John members of St. Mark's in Iowa City ("Do we always have to take her home after church?" their preschoolers complained. Shame on me for remembering that: but I remember so many lovely things about the family, I hope you'll forgive me.)
I hope you are all being richly blest this Christmas season and that the New Year will continue the blessings!
As for me, I stayed here after all, as I  could think of nothing I wanted more than holiday leisure in my own home. My only fear during the holidays is that people will feel sorry for the poor old woman and invite me to celebrate with the, in the strange  commercial opulence and overindulgence that's so definitely unChristian. My Christmas is entirely without presents either given or received and without a Christmas tree or tinsel. But this evening I moved my Advent candles into the living room window so outside folk can see them lit and brightening up the huge gold star hanging near. Also this evening I finished typing copies of the Advent-Christmas service of candle-lighting so my neighbors here at Rankin Circle who have been reading it with me can have copies. And I am cherishing every Christmas card, especially being thankful for the ones that have scenes of the Holy Family on them because I make little stand-up creche scenes to give the children here. This year's cards will be used next year, I used last year's cards this year. Thank you! 
The reason why I value the leisure so much is that all December I've been briefing the legislators about the proposed repeal of the Sales Tax on Food here in Mississippi. This is a special project of our Commission of Social Concerns, of which I am secretary. Besides the legislators these were special News Sheets for the congregation. I got the last of those mailed on Friday, so  my leisure has not been of any great length. The Legislature starts to meet in January, and I know the Committee will have much more they want done. Just so that I don't have to go meet with the Leg. -- I don't want anything badly enough to try to influence them face to face!
A year ago at Christmas I was working happily on the supplement to the Tangen Family Record, which became a 50-pagge tome. I spent the summer distributing them and am quite proud of them, especially glad to surprise people with an extension going back to 1600. There are 13 generations in the book now. Now don't think I've researched -- I haven't. I just type what people give me, just being a sort of clearing house. never thought I could be so interested. The family welcome the books, and I spent summer months traveling in Montana, Iowa, Minn., and Wisconsin basking in their interest -- and being on the receiving end of corrections. My Christmas mail is peppered with further information - babies and their names, from Laura-Lee May in British Columbia to Guro (a girl) in Norway. Quite the highlight of the year was taking Amtrak to Havre, Montana to meet my 85 year old uncle from Saskatchewan and Amtrak him to Fargo, North Dakota, from whence Uncle Christ's son took him for a visit with Uncle Christ (who is 91). They came to see us youngsters at the Tangen Family reunion in August, and we learned much from the reminiscing. May

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422 Rankin Circle Holly Springs, Mississippi December 26, 1977 Dear Mary Elizabeth, Helen and Ed, Jo and Betty, Marian and John, Sarah, and Jo and John: Why these six groups? This carbon paper won't do well with a greater number and you six were on the top of my next list. Mary Elizabeth. Helen, and Jo know each other well, all having been at Indiana U. when I was in 1944-46, but otherwise you are beloved friends from different times and places: Marian a librarian at Iowa (how appropriate), Sarah my good angel when I was benighted at Library School at Chicago in 1946-47 and later, until a couple of years ago, at the Library School at Indiana (after we'd all left), and Jo and John members of St. Mark's in Iowa City ("Do we always have to take her home after church?" their preschoolers complained. Shame on me for remembering that: but I remember so many lovely things about the family, I hope you'll forgive me.) I hope you are all being richly blest this Christmas season and that the New Year will continue the blessings! As for me, I stayed here after all, as I could think of nothing I wanted more than holiday leisure in my own home. My only fear during the holidays is that people will feel sorry for the poor old woman and invite me to celebrate with the, in the strange commercial opulence and overindulgence that's so definitely unChristian. My Christmas is entirely without presents either given or received and without a Christmas tree or tinsel. But this evening I moved my Advent candles into the living room window so outside folk can see them lit and brightening up the huge gold star hanging near. Also this evening I finished typing copies of the Advent-Christmas service of candle-lighting so my neighbors here at Rankin Circle who have been reading it with me can have copies. And I am cherishing every Christmas card, especially being thankful for the ones that have scenes of the Holy Family on them because I make little stand-up creche scenes to give the children here. This year's cards will be used next year, I used last year's cards this year. Thank you! The reason why I value the leisure so much is that all December I've been briefing the legislators about the proposed repeal of the Sales Tax on Food here in Mississippi. This is a special project of our Commission of Social Concerns, of which I am secretary. Besides the legislators these were special News Sheets for the congregation. I got the last of those mailed on Friday, so my leisure has not been of any great length. The Legislature starts to meet in January, and I know the Committee will have much more they want done. Just so that I don't have to go meet with the Leg. -- I don't want anything badly enough to try to influence them face to face! A year ago at Christmas I was working happily on the supplement to the Tangen Family Record, which became a 50-pagge tome. I spent the summer distributing them and am quite proud of them, especially glad to surprise people with an extension going back to 1600. There are 13 generations in the book now. Now don't think I've researched -- I haven't. I just type what people give me, just being a sort of clearing house. never thought I could be so interested. The family welcome the books, and I spent summer months traveling in Montana, Iowa, Minn., and Wisconsin basking in their interest -- and being on the receiving end of corrections. My Christmas mail is peppered with further information - babies and their names, from Laura-Lee May in British Columbia to Guro (a girl) in Norway. Quite the highlight of the year was taking Amtrak to Havre, Montana to meet my 85 year old uncle from Saskatchewan and Amtrak him to Fargo, North Dakota, from whence Uncle Christ's son took him for a visit with Uncle Christ (who is 91). They came to see us youngsters at the Tangen Family reunion in August, and we learned much from the reminiscing. May