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May Tangen Christmas Letters, 1975-1982
1979-12-16 May Tangen to Mr. and Mrs. John Stanley
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MERRY CHRISTMAS, DEAR FRIENDS! No Tangen Tribune this year, nothing of great moment having happened that needs to be treated with such distinction. But I do have this new batch of carbon paper, the best I've had in years, and am launching sets of carboned letters. As many of you know, I am veryclosely akin to Scrooge in his bah-humbugging era and so do not have much trouble getting ready for Christmas. I am even shunning the Christmas party next Friday to save myself 2 bucks which a present would cost me. My stinginess is due to my overspending in September when I went to Arizona with Mary von Glan and Maxine Hansen to explore retirement housing with Maxine. I didn't think I had overdrawn but the bank said I did, and not being a computer I gave in. Now in December, though I can't afford it, I am off to spend 10 days with Clarice Campbell in Holly Springs, Miss., where I used to live before I came back to corn-fed Iowa. She is again leading a group of people who are trying again to influence the legislature to repeal the sales tax on food. It's 5%. I am heartily for the repeal and worked on it with her when the idea was first set forth--by her--in 1977. It didn't pass, I ran off to Iowa to live while she tried again in 1978. Again they failed her and this third year she is at it again. Needs a cohort to work hard during Christmas vacation before the legislature meets during January. People to help her are hard to find so she is importing Scrooge Tangen who doesn't celebrate Christmas -- beyond the church festivals -- to come and write letters, to editors, to people who can influence their legislators, to convene neighborhood meetings, to see grocerymen to see what suggestions and reactions they have -- in fact to be her secretary and confidante. I leave Des Moines December 24 and will get to Memphis at 11 a.m. to stay until Jan. 4 (10 days). Then I'll fly back, have a happy New Year celebration and be glad I live in Iowa. She promises no parties, no friends in, no big meals, just jard work and long hours. My friends in Holly Sp. won't even know I'm in town until I call them Jan. 3 -- too late to be a guest. We will treat ourselves to a niggardly game of Scrabble occasionally, which we both love. Today I had one hour, the one scheduled one in the week, in the dear little Library down the hall (I am the librarian -- No more than one hour a week required, no pay, no budget), Our collection consists of donated books, which I have cataloged, and a case of Public Library books which are replenished monthly and which I lend out on Saturday mornings. Today I spent a little time beyond the hour collecting our Christmas books and displaying them. Then after lunch I attended Mary Wunders' open house. She's my next door neighbor, is 89, and her niece prettied her apt. and served us a sweet little Christmas buffet -- I had a rosette, a tassy, a glass of excellent punch and a piece of fudge. Then went home and got my coat on and went up the hill to our own private nursing home for those who cannot hold their own any more in Friendship Haven proper. Went to see a bitter little friendless familyless woman who is living only on self pity. Pealed the orange the Salvation Army gave her yesterday and helped her eat some of the sections, promised to come again tomorrow, and got home tosweep out the north entry which h d blown full of leaves from the strong wind, a heap that can't wait until janitorial help comes on Monday. The place would look like a barn when people came Sunday to visit their friends. After all, this is my home and I would do it in my own place even if I'm not hired. So much for civic service -- lay down to read my Christmas mail for the day after supper nd of course fell asleep. But got up with a hop when I heard carollers approaching down the hall. Sure enough, they were from my church and they stood out there and sang Joy to the World while I got into a pair of slacks and jacket over my pj's and went out and joined them until they went on to Susan Hall's room (another member). Then I came back here to type until 9, when there should be no more noisy picking in case neighbors went to bed early. Sunday - December 16 To Sunday School where we are studying Moses now. Carolling again at vespers from 3:30-4, led by our chaplain and featuring a tape recording of the Bell Choir, of which there are three, one in each building. I can't as I can't read music at all. I am illiterate. (period) May the blessings of Christmas be with you all year! Love, May {Handwritten in margin: So you can see how insignificant my life is.}
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MERRY CHRISTMAS, DEAR FRIENDS! No Tangen Tribune this year, nothing of great moment having happened that needs to be treated with such distinction. But I do have this new batch of carbon paper, the best I've had in years, and am launching sets of carboned letters. As many of you know, I am veryclosely akin to Scrooge in his bah-humbugging era and so do not have much trouble getting ready for Christmas. I am even shunning the Christmas party next Friday to save myself 2 bucks which a present would cost me. My stinginess is due to my overspending in September when I went to Arizona with Mary von Glan and Maxine Hansen to explore retirement housing with Maxine. I didn't think I had overdrawn but the bank said I did, and not being a computer I gave in. Now in December, though I can't afford it, I am off to spend 10 days with Clarice Campbell in Holly Springs, Miss., where I used to live before I came back to corn-fed Iowa. She is again leading a group of people who are trying again to influence the legislature to repeal the sales tax on food. It's 5%. I am heartily for the repeal and worked on it with her when the idea was first set forth--by her--in 1977. It didn't pass, I ran off to Iowa to live while she tried again in 1978. Again they failed her and this third year she is at it again. Needs a cohort to work hard during Christmas vacation before the legislature meets during January. People to help her are hard to find so she is importing Scrooge Tangen who doesn't celebrate Christmas -- beyond the church festivals -- to come and write letters, to editors, to people who can influence their legislators, to convene neighborhood meetings, to see grocerymen to see what suggestions and reactions they have -- in fact to be her secretary and confidante. I leave Des Moines December 24 and will get to Memphis at 11 a.m. to stay until Jan. 4 (10 days). Then I'll fly back, have a happy New Year celebration and be glad I live in Iowa. She promises no parties, no friends in, no big meals, just jard work and long hours. My friends in Holly Sp. won't even know I'm in town until I call them Jan. 3 -- too late to be a guest. We will treat ourselves to a niggardly game of Scrabble occasionally, which we both love. Today I had one hour, the one scheduled one in the week, in the dear little Library down the hall (I am the librarian -- No more than one hour a week required, no pay, no budget), Our collection consists of donated books, which I have cataloged, and a case of Public Library books which are replenished monthly and which I lend out on Saturday mornings. Today I spent a little time beyond the hour collecting our Christmas books and displaying them. Then after lunch I attended Mary Wunders' open house. She's my next door neighbor, is 89, and her niece prettied her apt. and served us a sweet little Christmas buffet -- I had a rosette, a tassy, a glass of excellent punch and a piece of fudge. Then went home and got my coat on and went up the hill to our own private nursing home for those who cannot hold their own any more in Friendship Haven proper. Went to see a bitter little friendless familyless woman who is living only on self pity. Pealed the orange the Salvation Army gave her yesterday and helped her eat some of the sections, promised to come again tomorrow, and got home tosweep out the north entry which h d blown full of leaves from the strong wind, a heap that can't wait until janitorial help comes on Monday. The place would look like a barn when people came Sunday to visit their friends. After all, this is my home and I would do it in my own place even if I'm not hired. So much for civic service -- lay down to read my Christmas mail for the day after supper nd of course fell asleep. But got up with a hop when I heard carollers approaching down the hall. Sure enough, they were from my church and they stood out there and sang Joy to the World while I got into a pair of slacks and jacket over my pj's and went out and joined them until they went on to Susan Hall's room (another member). Then I came back here to type until 9, when there should be no more noisy picking in case neighbors went to bed early. Sunday - December 16 To Sunday School where we are studying Moses now. Carolling again at vespers from 3:30-4, led by our chaplain and featuring a tape recording of the Bell Choir, of which there are three, one in each building. I can't as I can't read music at all. I am illiterate. (period) May the blessings of Christmas be with you all year! Love, May {Handwritten in margin: So you can see how insignificant my life is.}
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