Dear MaryJanes June 23rd

Image By: SilverHorsePhotography

Sent a cute card.
Outside of card:
Picture of a little girl on the beach letting her big dog share her ice cream cone
Inside Card:
Everything is better when shared with a friend!


Letter inside card:
MJ, Im at leo's waiting for my appointment. I think my roots are nearing 2 inches. I stopped at Grandmas house & it was hard not to tell her about Jenny! Then I stopped at Sam's daycare to give Jenn a congrats card and see her ring. She is so excited & her ring is beautiful. She couldn't stop smiling. By the way - Im sure you'll graduate! Love Mom
PS: I am glad that you have new friends to help you through this!

Dear MaryJanes June 23rd

Inside Card Reads,
"....but my butt's too big for the mailbox"

I love you, Galoshes.

Friday 6/23 PM

MaryJanes,
I got your letter about being told, "Before I kill you" and it made me extremely mad. I paged Augie to see if the three topics were standard in order to break you down.
#1 No toilet paper
#2 Lack of showers
#3 "Kill you"
He said "No" and that he couldn't do anything about it until Monday, but I was to page him on Monday at 8:30 am. I told him your first letters were the normal, "it's hard, but Im doing my best"but that this letter was different. He said somethings not right there and he will start the process to have it looked into but that the people he would contact are not available till Monday. It will be a damn hard weekend. I called a woman named Jenny that is a friend of Mikes. She was in basic 10 years ago. She hated it and said that she cried every time she called home. Also that she got punched in the mouth by a Sargent {fat lip} They cant do that anymore. If any Sargent punches you , I'll be all over someone! She thinks they can still shove you to the ground?? I told Augie I couldn't tell some one I was going to kill them, and I didn't think they could say that as its illegal for me. I said it shouldn't have been done. Hold On, I m doing what I can to change the conditions. I hate that I can't protect you. I feel like my stomach is being ripped out. Mike is doing his best to comfort me. When you pray, pray for strength to endure. It's not going to get easier mentally or physically but you can pray for strength to get through. I don't know what to do, I feel so helpless.
I saw Erin H. today. I went into the Windsor McDonalds, she was working. I gave her your address and asked her to write you. I asked that Jenny [mikes friend] if she wished someone would have pulled her out of basic. She said When she was there [New Orleans I think} she would have walked home if she could have. But, looking back, she is glad she did it. She did hate it though.She tells everyone to join the air force and to avoid the army. She said they make all kinds of promises and don't follow through. They lie and use you r $ for "things." Don't worry about the money part, sounds like they screw ya with that. I will make sure your car insurance is covered. It will be okay/ Mike is helping Brad load and unload wood at the campground.
I hope my letters help. I hope they give you some sanity in the insane place you are in. "Jenny" said that allot of girls start fighting. WALK AWAY!! Don't fight! Keep your temper in check. Breathe through the temptation to strike back. Close your eyes and think calming thoughts. I will help you through this as best as I can. It's mostly 99% up to you. Think positive. You might need to get tough on the Johnson girl. I am sorry that you have to have that weight to bear! Keep me posted on how you are doing. Jenny said that the lack of TP & showers was all part of bringing you down. I will send TP w/ every letter.
I Love You!
Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 21st

Image by: selenavallejo

MaryJanes,

GUESS WHAT?
Jenn got a ring last night!

I just got your letters today and of coarse I cried through both of them! I was glad to hear you more up-beat. I was esp. glad to hear you are making the extra effort to go to church. I hope it gives you extra strength. Mike sends a "Hello" He keeps me assures that you'll do great. I don't know how I'd get through this w/out his support. He senses when I am getting depressed and gives me a hug and says "She is strong, she'll do great" Its the words I need to hear that he comforts me with. I called and left a message w/ Grandpa & Grandpa Johnson. I asked if it would be possible for them to make it and that it seemed important to you. I told them I would call again about it. I went to an auction this morning but it wasn't very good so I went to Columbus to straighten up my booths.
Good luck w/ your "sister" I hope she can follow in your foot steps. You act surprised that the guys are interested in you. You are SO FUNNY! You silly girl. You don't need make up, hair style or tight clothes to show your light. You glow with out any of that. Your personality sparkles silly! You're just a guy magnet! Im going over to grandma Greenes then I have a hair appointment. {changed to 6 pm rather than 8}The work on 44 is nearly done. Jenn said her ring is beautiful. I can't wait to see it! She called just when I got done reading your letters. Perfect timing!
Bear has to wear diapers now :sigh: I was thinking of putting her to sleep cause she is leaking urine daily now. Mike asked me to buy depends. So now she is "Diaper Dog" {new name}
I cut a tail hole out. Im glad you get to see Holly a little, that makes me feel better. Do your best with your "little sister"You'll be a big help to her. Sounds like allot of extra work 4U! Glad to hear of your plan for pull ups! I feel better about that now. And your plan to still use arm strength is good. 2 MILES YUGH!
How are you doing in the heat? Can I send you sun glasses? Are you getting mail every day? Why did they have you spend that much $? On what? Sounds stupid to me.I think about you all the time. Be Strong...Think Positive! I CAN I WILL! Go - Go _ Go!
Thank you for the letters. I love you with all of my heart.
Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 21st

Inside card is hand written

MaryJanes,
Just looking out for you.
Love, Galoshes

The card along with others still contain the folded up toilet paper I sent her!

Dear MaryJanes June 21st

June 21 Wednesday

MaryJanes
Hi,
No letters yet, :Sigh:
We are waiting for a pizza to cook - nothing eventful today. Im concerned about you and need to know that you are better since your last call. Did you mail your address to Lily? Mike and I are going to Kirby's afterwards to pick up something to sell for him. Tomorrow Iam going to Columbus first thing in the morning then to an auction at 11am. I have a hair appointment to have my roots done at 8pm. Army forms for you to sign came today. I'll call them to see if they can wait until you get back or if I have to send then to you.

back from Kirby's

Brenda just called, she and Tina will come to the bridal shower Sunday, but will be late. John is going to be marching in a band at noon. I talked to Matt about his goat. He is sure happy about it! Iam halfway watching a show called "True Women" I hope you are being strong like a few of these women on the show. I think about you always and pray that you are Ok.
Fighting back the tears cause I miss you so!
Love, Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 20th

Inside of card reads. "Just wondering what kind of condition urine."

Dear MaryJanes June 20th

Inside of card,
:you're taking up the part of my brain that's usually reserved for chocolate.

MaryJanes,
What everyone is up to:

Grandma G. -
Might go work at the South Pick n Save as a cake decorator. {Nicer boss}
She is able to let Lily [her dog] run loose because Roy and David fixed her dog fence.

Jenn -
Driving into work M - F till 6pm, YUK! Going to childcare givers MATC classes for 7 Saturdays in a row to get certified. Waiting for a ring!!!!!

Kim & Roy-
Getting their back yard ready for David {cousin} and Kari's wedding.

Brad-
Working on truck brakes to haul more wood to Indian Trails.

David & Kari-
Wedding Stuff.

Sam & I - Planning a wedding shower with games.

Mike-
Wood working , bow fishing,.
Sheep-
Eating!

Kids in the mall-
Wasting time, being lazy.

Dogs-
Eat, sleep, play repeat.

I hope you got your pictures. I miss you very much! I am so sad!
Love, your mom.

Dear MaryJanes June 19th

Inside of card, {the picture shows a plant and when moved from side to side, you see a yellow flower growing.
:You're growing better and better and better:
signed:
Im sending my love, Galoshes

Letter,

MaryJanes,
Hi, Im spending the day inside in hopes that you'll be able to call. It's Sunday morning. I got up & took care of the sheep and chickens {phone in hand} Mike went over to Bills to help Brad w/ a project & walked back with Cricket {Jenn's dog} Bear {our dog} and Cricket played. Then Marvin & Cricket ran all over knocking everything over. Rusty {another of our dogs} wasn't happy about the whole situation. She tried to be good, but she just ran & laid behind the porch rocker. She dislikes Cricket. I just looked through the paper and Mike is mowing the lawn. If you call then afterward we are going fishing. Im hoping you're doing better. LuAnn {MJs friend} called, she asked Mike for your address. I will call her back once I know for sure it is correct. I priced items yesterday & took things to Columbus. Mike went spear fishing & shot a big carp to bury in the garden for fertilizer.- "yum"
I found Roy an Indian motorcycle picture & Kim a fence thing for her yard and we took them over to them last night. Kim got me some pear spray bath gel & lotion from Victoria Secrets for helping w/ Gunner. I'll send you a goody [not food] package when I know I have the correct address. I've gotten 3 letters. Nothing on Friday / Saturday *sigh*

Image by: BonnieJones

I need to find about about your MATC classes. I will call tomorrow. Rusty just came over for some loves. Maybe she is sending you some via this letter. See anything of Holly yet? Mike & I went and saw Gone in 60 last night. It was actually pretty good. The reviews for "Ugly Coyote" were showing - it made me think about you all the more. I will take you to that movie when you get back. Do you remember the previews? The girl that goes off into a big city and gets a job at the bar. Remember we both said, "that looks really good" at the same time. Yesterday & today the weather has been nice. No rain for a change and not too hot. I hope you're doing ok in the heat. Gas prices are getting near $2.00 / gal $1.86 - $1.95 / gallon now. Im getting bills caught up since Im not dishing out $10 / $20 / $100 to you weekly. That's a good part of this whole madness. I can focus on getting the pageant bill under control. I started taking St. Johns wort vitamins to help w/ the feeling of sadness. Mike has been a huge help with this. If I go outside, he reminds me to take the phone in case you call. He reassures me that you will be fine. w/out his help with you gone right now, I'd be a total mess. SERIOUSLY! We went to the post office & they had missing kids on the bullet ion board. I thanked God that you weren't missing. I'd rather have you where you are than on a bulletin board saying "missing" A man got arrested in the parking lot of Westgate mall. He was going to get together with a 14 year old girl he had been talking w/ since she was eleven. Another person the girl was talking to tipped police off. He had a ax, a rope, sex toys, drugs, pain killers etc in his trunk. [53 year old} They ought to just de-penis him, the moron!
So, though you are not in a warm and cozy place, I know you are not missing or in threat of being abducted. I thank God for that. Keep strong, think positive thoughts! "I can, I will"
Don;t let those negative thoughts fog your mind! We will get more fit & it will become easier. Hang in there.
You are loved, Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 19th

Image by: BonnieJones

Dear MaryJanes,

I keep hoping the phone will ring and it will be you on a free time. But maybe they won;t let you for awhile now. I hope at least they give you free time today. Mike put up the shelf he made for the laundry room. He is over at his brothers house right now.I mixed up 2 batches of wedding cookie dough for Kari's bridal shower next Sunday. I will be at Sam's house next Sunday. The shower starts at 2pm, so I will probably be there about noon or so. Then back about 6ish. ??
I will look up Sam's # in case you can call & Im over there. I will leave it with Mike too, in case you wouldn't have it when you call. A buggy just went by with an Amish family, kids hanging out every where. The one little boy about 4 years old pointed up to the sky at the fairly low flying helicopter. It must amaze those little kids to see that when everything in their lives is so basic.
I 'm hoping if you are able to call that you are more adjusted & things are going abit better. Like when you called before in the shuffle, you were feeling better the 2nd call because you guys were not just sitting around. The phone had rung & I dropped this note. It wasn't you. I don't know what I had started to write, it was a lady from Rio that wants to see an antique photo before I take it to the booth.
Well, that's all I know for now. Iam sending my love. I will see you soon!
Love, Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 18th

Inside card:
MaryJanes,
Without you, I'm a pail version of my usual self.
Love, Galoshes



{Included in this mailing was a cousin's wedding invitation, a report card from school, a bank statement.}

Dear MaryJanes June 18th

Inside Card:
I knew it...
I just knew I'd miss you!
Lots of love, Galoshes
Inside are pre-made address labels to save you time. I made them myself w/out your help!!

{Yes, that's toilet paper! Galoshes started to tuck in TP to just about every card she sent, and it's still included in each envelope to this day}

Dear MaryJanes June 17th

Dear MaryJanes June 16th

Image by: mfayrephotography

MaryJanes,
I hope I took your address down right, I gave it to Grandma G. She said she'd write you right away. Then we went to Kim and Roy's. Kim said that if I didn't have it right, that you'd have to do push ups for each one that was wrong. She won't write you yet to make sure your address was in correct order. I'm having a difficult time yesterday and today. I'm holding back the tears and fighting depression. I was doing ok till your last, quick call. Mike tried to help, but said there wasn't anything he could say to make me feel any better. So he's just been giving me allot of hugs. Today at work I had to really fight the tears back. Mike drove me to the post office last night after you called, that way they would go out right away. I kept repeating that I hope I heard you right about the address. He has assured me several times that they will get to you. My heart will really ache if they get sent back to me. I meant to ask about Holly. Do you still get to see her? Is there anyone in your platoon that you can pal with? Im hoping so. Im going to take stuff to the flea market in the morning to keep my mind busy. Mike doesn't want to because he wants to catch up in things around here. There are 2 auctions I want to go to next week. Tues/Thurs so I want to make some $ for it. Well Mike is waiting for me outside so we can move the sheep pen & load the truck for the morning. I miss you extremely! I wish I could make your time there less difficult. be strong & think positive things. Keep in mind they are paying you & that your car payments and insurance are due. You will come out of this stronger. Reach into yourself and draw from your soul. I will pray for you often. I hope you can call on Sunday, I don;t know if they will let you. As soon as I know your address is right, I will give it to everyone. Marvin gets mad because your bedroom door is shut. There is a chance that Jenny will come with us August 16 -17. I don't know if I wrote you that the Amtrak is too expensive. We are going to rent a car for a week instead. I will see you soon! Only days! Think positive and be strong.
I Love You!
Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 16th

Card Reads:

If suddenly today, you smile and feel good....and you're not quite sure why...it might have something to do with the happy little hug I just sent your way.

:signed:
Lots of love sent your way too! Sending you a silly book to get your mind off things there for a few minutes.

Dear MaryJanes June 14th

Card sent to MJ by Galoshes

Dear MaryJanes June 13th

Image by: buckscountyframes

Dear MaryJanes,

Tuesday June 13th.

Today is Jenny's [cousin] birthday. I got her a picture for her house of a old time window w/ a window box full of flowers. She liked it. Mike asked Brad {Jenn's then boyfriend} if he was going to give Jenn a ring for her birthday, but he said he got her a stereo. Grandma Greene called awhile ago to see if there was any "good news" from Jenn. But it doesn't look like it. I took Jenn's gift to her at Sam's daycare. I played on the floor w/ the kids. I put all of my hair in front of my face and made boogieman sounds. They kept saying, "again, again" One little boy would say, "gin, gin" I spent the day doing laundry and cleaning. - no not your room. I put some $ in your account as it was over drawn. It's been raining most of the day and the west side of Madison & Middleton are having flooding. Sam {Jenn's other aunt} & I are planning a wedding shower for Kari { My nephews previous wife} I wish you could come. Jenny & grandma are asking for your address. We called about Amtrak tickets, OH MY!!!! forget that idea. We are going to rent a car for a week. The train was way too expensive. One way was $220.00 / ticket then we would have needed a sleeping cab for 2x's on the way there $220 & $269 over the cost of the tickets. Then back would have more than doubled that. We can rent a car for about $350 for a week and get a motel 1/2 way. I talked to your dad, he bought another plane. He isn't sure if he will fly or a buy a ticket in advance for a cheap rate.
We will see.
Love, Galoshes

{Ticket prices are for MJ's basic training graduation travel}

Dear MaryJanes June 11th

Love, Galoshes

{Letter included into card}

MJ,
Don'tcha just love this cute little note paper!? With you being gone it gave me a reason to buy it. Mike keeps reassuring me that you'll be fine. He says, "she'll be fine...it's you Iam worried about." I cry at any thing. He told me to go ride my bike, I told him I didn't have the motivation. He said, "Do you need a kick in the butt?" Maybe I do. Im just worried about you. I know you'll do your best & I know you'll still get yelled at and I know that will be hard on you. I hope you're stronger than me! I'd switch places w/ you if I could. But then again, even though it's hard, it will help you in alot of areas of your life. Just stay strong. My head's so full of snot from holding in tears that I have a head ache. Marvin's {Our cat} running around like a crazy cat. Our garden is growing now. We have squirrel and rabbits though, they might eat what comes up. We got more rain last night. Big winds, branches down. The computers problem came back, shucks. I'll write soon.
Love, Galoshes.

Dear MaryJanes June 8th

Love, Galoshes

Bad Boys

Image by: sixthandmain

Dear MaryJanes,

Why, Why, Why do you date "That Boy"??
There is nothing about this boy that I like. NOTHING!
There are so many boys that call and stop by to see if you are home,
you have so many options! The boy that came on his roller skates!!
Pick any of them, just get rid of that looser! What can you see in him?
He is a cocky, smart mouth, disrespectful brat!
I hate him!
I hate him!
I hate him!

Do you understand?

Now dump him!
~Love, Galoshes

P.S. I am running a few errands, I will be back in about 2 hours.
I baked some cupcakes if you want some.
I love you!

Disney Downsides

Image By: shehitpausestudios

November, 1993

Dear MaryJanes,

I had stashed away what money I could so that we could be included in our extended families trip to Disney World. My sister and brother, along with their kids and your grandmother were all traveling together. We drove a used motor home that my mother had purchased in hopes of driving her self on various travels in the future. This was the first trip it had taken since it was purchased. What was suppose to be a fairy tale trip for you was altered by the expenses needed for repair and fuel for the motor home. The fuel alone consumed over $700.00 of my funds. Your father did not contribute to this travel and so any money that was spent, was from my skimping and saving. I barely had enough to cover our campsite, meals and little entertainment. I can not tell you how sick I felt not to be able to let you do all of the rides and games that a child should do on their once in a life time Disney visit.
My sister saw my anguish, and did a few extra special things for you. She had her own family to see to and I know she was irritated with your father for not helping us out. She kept quite about it and helped make the trip fun with suggestions of free entertainment ideas.
Having enough fuel money for the return trip home weighed on my mind through out each day. I had figured out what money I would need for the return trip home, and tucked it away.

I journal this down as a way to let it go. I do not know that I will ever let you read this letter, but I needed to vent my frustrations somewhere.
I don't think you were aware of just how much my heart was hurting to see you go with less than what I had dreamed for you. I hope the nights around the campfire and just being with family over shadowed the missed out purchases that I would have normally made for you. I hope you that you had a fun trip despite all of that.
Your father had told me that he had no interest in a trip to Disney World and wasn't even going to join us. I needed him to drive the motor home and so insuring him that it would not cost him a cent, he agreed to go. Would it really have killed him to tuck a little extra money in his wallet to give you a special trip? Apparently so, as he never offered.
Why on earth did I ever agree to go back to him?

Now Dream Of Far Away Places.
Love, Galoshes