CATEGORY: LATE CHILDHOOD
​PHOTO: SAME SCARY SELF PORTRAIT, OIL PAINTING

Dearest Jean,

Your article is certainly expressive of your feelings about our father ignoring your existence.  I know that Mother went to great lengths to make you feel wanted and loved.

Shortly before Mother left Grass Valley with you and Mary for Camp Sherman, I happened to walk into the house and witness my father physically knock my beloved mother to the floor.  I was so frightened that I ran out the back door and ran all the way to the ranch where I threw myself into Grandmother’s arms sobbing my heart out.  I have berated myself so many times for not staying behind and confronting my father and being at least some help to my mother.  Then when mother left, I wondered how many times he had done that same thing before.  At the time I walked in on them, her plans had already been made to go to Camp Sherman.  She evidently thought I would be mature enough to handle staying with him and going to high school with the help of my grandparents and Uncle Wallace.   I don’t remember what our family at the ranch did upon hearing what I told them when I went running in there with that news.

Anyway, I think you did a great job telling the story of our father.  It also brought out what a brave woman our mother was with all the very tough decisions she had to make.

Love to you, Grace