a Christmas letter from 1960 by Patsy Reese

75 Janice St., Apt. 79
Buffalo 7, New York
December 12, 1960

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

We are all well and expect a white Christmas up here.

Anne Flavia is 2-1/2 now; she makes small decisions, long sentences, and peanut butter sandwiches for herself and Kitty, who came to live with us in September.

Bill is 6 months old Dec. 28 and at about 17 pounds is beautifully co-ordinated.  He is constantly on the move, and his curiosity is matched only by his ambition.

Hayne is well-liked at the University of Buffalo….too busy is you ask me but he enjoys the work, especially his research. We plan a long trip home this summer with stops at almost every relative's house and a couple of weeks in Mexico, baby-sitting compliments of Ann and Thurston Atwood.

I haven't taken any course yet, but have joined a group to play chamber music once a week (amateurs) and I'm librarian on the board of La Leche League, a group for breast-feeding education.  They helped me a lot before Bill was born (he's still nursing) and I enjoy helping them.

Here's hoping we get to see all of you this summer and that you have a great New Year!

Love,

Patsy

Margaret Reese as an artist from her early days

Margaret gave me a hand made coupon book for Mother's Day when she was about six or seven.  the top page was the cover, and the captions included vacuuming, dusting, and washing dishes.

The orange and blue woodcut was always a favorite of mine.  I am not sure what year that is from exactly.

Margaret was in an acting group at the University of Buffalo when she was only five.  The players ranged in age from five to 22 or so, and their work was all improvisation.

Margaret was very popular with the whole company and had a prominent part in the original play that they staged at the local avant-garde theatre in Buffalo.  There were not sets, everybody wore black leotards, and at the end of the show the whole audience was onstage with the players.

By the way, the pillows on the sofa in the dusting and vacuuming pictures have tassels on the corners.

1962: here comes Margaret Ellen!!

Margaret Ellen Reese was born January 30, 1962.   She was named for my grandmother Margaret Atwood and for my friend Margaret Waring.

We lived at the time in a house that belonged to the University of Buffalo. It was on Winspear Avenue bordering the campus. 

From the first Margaret was a happy baby and very easy to care for. She had a sunny disposition and knew how to get along with people.