3726 Florence St.
San Diego, Calif.
New Year’s Eve.
11:20 P.M. (Pacific time)

Dear Brother, -

Happy New Year!  Well, I beat you that time.  You haven’t had much of a New Year yet, and we haven’t had any yet.
New York had it at 9 o’clock and Chicago at 10 and Denver at 11, according to our time out here.  We have been hearing them on the radio, N.B.C. whistles and celebrations all over the country.

I am sure we were well treated by Santa Claus, and thank you very much.  That was very nice.  And a big one, so it was laid carefully away, for now.  We had about decided there were no more in circulation.  Lloydine had been trying to stop a big “One” but had not succeeded.  So everyone was glad to see it laid away.

As for presents I got slippers with Grandma’s dollar and Lloydine got a little electric stove for her room and Guy got a couple red elephant book ends.  Each got what he wanted.  And Guy got a couple neckties and handkerchiefs and some stockings and I got him a sweater.  He says to thank Grandma and wish her a Happy New Year for him, as well as the same to you.  He always leaves the writing to me, but just now he is sick in bed, has been since Xmas  He will sit up tomorrow, and is much better.  He had the “flu” but not very bad.  We have all had colds like it but did not have to go to bed.  Lloydine and I are well now.  Guy has a good doctor who knows him so he has gotten along fine.  We had Guy’s folks here for Christmas and also “Cousin Will” Martin.  We had a ten pound turkey and all the other things to make a good dinner - all of which I cooked myself on Christmas morning as I was working in the store till 9 P.M. on Christmas eve.  I worked every day from 12 noon to 9 P.M. clerking in Whitney’s China Dept. and Gift Shop and did my housework mornings.  Lloydine clerked before Xmas week 9 to 5.  Guy was out of work and not very well before Xmas.  He helped with cooking something to eat and came for me after work.  He fixed up a nice Christmas tree from a tree in our yard and decorated it fine.  He gave me a half doz. teaspoons and I got handkerchiefs and a sewing case and a necklace (from Maude) and this stationary (from the head woman at the store)  Then I got two pairs of stockings also.  Guy gave Lloydine a raincoat and I gave her a comb & brush & mirror set for her dresser.  She got money & stockings etc. from the Martins.  She will not clerk on Saturdays but she sometimes stays in her dentists office for him when he is gone.  She can study there and answer the phone for him too.  This helps pay him for working to straighten her teeth.  He has her come two or three times a week to have her teeth worked on and is doing a lot of good already.  It is almost five months since he began.  Will take 2 yrs.

Today was sunny and warm.  Einstein came on the steamer from New York and was a San Diego guest today.  I heard him speak on the radio.  He motored to Pasadena from here.  He will study there - experiment & teach -

It is now past the noisy hour of midnight and I wish you all a Happy New Year, and Good Night for 1930.  Welcome 1931.

Yours lovingly - Hemmie & family.

Next HNB Letter - March 3, 1931.

[1931.01.02 / day - HNB to John Backlund Jr. in Lasita, Kansas.]