Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff
Olive Coolidge, Nurse Asst, 1941-1942
Olive Dame Coolidge (1920-2008)
Correspondence 1941 Sept 13 – Dec 30
Oggy (Olive) to Bob (Robert Butman)

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TAGS: Olive Coolidge correspondence, Olive Dame Coolidge at Pine Mountain Settlement School, Robert Butman in Washington DC, Miss Grace Rood, Mountain Day

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OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941 Oggy to Bob SEPT-DEC

CONTENTS

9A. OGGY TO BOB September 9, 1941 Bristol, TN [telegram]
11. OGGY TO BOB November 15, 1941 Harlan, KY [telegram]
14. OGGY TO BOB November 24, 1941 Bristol, TN [telegram]

1. 1. OGGY TO BOB September 13, 1941 Pine Mountain, KY
   2. OGGY TO BOB September 19, 1941 Pine Mountain, KY
   3. OGGY TO BOB October 2, 1941 Pine Mountain, KY
   4. OGGY TO BOB October 8, 1941 Pine Mountain, KY
   5. OGGY TO BOB October 15, 1941 Pine Mountain, KY
   6. OGGY TO BOB [MISSING]
   7. OGGY TO BOB November 13, 1941 Pine Mountain, KY
   8. OGGY TO BOB December 9, 1941 Pine Mountain, KY
   9. OGGY TO BOB December 30, 1941 Pine Mountain, KY
      

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TRANSCRIPTIONS

9A. DATESTAMP: 1941 SEP 9, WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM, Bristol, TENN.

[To Robert “Bob” C. Butman at Pan American Mfg and Supply Co. Production Test Lab, Coral Gables, Fla., from Olive “Oggy” Coolidge in Bristol, Tenn.]

CONGRATULATIONS PARTNER ON BECOMING MY EQUAL BY NEXT BIRTHDAY. I HOPE PRESENT PARTNERSHIP WILL BE JOINED ON A 50-50 BASIS. MY LOVE AND AFFECTION ALWAYS=
FIANCY [sic] COOLIDGE.

1. POSTMARK: SEPTEMBER 13, 1941, PINE MOUNTAIN, KY
[To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY]

[No date.] Friday Eve.
9:45 approx.

Bob Darling, –
Here I am sitting in my cabin, in pajamas and my heavy[?] coat, on the edge of the day bed with a table pulled up in front. It seems so good to write on a table for a change – it must seem good to you, too. I wish I could fix the lights in this place so I didn’t need to use the overhead one & so that I could read in bed. The real bed is out on the “sleeping porch” – a tiny room off this one – with one big window. I suppose that is done to keep this room warm. No central heating here – just a coal electrola – right out in the middle of the room – people are so dumb. But when I get some college[?] spreads and stuff, it’ll look better – even good. It really is a cute place and I like being alone and not in infirmary. Infirmary – you are never away from it all. Here I am – more like college.

I have got to get me some good books to read. I’m lost at times and I’ve always wanted to read and now’s the time. Anything you’d like to suggest for the betterment of your future wife’s mind? Something to make her understand you better? – Spill it, then.

So, you only thought my telegram was cute! Ha! You didn’t even take in the tender sentiment I bestowed upon you. You didn’t think the partnership idea was a permanent one – oh – well, Butman, you’d better do some fast thinking – very fast.

I’m getting more into the swing of things now. I feed babies, change diapers galore, help with feeding pneumonic baby, do gen’l housework etc. Last night I had a super talk with Dr. Good[?]. I do like the man (married). Honestly he is just the simple old country Dr stuff. Says he doesn’t care what he gets for money as long as it’s enough. He wants to work where a Dr is needed –and is he worked to death. He has a devilish smile and twinkle in his eye and orders you around. He’s been swell to me – telling me not to worry, I’d [?] in – it’s all common sense anyway. He is a fine man and no mistake. The kind you can’t help admiring. We discussed everything last night – labor, group medicine, birth control, all his medicines, etc – made me feel much better.

I have [?] out there two main disadvantages to this job for me–

1. Too confining – really have to be in infirmary practically all the time. Of course you do get out – we alternate going down for meals – but it’s limited.
2. People’s acquaintance is limited. Dr and nurse are only people aside from [] you really know well. And they are good people – excellent. Of course you do see some people outside in community who were in and that’s interesting. But it’s impossible to get to know other faculty members well cause you don’t have time. They are a fairly ossified bunch anyway and pretty shy. Of course there are some [?] young one – but nobody goes out of their way to help you out. Tonite at staff “outing” all was very stiff – I felt like loosening up and giving them a good time. I finally skipped out to give hamburger to Miss Weaver (nurse) and nobody noticed! Everybody’s pleasant enough – but not particularly out of the way friendly.

I think I’m going to get bored with the routine – and simple housework – but then maybe I’ll get to like it. I never have had to do it before. But I really think this job will conquer my fear of sickness – this year is well rewarded.[?] Already my mind is easier. Seriously darling, as you well know, nothing could be better for the rest of my life – our life – then my having lost that. And nursing is a good asset to have. As for babies – care of mine will be like rolling off a log. Darling –did you realize what an asset you’re marrying – well – you’d better! (ahem!) –

Boy, I wish you were marrying the asset sooner. I get awful lonesome up here – you know how hard it is for me not to have friends. At night, after supper, – esp.tonight – I get so lonesome for you I nearly die. When I think of all the days that have to pass ‘till Christmas and then to Sept. again – and maybe I’ll see you a week in all, my heart just sinks. This “growing” business is a fine thing and I think I agree with it – but it’s an awful hard way to grow when you’re in love. You know I want things the way they are – you can get married anytime but my heart, my emotions, and parts of my mind say I want you = not a year of growing. Gosh, dearie what a life we’ll lead. I only hope it will be as delightful and as fine as we can make it. I want people to know the “young Butmans”– (wow!) – as an excellently suited couple, lots of fun, yet considerate, thoughtful, and always in taste[?]. Have you gathered from this – that I love you with all my heart? Doing routine work – I think about lots of aspects of the thing so much! Somehow tonight I want to rave on about what we can do with our lives. It’s not fun [?] that I want – rather a joy of living – and helping others to enjoy it.

This seems to be getting to be quite an epistle. But I haven’t been able to write you the kind of letter I wanted to for quite awhile. I want to add to the former paragraph – that the physical relationship can add greatly to the beauty of married life – not something to shy away from.

Please, darling, don’t forget to get 2 enlargements of the Maine picture of us. Doris and[?] negatives and Aunt Og and Me want one – I think family might too. Say do Doris and Mae know yet?

Also I’m sending 2 films along. I don’t dare have them developed here. But I will pay. Am I ever going to [?] to my money. Maybe I’ll get enough to help buy my trousseau clothes – I hope. Let’s see how much we both can save by Christmas – boy what an objective!

As for your running around with a married woman I’m jealous as all get out. – but I’m glad you’ve got company and are having a good time. Put me on the seat, tell me you love me, say “hello” – and we’re off.

I’m getting cold as I was cold last night so didn’t sleep so much – I think I’ll nap off. If you ever were in love dear – you know how I feel – you want to say everything that’s in your overflowing heart but it isn’t possible except by transmission of spirit. So all I can say is that I can hardly wait ‘till we’re together “until death do us part.” In other words I’m yours for life.
Oggy

2. POSTMARK: SEPTEMBER 19, 1941, PINE MOUNTAIN, KY
To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY; to Bob from Ruth Coolidge, en route to Nantucket, MA; to Bob from Richard Coolidge]

[No date.]

Darling – Just a note is all I have time for. – Had a swell time last night – party for Miss Weaver. Afterwards Dr took us for a ride in their “new” 1930 Ford he got to save his run on these roads! I have never laughed so hard!

The staff is really getting better. Played ping pong last night. Really, I’m having a better time!

So,———

Washed 60 million diapers yesterday, did everything. Well[?] Dearie, I’ll be so versed in the household arts – it’ll amaze you.

A lamp has already been bought – thanks just the same. I drove Miss [Margaret] Motter to Harlan and picked me up one. Not of the most expensive I’ll admit – but it serves the purpose well.

Wrote Ritter Lu[?] and told her the news! – A la well!

I love you dear – like anything –
Yours , Oggy

3. POSTMARK: OCTOBER 2, 1941, HARLAN, KY
[To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY]

[No date.] Wednesday Evening

Bob darling, –
As usual I’m sorry I said anything about my worries in this morning’s letter. I always get [?] up –this time they have only been very slight, and way back in my mind. The fact that they are there and you don’t know bothers me the most. I must get over that – is terrible for you. Anyway after I’d written the letter and after I began to think Washington thoughts – everything became OK. I suspect you know me well enough not to let it bother you – but I want you to know that your fiancé is still yours, always yours – I hope in other form, however.

I also feel much better, too, because I got the nicest letter from Doris today. It sounded a lot like June and as it is the first word of commendation from your family direct to me, I certainly cherish it. I am beginning to think your family didn’t give a darn who married you. Characteristically – it would be Doris to write first – I always have liked her – and I guess she me! Anyway I was glad to get the letter – I’m silly I guess – but it’s nice to have those things. Ah well!

Your letter sent me into a stream of thoughts and into kind of an excitement. Tonight coming home – the big fall moon put that old familiar ache in my stomach(e) – gosh dearie, I would love to see you. Are you surprised?

Anyway my reactions are these. It’s hard for me to say exactly how I feel as a couple of issues are confused. I think it’d be exactly what you’d like to get out, see things, and do something new. It really sounds wonderful. And I think you’d just revel in it. After all I’ve had travel and you haven’t. It’s an awfully hard thing to go right out of school into job. I think it’s really bad – you need outlets. The ideal way would be to travel for a year! So if you can combine job and that –all the better. So, say I – go ahead and do it if you want to. Honest, I think it’d make you feel a thousand times better, less pent up too. It’d also give you experience – travel experience – grows anybody up – makes them more interesting, SO darling, I’m in[??]!

Other considerations of course , as you point out, come into the picture. As for leaving Pan Am. Co. – if you feel it only leads to that new development stuff and no further – I’d say fooey to it. I want you in something you can get somewhere in. Frankly I’m not crazy to marry a man who’ll stay in a lab all his life and get nothing from it – no advancement I mean. I admit I’d like a little adventure. So I wouldn’t worry about getting back into Pan Am. And I wouldn’t worry about you getting another job – after 4 or 5 years. An engineer – esp. in radio line – can always get a job. You’d have no trouble – and you’ll have such a competent wife – she could support you (Happy life that would be.)

Of course the one big hitch I see in the thing – is marriage. I do not relish the idea of you being off a week, here 3 days, then off another week. And I’d probably worry! But, dearie – you’re young and I expect we could postpone some – although I wouldn’t like it. If we did get married and that was your job – sure as shooting I’d have a job too. I just wouldn’t sit home and do nothing. Well dearie, there’s my opinions. In all but the last – I really like the idea. You need it all right – I hate to have you settle down having had no kick out of life. Find out how long and on what trips you’d be if you really would have to stay 4 or 5 years, and[???] Pan Am. if you wanted to return. I ain’t crazy about Florida – but anything as long as we’re married.

Dearie – guess I’ll hit the hay. The whole thing fascinates me! My reaction is to think about it hard. Then act! After all – now is your time to live. And if we had to wait a year and ½ – it might be worth it for your sake – just think, you could jump with no strings attached. A free man! Awful ain’t it. I want you to do what you want. I want you to be happy and travel would do wonders for you. Make you a much happier husband! You need a little beer drinking, a little[?] with other men, a little more thrown together with people. You need a bit less conservatism and more confidence.

Yes, it’d be good – and don’t put me in your way. That’d be the last thing I’d want. – I do want to marry you sometime though – no fooling! I kind of like the glamour of a flying husband – really. (Should be good pay, too!) I’ll love you no matter what you decide – I’ll always love you –
Yours, Oggy

4. POSTMARK: OCTOBER 8, 1941, PINE MOUNTAIN, KY
[To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY]

[No date] Tuesday Morning

Bob darling, –
I’m afraid this letter won’t go out as planned this morning and you’ll be darn glad to get it when it comes. Right now you are a little annoyed and slightly worried at me and about me. Too many of them in the past week. You are wondering, too, – especially about me. Well, darling, if this letter does what it should do it’ll stop all that. It should convince you that I love you – down deep and all over – that I want to marry you – now and next September. I have been wondering, darling, yes I have. And it all came to a climax this weekend when I saw Aunt Og, realized what a marvelous piece of work she was doing, and how I was going to settle down with an engineer and perhaps do nothing glamorously exciting together to help humanity (or something). Don’t laugh or get mad – wait a minute. I kept wondering even as you do – if you want to sit in Pan Am lab all your life or whether you are going to have the stimulus to get out and do something better. I wondered if you were enough interested in my educational humanitarian interests to keep me satisfied, If our ideas are broad enough to suit each other. Don’t blame these things on Aunt Og – she said nothing about them.

What she did say, however, was to realize how important small things turned out to be. A steady sniffing, for ex., will get on your nerves – quicker than lacking companionship, for ex. Of course I immediately thought of your shaving – which you always laugh at – but which bothers me no end as you well know. It’s funny but before I see you I always wonder how you’ll look – if you’ll be really clean shaven – and so few times you really are – yes, it bothers me. And you’re so darn good looking – hate to have you mar any looks at all. The same applies to blackheads – I have a much worse complexion than you, in fact right now I’m sick about it – but yours could be so good with just a little more care. Please darling, don’t be annoyed – these are the only little things about you I don’t like and they can so easily become big in my mind. You wouldn’t want them, too, and I don’t. It’s up to you – about that!

Now let’s go back to the other things – the bigger ones I brought up – that mean nothing in my mind now. Let me go back a way – yesterday after I got your questioning letter – I felt sick. I’ve been cogitating all these things for a couple of weeks, telling no one, and to get your letter –scared me! What can I tell him? If I tell him I am doubting he will get upset and I know it’ll pass –but how can I conceal it – I won’t. My mind was a turmoil.

In that frame of mind I went downtown see Malcolm Avery ( [??] to you). I had to go on an errand but he could see something was bothering me – typical me! Little by little he got an inkling about it and completely stopped my mind from worrying. He says it’s all Pine Mt. – and I’m not kidding. This is such an unnatural pent up existence here – apart from normal relationships – that emotional thinking is absolutely impossible to do in a clear way. Things are blurred and prey on you – that in a normal situation would quickly pass off because you could get them out of your system. Here you have no outward means of escape – no friends to confide in and as you work, the ideas keep culling over in your mind. Pretty soon they are warped ideas! He said don’t make any emotional decision here – it can’t be done and they won’t hold outside. I know, he said from my own experience and I wish I never had. (He is reported to be engaged.) He said if Pine Mt is going to break up a relationship, [?], if it can’t take it – I’d get out of Pine Mt. – because I see now! And I really think it’s true. This place is isolated, narrow and unnatural. Your thinking becomes biased.

So, dearie, I reviewed all we went over in Washington and I know it’s OK. I know you and I understand and compliment [sic] each other perfectly. I know that I’d rather live a happy married life – than have a brilliant [?] career – as Aunt Og said she would too. I think you’ll have the capacity to get out and do new things especially with me behind you, and I think as we live together our ideas will verge more toward a common point – even as they have in only a year. I don’t want to be held back by your conservatism – and I mean in ideas – and I won’t be because we’ll both change.

What I meant by that horrible remark – you didn’t bother me then – was this. I found myself thinking about things the way you did them last year, the same type of thing that bothered me say at Thanksgiving – then I would say – back here, that was a year ago – remember Wash. – how you felt – remember June, remember the summer. That’s all I meant by that, dearie, and I apologize. Honest, I do! I didn’t mean to insult my future husband – because I happen to be very fond of him ! Its just that I need to see you more but I think we can accomplish more by letters than we have been!

Darling there is the bell – I must go! How I wish this was already in your hands. But I wanted it to say what I wanted it to rather than to be rushed off.

May I tell you dearie, that your future wife will love, honor, cherish and obey thee, will respect you, will give you inspiration, will follow you in all things great and small. And no matter how much I annoy you – I’ll always love you and this side of life will pass. They always say the engaged period is the hardest! But just think what the married period will be – love, understanding, companionship – all these in any quantity at any time! Whatever love is, dear, I have it in my heart for you. A heart which always aches to see you —
Yours, Oggy

5. POSTMARK: OCTOBER 15, 1941, PINE MOUNTAIN, KY
[To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY]

[No date] Wed. Morn

Hello Darling, –
Boy, I’m tired today – yesterday is my bad day. Miss Rood’s Day Off and so I’m on straight duty from 7:30-9:00 PM. And believe me that’s tough. Not that the work is so bad, it’s the responsibility and the steadiness of it all. It keeps you going anyway. In a way I think Miss [Grace M.] Rood is rather selfish – but then it doesn’t do any good to think so I suppose. She has been teaching me more lately – so I feel better but I’m still awfully guided. However, I suppose any job I was in would guide me.

Why,darling, it doesn’t bother me one atom to have you going out with Kitty. It never even sinks into my [??]. I guess I’m just conceited enough never to worry about your liking me. I never conceive of your liking anyone else. However, – go out all you want to.

Aren’t you using the country club any? I keep wondering about the boys in the lab or any that you’ve met. Don’t you like them or don’t you care about making their acquaintance. Oh well, I’m no one to criticize so I won’t. I’ll bet in any other job you might get (we hope) that the people might be more congenial – esp. a gov’t job.

You know the idea of a new job peps me up no end. Yours I mean. I think that’s one of the main drawbacks of “us.” I can’t get all wrapped up in your work,encourage you and stuff because I don’t know it and it isn’t the type anyway – like a doctor, or a teacher or something. But then if you had a really good job – boy wouldn’t it be wonderful. I don’t know what – anyway I somehow don’t like the idea of you being stationed at some [?] factory or something. Let’s do something new and different. Yes, I’ll trade security for that – as soon as you’re absolutely sure of yourself. I agree with you there, too. I’d rather wait to find out if you are – how long I want to wait is the question. Not too long.

Say, dearie, how about one of those pictures for me – I do want one and I will pay you – honest!

Today is mt. day – if it doesn’t rain. Hike over to a place about 6 mis. distant, cook dinner and hike back. Fun I think. I hope the ankle stands up – it’s all cured now – I think my infirmities are about cleared up. I feel good. But by your next letter I’ll no doubt be needing sympathy again, yes I will. Right now it looks funny but I guess [it] will clear [?], maybe.

I’m also OK mentally – in fact have been having quite a bit of fun one way or another.

Well, dearie, I have to go to infirmary to find keys, mail this, take Mrs. Nuttter some clothes. Then get ready for hike. Golly day, if we were only going together what’d fun it would be. We will when we’re Mr. and Mrs. Won’t we? We’ll do [?],then.
Love Oggy

6. MISSING

7. POSTMARK: NOVEMBER 13, 1941, PINE MOUNTAIN, KY
[To Bob in Washington, DC, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY]

[On letterhead for “Miss Olive D. Coolidge, Camp Teedy-Usk-Ung, Hawley, Pennsylvania”]
[No date]

Hello Darling,
I’m still here but maybe I’ll be up tomorrow – maybe! Golly if I don’t get up soon I’ll never be able to see you Thanksgiving and that, my dear, is a horrible thought.

Your place does sound good. Don’t forget to [go] out and see Deo and Lauch – Mrs. Currie – they’ll really show you around. Also Lois Bacon who lived in Arlington,Va, I forget the address – in telephone book. You really should see them. They’re swell! Also a swell girl at school married a man named Scud [?] Parker who is some senator’s secretary. They are a swell newly married couple and would love to see you. Her name is Bets (nee Holden). You might have met her – she is just as cute as she can be.

Aunt Og will be at Lois’ next Friday – the 21– and wants to see you – if you’re not other places. I have the address down in the cabin – but of course I’m not there now. I’ll write you what it is – but you’d better plan part of that day with her – unless of course you are here. I sure do want you to come here – I’d like to have you see the place and meet the Nutters. I’m getting more and more sold on the idea of having him marry us if the family didn’t object.

I’m going to write Deo and Lois and Lauch and tell them you’re there – because really you’d enjoy them no end – and they’d give you a super time. Don’t live like a hermit, darling.

Well, all for now, I hope I’ll be out of here presently!
All of my love, –
Oggy

11. DATESTAMP: NOVEMBER 15, 1941, WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM, HARLAN, KY
[To Bob in Washington, DC, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY]

CAN ARRIVE WASHINGTON THURSDAY MORNING IF YOU WANT TO GO HOME ARRIVE FRIDAY NIGHT STAY THROUGH SUNDAY REALLY NO DIFFERENCE TO ME MORE TIME IF COME FOR THANKSGIVING OTHER LESS TIME AWAY WIRE YOUR PLANS I’LL PLAN ACCORDINGLY DO AS YOU THINK BEST DEARIE ALL MY LOVE=
OGGY.

14. DATESTAMP: NOVEMBER 24, 1941, WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM, BRISTOL, TENN.
[To Bob in Washington, DC, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY]

THANKS FOR BEST WEEKEND YET MY SYMPATHY INCREASES CONSTANTLY YOURS=
OGGY.

8. POSTMARK: DECEMBER 9, 1941, PINE MOUNTAIN, KY
[To Bob in Washington, DC, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY]

[On letterhead for ” Olive D. Coolidge, Tower Court, West, Wellesley College”]
[No date] Tuesday

Why dearie, I didn’t mean to be impersonal – it was just that I was trying to get a letter off, and after listening to a woman’s pain all night, and trying to write while students milled around – no wonder. But take no offense my pet – “I still think it’s a good idea to get married” — poof, poof!

Well, we may sing another tune now that the war has begun – you just can bet we’re going to see plenty of trouble but now Canada has declared war I doubt you’ll get drafted. But that isn’t the point – it’s the uncertainty of it all, the feeling we never know where it’ll hit next – can hardly believe we are at war. I don’t mean as far as marriage is concerned – not at all – it’s just that we’re entering a new phase of life.

Yes, dearie, I trust you implicitly on the ring situation – implicitly – all I ask is that it is simple, not a lot of junk, and gold. Your judgment is just as good as mine and whatever you choose – I will wear. Isn’t that nice of me? What a martyr I am! –

Well, dearie, all for now – except I’m thinking about this job quite seriously and if I should hear of another – well you never know – I’m getting enough of it.

I accept your date – even though it is quite a long one and beginning at an indefinite time! –

Say darling – I’m saving something for you for Christmas ? ? ? – me! –
Love, Oggy

9. POSTMARK: DECEMBER 30[?], 1941, MEDFORD, MASS.
[To Bob in Washington, DC, from Oggy ; To Olive from Bob Robbins in NY]

[No date] Monday Evening
11:15 P.M.

Hello darling, –
I’ll bet you are just exhausted tonight, came home from work & just flopped into bed practically. I wonder how it went – well, I know.

I was so tired yesterday, I went to bed at 4:30, got up to entertain Rowena, who likes the idea, and then went to bed at six. I stayed in bed most of the day, or lounged around, trying to throw this cough. It snowed here today so I didn’t go out to Wellesley – cold being main reason.

Paul called this afternoon, said he guessed it on Wednesday, and he was really very swell. I guess he doesn’t think we’re too well suited but he was very nice.

Had a long family talk tonight. They understood my ideas – pretty well – and said they didn’t see any way much clearer through to our being married before July anyway. After all, you do want to see about jobs etc. Upshot of it is two ideas.

1.Go back to Pine Mt. for awhile till April maybe then come back home–prepare for marriage etc and maybe take a short sec. course.

2.See about sec. course not go back [?]

Anyway I am going over to Wellesley to get their suggestions. I’m getting kind of used to the idea of maybe taking a sec. course. It does give an “in” to all kinds of work and would be swell to fall back on after we’re married.

As for working in Washington they both felt it’d be pretty much of a strain on us to get married and I kind of agree with them. They said they wouldn’t mind my getting married earlier if we could see our way clear.

All for now – night darling –
Me

Morning –

Started to go over to Wellesley today but I still feel coldish and the main placement office wasn’t there – so I relax again today. I’m going out Friday to have lunch with [?] and see Placement, too. In the meantime I think I’ll write Pine Mt [and] say I still am undecided – but I won’t be back until the 15th – if at all. Depending on what Wellesley says, it might be a good idea to have secretarial work – and if we should get married in July – I should stay home awhile. It’s a slight thing to do for one’s parents.

The night you left, Mother came in to talk and she was very tired. I mentioned I thought we might not to wait ‘till Sept. and she was very discouraged. Branded [?] me as selfish etc. I didn’t say anything at all – was very good. But after she left, missing you so, and wishing to hear you thought I was OK, and feeling misunderstood – I broke down. Mother came to say they were going out and found me so – and apologized. She just hadn’t seen it from my point of view and I assured her I wouldn’t back out of the June proposal for at least 1 month. So now everything is rosy – I only long for a letter from you – and here I haven’t done the same. But I did send a telegram Sun., and last night we had that long discussion. I’m sorry there isn’t a letter to greet you today.

Oh darling, I do miss you so. Of course it’s kind of a perennial state now so it’s kind of natural. But I just miss you being around. I miss your arms, your quips, your fun of living, your good looks and strength and calm of being. I feel so much a part of you and [?] this weekend we had reached a high level of joyous living, even though I do feel as if I nagged you to love me – which isn’t so I know ‘cause you have it to give to me.

I think we better understand each other even better now and somehow we both fit so well –well, darling, I’m just in love and can’t express myself any better. But I have such a wonderful feeling as if I had part of me in another place – but that part was closely linked just the same. I love the diamond – more and more and it’s nice to have it ‘cause I have something here that makes me feel closely tied.–
Yours darling, Oggy

**********

[Enclosed in Olive’s letter to Bob, postmarked “December 30[?], 1941, Medford, Mass.”]

[Notation in top margin from Oggy: “From Bob Robbins [??] etc. – at least some people think you’re lucky!”]

[Letterhead] Hotel Pennsylvania New York
Sunday Dec 28th

Dear Olive,
We were surprised and tremendously pleased when Dorothy told us why none of the Coolidges of Hastings Lane were at [?] yesterday. Rebecca and I want to send our heartiest congratulations via you to Monsieur Bob. Please send them on to him. He is, indeed, a fortunate fellow.

The wedding yesterday was a most beautiful and festive occasion. We all enjoyed it very much.
Devotedly,
Bob [Robbins]

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GALLERY

1.Sept131941 – To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY

2.Sept191941 – To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY; to Bob from Ruth Coolidge, en route to Nantucket, MA; to Bob from Richard Coolidge

3.-.OCt21941 – To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY

4.-OCt81941 – To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY

5,Oct151941 – To Bob in Coral Gables, FL, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY

7.Nov131941 – To Bob in Washington, DC, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY

8.Dec91941 – To Bob in Washington, DC, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY

9.Dec301941– To Bob in Washington, DC, from Oggy at Pine Mountain, KY; To Olive from Bob Robbins in NY

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OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941 Oggy to Bob AUG-SEPT

See Also:
OLIVE COOLIDGE Staff – Biography
OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941-1942 Oggy to Family GUIDE
OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941-1942 PMSS Letters GUIDE

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OLIVE COOLIDGE Correspondence 1941-1942 Bob and Oggy GUIDE