Coming Home on Monday

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Thursday, June 21, 1951

126 Lincoln Street

Riverhead, NY

Dear Art,

Fashion quick sketch by
June Anderson.

I’m so glad you’ll be able to come home Monday and I hope you’ll be coming over to see me soon after.  It’s too bad that you have to come home by train though.

I love you so much, darling, and miss you more each day.  Do hurry, darling – not just home, but back here to me.  I hope to come in to see you on Saturday, provided I don’t have to work.

Mother has started to clear the living room.  What a job!  Grandma plans to arrive the first of July.  You’ll be over to see me before then, won’t you?  But we won’t be able to stay out so late then, I guess.

I love you so much, darling.  I wish you were here with me tonight – I miss you so much.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – Hope my wheelchair is strong enough for two.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Get Well Cards

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Thursday, June 21, 1951

Presbyterian Hospital

168th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

Dear June:

You’ve heard the news:  I’ll sure be glad to get home Monday.  The sooner I’ve got you in my arms again the better.  I love you, darling.

I’m sure now that we’ll be getting married the first of September.  Gee, that’s only about two months and a week away.  I’ve got to get busy when I get home.

I watched baseball on TV this afternoon and the rest of the time I read or roamed around.  I’ve been getting lots of get well cards.  Did I tell you the grocery store across the street from Rod’s sent me a fruit basket?

I’ll call you tomorrow, darling.  I miss you very much, sweetheart.  Be good now.

All my love,

Art

A get well card from some of Art's friends and neighbors in Southampton,
including George and Shirley Hudson, Helen Hudson, Hazel Halsey,
and June Halsey.

(Tomorrow – Too bad you have to come home by train.)

© 2011 Lee Price

A 1951 Hospital Bill

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Wednesday, June 20, 1951

Presbyterian Hospital

168th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

Dear June:

I’m alone in the room now.  My roommate went home this morning.  It’s okay alone here but I hope they get me a new roommate soon.

I didn’t see the doctor today so I guess there’s no report from the lab yet.  Please don’t worry about it.

They sent my bill up today.  The woman at the desk said they’re always doing that.  I sent it back with a note about the insurance company.  I’m glad I’ve got insurance!  The first week was $192 – of course that covers the operation, tests, x-rays,

and everything.

I think I’ll get my crutches and go mail this tonight.  My leg feels as if I could walk on it but they say not to.  So I hobble around.  A wheelchair is handy, too.  It means I always have a seat if I go to watch television.

The nurse just came in with my milk.  Everybody gets a glass of milk in the evening.

I’ll say good night now, darling.  I love you so very much.  See you Sunday.

All my love,

Art

(Tomorrow – Get well cards.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Time Is Tight

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Wednesday, June 20, 1951

126 Lincoln Street

Riverhead, NY

Dear Art,

I’m sorry you haven’t heard any news about your leg yet.  I’m very anxious to find out about it – and for more reasons than one.  Naturally I want to know how it will affect you and if the treatments will be easy.  But darling – we have to get started on our wedding plans!

Fashion illustration (with hat) by
June Anderson.

If the wedding’s to be postponed, it will be alright.  But if the wedding’s on, this is already the last week of June and I just have to get the invitations made out!  I’m getting a little nervous.  Whatever you find out, darling, we’ll have to make decisions then.  And either you call up to tell the minister of a change in plans (we should do it as soon as possible in case anybody else wants to get married then) or I’ll get started on the invitations.  I hope I’m not pushing you again, darling.

At any rate, Art, I fully expect you to be coming home next week.  I hope you’ll be able to.  I love you so much, my darling, and really miss you.  It’s nice getting your letters at noon time and your phone call, but they don’t substitute for you being here beside me.

I got my hat in the mail today.  It’s brown felt and shaped faintly like a bonnet.  I know you don’t understand my interest in fashion but I am so pleased with it!

Are you still watching the television, darling?  I read more than I look at it, but we still have it on every night.  No other news around here – you sweetheart – I still love you.

All my love,

June

(Thursday – The hospital bill.)

© 2011 Lee Price

With You in My Arms...

Oil painting of a beach scene in Southampton by Art Price.

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Tuesday, June 19, 1951

Presbyterian Hospital

168th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

Dear June:

My mother was in this afternoon for awhile.  I’m not sure when she’s coming again.  I’ve watched some baseball on television after her visit.  Nothing much else – laid around and read a little.  The guy in the room with me goes home tomorrow, cast and all.

So Shirl’s getting married in August!  We may have a matron of honor then.

I love you very much, darling.  I wish I was sitting in my car now with you in my arms.  M-m-m-m.  I miss you a lot, darling, and love you very much.  See you Sunday (or Saturday, maybe).  In the meantime, I’m glad I can talk to you over the phone even if not in private. 

All my love

Art

(Tomorrow – The urgent need for a decision.)

© 2011 Lee Price

You'll Get a Letter Every Day

Fashion quick sketch by June Anderson.

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Tuesday, June 19, 1951

126 Lincoln Street

Riverhead, NY

Dear Art,

Another day gone by, darling.  I hope it won’t be too many before you come home again.  I’m sorry to hear your roommate is going home.  I know it’s wonderful for him, but I hope you don’t get some old groan in with you.

When I talked to Shirl last night, she said she would be sending me an invitation to her engagement party on July 15^th.  She thought it would be nice if you could bring me.  I told her we would have to wait to see how you are.

I’m so anxious to find out about the treatments, and – of course –the final decision on our wedding day.  I hope the treatments will be easy on you and very effective at the same time.

It’s so nice to have you able to call me again, darling.  I hope it’s not too hard on you – getting in and out of the phone booth with your crutches and bad knee.  I’ll be waiting for your call tomorrow and will be in Sunday.  Until then, you’ll get a letter every day.  Please get well and hurry home to me.

All my love,

June

(For Monday – Wishing we were in the car.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Wheelchairs and Crutches

Pencil sketch by Art Price.

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Monday, June 18, 1951

Presbyterian Hospital

168th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

Dear June:

I was a little surprised myself that I was able to call you today.  I’m glad I could though.  I roamed the halls in a wheelchair most of the morning.  They’re really quite easy to handle.  Then they measured me for crutches and taught me how to use them.

The nurse on duty last night told me I don’t really have to exercise 100 times an hour.  She said this doctor always expects more than the others, so I’ll keep on doing like I have been.  I hear they get people out of here as fast as they can.  I really think I’ll be coming home sometime next week.

We’re listening to Godfrey’s Talent Scouts right now.  I suppose you’re watching them, too.  I wish I could be there holding your hand right now.  Oh well, it won’t be long.  I hope the doctor has something good to tell me tomorrow.  I’ll let you know what he says.

The nurse will be coming in in a minute with our sleeping pills so I guess I’d better say good night for now.  I miss you very much, darling.  I love you, I do.

All my love

Art

(For Saturday – Hope it's not an old groan!)

© 2011 Lee Price