GRANDPA'S LETTER TO MY DAD

This is a picture of my grandfather on the left, Earl Kemp Andrews. Next to him are 3 of his children. My Aunt Lois, my dad Joe and my uncle Ron on the right. The baby is Aunt Lois's granddaughter Nicole. This picture was probably taken in 1974.
Recently while rummaging through some old papers, I found a letter among many letters that my grandfather wrote to my dad. It brought back old memories and made me wish that we still wrote letters to each other. These letters that I have would make a good journal as well. Here is the letter that I'd like to share: It is dated July 10, 1961. We lived here in California and he lived some 800 miles away in Washington. I think he really missed us!!

Dear Joe and Family;

I have put off writing hoping to hear from your Uncle Earnest Andrews. As I told you He said that he was going to come out this summer. I wrote to him and he has not wrote back so I don't know what he intends to do. I really don't believe we should even think that he might come so you just come on up. So you folks just come on up anytime you are ready. I am so anxious to see you all. I don't think I ever wanted to see anybody as much as I do you folks.
Catherine's dad passed away and we, Catherine and I took him back to Wisconsin and he was buried along side of his mother. We went back with his body on the train and after the funeral we came back on an airplane. The government paid the expense of his funeral as he was a (Spanish?) American war veteran.
That is all over now and we are about back to normal there for a long time He was in the hospital at Walla Walla awful sick and we were up there every day. Also Catherine was staying there near him some of the time and then after such a long time he passed away and then all the anguish of him passing away Catherine is just now getting over all the strain. She and I had to arrange and tend to everything without any help from her folks but it is all over now and everything is going to be all right, so you folks just come on up now. I sure do want to see the children and there is so much that I want to talk with you about.
I am not going to write anymore for I am expecting to see you real soon. You just tell Eleanor and all the children to get in the car and you just start driving on up that road for old dad wants to see you and all them so bad. Don't wait just start right now.

Give our love to all,
Dad