Name/Title
AU Begley, Linda Mae [Bosland] - 1992-08-XX letter to Paul J. Harris Jr.Entry/Object ID
2010.1.6Context
August 1992
I can't believe Braniff did that again to you and everyone else. I felt so bad when I heard it, knowing you had just started with them. If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know. Have you had any luck finding something else? The only person I know that has anything remotely to do with airplanes is Lou Pepper of Million Air at the Addison airport, 1300 Westgrove Drive, Dallas 75248 (214-248-1600). You might try contacting him, perhaps he may have contacts or leads in the private sector who might be looking for a pilot. I think he's the President. He's in his mid to upper 30s, from Oakland, New Jersey. I've known him for about 10 years. Robert was best friends with his son, Michael, since they were 3 of 4 years old. He used to live down the street from me but since Lou moved out of my neighborhood about 1 1/2 to 2 years ago, I hardly ever see him. I hope you will find something, I know how it is being out of work with kids to support.
How are y'all doing? Is everyone coping okay? Have you had any luck finding a therapist to work with the kids? I know there are community services that offer therapy on a sliding scale. I went to one in Carrollton which was on a sliding scale. I found it very helpful. We went as a family an also individually. Since I virtually dragged my kids there, they did not really benefit as much as i did. While I certainly could benefit from additional therapy, I had reached a point that I couldn't get past and decided to stop going for awhile. I intend to resume sometime in the future. I hope you will pursue it, the kids have a lot of difficult issues to deal with in their lives. I think it's especially important because it's difficult enough going through adolescence let alone having such traumatic experiences already in their young lives.
When we last were together you asked if I would pursue any record of a marriage between Ethel Ward and Altgen. I am enclosing the Marriage Index the County Records Clerk sent me. The only thing I can see is an E.L. Ward marriage in 1936 to a Jessie Wolf. That's considerably later than the years you suggested. Do you think that might be anything? Do you want me to pursue it? Is there any other names that may have been used? Is there a possibility she may have used a different name? (They circled Altgen, J. H. for Henry Altgen - but the other name is Willie Pitchford) In regards to Vern, I am having difficulty getting anything from Dallas. They said the adoption records would have been sealed. I am still trying to find out how to get information on him. Do you know where in Oklahoma he was born, perhaps I can pursue info from Oklahoma. I cannot recall if we discussed this, but I thought he was Vern Lambert? If so, was he formally adopted by Harry Lambert and Ethel, and were they actually married? Do we have their death certificates? If you can give me more information, I will help with these searches. I need to locate the scraps of paper I made on notes at Christmas in the info to get my mother's birth certificate. I misplaces my notes so I have not followed up on that yet.
I would really like to get a copy of what info you have so that you have so that I can help try and follow up getting some blanks filled in. Also, I can't remember the information you have and I would like to be able to see it again. That way I can be checking into things as well. I would like, if possible, to get a copy on diskette as well. I am enclosing a check for $20 to cover the cost of getting some diskettes, running copies, and postage (let me know if additional funds needed/incurred and I will forward funds). My computer at home currently does not have a hard drive and has the 5 1/4" Double Density drives, however, my office computer has High Density both 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" drives (in addition to the hard drive). So whichever size you need to use will be fine as I can use my office computer. This way I can add/update info as received and help you with searches. Since I have the worst memory, and it gets so confusing, I don't remember what all you had can't help without the details.
Ass I told you, if y'all come to Dallas, y'all are welcome to stay at my place. I have bunk beds in Rob's room (Rob is in New Jersey living with Bob) and Kristen has a double bed in her room (she often stays up in Lewisville at her friend's apartment so that she is half way to the University of North Texas that she attends). I know the kids stayed with Kim in Richardson, but y'all are welcome to stay by me. I realize they don't know me except for the brief visit at Christmas but I'm sure we'd be fine.
Rob went back to New Jersey the end of July. I brought him home with with me June 21st for a visit. Originally he wanted to move back to Texas. Then he fell "in love" with a girl in New Jersey and decided he would stay there. (NOTE: The day Rob got back to New Jersey, the girl broke up with him.... it sure is tough going through the teen years!) He says he decided he would give Manchester High in Haledon (his father's alma mater), which has about 300 students, a try. I really feel he would be better at that school then the one here. Kristen went to Neuman Smith here, which is a very large high school. Rob doesn't function well under the traditional public school system here and if I had the money I would send him to a Montessori school. He went to one one for pre-school and kindergarten that a friend of mine was running at the time. He excelled in that type of environment. In addition to the schools, I felt Rob really needed some male influence in his life. He has been in a female household all his life and needed to learn whatever fathers are suppose to teach their sons. Especially when it comes to adolescence and the changes they go through, I don't have a clue since I'm not a guy. In addition, I'm hoping that having family around him will be good for him. While Bob's family is not perfect, there are some members of his family that are caring and helpful. Both my kids are especially close to their grandmother. Bertie (Bob's mother) is seriously ill, just getting out of the hospital after almost two months. On top of all her other medical problems, she suffered a mini-stroke just before I left New Jersey. I don't think the doctors really have a clue as to what her medical problems are about. She has like six or seven specialists involved in her case. She suffers with some rare blood disorder, blood colts in her legs, high blood pressure, heart problems, weakness, and then the mini-stroke. She lost weight and has aged ten years since i saw her at Christmas. We are really concerned about her and don't know what to expect. Both my kids are extremely concerned about her and want to be with her. Kristen will be going up again with her boyfriend (she was up there in May visiting when Bertie had to be hospitalized) [at the end of August] for a week. She will be there for her Grandmother's 74th birthday.
Bob is having a difficult time and is really stressed to the max. He has been out of work for about 1 1/2 years now, working occasionally whenever he can find any. He was living in that house that his stepfather owned and when his stepfather passed away it went to the son. The son, Jack, is a total jerk that everyone, including the guy's three ex-wives and his children, can't stand. Jack is a greedy s.o.b. who decided he wouldn't give Bertie the money John (her husband) left her in his will. Bob was suppose to be able to stay in the house and be reimbursed tor the money he put into repairing the house (some $12,000+) and pay a nominal rent. The house is a 100+ year old box that you couldn't pay me to live in. Bob was paying $200 or $300 to live there, this guy gave an ultimatum via an attorney - pay $800 month or be evicted! Bob moved out. He added some rooms in his mother's attic for them to stay in with materials they got form odd jobs, etc. He was right in the process of finishing the rooms when his mother was hospitalized. He was trying to finish the rooms, move their stuff over and be at the hospital all at the same time. Then when he does get any work, he has to coordinate getting people to take care of his mother while he's out. At least Rob is old enough to help and take care of himself. Financially, fortunately Bertie has income from Social Security, pensions and interest on savings to cover expenses (her house and care are paid in full).
I told you my Dad gave me some letters that one of his relatives found in an attic that were from his grandfather and uncle to his mother and aunt. The basically were about how times were so bad, nobody had any money and they were sick a lot. I don't know why my Dad had never shoed them to me (he got them just a couple of years ago). They don't have any details or reference to any of the skeletons in the closets. They don't say anything that anyone would have questioned anything about the past. It's a shame I didn't get tot talk more to him that night and didn't get paper and pen to take notes (although I think he wouldn't have liked it if I had). It was the first time my Dad has ever spoken about his childhood. I felt like it was actually a relief to him that I even knew. I don't know if it was the medication he was taking and that he was going to go in the next morning for the angiogram that he finally opened up and talked to me a little about it. I called the person who sent Dad the letters but there was an answering machine on. I left a message but did not get a return call. I'll try writing or calling again. I wanted to see what other information they might have to tell me. I would like to start to get a chart filled in on my Dad's side. Considering that side of my family is just as mindboggling as my Mon's, it will be a difficult challenge to undertake.
After I got back from New Jersey in June my boss returned from a trip to Canada, where the main partners are who own this company. Unfortunately it didn't go well. Seems my boss is really tired of dealing with the same old properties which are a major headache. When he came on board, there was to be new deals which he would have a part of. Evidently, he's tired of waiting, it's been over a year and they have not done any new deals. In addition, the properties which we do have are either major headaches, been put into bankruptcy or unable to sell. He told me when I got back that he felt the partners should wind up the company in six months and forget about Texas. He feels they do not have a good enough reputation with the banks now and that trying to get financing to build anything is almost impossible. He said he intended to give it till Christmas and then he was history. Well, I am not thrilled. I dread the job search again. I don't need to tell you how difficult it is. While my skills are more adaptable to any field, the market is saturated with others who are younger and willing to settle for less money. So I am going to look for a second job to pay down my credit cards, which I used for the car rental at Christmas, airfares for everybody this summer, clothes and medical expenses. I hope to get them paid off within the next six months. I want to get down to just having the major monthly expenses and no credit card payments to deal with. Unfortunately, my monthly usual expenses are high (mortgage payment, car payment, utilities, insurances). Oh well, somehow I'll manage... I have so far. (It must be hereditary.....this letter is all about "depression times" just like the ones my Dad had given me from his relatives! History repeating itself?)
I need to get a letter off to Aunt Helen soon. I haven't talked to her or written since I was up in New Jersey last. I would rather call, but my telephone bill is outrageous lately and I am trying to get it lower. If you happen to be in touch with Aunt Helen, please giver her my love.
Well, I've rambled on quite a bit, (which is what happens when I start these "letters" and why they never get mailed) and since I am at work, I guess I better close for now so that I actually mail this. If I keep going on and on it will never get sent. Hope things improve soon for you. I know it's difficult but try and keep a positive attitude. I firmly believe for every door that closes another one opens. Look at your options and see what alternatives you can work with. Perhaps this might be a time to take some college courses (you would probably qualify for financial aid to cover expenses). Or train in another field that interests you. Let me know if there's any way I can help. My best to you and the kids.
{Love, Linda}
M A R R I A G E I N D E X
FROM AUG 1846 TO OCT 1963 PAGE 196 A
MARR REC 7/25/18 M 18 025 0121 ALTGEN J H PITCHFORD WILLIE M
MARR REC 11/09/40 M 40 072 0084 ALTGEN MARY E WILLIAMS EUGENE
MARR REC 5/30/22 M 22 034 0016 ALTGEN WILLIE M GILBERT A J
M A R R I A G E I N D E X
FROM AUG 1846 TO OCT 1963 PAGE 150
MARR REC 7/04/36 M 36 061 0150 WARD E L WOLF JESSIE
