[Editor’s note: These letters were transcribed by Lori Wortham. The editors gratefully acknowledge her invaluable assistance.
[Other than corrections for clarity, the original spellings have been retained.]
Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, September 20, 1972
Sept 20-72
Dear Mom & Dad,
I’m sorry that it has taken me so long to write you. the bad part about it is I have no excuse but neglect on my part. I’m a bit the lazy side I guess. But let’s go on from here.
How are both of you. Alden and I are doing exceptionally well here. We arrived in Redwood Valley last thursday evening and at this point are living with same people Ron & Debby are living with. We are hoping to find a place where we can have a room of our own because we have so much junk to get out of the weather.
We are all hoping that you two can com to the next L.A. meeting. It won’t be painful at all and we would really enjoy seeing you. It’s Sept 23 and 24 on the corner of Hoover and S Alvarado. On the 23; 2:00 pm. to 7:00 p.m.: on the 24; 11:00 a.m.. It used to be the Christian Science Church. We just got back yesterday evening from San Francisco. It was very beautiful and everyone we met were
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beautiful. Maybe Frank could come with you too.
[Second half of letter written by Alden]
Hello to both of you. There is nothing much to add except both or should I say all of us feel this move was extremely correct. I won’t attempt to convince you of Jim’s validity because this has to be a personal move on each individuals part. The man is pure, purer than any human I have ever had the opportunity to witness. It is not a “religious” group in the the common sense of the word, but a group dedicated to live and love as we were originally intended. If you come don’t merely observe the surface, realize the strata of consciousness he is reaching is extremely varied. You will see the truth if you are willing to open your eyes and see it. Put away all of the
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conditioned preconceived notions and as the Bible says lest ye become as a little child or become as innocent and as open as a small child before he was taught to fear, hate and doubt, you will see.
The willingness to put away the false security of materiality is the greatest barrier to entering what is referred to as the Kingdom of harmony and that is what it is, a harmonious state of being which is difficult or impossible to be in unless one is willings to give in a selfless way. I hope these few lines will somehow show you our position. Don’t fear for us because it is what we were destined to be and do. It would be like telling the disciples of Jesus to go back to fishing we cannot go back.
Hope to see you. if not our love is with you.
Alden & Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, January 2, 1973
Jan 2, 1973
Dear Mom and Dad,
It’s the day after New Years. I hope you had a nice holiday. We had a Turkey dinner for Christmas and a chicken dinner for New Years day. All in all it was wonderful.
I wanted to thank you both for the 50.00 gift you sent me. With the money it was made possible for 3 of our children to have an equal Christmas. Some of our children never experienced the givings of gifts at Christmas before they came here. This is so important for them at this time.
We are continuing to learn from Jim every day. The meaning for my whole existence has turned into a reality where before I was constantly questioning for what reason was I here. I feel very fortunate.
I hope you both are doing fine and enjoying yourselves and the use of the cabin. It must be nice having a place like that where you can get away from all the noise.
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Well, I’m going to close now. If you see any old friends at school, mom, tell them I said Hello.
Love and Peace,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, May 9, 1973
May 9, 1973
Dear Mom & Dad,
How are you doing. All of us are doing great.
We have all moved into our new home in the valley. It’s so beautiful. We have our own wells for water. A friend came up and helped us get started on our garden; so thats in. We have 17 acres of creek, grape vinyards, oak trees and meadow out where there ain’t no city noises or mills. We are getting nanny goat that that is just due in 2 more days. We are also getting chickens and ducks. We have 21 cats now and 18 dogs, so yours won’t get lonely for a “dog-friend.” (We could even give you one thats spayed). Anyway it’s really great.
Do you remember Debbie and Rick Schroeder? (Ron & Debbie’s friends). Well they moved in next door to us. There’s a lot of work but the results are more than worth it here. The children love it too I might say.
If your wondering what these thickets are, we are having a raffle and the items that are listed is what is going to be raffled. I thought you would be interested so I got 5 to send to you. They are a 100 [ed. note: could be 1.00] each
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so if you don’t want all of them maybe you know someone else that would. The raffle [is] it the 20th of this month so send them back quickly. All these things on the ticket have been donated; but we need the money to help feed the people.
I’ve been working every week-end. It seems forever since I’ve been to L.A. Hope I can make it soon.
Love,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, September 25, 1973
September 25, 1973
Dear Mom and dad,
Hello, and how are you? We are all doing fine.
I’m sorry that it took so long to write, but we have had a lot of moving around of stuff at our house and the desert address got lost.
I’m very glad for you that you are going to continue going to school. I think school is a very invaluable experience. I will be very happy when I start this coming January.
Thank you so much for the money that was sent. I do desperately need uniforms for school and work and the money has come in very handy.
Winter is coming upon us very quickly now. I was kind of dreading the cold season, but the other day when I got up and went outside at 7:30, it was so beautiful with the mist around the mountain, and the leaves were falling in piles, and the ground was soaking wet from last nights rain. The clouds layed a blanket over the valley that kept all the warmth inside, I quickly changed my mind. Of course it’s getting a bit chilly, but the blood does thicken up to it.
Since the last time I talked to you we have gotten 13 rhode island red chicks from the hatchery. They are all doing beautiful and growing fast. We also have 3 more banty chickens that I got
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from a lady at work.
Oh yeh, and a New York Indian Runner duck just like Francis was. Just as loud too. Sounds like we’re importing the east coast, huh!
Barney and Nancy Beckland came up. I guess it was about a month ago. They could only stay for a couple hours and I was at work so I did not see them. They told Ron that Mike Barry is living with them now and trying to get his head together, and Patty is going with some other guy. That’s got to be the craziest situation I’ve heard in a long time.
I’m working P.M. shift now. That’s 3-11. It’s a lot easier. I have a little time to read now in between lights and rounds.
Ron has also changed over to the P.M. shift. Debbie really enjoys her job as a teachers aid too.
Also thanks very much for the pictures you sent.
How’s your dog doing dad?
You guys ought to have some chickens out there in the desert if your going to live out there. If you do, make sure that they are completely caged in and use 1” chicken wire and no bigger
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cuz the varmints can get thru anything bigger. It only seems practical and it makes sence also with the price of food that it is.
I have to go to the dentist next week and get my teeth worked on. It sure is a wonderful feeling to know that my teeth are all intact except for a couple of very small cavities.
Yesterday I walked up and down the streets of Ukiah picking up walnuts. There are walnut trees everywhere and the streets are just covered. I picked 3 lunch bags full just walking to work.
Well I have to go now and get ready for work. This letter was longer and I re-wrote it smaller.
Peace and Love,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, November 19, 1974
11/19/74
Dear Mom & Dad,
Got your 2 letters last night in the mail. I’ve been trying to get a letter out to you but thing just keep coming up.
Nice to hear that your working at Bob’s Shop! Is this a permanent type job? I don’t know how you could stand to stay around home. Now when I’m sick for a day, I feel like I’m vegatating.
Tomorrow I’m going to the coast to help train one of the new girls we’ve hired in clerical work. I’ll be showing her how to Medi-Cal Bill and keep statistics. It’s about all I do anymore besides odd jobs.
I’m feeling like I’d really like to move down to the S.F./Berkeley area. I drive down to Berkeley every other week to talk to the street people about our principles and our humanitarian works and I really like the area. Also, to be a living example to the way we live would be better proof to them than just a 15 minute talk. It’s something I’m considering very seriously, and with my work experience I’ve got, I could probably get better pay also.
I got one drawing finished for that couple that you and dad know, but I messed up the face so bad on one of the peoples faces that it was irreversable! So I’ll get on it again and tell Kloss not to lose faith! I’ve got another drawing that I’m just finishing up but it’s
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something I would want to get @ least 150.00 to 200.00 for because of the work in it. There’s an art fair here in town the 22nd and I’m trying to get it finished by then.
You will never guess who keeps writing me!? Or maybe I’ve already told you… Bob [last name illegible]. He even sent me a poster of his band. He’s back in Fullerton now. His letter’s are so empty of anything and just the relationship we had was so bad and his mental and emotional needs are still the same that I won’t write him. He’s a very nice person, but @ the same time he is very selfish, and why should I carry on a communication with someone I can’t communicate too. It’s not worth the time to me.
It’s at the end of the day @ work and if you are going to get this letter I had better get it off.
This coming week-end I possibly will be coming down but I just don’t know yet what my schedule will be, so if you have plans for the desert don’t stay home and if I do make it to LA I’ll give you a call Sat. morning.
Love,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, November 29, 1974
11/29/74
Dear Mom and Dad,
It’s Friday after Thanksgiving. We had a beautiful Thanksgiving here in the Valley. So much food that I had dinner twice!
My phone # is 485-7914. I live with some of the first people I met here and we’re really fixen the house up. The laundry room has turned into an ideal hot house for my plants and I’m working on turning it into a jungle.
I wanted to let you know about my car payments because we have none of our taxes taken out of our pay check. I have to save the money up in the next 2 months. One of our secretaries told me to figure 75.00 out of each month and that means from April to January. That’s 900.00 dollarooos!!! So for the next 2 months I have to be supported!
My car is going into the garage most likely this Wednesday coming. It’s gotten to the point where it dies almost every time I stop for a light or slow down for a yield. I’m told it still looks like a major overhaul but they’re not sure cuz the car doesn’t have enuff miles on it for that.
I’m waiting on the thought of
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moving to S.F. for awhile longer. I still have a lot to do here.
Work is very busy. I have the responsibility of purchasing all office supplies and getting them to our clinic sights. Because we are expanding so fast (3 new staff on the coast and 4 in Ukiah) this has turned into a daily running around town job. Makes the day go real fast.
I drew the picture for Kloss and his wife!! It turned out fantastic. Just enuff of the feeling I wanted to get into it but easy enuff to live with. It’s a drawing of the people from the Laosian [Laotian] Mts. In East Asia. Very similar to my Black “Mother and child from Biafra.” But I really pulled one of my good ones with it. I was working on it on my lunch hour at work and when I finished it, I pushed it against the wall between my desk and 15 minutes later I spilled a can of V-8 juice from the top to the bottom of it! Just Wonderful!! But I have a solution. We have a light table down @ our publications dept. If you know anything
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about printing – the light table is used to place photo copy on so you see thru the layers and line things up. So I’m going to take photo copies of my drawing piece by piece (It’s pretty big!) and tape it together and have a go at it on the light table tracing it! (Shhhh! The best artist is the one that can cheat and get away with it!)
So that’s my project for this weekend and I will be done with the finished product next week-end December 7th. I will give you a call in the evening as soon as service gets out.
It’s colder than a witches-tit up her in the morning. I go out in the morning to un-crystalize my car before I can go to work.
Could you please send me everyone’s address down there, friends relatives etc. I don’t have any money to buy anything with, but our printing dept. made a beautiful Christmas card and I could send them one of those.
Hope you can read this.
Peace & Love,
Nancy
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Typed letter – in caps – from Nancy Sines to parents, January 29, 1975
1/29/75
Dear Mom and Dad,
I’m typing on a machine that only types in upper case letters. And if I press the gismo that is supposed to push to get a capital, I get a ~~~~every time.v (high note for the day’
So hows it going these days?
~ Jst got my car to a garage today after sitting for 3 weeks un-driveable. The guy is bery reasonable. I have to replace the gasket set, the rear seal, the oil pan gasket, a ring set, the main bearing, a set of rod bearings, lugs, and of course oil……… (this thing doesn’t type “s” too well. So wherever you see a blank space, that’s where the go.
Anyway, back to the car…….. It’s almost a whole months take home wages for me. I just want you to know that I haven’t forgotten you and I am going to make payments on my car as soon as I get this thing together. Estimate is 325.26. If nothing else goes wrong. I can hardly wait to get it back. It’s going to run like a brand new car.
Spring seems right around the corner and we never had winter. Had about one tenth the rain that is normal for this area………and I’ve been dressing for summer.
Thznks for sending me some booties for my nighties. They are really swell.
There I go again. Well I haven’t got anything else to say at the moment. I ahve a lot of cleaning to do. Etxetra tonight. Been working a lot of overtime lately so I’m really behind at home in that area.
Take care. I’ll be down as soon as I can. Which doesn’t look too close in the future because of home responsibilities such as the spring garden and painting, and family planning extras and the only time for these things is o the weekends. Keep in touch.
Love…………..
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Typed letter from Nancy Sines to parents, June 18, 1975
June 18th, 1975
Dear Mom and Dad,
Happy Father’s Day a little bit belated!I have a card, beleive me, I really do, but I can’t find it now. When I do, I’ll send it. It’s so pretty, I want to keep it for myself. It reminds me of that ceramic ware by, Oh yeh—Hummel.
How has everything been going for you folks? Everything is great up here. Hotter than the dickens now that it’s summer. Got our garden in a couple of weeks ago, and the corn is already popping up. Now you know that’s hot!
I know your wondering what happened when I saw the attorney in Los Angeles. It was quite an experience for a novice like myself. I went into a very ordinary looking building for the area, (ther’re all big), and went up to the sixth floor like instructed. So I climb out of the elevator in to the hall, right? Right. And I looks down the hall to the right of me and I scan every door looking for a hint of the right name or number. Nope. So I looks to the left of me and scans all the doors for the name or number that will give me a clue as to which way I should start walking. No luck. But then I look off into the distance and clear down at the very end of the hall hang these two enormous oaken doors that together span about fifteen feet. Now this next line I know is really going to hurt you, and I swear it’s the truth and if you don’t believe me I will give you the address and you can check it out for yourself: Above the doors were HUGE BRASS (I guess) LETTERS THAT WERE AT LEAST 2 and ½ feet high. That said: JOHN FROLICH. Now tell me I wasn’t a little boot shaken after viewing this and realizing that I had to go in there!
It wasn’t so bad though. He was really a nice guy. don’t know what Is going to happen with the settlement yet, and I don’t know when, but I’ll let you know when I do.
I’ll get that prin off to you as soon as I can get a tube. Probably next week sometime after I get paid. We were wondering if you could send those two prints (I’m so used to using that word after working around printing,), drawings that you have of mine from the book the Family of Man. The ones of the little girl and the little boy. We just want them long enough to photograph them and I promise I’ll send them back. We’re trying to get a portfolio together for a friend of ours that can do good salesman stuff to take to the city. And we need to get as much stuff together as soon as possible.
Have you heard from the Williams yet on the jade that you wanted?
Have to go now, Hope tosee you soon.
Peace and Love,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, October 6, 1975
10/6/75
Dear Mom and Dad,
I’ve been waiting to get my pretty stationary to write to you on, but it hasn’t arrived yet so I will resort to my yellow tablet.
I guess you could call it the first day of winter here. It’s the first day that is really bleary and rainy with good bone chilling air. Winter is going to come whether we like it or not.
Shure had a good time visiting with you last week. Your little party was really fun.
I got your package in the mail Saturday. No note, no card – just my under wear! I’m glad it didn’t rip open in transit. That could have been a little embarrassing!
Everybody @ work loved the pants and shirt you got me for my birthday! And I do too! They are realy sharp looking. It’s probably the nicest thing I’ve got and I shure appreciate them. You just can’t get things nice like that in Ukiah.
I was wondering if you could do something for me mom. I’m going to send you 4 or 5 dollars and could you pick me up some little neck scarfs and maybe head scarfs. At that shop where we got my pants and shirt they had a table
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that was full of little scarfs – really pretty colors and patterns from somewhere like India. Could you go by there next time you go to Cerritos Mall and pick some up for me? I think there were fairly cheap. Like a dollar. I could use one with browns in it and one with pinks in it; greens, and blue of course. I’ll send the money.
Did I leave my face cleanser and hair rinse @ your place. I can’t find it anywhere. If I did, just hold on to it and I’ll get it the next time I come down.
The phone is ringing like crazy here. It really takes up a lot of time when one is trying to do something else.
I have something else up my sleeve for my drawings. I’ll tell you next time I’m down.
Take care of yourselves.
Peace and Love,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, December 23, 1975
12/25/75
Dear Mom and Dad,
We had very enjoyable time @ your house for the holiday. Sorry we couldn’t have stayed longer, but as it was, I missed a lot of things I was supposed to help with.
I understand that Ron called Sunday to let you know that he and Danny couldn’t make it because of the late hour. Next time I get a chance to come down (3 or 4 weeks), Danny and I will come over to pick up these [two illegible words].
We had a very eventful ride home from San Francisco to the valley. Before we even got to Petaluma about 30 miles outside of S.F.) the engine completely burned up on us and froze up. We were in the middle of nowhere. We turned on the emergency blinker and decided to go to sleep, because it was 3:30 in the morning and wasn’t nothing else to do. At 5:30, one of our buses came by coincidentally, the same one when my car got totalled – so we did get a ride home. Didn’t think we were going to reach the valley till maybe noon – but thanks would be, we did.
I am very sick right now with the flu or something similar. I have been fighting it since last friday, but it finally got a hold of me this morning.
I hope you have alot of fun @ your Christmas and New Years parties. I haven’t been down to Publications to ask about the prints and cards because of my cold, but I will.
Peace and Love,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, February 14, 1976
2/14/76
Dear Mom & Dad,
How are you folks doing? And how’s the weather? That’s the big question these days you know. – Had any rain? We, as of yesterday, are receiving our first rain for the winter. Seems like the first time all winter it wasn’t hot and Sunny during the daytime. It’s always chilly @ night. The rain is so welcome! I did think that Mendicino County was entering into a drought.
Haven’t been doing much lately other than working and taking care of the boys. Diane has had a bad case of the flu the past week, so I’ve had the children full time. One never appreciates the role of motherhood until it’s experienced. Believe me, I feel I have experienced it fully even though it’s only when necessity occasions it. It’s a Hellova lot of work!
Saw a real funny movie the other night. It’s called “The Heart of the Beast,” and is a comedy spoof on the old west. I laffed all the way thru it. You ought to try to see it.
Have you found out if your going to be moving to Texas? Boy, that will shure be exciting if you do. And quite a change
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from California too I bet. I can’t imagine you just closing up your house for a year though. You ought to think of someone who could stay there and keep an eye on everything. Maybe someone like Irvin and Joyce, who don’t have any real roots in the ground yet.
I found a home for my Afghan. She lives on the coast now with a lady in Ft. Bragg, I’m so glad she found a home where someone has the time to give her. I have one more little dog I need to find a home for. She is very similar to your Baby, but a little more friendly for a pat on the head.
I guess I better be going now. Don and Debbie are doing fine and say Hello. Ron got a good pair of boots, but not from Penny’s. Say hello to every one for us, and we’ll try to come down soon.
Peace and Love,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, March 17, 1976
3/17/76
Dear Mom and Dad,
It’s Wednesday. Sure was sorry to hear you weren’t feeling so well. I hope by now you are feeling much better and up and about now. I will try to get down and see you as soon as possible. I’ve been having to work over on Saturdays recently because of the work load, etc.
It’s just like summer up here. It’s hot enuff to get a suntan even! I am concerned about the the water situation though. If it keeps up, there’s sure to be a drought situation developing this summer.
This is some of the paper we use to print calendars on for Family Planning. This color will be used for Halloween. Nice paper-huh.
Income taxes are about to blow my mind! Just found out from the fellow who did my taxes last year that I owe on April 15th – 12,000.00 smakeroos. Now wouldn’t that blow your mind?!!!
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, March 29, 1976
5/29/76
Dear Mom and Dad.
Hope you are feeling fine. I hope your over your arthritic attack Mom, and taking it easy. You really do try to do too much and you should relax more.
It’s so beautiful in Redwood Valley today. It’s Sunday and the sky is a Cerelean [cerulean] Blue. Very deep, and the suns shining hot and gentle breeze is blowing. Just like in a song – huh. We’ve had just enough rain to keep everything green, nut not high!
I no longer work in the front office @ work – I have been re-located to the back of the building – Family Planning had 3 new offices built and that’s the complex Im in. It’s really nice, because we can shut the door to the rest of the health dept., and play music, and show films, and stuff and us bother everyone else. My main for now is V.D. [venereal disease] follow-up and statistics. All of my clerical work will be taken away and given to someone else, which is all right with me.
I’ve been working on a drawing for a guy named Mr. Denny, who is the head of the welfare dept. here. It’s going to be for a women’s group of mothers on welfare trying to get themselves together. I may get some money for it, and I might not. Whatever happens it sure is good to practice for me. The drawing is of a
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girl, smiling with all her teeth showing and her eyes closed. It’s very hard to not make her look ridiculous.
Well gotta go now.
P.S. – How was Irvin and Joyce’s wedding?!
Love and Peace,
Nancy
[notation at foot of page] Pat & Dennis Denny
1-707-462-1072
1601 Dearwood Drive
Ukiah. 95482
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, October 12, 1976
10/12/76
Dear Mom and Dad,
It was nice talking to you last night. Sound like your having alot of fun buying stuff.
Sorry it took so long before you heard from me. The trip we went on took a great deal of my time, preparing for it and just doing it. I really enjoyed the different country sides. We went to so many states I cannot even remember all of them.
Mom – if you could spare the money, I don’t have any clothes to find a job in. I had two shirts that came out of the laundrymat with big brown stains on them so they are now ruined. If you could find a couple nice cotton wrap-around skirts (midi-length), size 9, I could sure use them. Maybe a black one and a brown or blue one or drk. grey. I found some nice shoes but as far as clothes go, I only have jeans. I’m going to try some of the agencies, but right now I’m mainly up shit creek in Ukiah – You could
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dress more casual – but in S.F. every one is styling. I know you folks are hurting for money right now, but wrap-arounds are not really expensive and they are versatile. They must have some little [illegible word] around them.
I’m going to see if I can sell some of my artwork here. I’m planning on going out after lunch. I hope it turns out to be fruitful. I’m going to try some galleries and see what kind of response I get.
I renewed my license the other day in S.F. I was so afraid I would flunk! I only missed 3 though.
Well, I must go now if I’m going to get on the road.
Peace and Love,
Nancy
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, October 17, 1976
10/17/76
Dear Mom and Dad,
Received your letter from you to us. Saw Ron this week-end for a few moments. He’s looking good. Deb was out doing other things.
I’m spending the week-end in Redwood Valley picking up a few odds and ends that I left laying around. Was hoping to find a shirt I can’t find now, but I guess I didn’t leave it here either. It was a really nice one too – jean material with diagonal stitched V patterns on it. I hate to borrow other peoples clothes so much because I’m afraid I’m going to wreck them or something.
It’s been very hot in the Valley the past 2 days – surprisingly so. I thought Winter would be setting in – the weather has been so crazy lately though; it was 80° all week last in San Francisco.
Glad to hear your having some good experiences in Fort Worth now. I knew I know as soon as you got to know some folks it would be alright.
I’m reading a book right now called “We Are Your Song” by Robert and Michael Meeropol. They are the sons of Ethyl and Julius Rosenberg; it’s a book containing many of the letters written by Ethyl [Ethel] and Julius Rosenberg while awaiting the electric chair. I [It] also contains a lot of inserts
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of ther reactions as children and experience then and since. A very heart rending book. It’s funny that something as large as there trial was going on yet I don’t remember hearing anything about it. Of course I was only 4 years old at the time – I really don’t remember anything prior to school and then just a few scenes of that.
Did you hear in Texas about Peoples Temple marching for 4 Fresno reporters who were put in jail because they wrote a few articles concerning local govt. in Fresno County and illegal us [use] of court’s money. They wouldn’t reveal their sources, so the judge there put them in solitary confinement “indefinitely,” or until they would talk. This is against our civil rights and the first amendment – So we marched for 4 days and 4 nights. And they got so tired of us they let them loose. We got some beautiful write-ups in the LA time and the New York Times praising what we did. And also the S.F. Chronicle. It feels so good to accomplish something for so many in this day and age. I know you know what I mean.
Well, got to go now – Write soon and all that.
Peace and Love,
Nancy
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Typed letter from Nancy Sines to parents, December 18, 1976
18 December 1876 [1976]
Dear Mom and Dad,
So how’s it going. Haven’t heard from you inn a long time. I bet it’s cold in Texas! Living up north for four years has me so used to cold weather that I hardly even now wear a coat or sweater. I get too hot in them. Never thought I’d get over that one, (heat).
I have had two jobs since I’ve been in San Francisco. Worked in a machine shop for two weeks, but they let me go after two weeks because they said I showed a lack of interest. I didn’t care much though, because I was sick the whole time cuz of all the cigarrette smoking they did and all the overtime I had to put in with no pay. Yucky place. Now I work at a Medical school. It’s called College of California Medical Affiliates. It’s really nice. They have classes in LVN, Operating Room Technician, Respiratory Therapy, Dental Lab Technician, etc. Wish I was on the other end of it. I’m the secretary or Receptionist, one and the same. I’ll find out after the 3rd of January if they are going to keep me on or not.
How’s your new little dog doing? My Goldie got killed by a car. I was heartsick for a long time, going to the pound to see if she was there or not, cuz I couldn’t believe it was her that got hit, (I was told about it.) but of course, she wasn’t there. Best dog and friend I ever had.
Oh, that job I have is right across the street from the art museum in San Francisco, so it makes my lunch hours very interesting.
I’ve been spending a lot of my time working on a play that we’re going to put on for church on New Years Day. Just a little
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short skit parody a few minutes, be even that has alot of preparation that must go into that will make everything synchronize.
I haven’t been doing any drawing either, because I just haven’t found the time.
As you can see, my typing hasn’t improved mush, but most of my work on the job deals with people. I was very lucky to get that job, I sure hope that I can keep it! The girl may or may not come back to work who is now ill.
You know Christmas is such a happy time for those who have the money to throw around for their gifts they buy [for] those they love. But I was down in the Mission District the other day, and I saw all the people walking around looking straight ahead. They looked even sadder than they usually do and then I remembered that it was the Christmas season. It must be sad to be so by yourself on Christmas that you haven’t even got anoyher soal [another soul] to talk to. And no food. Unless you go down to the Mission relief for Christmas dinner that you have to stand in line for all by yourself again. This one lady that is the wife of one of the teachers at work came in the day before yesterday, and she was telling me about this bum that was laying of the sidewalk a block away, and he had blood on him and it made her sick to look at him and she wished she hadn’t seen him. Oh how I wanted to take that woman and shake her or something. There was no concern whatsoever in her voice. She’s the one who made me sick! She didn’t even stop to see what was wrong. It’s a strange world when you think about the fact that this is the richest nation in the world and there are still old people like the one she was talking about. It would be better to be dead than to have to live like that. vDon’t you think?
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Well, I could on and on about the things I see like all around me. I guess it takes millions and millions and millions of years for something to evolve into something worthwhile.
I woll let you know what happens with my job. Right now I have to go and give a ride to some people. Keep in touch, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Peace and Love,
Nancy
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Undated handwritten card from Nancy Sines to parents
Dear Mom & Dad,
How’s everything going? Got your last letter a few days ago. Sorry again the delay in writing.
I haven’t had a chance to get over and look up Riki yet, but I plan to. It’s pretty close by car. Actually, it’s surprising how small San Francisco is in general. It’s nothing at all compared to Los Angeles.
It’s Saturday, sunny, cold and windy. I just found out last night that San Francisco is the coldest in the winter. I was sorry to hear that, believe me!
Still looking for a job. I am staying with friends in the meantime who have been kind enough to help me out until I find another job. Seems to be harder than usual this time.
Why don’t you go ahead and send my mail to 1814 Divisadero. I don’t think there will be a
[letter ends]
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Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, April 13, 1977
4/13/77
Dear Mom & Dad,
Please again excuse the lateness in my replies. My letter writing punctuality leaves a great deal to be desired. @ least you’ll be getting two letters; this one and one I wrote last week.
Nothing much has changed since the last letter. I have been going to the S.F. Library a lot lately – checking into wood sculpture and ceramics, nat’l dying of wood, etc. Patti is planning on getting into weaving, and I thought it would be fun to tag along in the venture. That’s neat that your getting into reading Chinese. Are you going to learn how to speak it also? Is this for your antiques that your bringing so that you can read the inscriptions.
I’m watching “Charlies’ Angels” on T.V.
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First time I’ve seen it. I think I’d rather read a book.
Well, I’ve got to go now. I will write you again as soon as I have something new to write about – like a job!
Take care
Peace and Love
Nancy
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