{"id":132763,"date":"2025-11-07T16:25:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T00:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=132763"},"modified":"2025-12-04T14:28:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T22:28:54","slug":"letters-of-nancy-sines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=132763","title":{"rendered":"Letters of Nancy Sines"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Editor\u2019s note<\/strong>: These letters were transcribed by Lori Wortham. The editors gratefully acknowledge her invaluable assistance.<\/em><\/p>\n

[Other than corrections for clarity, the original spellings have been retained.]<\/em><\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, September 20, 1972<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sept 20-72<\/p>\n

Dear Mom & Dad,
\nI\u2019m 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\u2019m a bit the lazy side I guess. But let\u2019s go on from here.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

We are all hoping that you two can com to the next L.A. meeting. It won\u2019t be painful at all and we would really enjoy seeing you. It\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

beautiful. Maybe Frank could come with you too.<\/p>\n

[Second half of letter written by Alden]<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019t attempt to convince you of Jim\u2019s 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 \u201creligious\u201d 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\u2019t 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<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t 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.
\nHope to see you. if not our love is with you.<\/p>\n

Alden & Nancy<\/p>\n

—–
\nHandwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, January 2, 1973<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jan 2, 1973<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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.
\nI 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.
\nWe 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.
\nI 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.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Well, I\u2019m going to close now. If you see any old friends at school, mom, tell them I said Hello.<\/p>\n

Love and Peace,
\nNancy<\/p>\n

—–
\nHandwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, May 9, 1973<\/strong><\/p>\n

May 9, 1973<\/p>\n

Dear Mom & Dad,<\/p>\n

How are you doing. All of us are doing great.<\/p>\n

We have all moved into our new home in the valley. It\u2019s 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\u2019t 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\u2019t get lonely for a \u201cdog-friend.\u201d (We could even give you one thats spayed). Anyway it\u2019s really great.<\/p>\n

Do you remember Debbie and Rick Schroeder? (Ron & Debbie\u2019s friends). Well they moved in next door to us. There\u2019s a lot of work but the results are more than worth it here. The children love it too I might say.<\/p>\n

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]<\/em> each<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

so if you don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been working every week-end. It seems forever since I\u2019ve been to L.A. Hope I can make it soon.<\/p>\n

Love,
\nNancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, September 25, 1973<\/strong><\/p>\n

September 25, 1973<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and dad,<\/p>\n

Hello, and how are you? We are all doing fine.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Drawing at bottom of page by Nancy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s getting a bit chilly, but the blood does thicken up to it.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

from a lady at work.<\/p>\n

Oh yeh, and a New York Indian Runner duck just like Francis was. Just as loud too. Sounds like we\u2019re importing the east coast, huh!<\/p>\n

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\u2019s got to be the craziest situation I\u2019ve heard in a long time.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m working P.M. shift now. That\u2019s 3-11. It\u2019s a lot easier. I have a little time to read now in between lights and rounds.<\/p>\n

Ron has also changed over to the P.M. shift. Debbie really enjoys her job as a teachers aid too.<\/p>\n

Also thanks very much for the pictures you sent.<\/p>\n

How\u2019s your dog doing dad?<\/p>\n

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\u201d chicken wire and no bigger<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Well I have to go now and get ready for work. This letter was longer and I re-wrote it smaller.<\/p>\n

Peace and Love,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–
\nHandwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, November 19, 1974<\/strong><\/p>\n

11\/19\/74<\/p>\n

Dear Mom & Dad,<\/p>\n

Got your 2 letters last night in the mail. I\u2019ve been trying to get a letter out to you but thing just keep coming up.<\/p>\n

Nice to hear that your working at Bob\u2019s Shop! Is this a permanent type job? I don\u2019t know how you could stand to stay around home. Now when I\u2019m sick for a day, I feel like I\u2019m vegatating.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow I\u2019m going to the coast to help train one of the new girls we\u2019ve hired in clerical work. I\u2019ll be showing her how to Medi-Cal Bill and keep statistics. It\u2019s about all I do anymore besides odd jobs.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m feeling like I\u2019d 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\u2019s something I\u2019m considering very seriously, and with my work experience I\u2019ve got, I could probably get better pay also.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll get on it again and tell Kloss not to lose faith! I\u2019ve got another drawing that I\u2019m just finishing up but it\u2019s<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

something I would want to get @ least 150.00 to 200.00 for because of the work in it. There\u2019s an art fair here in town the 22nd and I\u2019m trying to get it finished by then.<\/p>\n

You will never guess who keeps writing me!? Or maybe I\u2019ve already told you… Bob [last name illegible]. He even sent me a poster of his band. He\u2019s back in Fullerton now. His letter\u2019s 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\u2019t write him. He\u2019s a very nice person, but @ the same time he is very selfish, and why should I carry on a communication with someone I can\u2019t communicate too. It\u2019s not worth the time to me.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s at the end of the day @ work and if you are going to get this letter I had better get it off.<\/p>\n

This coming week-end I possibly will be coming down but I just don\u2019t know yet what my schedule will be, so if you have plans for the desert don\u2019t stay home and if I do make it to LA I\u2019ll give you a call Sat. morning.<\/p>\n

Love,
\nNancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, November 29, 1974<\/strong><\/p>\n

11\/29\/74<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Friday after Thanksgiving. We had a beautiful Thanksgiving here in the Valley. So much food that I had dinner twice!<\/p>\n

My phone # is 485-7914. I live with some of the first people I met here and we\u2019re really fixen the house up. The laundry room has turned into an ideal hot house for my plants and I\u2019m working on turning it into a jungle.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 900.00 dollarooos!!! So for the next 2 months I have to be supported!<\/p>\n

My car is going into the garage most likely this Wednesday coming. It\u2019s gotten to the point where it dies almost every time I stop for a light or slow down for a yield. I\u2019m told it still looks like a major overhaul but they\u2019re not sure cuz the car doesn\u2019t have enuff miles on it for that.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m waiting on the thought of<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

moving to S.F. for awhile longer. I still have a lot to do here.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
“Mother and child from Biafra”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2019s a drawing of the people from the Laosian [Laotian] Mts. In East Asia. Very similar to my Black \u201cMother and child from Biafra.\u201d 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<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

about printing \u2013 the light table is used to place photo copy on so you see thru the layers and line things up. So I\u2019m going to take photo copies of my drawing piece by piece (It\u2019s 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!)<\/p>\n

So that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Could you please send me everyone\u2019s address down there, friends relatives etc. I don\u2019t have any money to buy anything with, but our printing dept. made a beautiful Christmas card and I could send them one of those.<\/p>\n

Hope you can read this.<\/p>\n

Peace & Love,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–
\nTyped letter \u2013 in caps \u2013 from Nancy Sines to parents, January 29, 1975 <\/strong><\/p>\n

1\/29\/75<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

I\u2019m 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\u2019<\/p>\n

So hows it going these days?<\/p>\n

~ 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\u2019t type \u201cs\u201d too well. So wherever you see a blank space, that\u2019s where the\u00a0 go.<\/p>\n

Anyway, back to the car…….. It\u2019s almost a whole months take home wages for me. I just want you to know that I haven\u2019t 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\u2019s going to run like a brand new car.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ve been dressing for summer.<\/p>\n

Thznks for sending me some booties for my nighties. They are really swell.<\/p>\n

There I go again. Well I haven\u2019t 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\u2019m really behind at home in that area.<\/p>\n

Take care. I\u2019ll be down as soon as I can. Which doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Love…………..<\/p>\n

—–
\nTyped letter from Nancy Sines to parents, June 18, 1975 <\/strong><\/p>\n

June 18th<\/sup>, 1975<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

Happy Father\u2019s Day a little bit belated!I have a card, beleive me, I really do, but I can\u2019t find it now. When I do, I\u2019ll send it. It\u2019s so pretty, I want to keep it for myself. It reminds me of that ceramic ware by, Oh yeh\u2014Hummel.<\/p>\n

How has everything been going for you folks? Everything is great up here. Hotter than the dickens now that it\u2019s summer. Got our garden in a couple of weeks ago, and the corn is already popping up. Now you know that\u2019s hot!<\/p>\n

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\u2019re 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\u2019s the truth and if you don\u2019t 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 \u00bd feet high. That said: JOHN FROLICH<\/u>. Now tell me I wasn\u2019t a little boot shaken after viewing this and realizing that I had to go in there!<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t so bad though. He was really a nice guy. don\u2019t know what Is going to happen with the settlement yet, and I don\u2019t know when, but I\u2019ll let you know when I do.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll 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<\/span> (I\u2019m 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\u2019ll send them back. We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

Have you heard from the Williams yet on the jade that you wanted?<\/p>\n

Have to go now, Hope tosee you soon.<\/p>\n

Peace and Love,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, October 6, 1975 <\/strong><\/p>\n

10\/6\/75
\nDear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been waiting to get my pretty stationary to write to you on, but it hasn\u2019t arrived yet so I will resort to my yellow tablet.<\/p>\n

I guess you could call it the first day of winter here. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Shure had a good time visiting with you last week. Your little party was really fun.<\/p>\n

I got your package in the mail Saturday. No note, no card \u2013 just my under wear! I\u2019m glad it didn\u2019t rip open in transit. That could have been a little embarrassing!<\/p>\n

Everybody @ work loved the pants and shirt you got me for my birthday! And I do too! They are realy sharp looking. It\u2019s probably the nicest thing I\u2019ve got and I shure appreciate them. You just can\u2019t get things nice like that in Ukiah.<\/p>\n

I was wondering if you could do something for me mom. I\u2019m 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<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

that was full of little scarfs \u2013 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<\/u>, and blue<\/u> of course. I\u2019ll send the money.<\/p>\n

Did I leave my face cleanser and hair rinse @ your place. I can\u2019t find it anywhere. If I did, just hold on to it and I\u2019ll get it the next time I come down.<\/p>\n

The phone is ringing like crazy here. It really takes up a lot of time when one is trying to do something else.<\/p>\n

I have something else up my sleeve for my drawings. I\u2019ll tell you next time I\u2019m down.<\/p>\n

Take care of yourselves.<\/p>\n

Peace and Love,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, December 23, 1975 <\/strong><\/p>\n

12\/25\/75<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

We had very enjoyable time @ your house for the holiday. Sorry we couldn\u2019t have stayed longer, but as it was, I missed a lot of things I was supposed to help with.<\/p>\n

I understand that Ron called Sunday to let you know that he and Danny couldn\u2019t 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].<\/p>\n

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\u2019t nothing else to do. At 5:30, one of our buses came by coincidentally, the same one when my car got totalled \u2013 so we did get a ride home. Didn\u2019t think we were going to reach the valley till maybe noon \u2013 but thanks would be, we did.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I hope you have alot of fun @ your Christmas and New Years parties. I haven\u2019t been down to Publications to ask about the prints and cards because of my cold, but I will.<\/p>\n

Peace and Love,
\nNancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, February 14, 1976 <\/strong><\/p>\n

2\/14\/76<\/p>\n

Dear Mom & Dad,<\/p>\n

How are you folks doing? And how\u2019s the weather? That\u2019s the big question these days you know. \u2013 Had any rain? We, as of yesterday, are receiving our first rain for the winter. Seems like the first time all winter it wasn\u2019t hot and Sunny during the daytime. It\u2019s always chilly @ night. The rain is so welcome! I did think that Mendicino County was entering into a drought.<\/p>\n

Haven\u2019t 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\u2019ve had the children full time. One never appreciates the role of motherhood until it\u2019s experienced. Believe me, I feel I have experienced it fully even though it\u2019s only when necessity occasions it. It\u2019s a Hellova lot of work!<\/p>\n

Saw a real funny movie the other night. It\u2019s called \u201cThe Heart of the Beast,\u201d and is a comedy spoof on the old west. I laffed all the way thru it. You ought to try to see it.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

from California too I bet. I can\u2019t 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\u2019t have any real roots in the ground yet.<\/p>\n

I found a home for my Afghan. She lives on the coast now with a lady in Ft. Bragg, I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s. Say hello to every one for us, and we\u2019ll try to come down soon.<\/p>\n

Peace and Love,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, March 17, 1976 <\/strong><\/p>\n

3\/17\/76<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Wednesday. Sure was sorry to hear you weren\u2019t 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\u2019ve been having to work over on Saturdays recently because of the work load, etc.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just like summer up here. It\u2019s hot enuff to get a suntan even! I am concerned about the the water situation though. If it keeps up, there\u2019s sure to be a drought situation developing this summer.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 12,000.00 smakeroos. Now wouldn\u2019t that blow your mind?!!!<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, March 29, 1976 <\/strong><\/p>\n

5\/29\/76<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It’s so beautiful in Redwood Valley today. It\u2019s 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 \u2013 huh. We\u2019ve had just enough rain to keep everything green, nut not high!<\/p>\n

I no longer work in the front office @ work \u2013 I have been re-located to the back of the building \u2013 Family Planning had 3 new offices built and that\u2019s the complex Im in. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been working on a drawing for a guy named Mr. Denny, who is the head of the welfare dept. here. It\u2019s going to be for a women\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

girl, smiling with all her teeth showing and her eyes closed. It\u2019s very hard to not make her look ridiculous.<\/p>\n

Well gotta go now.<\/p>\n

P.S. \u2013 How was Irvin and Joyce\u2019s wedding?!<\/p>\n

Love and Peace,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

[notation at foot of page] Pat & Dennis Denny
\n1-707-462-1072
\n1601 Dearwood Drive
\nUkiah. 95482<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, October 12, 1976 <\/strong><\/p>\n

10\/12\/76<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

It was nice talking to you last night. Sound like your having alot of fun buying stuff.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Mom \u2013 if you could spare the money, I don\u2019t 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\u2019m going to try some of the agencies, but right now I\u2019m mainly up shit creek in Ukiah \u2013 You could<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

dress more casual \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to see if I can sell some of my artwork here. I\u2019m planning on going out after lunch. I hope it turns out to be fruitful. I\u2019m going to try some galleries and see what kind of response I get.<\/p>\n

I renewed my license the other day in S.F. I was so afraid I would flunk! I only missed 3 though.<\/p>\n

Well, I must go now if I\u2019m going to get on the road.<\/p>\n

Peace and Love,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, October 17, 1976 <\/strong><\/p>\n

10\/17\/76<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

Received your letter from you to us. Saw Ron this week-end for a few moments. He\u2019s looking good. Deb was out doing other things.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m 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\u2019t find now, but I guess I didn\u2019t leave it here either. It was a really nice one too \u2013 jean material with diagonal stitched V patterns on it. I hate to borrow other peoples clothes so much because I\u2019m afraid I\u2019m going to wreck them or something.<\/p>\n

It’s been very hot in the Valley the past 2 days \u2013 surprisingly so. I thought Winter would be setting in \u2013 the weather has been so crazy lately though; it was 80\u00b0 all week last in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m reading a book right now called \u201cWe Are Your Song\u201d by Robert and Michael Meeropol. They are the sons of Ethyl and Julius Rosenberg; it\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

of ther reactions as children and experience then and since. A very heart rending book. It\u2019s funny that something as large as there trial was going on yet I don\u2019t remember hearing anything about it. Of course I was only 4 years old at the time \u2013 I really don\u2019t remember anything prior to school and then just a few scenes of that.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s money. They wouldn\u2019t reveal their sources, so the judge there put them in solitary confinement \u201cindefinitely,\u201d or until they would talk. This is against our civil rights and the first amendment \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

Well, got to go now \u2013 Write soon and all that.<\/p>\n

Peace and Love,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Typed letter from Nancy Sines to parents, December 18, 1976 <\/strong><\/p>\n

18 December 1876 [1976]<\/p>\n

Dear Mom and Dad,<\/p>\n

So how\u2019s it going. Haven\u2019t heard from you inn a long time. I bet it\u2019s 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\u2019d get over that one, (heat).<\/p>\n

I have had two jobs since I\u2019ve 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\u2019t 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\u2019s called College of California Medical Affiliates. It\u2019s 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\u2019m the secretary or Receptionist, one and the same. I\u2019ll find out after the 3rd of January if they are going to keep me on or not.<\/p>\n

How\u2019s 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\u2019t believe it was her that got hit, (I was told about it.) but of course, she wasn\u2019t there. Best dog and friend I ever had.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been spending a lot of my time working on a play that we\u2019re going to put on for church on New Years Day. Just a little<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

short skit parody a few minutes, be even that has alot of preparation that must go into that will make everything synchronize.<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t been doing any drawing either, because I just haven\u2019t found the time.<\/p>\n

As you can see, my typing hasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t 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\u2019t seen him. Oh how I wanted to take that woman and shake her or something. There was no concern whatsoever in her voice. She\u2019s the one who made me sick! She didn\u2019t even stop to see what was wrong. It\u2019s 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\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Peace and Love,<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Undated handwritten card from Nancy Sines to parents<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear Mom & Dad,<\/p>\n

How\u2019s everything going? Got your last letter a few days ago. Sorry again the delay in writing.<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t had a chance to get over and look up Riki yet, but I plan to. It\u2019s pretty close by car. Actually, it\u2019s surprising how small San Francisco is in general. It\u2019s nothing at all compared to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Why don\u2019t you go ahead and send my mail to 1814 Divisadero. I don\u2019t think there will be a<\/p>\n

[letter ends]<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

Handwritten letter from Nancy Sines to parents, April 13, 1977 <\/strong><\/p>\n

4\/13\/77<\/p>\n

Dear Mom & Dad,<\/p>\n

Please again excuse the lateness in my replies. My letter writing punctuality leaves a great deal to be desired. @ least you\u2019ll be getting two letters; this one and one I wrote last week.<\/p>\n

Nothing much has changed since the last letter. I have been going to the S.F. Library a lot lately \u2013 checking into wood sculpture and ceramics, nat\u2019l 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m watching \u201cCharlies\u2019 Angels\u201d on T.V.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

First time I\u2019ve seen it. I think I\u2019d rather read a book.<\/p>\n

Well, I\u2019ve got to go now. I will write you again as soon as I have something new to write about \u2013 like a job!<\/p>\n

Take care<\/p>\n

Peace and Love<\/p>\n

Nancy<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Editor\u2019s 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\u2019m sorry that it has taken me so long to write you. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":132751,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-132763","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/132763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=132763"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/132763\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132857,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/132763\/revisions\/132857"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/132751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=132763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}