C.Y. Bourgeois's Blog, page 6

Lois's Stir-n-Drop Sugar Cookies

These cookies are my sister Lori’s absolute favorite. They ‘re melt-in-your-mouth delicious and will ruin you for any other sugar cookies. Being easy to make and supremely yummy puts them among the top two on my long list of favorites!
2 eggs                                                                       ¾ cup sugar2/3 cup oil                                                                 2 cups flour2 tsp. vanilla                                                              2 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. lemon extract (I substitute almond ext. for the lemon, makes them even better. Even Mom said so!)½ tsp. salt                                                                  1 large pinch of love
Beat eggs until blended, stir in oil, vanilla & lemon or almond ext. Blend in sugar until mixture thickens. Add dry ingredients. Drop by teaspoonful and flatten with a glass (grease the bottom) dipped in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes.
Great while warm, but also delectable when frozen. ENJOY!!

Always Your Loving Daddy

July 1, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska
Dearest Billy & Carla:
Sure wish you kids had been with me yesterday when we came back from Anchorage.  You’d have enjoyed the trip, we saw lots of mountains with snow on them, great big rivers, lots of rabbits and something you’d like to see.  We saw about 8 or 10 moose among the road.  Don’t worry though because you’ll get to see it too.
Hope you kids are being good and helping Mommy like I asked you to.  Billy, you be sure and help take care of sister, Tiki and mommy like a big boy. 
How is Tiki getting along? Hope she gets well soon.
Daddy sure is proud of you both for being so good.  Hope you liked what I sent you.
Bye for now and write when mommy does.
Always Your Loving Daddy
P.S. Billy, give mommy and sister a big hug and kisses for me will you, also give Tiki a big hug for me.
Love and Kisses,     Daddy


*Note: It’s weird to think that my sisters, Lori and Melanie weren’t even born at the time these letters were written to Billy and me, but his words are also meant for them. He was always their loving daddy too.
The reason I chose to write about our parents in my blog is so we can once again experience how much he and Mom loved all of us.   

Bright Spots

Of the many bright spots during the long months of waiting, either to go to Alaska or for Bill to come home, the brightest were the letters from Bill. Although Lois eagerly awaited word from him, her concern increased with each one. His words made it clear that although he was trying to keep his spirits up and his letters upbeat, he was getting more discouraged by the day. 
She kept her replies full of news about their families and the kids, but also let him know about some of the stuff she was dealing with, like the sick dog and the broken T.V. She did this, not to further discourage him, but to make him feel as though he was still included in their everyday lives. Hopefully, by doing this he would be just a little bit less lonely and know that she was able to take care of everything while he was gone.

Balancing Act

Mom was having a tough time dealing with everything while Dad was gone. Trying to keep the bills paid and with what little money they had saved and the small amounts Dad was able to send every few weeks was difficult to say the least. 
Chasing their two toddlers was a full-time job, the dog kept getting sick, and then then, on top of everything else, the T.V. went kaput. She didn’t even want to ask what else could go wrong, because plenty could. But being a strong woman, she dealt with all of it. 
Added to that was the sorting of their possessions, getting rid of what she knew she wouldn’t be able to leave for a renter or take to Alaska, and balancing her deep sadness at the prospect of leaving her family with the bright excitement at the thought of being with her husband, making a new start, embarking on a great adventure.
All of it was tough, but so was she. 

Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe was one of Dad's favorites. It's really good, except for the raisins. :-P  I replace those with craisins or chocolate chips, but that's just me. Dad loved raisins, so that's how Mom made them. (I was allowed to pick them out though).

This recipe makes 5 dozen cookies.

2/3 C shortening
1 C brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
1 C flour
1 tsp. salt
tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
2 C oats
1 C raisins (or craisins or chocolate chips)
1 pinch of love

Melt shortening and stir in sugar. Add unbeaten egg and beat until well blended. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Stir in shortening/sugar mixture. Stir in vanilla, oats and raisins (craisins or chocolate chips). Drop by tsp. onto baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees, 15 to 20 min.

Cool and eat (or better yet, eat while warm) and enjoy!

Be Good and Dream About Me

June 28, 1962 Fairbanks, Alaska
...last installment...
7/1
Well, here we are back and got Dick all unloaded and, in his apt. Boy, he’s sure glad it’s all over so he can get settled down.  There for a while he was running both airports.The trip took about 12 hrs. to drive down in his car.  We left Thurs. Night about 9 and got there Fri. morn., about 9, worked all day packing and loading the truck then started back.  Got back here this morning (Sun.) about 1:30 grabbed some shuteye and unloaded this afternoon.
The trip was real nice and we saw a lot of beautiful country and about 8 or 10 moose, the bulls are just starting to get their horns now.  Got to see Mt. McKinley but it was too cloudy to get any pictures.
Sure would have been a lot better trip though with you and the kids.  Besides that, you’re all going to see this part of the country.  And soon too.  I hope.
Sweetheart, don’t say anything to Irene but Neil got kicked out of the apt.  Don’t know all the details but do know he’s looking for a place to stay.  He’s been out here and they’re all filled up so I don’t know what he’s going to do.Jerry finally went to work at Phillip’s Field rewiring electric motors and Bub is still working too.  I’ve got to call Bill in the morning to find out about work there.  If that’s no good, Neil said he’s got a line for me someplace else.  Boy, everybody is sure pulling for me.
By the way sweetheart, if things work out right how long do you think it would take you to get ready to come up here? Something might happen yet.  Well, sweetheart guess I’d better close for now so I can get this letter in the mail so you’ll get it.
Tell everybody “Hi” for me and not to worry and give the kids a big hug and a kiss too.
Sorry it took me so long to finish this letter, but I think I’m building some good will toward me this way.
Am closing now sweetheart, so be good and dream about me, cause I sure do miss you and the kids more than you’ll ever know.
Always Your Loving Husband,Bill
P.S. Go ahead and get a T.V. if you want to, I don’t care.Love and kisses, Bill
Note: "...so be good and dream about me..." Wow, that line brought tears. I already knew how sweet my dad was, but this really emphasizes his loving nature. I miss you, Dad. 

I'm Going to Have to Make Good

June 28, 1962
Fairbanks, Alaska

...continued...


Glad to hear you’ve taken a shower since I left.  I’ve got you beat; I’ve taken 3.  Another thing if I was there, you’d probably be asleep instead of writing.  You’d be too tired for anything else.  Wouldn’t you?
As far as I know Neil said he wrote her a letter and told her to get her fanny in gear and get rid of things as fast as she could.  Then he told me it’d probably be a month or more before he could get her up here.  He gets $3 hr., pays half the fuel bill and the other utilities but no rent.  Guess he’s getting stuff for his ownself first.  He’s the most important one in their family, you know.  I only see him about once a week and then he generally comes out here.  I don’t go looking for him.  You know I actually feel sorry for Irene.
Sweetheart, you and the kids don’t want to come any more than I want you to, but I just can’t make things happen fast like Neil does.  Bet you a dollar if I’d worked steady like he has and somebody wanted you here, sure bet it wouldn’t be long and you would be.  Don’t be jealous because I think you have more to look forward to than she does even if it does take longer.
You know it really makes me feel good that a little guy like Billy can have so much faith.  At this rate I’m going to have to make good or else I’d never live it down.  I know you have faith too, but a lot of kids his age wouldn’t even understand what was going on.  Pretty smart kid you got, lady.
Dick just came in and is ready to take off for Anchorage so I’ll finish when I get back.

...to be continued...

Note: This is a pretty long letter for Dad, he was really lonely and feeling down about not making enough money to get us up there. It didn't help that Neil kept bragging about how much money he was making and how he was going to have his family up there soon. It amazes me that they stayed friends for so many years after this.

Maybe Things Will Start Happening

 June 28, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska
...continued...
I get to working steady maybe things will start happening, I hope.  Sure wish I had that old Ford here, sure would save a lot on shoe leather.  Don’t have too much trouble getting a ride to and from town getting so there’s a lot of people know me now. 
This trip with Dick I’m doing it because he was trying to help me when I wasn’t working and then again who knows maybe he can help me with some transportation problems in the future.  Am taking my camera along so I can get some more pictures too.
Sounds like you’ve been having your share of trouble so I won’t bother you with mine.  Just kidding.
Honey, the car might have to have a new battery because I think the old one might be getting bad.  If it does you might have to wait a couple of weeks before you can get a new one.  As far as the boat goes go ahead and let them use it, only wish it had a better motor.  Why don’t you tell Larry to look around for a better one?  If we didn’t need the money, I’d give him the old Ford.  Hey, tell Larry to take the ‘42 Ford and that damn old boat motor and trade them both off for a good one.  Good idea, “huh”.
You might know little miss uppity-up would pull a stunt like that.  Wait’ll she gets up here, after the first winter I’ll bet she’ll wish she’d never come up here.  I don’t think she’ll ever change either. 
Instead of clobbering Carla crate her up and send her up here.
...to be continued... 
Note: Hey! What did I do this time? Also, was I Miss Uppity-up or was it someone else? Actually, I'm pretty sure I know who he was writing about and it wasn't me!

I'm Not Whipped Yet

June 28, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska Dearest Lois & kids:
Rec’d your letter today and thought I’d better answer it.  Things haven’t been going too good for me right at present.  Jobs are mighty scarce right now.  Have tried just about every place in town and still have several guys trying to help me out too.  So, keep your fingers crossed and don’t give up I’m not whipped yet.
Sure glad to hear Tiki’s feeling a little better sure hate to have anything happen to her now that she’s full grown.
I worked today and think things are going to start picking up now.  It’s about time.  Tonight, I’m going to Anchorage with Dick Curington (he’s manager of the airport here) to help him pack and load his furniture and stuff to bring to Fairbanks.  He asked me to go and help.  He’s sure a swell guy.  But you’d like the people up here because it’s so easy to get acquainted.  
...to be continued...
Note: It amazes me how Dad stayed so positive. His words clearly convey the struggle he had with not being able to find a steady job. They also convey how lonely he was without his family and how badly he wanted them (us) there with him. You can feel how in love with Alaska he was already. He was determined to make it there.

Dreams of the Last Frontier

A few days ago, I was asked if it felt weird to read my Dad’s letters. It took me aback, but it was a good question. My answer was (and is) no. I don’t feel like a voyeur or that I’m peeping into personal thoughts and feelings that I shouldn’t see or share.
Dad was a quiet man, a good man who never hesitated to show his love for his family. To us it was as apparent as the beard on his face and the twinkle in his eye (and, yes, as he got older and whiter, many, many children asked him if he was Santa Clause). He loved us unconditionally. He also loved Alaska unconditionally. And he was proud to say it out loud.
His letters say it out loud. From them, you can feel the struggle he went through to find a decent job, while desperately missing his family. His struggle to get us up there with him, to provide a home and a secure financial future. He did manage most of those things, except for the financial part. He eventually got a good job in the Civil Service, but we always lived one paycheck away from financial disaster. And, although—spoiler alert—he never got his log cabin, he absolutely loved living at the base of Pioneer Peak (the beautiful mountain across the road from our house). I remember him going out in the mornings, cloudy, sunny, rain or snow, and looking up at the mountain, taking in deep lungsful of the sweet, clean air.
His dreams about Alaska and what she would provide were as big as the land itself, but she never really came through in that way. The way she did provide was in letting him be content in a place he loved with his family in a warm, sometimes leaky, but safe home. Luckily for him (and us) Mom came to love Alaska as much as he did, and so we grew up in a happy, loving home. One with its own set of unique trials and tribulations, but in the wild land he loved so much. In that way Alaska gave him everything. Dad followed his dreams to the last frontier and gave us everything.