[Letter from Lyle Creelman to her mother]

              1
M Geneva, July 6,1958
Dear Mother,
*   ^his is the first really fine day we have had since I returned, ^he mountains
eith their greeness and flowers beckon me but I was determined to stick to t e job »
and get some important reading completed.  I awoke after eight, got my breakfast and
had it in bed, and then worked there until about twelve thirty* Then I got (tressed
bad a light lunch and now have the card table set up on my back balcony where at
least I am absorbing some of the sunshine into my skin. You will immediately conclude
that I did not go to church, which is right, but I knew I could not listen and absorb
anything from the service knowing the work I had to accomplish. I am sorry you
are grieving over the fact that I did not go to church when I was home—but you know
I stayed home so that I could listen to the service with you. Ahis I enjoyed far
more and got far more from than I would have being with a crowd of people, in what
after all is onljfe a man-made building.
Yesterday I really worked hadd*  It is amazing the things that accumulate to do
and even though someone had put a few flowers in my apartment for me wan I came home
it did not feel like a home until last night. &o early yesterday morning I went to
the store and bought two new window-boxesT Two I had last year were donated by Alex
and were falling apart. They would not have been safe to hang over the-g«j?nlin.
railing. Aheh I went to the market and bought flowers—geraniums, lobelia, petunias,
and begonias.  *^hen I got home I discovered that the window-boxes were too small and
had to change them after lunch, ^hen  I found that Ih did not have enough eatth and
so had to go out towards the airport to a florists and get some earth.  I finished
with it all about 5 P.M. Now I have en the back balcony three window-boxws* two of
them with red geraniums and petunias, add one with geraniums and lobelia*  On the
front balcony I have five pots of big tuberous begonias. There is not so much sun
there and begonias do not like the sun so that is the place for them. Ify African ¥*
violets are not doing well—need repainting, so next week I am going back to the
florists and get some special soil for the purpose* Sfl
My maid has the place quite clean and now she has all my pressing done* he
weather has been, such that I have not been able to wear the nice cotton dresses I
brought from home* Perhaps this week I can do so*
You may get a statement from the bank to the effest that there has benna a deposit
ef $63 from the Canadian Nurses Association.  I paid my bill at the Hotel with some
cash and gave a cheque of $87 or so for the balance. So more will be put in that I
drew out* I have almost enough in the bank here now to pay for t he Cortez Island
property but will not send it until next pay-day in case I might run short. I am
looking forward to the particulars of the Canadian Nurses Ass. retirement plan so I
can decide if it is better for me to join that now than to pay on my Gov't annuity.
Yesterday I bought ground beef and sausage meat and made the meat loaf according
to the recepie I got from Beth. I had some and thought it quite good. I put the
rest in the deep-freeze* I wanted to see if it would be just as good if reheated
afier freezing* Then I bought a chicked to cook according to a recepie Mett gave me
I thought I might have company to-night but am not. Will cook the chicken anyway*
Mert's recepie calls for a half cup of sour cream* I discovered yesterday that one
can not buy sour cream in Geneva, so J: have taken half and half of sweet cream and
yoghort and will see how it works* The company I expected was a Canadian nurse from
Cerent© who arrived on Tuesday and is going to the Sudan. She is June Taylor, but
unfortunately she developed a cold and this nice week-end is in bed with a temperatu*
yp. In about an hour, at 3 P*M« I am going to see her and take her some ice-cream
and coolies—none of which I have made myself*
Te my great delight I have not gained weight this summer—in fact this morning
I was down to 140. ^hat is where I would like to stay, or maybe 2 to 5 pounds less.
I fe*l *o much better this way, I feel much better for my holiday also, now that
X am #ver the initial feeling of tiredness one always has immediately after a long %
trip.