Yvonne's '65 Letter, Waterloo

Waterloo, 12/21/65

My dear Ermilliene,
My dear Arthur,

I indeed received your letter and am happy to know of you all being in good health. I am also sending you our best wishes from Octave and Maurice as well for your happiness and more importantly good health. Octave is doing ok. he takes care of himself. Maurice not so good he has several things wrong at the same time. A heart attack, kidney problems, and rheumatism (au coeur - of the heart) and everthing constantly mixing together, but he still has a good morale. It's been raining here for a whole month and this type of climate is not good for his afflictions.

It isn't easy for us to sell (the cinema). It is a quite large amount; there are lots of buyers but no money. We would like to come visit you all, but one doesn't (always) do what one wants to. Also, I am happy to receive the photos: Arthur looks like like his dad, and Aime, like my brother Octave, and the children are really Americans, they must really amuse (entertain) you a lot—they are both very good looking. I am returning to (from) Lodelinsart this morning until Saturday because I do the matinees and evenings and Sundays as well. But alas one knows well that one is no longer young and one is beginning to get tired.

When you write to Robert (Bob) and his wife, tell them tell them I love them (I embrace them) (give my love to Bob and wife). I (am enclosing) some photos to show you that in spite of his illnesses after his stroke, he is a tough old bird and me, I'm in the process of mowing the yard and relaxing in an easy chair. Until I see you all one of these days I embrace you all very hard ( love you a lot). In spite of the fact that I may be overly optimistic, I live with the hope that my dream to see you all will someday come true.

LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES YVONNE MAURICE AND OCTAVE

(Translated by Tom Andris, 7/10/06)

Maurice, 1965