the letters and things

Society EN ↓ 141 episodes

A treasure trove of old letters tells the story of an American family through multiple generations, with a memorable cast of characters commenting on everything from the mundane of daily life to monumental, sometimes forgotten, moments in history.

Author

the letters and things

Episodes

16. The love between a man and his boat 15.02.2024 43:43

To celebrate love in its purest form we read the history of Grandpa Laury's greatest love: the USS Chester. Take a journey through the South Pacific during WWII with everyone's favourite light cruiser.

15. Something about complexities of marriage...? 08.02.2024 13:36

In this episode, we discover that banks have been on their overdraft bullsh*t all the way back in the 1960s and another letter that confirms that Laury is indeed free to be married even though the Catholic Church is involved (somehow).

14. It's never too late to send the world's longest update 01.02.2024 22:28

In this episode, we read a letter to Grandma Eunice from a friend who is not our favorite person we've heard from and then another friend writes a long, overdue, episodic life update from a longstanding family friend!

13. Old (old old old) friends and some 9/11 baggage 25.01.2024 18:42

In this episode, we read a rambling, zealous religious Christmas post-9/11 letter revealing our dogmatic ignorance and a letter blast from grandpa Laury's past.

12. Short and sweet and full of pocket snacks 18.01.2024 20:53

In this episode, we read two letters from Grandpa Laury's sister, Marge. The letters are from one sibling to another in the twilight of their lives, short, sweet, and full of love and warmth. Then we discuss ~ international ~ pen pals and pocket snacks.

11. A pretty, dirty city 11.01.2024 17:32

In this episode, we read a problematic letter from cousin Rosie and we hear again from doom and gloom Anne Nadolny/Hill who can't spell lasagne, a then exotic food stuffs.

10. The Innocents Abroad 04.01.2024 17:38

In this episode, we get a letter from a cheeky friend traveling in Germany with a "European" joke and a solemn report from a doctor on the ground at a field hospital in Vietnam.

9. More Christmas politics with Peter 28.12.2023 21:10

We hear again from a Christmas favorite, Peter. While we do not understand what Peter's political musing mean, we are happy to hear that he was reunited with a long estranged brother and moved from Milwaukee to the Grain Exchange in Minnesota. Season's Greetings, Peter!

8. Yule Tide Boastings 21.12.2023 33:37

Thought Christmas newsletters were a new thing? We've got three family Christmas newsletters full of updates, re-caps, some showing off, and seven dwarfs. And then one piece of Yuletide propaganda.

7. Grandpa's Wartime Story 14.12.2023 25:20

In this episode, we hear a retelling of Grandpa's experience in the Navy during WWII in the South Pacific and Japan. This time, instead of a letter, we hear this story in the form of an essay that Grandpa wrote in English class while studying at the University of Wisconsin after the end of the war. This essay is full of first-hand experiences of what it was like to live through WWII as a service p...

6. It has been a long time since we pen chatted 07.12.2023 23:33

In this episode, we get a wedding invite to the wedding of John and Jean causes untold chaos of confusion for Manette and Sam, Penny Withers writes with some bad news (if you’re out there Penny we hope you are doing well), we meet a family favorite Virleon, we confirm the White House stamp is indeed the White House, we learn the term ‘pen chatted’, and another death card arrives.

5. Eunice tries to send Auntie to the nunnery and beachy waves Jesus 30.11.2023 17:58

In this episode we get the invite to the double wedding of Kathi One and Lynn, we get some cryptic wedding advice from Eunice to the soon-to-be-husbands, we meet Beach Waves Jesus, and Eunice inquires to the Sisters if they're looking for a teenage girl (read: Auntie).

4. Brioni, the Albertinum, baby EIGHT, and stranger Raye 23.11.2023 18:59

In this episode we have four short notes - Manette dispatches from Italy, the Sisters have great stationary, Ragna is expecting her EIGHTH child, and stranger Raye sends an update.

3. Grandpa's cadaver eye and Kathi One's new bedspread 16.11.2023 30:57

In this episode, Grandma Mickey sends a letter to Grandpa who has mysteriously ended up across the country in a Veteran's Hospital, where he maybe received a cadaver eye. Kathi One writes (post Christmas) to Grandpa and Grandma Mickey with a lot of talk of presents, dishes, and other Christmas fun. https://www.instagram.com/p/C63xSJCOCIj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

2. Mom's Doomsday Prophesies 09.11.2023 34:54

In this episode, Sam and Manette hear, for the first time (but certainly not the last) from Kathy One. And a letter from Mom brings portents of earthquake doom for both the West AND East coasts of America. See the letters and things on Insta: https://bit.ly/40G0m3U

1. Jim and Joan and John and Jane 03.11.2023 24:43

In this episode, Eunice's mom (Anne) writes with updates on Jim and Joan and John and Jane and Auntie receives a threatening letter from an angry mechanic in which he says I WILL SEE YOU IN COURT! See the letters (and stamps): https://www.instagram.com/p/C63qZMlO2la/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MW8zZXEyM2pnMm1tMA==