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At 17, Leonard heads to California to visit his Uncle Louis and Aunt Stella.
Writing home becomes a habit that Leonard would keep the rest of his life.
Monday, 2 July 1934 (S340702)
Heading West
Dear Folks,
We are at Charlie Smith now and we are going to a picnic today with them. They have some nice girls here and just a little ways from here is the cousin who went to Washington D.C. last year in 4H club work. We ate supper with them last night and dinner with one other of Floyd's relatives. We will all be together for a picnic at Tyndall today. I've stayed over night with Charlie he showed us a good time then we stayed the next night with Ed Clines they are very nice people. I washed my light pants and ironed them, then I washed the kitchen ceiling for her. We ate dinner with Floyd's grandmother, she seems very nice then we came to Charlie Smith's in Dakota, near Springfield. Went swimming in Springfield will go in today at Tyndall. This is nice country and I am having a good time. You may show this to Slim/ I hope you are are getting along O.K. Every one is so good to me.
Love Leonard