Letters of German Galka Relatives to Nephi Hacken

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Plauen, the 7th of December 1981

Dear Nephi!
Many thanks for your cherished words of 6 December 1980; I was glad to hear from you again. Still, don't you live in Sacramento? [He and Leola had just returned from 18 months in Nauvoo, Illinois.] I hope these words reach you. Mail sent to you takes a long time to arrive.
Healthwise, November 1980 was not at all good for me, and I was thinking that I wouldn't recover at all. Even if I can't get things accomplished anymore like I used to, still, I take care of my household all by myself; I still haul up the [coal] briquettes to my third-floor apartment from the cellar. Many things are becoming more difficult for me, but when people are 79 years old, they've got to be happy just to keep on going. I have a chronic kidney infection often accompanied by pain. My apartment is not particularly warm. But I'm supposed to keep myself warm. At this age you get colder more easily than when you're young.
On November 19 Hilda had her birthday; she turned 71. From my niece's home (a niece from my late husband's side of the family) I called her early in the morning, at 8:00, by phone in Vienna and congratulated her. I always happy to at least hear her voice. We've always gotten along well.
Other than that, I'm alone at lot. Snow has been on the ground for a few days. The countryside is very beautiful now, but that isn't at all good for my eyes, since the sun...

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...is blinding. I'm not able to wear sunglasses because of the cataracts in both eyes. I have to put four drops a day in my eyes. I hope it won't get worse as I age. I'm glad to hear that you and Leola both are doing well healthwise, which is the most valuable thing in life.
Do you ever get together with your children nowadays? I don't get together with Bruno or Hilda at all anymore, since traveling is very difficult at my age. My niece, who also lives in Plauen, is always very nice to me, and so I don't feel quite so lonely. When the weather permits, I visit them every weekend in the summer, since they have quite a large garden at their house.
I hadn't written you yet that Maria, a daughter of Uncle Wilhelm, died in Gelsenkirchen last year. Her husband is already a few years older than 80. They had two girls who are married. Last year, because of my illness, I only wrote a short card.
Dear Nephi, now I wish you and Leola and all your loved ones a lovely, healthy and happy Christmas time and all things conceivably loving and good and the best health for the year 1982.
Many and hearty greetings are sent you from

Your Ella.