Dreams come true...a Disneyland visit.

Haskell, Kathleen, 9yo Michael Francis and 7yo Susan Jane are trying to make a go of it. Haskell is working two jobs. Kathleen has been home about 7 months and things are not going well. Food flying, dishes crashing, paranoia, delusion, hallucination. Kathleen is remanded to state institution…. again.

State of California subpoena to have Kathleen arrested as 'a mentally ill person.'

November, 1959- Alhambra, California

Newly separated from her husband Dick and with 11 month old Scotty and six year old Stephan on her apron strings, Vicki gives birth to her third child, Suzanne on December 6^th . Susanna’s namesake and on her 35^th birthday.

Vicki is overwhelmed; calls Susanna asking if she can come to Alhambra-way to give a short-term hand. It had been a long time since they had seen each other. Susanna asks Wib for the money. Wib agrees and we’re off to sunny California for a three-week Christmas vacation. Philip and I were thrilled. After all, I was born there, and it’s all we ever heard about. Hollywood, California… held mythical perfection.

We got up early in the morning, take a bus out to Idyllwild (Kennedy) airport, boarded a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation for Michael and Philip’s first plane ride. I was thrilled. In mid-flight, The Captain came back and asked my brother and I if we’d like to come up to the COCKPIT. My eyes were bulging and my little nine year old heart pumpin'…I was thrilled. Yes, in those days they did such things!

Grand dad picked us up at the airport in his old black Plymouth sedan. As we chugged along, the exhaust fumes seemed to be along for the ride as well. Philip and I got quite the kick out of the several rusted-out, coin sized holes in our floorboard behind the drivers seat. As we gazed upon the passing never-before-seen 'odd' palm trees and feeling and breathing the balmy December air ( the antithesis of our own NYC environ)…we were excited. Oddly enough, we were equally in wonder watching the blurring asphalt through the holes in the Plymouth’s floor.

I was given a motorized tank for Christmas in California. A bulky, plasticized thing about the size of a small lawn mower and man, it was cool. One day we were visiting grand dad in his dusty old little apartment off a gravely road somewhere in the bowels of late 1950's Los Angeles. He didn't seem to talk much and didn't seem to want to have much to do with Philip and I, he seemed preoccupied (now, forty years later after finding the letters, I think I now know why). I was playing with my tank on his bed, when it motorized itself over the edge crashing to the floor, cracking in several places. All of sudden he’s there, pulling out his toolbox, and proceeding to fix my tank. Although it came back to me with several screws that it

never had before....I was pleased, and I think grand dad was pleased with his emergency service.

I remember my tortuous asthma attacks and cousin Stephan’s incessant whining.

Philip and I confirmed our “in front of the building only” NYC sturdiness by pushing around some wimpy California kids. Susanna was proud.

Not one but TWO trips to Disneyland. In 1959 this was the only place to be on the planet for a nine year old. I was thrilled. Vicki’s estranged husband, Dick took all of us out for a horseback ride, a hike in the mountains, and a look at a pin-impaled squirming bee under a 'My Science Kit' microscope. We visited Gilda and her husband Tony Raio and watched “San Francisco” with Clarke Gable.

This was one of the happiest times of my childhood. Mom promised us that we were going to move here and things would be happy again.

RITTENHOUSE 6-3950

WILBUR EVANS

122 SOUTH 18^TH STREET

PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.

Master Michael and Philip Evans January 6, 1960

c/o Adams

1509 Westmont Drive

Alhambra, Calif.

Dear Philip and Michael,

Thank you for writing your nice full of news letters. I’ll bet your having fun. Have you been to Disneyland yet? Does Uncle Dick take care of you? Are you going to school—how do you like school out there?

Be good boys—mind mama—and please write, I miss you so much.

Love and Kisses Daddy

Uh dad, it was a vacation…we live in New York…we’re in school in New York…. remember?

Philip and his mother on Disneyland 's Tom Sawyer Island

Alhambra, California super heroes!

February 25, 1960

New York City

Dear Dad,

Sorry I’m so late answering you, but you know how I am about pen and paper! Go ahead and send the stuff collect—that’s a good idea. If you haven’t already packed them, don’t bother to send the boys’ grey jackets—they’re too small for them now. Maybe you know someone there who can use them.

How is Vicki? And the new baby, Suzanne? And my Scottie? Is she drinking? I still don’t know what I’m going to do. Wib has offered to get us a bigger apartment if I’ll let him teach there once or twice week—and he’ll get a piano. If we stay in New York that would mean a little bit better living conditions. I just am not sure what I want to do. I don’t seem to really want to do anything, that’s the trouble! Something will come to me, tho’ eventually, I guess. Well that’s all for now—take care of yourself and give my love to Kathleen. Suzy

P.S. The trip back on the jet was sensational. You just can’t believe that your over Colorado one minute and Indiana the next. Four and a half hrs! L.A. to N.Y. ! Wow! I don’t feel as far away now.

TWA 707

Philip writes his grand dad in April 1960, three months after our return to NYC.
He mentions four of the five cousins. 'Michael Francis and Susan Jane Laramie' Kathleen and Haskell's kids and 'Stephan and Scott' two out of the three of Vickie's kids.

Cowboys in Central Park-1955

In 1984 my little family drove down to south Jersey to visit my father, it was the only time my children ever met their grandfather. My son Eric was six and my daughter Britt 10 months. He soon began to send small dribs and drabs of his career thereafter. Card A says: "For Michael David-my beloved son, I send this material because you should have it and realize what a dreadful mistake I made in marrying your mother! Thank you for your polite, proper note. I did appreciate seeing you all-I love you all-" Card B says: "This quote is from the East Indian philospher Bhagavad Gita-I think it describes your mother very well-please keep it-" 'For the uncontrolled there is no wisdom, nor for the uncontrolled is there the power of concentration, and for those without concentration there is no peace, and for the unpeaceful how can there be happiness.' Dad

Among the many items that I suddenly and 'synchrondiptiously' found on E-bay from his ‘estate’ was this oil painting (artist unknown) with faded crayon he wrote on it’s back; “To Michael and Philip, my precious sons

Love Daddy June 12, 1959"

Both parents made it a point at several junctures of my existence: 'What a mistake I made in marrying your........."

My god!! It's so wonderful when a child has a parent that loves him...has a family that lets him know, how much he's loved. What difference of.... life and death.... that this can make.