February 1952 (age 52)

In 1946 Sigurd developed a twitch in his eye, a physical reaction to stress that would never leave him and indeed would worsen over the years until it affected his whole face. When his stress level declined, such as after a good night's sleep, he could control it for a short time, but the twitching soon would resume. He was embarrassed by it, and felt even worse because of Elizabeth's reaction. She was horrified and tried to get him to stop it, believing that he could if he tried hard enough. When he traveled he sometimes wrote to her about it, hoping to please her. "For your birthday I am telling myself as one present I am going to show you I can control [it]," he wrote in November 1949. Below is an excerpt from a letter he wrote in February 1952. [The photo of Sigurd and Elizabeth is from this time period--January or February 1952.] When it became clear that willpower alone would not do the trick, Sigurd's doctor prescribed medication. It was only partially successful, but Elizabeth made sure her husband took it every day for the rest of his life.

"Darling don't worry about my face I know you do. When I get down in the tension, my face becomes firm and under control. I am terribly sorry for some of the memories I left with you of me but do not worry too much about me while I am out. Yesterday I do not think I made a twitch. If I can control it here, or if it controls itself, then I know it will gradually disappear. Always when I come away the things that haunt me are the times I made you unhappy. Please forgive me and just remember that I love you and that my only real happiness is when we are together. "

February 1967 (age 67)

Nothing to report.