Two Surprised Cats - Thursday, June 30, 1960

It has been rainy today. We girls tackled "Mom's" big stack of ironing. I ironed the whole time they were out at chores. Mom and Virginia painted the bathroom woodwork. I just now realized I wasn't outside all day. Virginia, carrying two cats, ran into Mom with the cream and coffee. Splash! And surprised cats! I wrote to Grinnell and Cornell and the College Entrance Examination Board.

Swimming in Town - Wednesday, June 29, 1960

Fudges have named their new baby girl (born Sunday) Becky Ann. We went in to the horse training again but there was no sign of much activity. We went to town this afternoon and went swimming. Mom washed. I bought some light blue material to make another summer dress. Iowa (especially Ottumwa) had up to 115 mph winds yesterday afternoon.

"Captain" of the Band Kids - Tuesday, June 28, 1960

I went to Linda Crile's farewell party for Sue tonight. Beth and I were the only other girls there. We had a weiner roast and then sat listening to comedian records. It was fun, but I didn't know the other girls would wear shorts. (I didn't know about the weiner roast.) At my band lesson Mr.Eddy gave me a test. I play at the B- level. He wants me to be "captain" of the West Chester band kids.

More College Letters - Monday, June 27, 1960

Mom painted the back porch a lighter gray this afternoon.We all helped paint the lawn chairs and two telephone cable spools (for picnic tables) white. We are going to paint the bathroom beige. I still have sore legs. I finished the "diary" part of The Works of Anne Frank and started on Kon-Tiki. I'm stilll getting my college letters.

Lake Odessa Boat Ride - Sunday, June 26, 1960

I feel as if I am going to lose my legs! They're really painful from the sunburn I got yesterday. We had planned to go see Bill Martins in Hedrick but found out that Gordons were going there. Daddy suggested that we go down to Lake Odessa near the Mississippi. It was really crowded with one or more of every kind of person. Lo and behold, Van Winkles were down there and we all rode in their new boat. It was fun.

Beet Red From the Sun - Saturday, June 25, 1960

Marilyn and I slept until 10:00 and then went uptown.We took her Aunt Betty a birthday present and played badminton a while in the back yard. In the afternoon we went to the pool for a short swim and then tried to get tans. Marilyn already has a tan. I turned beet red. Mom came and got me around 4:30. I helped hoe the garden some tonight.

Candles Lit for a Wedding - Friday, June 24, 1960

Karen Baker's wedding tonight was very nice and she seems to have married a pretty nice guy (Everett Speas from Kalona). Joan Anderson and I lit the candles. I wore Phyl's blue graduation dress. We spent the afternoon at the church helping get ready. I am staying all night with Marilyn.

The Works of Anne Frank - Thursday, June 23, 1960

Tonight I went up to the church to see what's expected of Joan and me as candle lighters. I didn't stay for the regular rehearsal. I thought that was their concern. I've heard from 14 colleges. Some of them sound pretty good. Phyllis didn't sleep at all last night at the slumber party. Charley Harley died. I am reading The Works of Anne Frank. She was quite a girl.

A Misunderstanding - Wednesday, June 22, 1960

Phyllis went to a slumber party at Roberta Hess's tonight. Mom went to lodge. Daddy, Virginia, Ann and I went to the fairgrounds to see some horse training, but they were going home. They had a frantic time across the road when Effie called and said, "Is Helen there? Did you know Charles passed away?"! Norma thought she meant Charles Ralston. She was about beside herself. Actually it was Charles Harley and as far as we know he had a relapse and didn't die.

Glasses - Tuesday, June 21, 1960

I got my glasses today. It's hard to remember not to wear them when I read. Tonight Phyllis Crone had her shower for Karen. Karen wants Joan Anderson and me to light candles for her wedding - she only planned that tonight. I took my first summer band lesson. I missed the first two. We went to the library. I went to Van Winkles to see if Marilyn wanted to stay all night since her folks didn't want her to drive to the shower. She went with Karen.

"Tall Story" is About College Life - Monday, June 20, 1960

Tonight we went to see "Tall Story" at Phyllis's suggestion. It was really funny, clever, cute, modern, etc.--about college life and centered around an All-American basketball star (Anthony Perkins and Jane Fonda). It was cold today. I don't see how Ann and Denise stood it at their swimming lessons. I'm reading The Return of Hyman Kaplan - it's one of the few books I've ever laughed out loud over.

Candy Bars for Father's Day - Sunday, June 19, 1960

We went out to Grandma's tonight to take Grandpa his Father's Day candy bars. We all gave Daddy a billfold and some candy bars. Cuddeback kids were here for a while and Ann and Virginia were down there for a while. I finished A Night to Remember by Walter Lord. It's about the Titanic sinking.

Picking Strawberries - Saturday, June 18, 1960

I got up this morning planning to clean my room and practice. Phyllis Crone called to invite me to a shower for Karen Tuesday night. I ended up picking and preparing strawberries for dessert. This afternoon we took 22 boxes of trash and magazines down to the ditch. Phyllis took me for a ride on Duke. I planted my English flower seeds from Mrs. Cowan. I managed to vacuum my room.

All in Family Will Have Glasses - Friday, June 17, 1960

As of this afternoon, our entire family will have glasses. I got my eyes checked. I'm getting near sighted. I'll just need them for distances and not for reading. I bought Karen a white lunch cloth for her wedding a week from tonight. She called me today to see if I could help with the reception if I'm needed. Daddy is still out at Grandma's cultivating. I finished my 24 college information letters. Mom got Miriam's and another thesis at the library.

Twelve Presbyterian Colleges - Thursday, June 16, 1960

I wonder if I'll go to one of the twelve Presbyterian colleges I wrote to tonight asking for information. I'm still going to write to twelve more colleges including Berea. I must get on the ball or I'll miss the college band wagon! Mom, Virginia and Ann went to social circle. Mom put Norma's pin on for her and she had to come back over here to get it taken off before she could get any clothes off!

Mom Starts to Summer School - Wednesday, June 15, 1960

I just finished eating one bad strawberry. Just so it doesn't make me sick. Mom, Phyl and I spent most of our spare moments today fixing them. We froze five quarts. Mom started summer school with classes in arithmetic, child psychology and art. She went up with Mr. Fudge and Mr. Neville. West Chester is about the only town left on standard time. We went to the mother-daughter luncheon at the Methodist church.

Switch to Dial Phones - Tuesday, June 14, 1960

I was still in bed when Virginia delivered my mail. I got my first (own) wedding invitation - to Karen's wedding. Mom went to Iowa City this afternoon to register for summer school.The kids went along. I mowed the lawn and got two blisters. We switched to dial phones today. Just for fun I tried to dial Marilyn and ended up with Woodfords in West Chester.

Catching a Baby - Monday, June 13, 1960

We went to town this afternoon to wash and get the car fixed. We went to the library and Mom got a card for each of us. I checked out A Night to Remember, The Return of Hyman Kaplan, and First Orchid for Pat. Virginia and I think we should be nominated for the life saving award. We each had a turn at catching a baby at the laundromat who nearly rolled off a table. Heavens!

Bible School Program - Sunday, June 12, 1960

Well, we now have two less kittens. Daddy backed out of the garage tonight running over two - a third of the bunch! We went to the Bible School program. Only Virginia and Ann went to Bible School. With Mom and me at our workshops and Phyllis getting dinner, we couldn't help. We had dinner at the restaurant in Keota.

News From the Kids - Saturday, June 11, 1960

Mom and the kids came and got Shirley and me at 9:20 this morning. Shirley and I pushed our car down Main Street in Wellman when it quit! News (as the kids told it): the hampsters died; we got our dial phone; the picture they took of us was in the Journal! It's pretty good. I was surprised they put it in. We've had rain so field work is still behind. It is nice to be home although I had a swell time in Iowa City, too.

A Nice Banquet - Friday, June 10, 1960

A nice banquet climaxed our fast week of work and fun. They gave us The Workshopper that Shirley helped publish this year and our diplomas. Rod Gellatt gave the closing speech this morning. He's had radio and t.v. news. I've kept better notes this year than last. Tonight Shirley and I went down to a lounge near our dorm's rec room and had fun with several other girls--everything from a mock wedding to wastepaper basket races! I slept in Shirley's room since her roommate left.

They Stopped the Press - Thursday, June 9, 1960

After leading Shirley clear over to the field house, I finally swam in one of the largest U. S. indoor pools. (Last year the life guards didn't show up.) Something unusual and rare happened when our division toured the Press-Citizen: they stopped the press when they got the call about Evy being coach. The whistle that signaled the man to stop the press scared us to death. They had 504 papers run off and six more on the press. I saw Elsie and Wanda but no more of Mom.

A Missed Opportunity - Wednesday, June 8, 1960

We were given free movie tickets to any Iowa City movie theater. Lots of us went to "The Fugitive Kind." Nearly everyone agreed it was one of the dumbest shows they'd ever seen. I hear Meredith Wilson was over at the commencement band concert tonight. It would have been special to see him. Mr. Clark said they weren't having it!

Plenty of "Mc's" Nearby - Tuesday, June 7, 1960

Tonight we heard Harlan Miller who writes "Over the Coffee" for the Des Moines Register and a column for the Ladies Home Journal. He's quite a character! We usually go downtown after classes at 4:00. We've bought nylons and Shirley got some shorts. The workshop is much like last year's, naturally, but I think there is a friendlier bunch of kids this year. We sleep in alphabetical order. Consequently there are plenty of "Mc's" nearby.

Mom is Also in Iowa City - Monday, June 6, 1960

We caught a glimpse of Mom this morning and this afternoon stopped her just in time to ride downtown at 4:30. She and other teachers are here for an elementary reading workshop. Shirley informed me that I'm to attend the letterpress division. What a dilly of a teacher! She is Mrs. Draper from Oskaloosa. It is interesting but I do some "pretending" since we have mimeograph. We had a get-acquainted party at the Memorial Union. There are 206 here--6 1/7 girls for every boy!

Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska - Sunday, June 5, 1960

We picked Shirley up in Wellman before going to Iowa City. She and I were disappointed that she got room East 305 and I was assigned to North Recreation Room. There are 30 girls down here including Mary Ellen Miller from Kalona. We live such a short distance away since there are kids here from Wisconsin, Illinois and Nebraska. We (Shirley and I) walked around and bought ice cream cones for supper. I sent Daddy a birthday card.

Mom Helped with Chores - Saturday, June 4, 1960

Since the Wellman line was still out of order, Phyllis and I drove over to Ronna Schwartz's house this afternoon since we knew where she lives. I called Shirley from there. I got Daddy a tie for his birthday and a card to mail to him from Iowa City. I have most of my packing done. We have been having more stormy weather. They are so far behind in field work. Mom let us sleep this morning and she went out to do chores.

Faculty Picnic at Lake Darling - Friday, June 3, 1960

I stayed home today and sewed, got dinner, mowed the lawn, practiced the piano, and tried to get Shirley Slaubaugh on the phone to tell her we'd get her at 1:30 on Sunday. I ran over a sack and the mower whanged to a stop, found out we don't have lessons tomorrow like I thought, and the Wellman line was out of order. Mom had a faculty meeting at Wellman. Then she and the kids went to Lake Darling for a faculty picnic.

The Missing Commencement Column - Thursday, June 2, 1960

It is the first day of summer. Mom went to school for work day. She brought home our report cards. My semester and quarter grades were the same: English, A; history, A; geometry and physics, B. As I thought, my not-published commencement column had been buried on Mr. Fudge's desk. I am making a pair of red Jamaica shorts.

West Chester High School is No More - Wednesday, June 1, 1960

At 4:30 this morning Phyllis and I rose and shone and went out to help with chores. I spent my last day at West Chester School - the high school is now "non-existent" [because of its reorganization with Kalona and Wellman into the Mid-Prairie School District.] We got out at 1:30 and rode the bus home for the first time in ages. Tonight Mom, Phyl, Virginia and I went to the Captain's Table for the band supper sponsored by the band mothers with their surplus money.