Thus Ends The Best Year of My Life So Far - December 31, 1961

This is something - I'm not going to stay up till 12:00 and the New Year. To think how many 12:00s I've seen in the last three months and it probably won't be long till I'll be seeing more. Jerolyn called me after dinner. She got an engagement ring from Charles for Christmas. He goes to school in Kansas City. It would be nice if Jerolyn and I could get together some time when she's down there. My permanent turned out well. It will need some good brushing and care. I went out to the pasture for a little while with Phyllis and Ann to snow boat. Thus ends the best year of my life so far - 1961.

Listened to French Records Today - Saturday, December 30, 1961

These days are going fast. Today I finished "Oedipus King" and "Antigone," the two Theban plays that we had to read, and started my French booklet, Audubon. Mom gave me a permanent this morning. I listened to my French records. Mom went to Olive Munro's funeral and then went up to Linda McKinstry's wedding. I was going to be in bed and asleep before Phyllis finished her bath, but she's done already. I consider this her room now after it was mine for so long.

Helen Hosts a Tea That Five of Us Attend - Friday, December 29, 1961

I went to a tea at Helen Birkey's this afternoon. It was fun hearing the various college tales. Mary Ellen, Karen Plecker, Linda Scott and Judy Johnson were there. I took Karen from Wellman to Helen's. I found out one thing - I'm not going with [the Washington boy] tomorrow night. The girls said they knew him - that was enough. That's what I figured most likely. Phyllis went to the game at Keota tonight. I was going to but decided not to since I saw most of them today. We went out to Grandma's for supper with Varners. I guess several college kids were at the game - as if my presence would have made a difference.

Spent the Day with Marilyn - Thursday, December 28, 1961

Today I spent the day with Marilyn. I got there about 11:00. Of course, we didn't get a whole lot accomplished but we had a good visit. We went to two of her friends' houses this afternoon. We went to Dorothy Nelson's, and then Dorothy took us over to Barb Miller's. Barb was Washington's salutatorian last year. The youth fellowship had a skating party tonight. I was talking to [a Washington boy]. I'm probably awful for stalling - "I don't know." - when he asked if I was busy Saturday night. He said he'd call Saturday - I do have to study - he seems okay, but - oh, I don't know.

Sliding in the Pasture on Snow Boat - Wednesday, December 27, 1961

Well, I have about seven pages of art left to do. Today was cold, Daddy had the flu, the Dodge wouldn't start when we were going out to do chores, and I got shocked twice on the separator. Oh well, there's always tomorrow! The kids have been going sliding in the pasture on the new snow boat we got. Cuddebacks got one for Christmas. Guess I'll have to try it. I'd like to take it down to try to use it on Mackay hill. Mary came out for the afternoon. Mom had Lodge tonight. She helped serve.

Found Benjamin Fairless's Book - Tuesday, December 26, 1961

We went to town this afternoon. I got Benjamin Fairless's book at the library on Phyllis's card. I got three pairs of mesh hose for $1.65 at Wards. They're not supposed to run much, and I'm always snagging hose. I ran into Van Winkles so I finally had a chance to talk to Marilyn. I'm going in Thursday to spend the day. I spent quite a bit of time doing my art note taking. I can see I should have used last week to better advantage. Only a few more good flings at pleasure will be all I have time for this vacation. It will soon be gone anyway.

It Has Been a Beautiful Christmas Day - Monday, December 25, 1961

It has been a beautiful Christmas Day. I just love Christmas. There's something about it that's always the same. This one was really white.You know though, in a way Christmas doesn't seem like Christmas - you wait for it and then when it's here (and then it's as good as gone) it seems as if something's "missing." I got a nice pair of slacks, orange blouse, blue striped sweater, diary, two ears of corn (biology - I'd said I'd seen enough of it - purple and white kernels), cute red robe, snow boots, gloves, socks, jewelry, big paper clip, paper fastener, "hatch-a-cactus," photo album, year book (will use for "thoughts"), hand lotion, sachet and a bath powder mitt.  We went to Grandma's for a nice big Christmas dinner. Our tree is so pretty this year. Christmas Day always goes so fast.  

These Fast, Beautiful Years - Sunday, December 24, 1961

I think Monday is the best day Christmas can come on. I like Christmas Eve on Sunday. We had the Sunday School Christmas program this morning. I read a chapter, The Real Christmas, from Pat Boone's book. The choir sang. I guess they haven't all fall and winter. They don't have a director. Several people told me I looked so nice today. I hope they didn't see me laughing over Sharon eating a piece of Christmas candy in choir. Grandma and Grandpa were here for dinner. These fast, beautiful years. To think that I'll be 20 next Christmas.

A Life-Long Ambition is Accomplished - Saturday, December 23, 1961

Torge [the cat] just had a bath. He fell in the tub when I was taking a bath. He's happy now that he finally has a package - a can of sardines - under the tree. He kept "looking" for "his" among all the others. We went in to town from 11:00 to 2:00. I called Marilyn but she wasn't there. Well, I've accomplished another life-long ambition - to read "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." Mom ordered us each a copy of The Art of Living which has been appearing in This Week magazine as a series. The Epic of Man that we ordered from Life came a few days ago. Parts of it are very familiar from biology.

Basketball Games Were Called Off - Friday, December 22, 1961

Doris Stout called this morning and said she would keep Daddy (and Bob Brown) for dinner and for me to come over, too. By the time I helped her with the dishes it was 2:00 when I got home. Just after I got in, a sleet and snow began that was bad enough to cause tonight's ball games to be called off. Gee, all the college freshmen would have been back. I continue to get cards from college kids to which I respond with one of mine. I sewed a new zipper in my gold slacks and read some more about Odysseus. I hope I finish tomorrow.

Where Are the Days Going? - Thursday, December 21, 1961

I just don't know where the days go. I guess I deserve a break but I still keep wondering if I'm going to get everything done I need to get done. I read some of the Odyssey today. I got Christmas cards from Vivian Pavlis, Patty Holecek and Wilma Moore. As it often happens, when we do finally write to each other, our letters overlap. Grandma called at 8:30 this morning about the meat. It was a good thing to get me up. To bed, to bed, to bed! Fast days! Stop - wait - for me -----.

Helping with Youth Fellowship Groups - Wednesday, December 20, 1961

Today and tonight I haven't felt so tired. I got started reading in the Odyssey. From 3:30 to 4:30 I took care of the junior youth fellowship since Rev. Peters couldn't be there because of Mrs. Thompson's funeral. We had youth fellowship tonight. He had me read them a story. This afternoon I took Norma the purple vase Mom got last summer for me to give to her. I believe I'm going to have to begin using my diary to record thoughts and not just events and facts. Regina thinks keeping a diary is bad enough - "When will you ever read it all?" and just writing down what I've done each day is worse yet.

Christmas Shopping Finished in Town - Tuesday, December 19, 1961

This morning I went in to town to have my eyes checked. He said that my eyes haven't changed with all the studying I've been doing and to keep right on. I finished up my Christmas shopping and did the washing. I stopped to see if Marilyn was home yet. They don't get out till Friday but don't have to go back till the 7th. I got my Christmas cards finished. I just wish I didn't feel so sleepy and kind of guilty about all those hours of sleep I've missed. Golly ho, I've got to get busy on my art and world lit. I'll have to spend some cozy hours reading by the stove. I wrote to Vivien on a card.

A Lot of School Work to Do - Monday, December 18, 1961

It's time to stop not doing anything and get something accomplished. I've got a lot of school work to do, vacation or not. At least I don' have a paper to write. I got dinner for Daddy, kept the stove going, read magazines and Pat Boone's This is Christmas, that Grandma sent over, and wrote Christmas cards. I got a card from Vernice and one from Helen Birkey. They had their Christmas program this afternoon at West Chester. Iowa isn't very good to my hair - or could it be that I failed to set it last night?

We Address Christmas Cards and Put Up Tree - Sunday, December 17, 1961

They thought the weather was too bad to have the Sunday school Christmas program tonight. I guess nobody had much planned for it. This afternoon Mom addressed Christmas cards and I did the same thing. I'm afraid this  vacation is going to go pretty fast. We put our tree up tonight. It's one of those fluffy spruce ones and looks pretty without the strings of beads or tinsel. Church was just like always. I'd still like to sleep all day tomorrow.

Doing Chores Again - Saturday, December 16, 1961

We went to town this morning. I got started on my Christmas shopping. I talked to several kids I saw in town. Penney's is remodeled, there's a new Ben Franklin store, and Kleins has moved to Everetts' old store. Lots of the stores have Washington's new radio station on on their radios. This afternoon I didn't do much of anything except unpack and read things. Phyllis took the Sunday School class out to Grandma's to make Christmas cookies this afternoon. I did chores for the first time in three months - just like "the good old days." There are six baby pups and some little kittens out there.    

Sleeping While Family Went to School - Friday, December 15, 1961

I slept till 3:30! I only woke up three times and each time went right back to sleep. And the poor family had to get up at 7:00 and go to school after not getting to bed till 4:00. Phyllis and I went to the two boys basketball games at Kalona. We took Martha, Linda Pence and Betty. We won both games. I saw Judy Johnson and Ronna but didn't get a chance to talk to them. The house seems so much smaller than it used to - I guess from being used to the big dorm. Well, back to good old bed. We're using the Polaroid picture that Bob took last summer for the Christmas card.

Leaving Park For Christmas - Thursday, December 14, 1961

It's good to be home. My train was an hour late. We didn't leave Kansas City till about 10:30. Mrs. Cox took Flo, Nancy Kelley, Ken Peterson and me to the station. We met Carolyn Frobig about 9:00. Her uncle helped us catch our trains. The different train men were nice. It was sure fun being in a big city train station and seeing another city at Christmas. This afternoon I got ready to leave, cleaned our room, typed Vivien's philosophy paper, and got her off, read my biology, locked our room behind me, and left Park College for two and a half weeks.

A Candlelight Vespers Service - Wednesday, December 13, 1961

I'm packed and ready to go - if I'm not forgetting anything. Carolyn Frobig is going to get my ticket for me so that will save me some time and trouble. My one suitcase is pretty bulging - I can just see it coming apart in the Union Station! Tonight the family style Christmas dinner was very nice and the candlelight vespers service was so nice. This has really been a nice Christmas at Park. Everyone is busy packing and wishing each other Merry Christmas. I wrote on a Christmas card to Merry Lee. I had to buy a 90 cents French book on Audubon.

We Go to See the Plaza Lights - Tuesday, December 12, 1961

Tonight a school bus load of us went in to Kansas City to see the Plaza Lights. They are really pretty. Some of them follow the shapes of the tower-like building tops. Judy Cox guided Nancy Huebner, Kathy Gillespie and  me around the stores. Gosh, Karen Bentson and I got the third highest grades in the class on the art test. There were a 93 and 92 (A's) and Karen and I had 91's (A-). In biology we made "universes" - test tube aquariums. Dr. Hamilton said I was "turning green" after asking me if I was trying to asphyxiate the place with the Bunsen burner gas. I imagine I was turning red.

Working On Travel Plans - Monday, December 11, 1961

Gosh, I'm hungry. And tired. I got my billfold prints back today. They're okay. Those who've seen them like them. I got a Christmas picture card of Jeff. They think they can bring me back Tuesday, the 2nd so I'll get here around noon. Judy Cox's mother is going to take Flo and me to the train station Thursday night. I've felt a need to sleep today. I got up at 6:10 to study bio after going to bed at 1:00. Everyone is "dead." We were going in to see the Plaza lights tonight but the bus trip was called off. I hope this weather doesn't interfere with traveling Thursday.

Christmas Music Filled Day and Night - Sunday, December 10, 1961

I talked Nancy Huebner into going to the J. R. Christmas party at 9:00. It's now 11:00. I'm going to stay dressed to hear the Madrigal Singers carol at Hawley, then get ready for bed and hope I can both study bio and go to bed at a reasonable hour. I wanted to hear President Morrill give Dickens' Christmas Carol but we got there too late. The concert choir and chamber orchestra program was very good, especially the half hour long Gloria. Vivien is now going with Mickey Cook. The snow we got on Friday is still perfect.

Copley Returned Our Tree with a Party - Saturday, December 9, 1961

There's a party in the lounge tonight as the result of Copley returning our Christmas tree which they stole last night. I have my hair pinned up so decided I shouldn't stay for the party and besides that I could use the time to study for Monday's bio test. Nancy Ayers and I are going down to the kitchen to take in the hot cider and doughnuts in a little while. We sure had a good time talking in speech class. Don Smith is a riot when he gets to talking. This afternoon I did French, made a trip to Parkville, and started bio reading. Marge, Sharon Fritts and I studied in the trunk room tonight. I just found my "unpresentable" self forced into the lounge from the kitchen.

Going Down Mackay Hill on Cafeteria Trays - Friday, December 8, 1961

This was pre-registration day for next semester so there were no classes. I will be taking French, world literature, anthropology, anatomy and physiology, introduction to music, and apparatus and field hockey for 16 hours. And today it snowed. It's so perfect. Tonight a bunch of us went sliding on Mackay hill on Commons trays. We had a panic. Four guys were throwing snowballs at Hawley this afternoon and at every girl who came along. I about got taken when Sandy and I went to Marge and Janet's rescue. I wrote a speech based on the four-fold life (mental, physical, social, religious strength) but I doubt if I'll have to give it tomorrow.

Glenn Miller Orchestra is in Kansas City - Thursday, December 7, 1961

Tonight was the Snowflake Sonata Christmas dance with the Glenn Miller Orchestra in Kansas City. I guess only about 80 couples finally went. Some of the boys who didn't go to the dance came over and we had a ball stringing and eating popcorn, trimming the tree, singing Christmas carols, and then Bob Young and Bob Grinnell started doing actions to The Nutcracker Suite. Gee, I think I did fine on my art test. I didn't do so well on our last bio test - darn! I showed Dr. Hamilton the earth's-history-condensed-into-one-year timeline that I brought to Park. Approximately today on the timeline calendar mammals would have appeared. He had used the same thing on a 24-hour scale.

Hawley Receives a Piano for Christmas - Wednesday, December 6, 1961

I got a $25.00 check from home and my tuition check. I decided to send my river-smelling slacks and my sweet potatoed skirt to the cleaners, now that I have some money. I won't spend much more of it I hope. Tonight we were called down to the lounge for a wonderful Christmas surprise - a new little blond spinet piano. The thing was, Marge, Janet and I got back from supper just in time to catch them moving in the surprise and the music company truck parked by the door. Now I have to study my art. I wasted a little time this afternoon perhaps but not like lots of times. I decided to go see the upstairs of the library and what should I find but Dr. Hamilton on the floor reading from the stacks.

Two Scoops of Ice Cream from Vivien - Tuesday, December 5, 1961

This afternoon Vivien and I went down to Parkville while she shopped and treated me to two scoops of ice cream. The rest of the afternoon I spent studying art and French. Wow, do I ever need to raise my grades. As I look back over my time I can't figure out where it all went. I surely didn't waste a whole lot of it. Perhaps I'm studying too much again. We had fun in art class this morning. We didn't have bio lab this afternoon. Oh, I got an A- on my French test - one of the two highest grades in the class. This is another Religion in Life Week. The week's speaker had a good talk in assembly on "The Nature of Man." I guess I won't take time to go to the dorm discussion tonight.

A Cafeteria Tray Spill - Monday, December 4, 1961

Tonight Park played Wentworth for our first home basketball game. It was really a thriller. We came from behind in the last seven seconds and had a jump ball under their basket with them getting the ball when they were a point behind in the closing seconds. This makes up for some heartbreakers I saw last year. I felt so humiliated tonight when my tray slid off the rack in the cafeteria line. I had just put my dressing on my tray when - slide, wham. I had a big blotch of sweet potatoes on my skirt. I sent a post card to Varners. They're thinking about going to Iowa so they might be able to bring me back after Christmas.

A Flame is Carried Between Two Fireplaces - Sunday, December 3, 1961

Dearing's party tonight was fabulous. Their escorts lit a torch from Hawley's fireplace and John Hislop carried it over to Dearing's fireplace. Flo and I were right behind the torchbearer. It was like the Olympic Games. We had carol singing and several of us decorated the tree while others danced. Nayman enjoyed helping with the first American tree he had ever seen decorated. This afternoon I read more art. This evening we saw the film, "Epistle from the Koreans," for fellowship hour. That was the one the missionary ladies had last summer that Mom said I should have seen.

A Piece of a Log for Teresa'a Brother - Saturday, December 2, 1961

Some of us are here holding down the Saturday night dorm front. Gee, these fast weeks! I can't get over it. I spent a lot of the day taking notes on my art reading. I helped Ann DuBois make a batch of cookie dough for Christmas cookies for the Dearing party tomorrow night. We didn't have speech class (third week in a row on Saturday) because the Meetin' House was locked. This afternoon Teresa took me over across the little brook below Hawley to an old tree log that has rocks grown into it. We brought back a piece that she wants to send to her brother in New York.

A B+ on the Examples Section of the Iliad Test - Friday, December 1, 1961

Judy Xelowski, Carolyn Frobig and I went swimming tonight. I slipped and sat down just as we were leaving and got a red mark on my hip. This afternoon I did my washing, my French for Tuesday (we have a test on Monday) and started taking notes on art. Gee, here it is December 1st. I'm going to have to start making a list of things to take home. I got a B+ on the examples and a C on the essay of the Iliad world lit test. I didn't get bio studied as well as I wanted to last night with several kids borrowing my lecture notes. 1961 is so nearly over. I've never seen a faster year.