About the diary writer
- Barbara McDowell Whitt
- Kansas City, Missouri, Alexandria, Virginia, United States
- ~ About: A 1961-65 Park College Diary ~ As a high school girl and then a college coed in the first half of the 1960s, I wrote nightly entries on the pages of one-year diaries. In January 2010 I began transcribing the entries into a blog and gave each one a title. I grew up on three farms within 30 miles of Iowa City and the University of Iowa with its Iowa Writers' Workshop. As the oldest of four daughters, in my diaries I sometimes referred to my sisters as "the kids" or "the girls." We helped our parents, but we also had good, wholesome fun - a characteristic I took with me to Park. Park is 300 miles southwest of West Chester, Iowa, in Parkville, Missouri, on the Missouri River 10 miles northwest of Kansas City, Missouri, and across the river from Kansas City, Kansas. In 2000 Park College became Park University. Today Park's flagship campus is in Parkville and there are an additional 41 campus centers across the nation. Park was one of the first educational institutions in the United States to offer online learning. My last post was on May 22, 2018. I may be followed on Twitter @BarbaraMcDWhitt.
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.
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