Two Unusual Letters Lead to Growing Up a Little More - Thursday, August 13, 1964

The mail I received today included two of the most unusual letters I've ever received - Margie Blondin's insights into French kissing and petting; and a letter from the mother of one of my freshman advisees saying her son had been killed in an auto accident. And so I read and philosophize and grow up yet a little more. Mom's club picnic was supposed to be tonight, but they decided it was too cold and called it off. Rhoda and Mary are staying here tonight. I wrote to the personnel office at Park to see if they could let me know whether Stephens will have all of the fourth floor of Hawley. They were supposed to let me know but never did.  

We Are Home Again After Five Nights Away - Wednesday, August 12, 1964

We arrived home safely at 7:15 after what was a very pleasant trip, seemingly one of the easiest ones we've ever taken. We left Schwartzes at 6:00 their time. Now that Interstate 80 is open across Illinois, the Chicago Heights and Jolliet area was the only place where we weren't on divided highways. West Virginia yesterday, Iowa today. The Estep girls stopped past this evening. Then Marion came to get them. Aside from the suicide on the square Sunday morning of a man in Washington, I guess nothing too exciting has happened.

We Saw the House Where Grandma Kay was Born - Tuesday, August 11, 1964

We drove to East Liverpool, Ohio, today for dinner at Ruth and Bob's. Grandma went along, and we drove along the Ohio River on First Street to see the house where she was born. John Michael at nine months is a chunky little boy. Paul looks better now. He has had some treatment for his medical issues. We drove through about four miles of the narrow peninsula of West Virginia that sticks up between Pennsylvania and Ohio. That makes 23 states that we've been in. This evening some of us drove over to the Hampton Stables - they're a really exclusive boarding place for hunt club horses.

Shopping, Swimming and Seeing Horses - Monday, August 10, 1964

This morning we womenfolk went to a nice big shopping center to look around. I found a gold coachman skirt to add to my "sporty" wardrobe. This afternoon we went swimming at a pool in Wildwood Park. It wasn't fancy - cement and kind of dirty water. We girls came back with George and Daddy after they came down, and stopped past a riding stable to see their horses. The girl who is going to be Sharon Hough's roommate at Tarkio and lives in Pittsburgh is here to talk with Phyllis tonight. I think my female hormones are unbalanced. I've suddenly broken out in my worst cases of pimples in ages, and now I feel depressed.

We Are in Allison Park, Pennsylvania - Sunday, August 9, 1964

We left Grandma's at 9:00 this morning and got to Schwartzes at 11:30. They have a real nice house in an almost rural area north of Pittsburgh, a part of Allison Park. There are so many pretty wooded hills in this area of Pennsylvania. We drove around part of the area late this afternoon looking it over. Phyllis called Nancy Tuft, one of her friends from Tarkio. I thought she should call Don, whom she dated for a while, but she didn't think much of the idea. I can't think of a person from Park who lives in the Pittsburgh area.

Chilled to the Wind Off Lake Erie, Saw Skyline - Saturday, August 8, 1964

We got to Grandma Kay's at 3:30. I drove most of the way from the Ohio line to Cleveland. Daddy took over as soon as we got off the turnpike. I called Verna Thompson, and we had a nice phone conversation, but I guess we won't be able to see each other. She thinks she has German measles. We drove around tonight to see some old landmarks (including the school where Mom went from Kindergarten through third grade). We went down to Lake Erie and chilled to the wind off the lake and looked at the Cleveland skyline. I cut some weeds behind Grandma's garage for her. We girls walked over to the shopping center drugstore. I called Bob Barnes just for fun, but he's in Oklahoma for Bob Young's wedding.

We are in Illinois on Our Way to Cleveland - Friday, August 7, 1964

This finds us at the Stonecrest Motel in Momence, Illinois. It was like an oasis in the desert. After driving from 5:45 to 11:45, I was beginning to think we never would find a place to stay. We aren't too far from Chicago. It seems easier to get ready to leave at the end of the day than in the morning. I went about my work as usual today. It was quite a placid day. I pointed out a mistake to Charlie - he had called the judging teams demonstration teams - and we talked about that. I never did tell him I'd be gone a few days - I thought Dorothy could when she stays to take my place.