Reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Thinking of Seth - Monday, May 10, 1965

I spent most of today reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. When I read that I can't help thinking about Seth and wondering how he will turn out. In a way I'd like to write to him, but I just don't think I should do anything to encourage him. I'd like to write a book myself. I've been toying with the idea of Krap Egelloc (Park College spelled backward) but I can't decide on an approach. Jean Burright's behind me on the title, and Tom Strauss thinks it would be fine - if it contained "a lot of sex." I wonder if I could get away with something along that line - I want to do it for certain reasons in connection with Park.

Philosophical About Experiences as They Have Happened - Sunday, May 9, 1965

Sometimes I just become philosophical about my experiences as they've happened so far. I can't believe that summer has come again so soon. I remember all my long, thoughtful bike rides last summer, and I'm looking forward to more of the same. I think how fast my four years of college went. The free will philosophical question, and an answer, "could have acted otherwise" gets to me when I puzzle over why I wasn't more outgoing - my nervousness and a certain kind of self-consciousness still bother me. But I have changed a lot, too, for the better. We had a family dinner at Cuddebacks. I gave Mom a pair of "surfer" knee knocker pants for Mother's Day. We gave her a yellow rose corsage.

Virginia was in School Play, Tammy, Tell Me True - Saturday, May 8, 1965

We took Grandma and Grandpa with us to the school play, Tammy, Tell Me True, tonight. Virginia had the part of the dean of women and really did a nice job. She seemed so natural at it. The vocal trio she was in two weeks ago got a I rating at the state small group contest. When I think of all of our combined talents, it is amazing. This morning I vacuumed and this afternoon read. I sent in my application for the Iowa teachers' conservation camp which Mr. Carey told me I should go to since they don't think they'll need me for the remedial reading program.

Had Heard About Goldfinger from Seth, Phil and Ron - Friday, May 7, 1965

Bonnie went with Virginia, Phyllis and me to the James Bond movie, Goldfinger, tonight. It was far-fetched but good. We'd heard quite a lot about it before - mainly from our various boyfriends - Seth, Phil and Ron. Ron has asked Virginia to the prom, by the way. This afternoon I cut out a set of letters. The kindergarten and sixth grade kids were so kind to trace around Mrs. Leary's and Miss Asby's sets of large letters (for school bulletin boards) for me. I wrote a brief account of last night's program for Mrs. Votraba and took it to her.

Mother-Daughter Dessert and Program were Very Nice - Thursday, May 6, 1965

The mother-daughter dessert and program tonight was nice. Two ladies from Fairfield presented songs from the Stephen Foster era. I didn't know Stephen Foster married a Jane McDowell. This afternoon Phyllis and I went over to the church to help with the decorating. We also made the punch which turned out very pretty (light pink) and was good, too. This morning we went all the way to Cuddebacks' far woods and back on practically an empty tank of gas. We didn't find any mushrooms for our efforts.

Upset by The Miseducation of American Teachers - Wednesday, May 5, 1965

Phyllis and I went to town this afternoon, mainly to pick up our cured meat at Richard's, which they forgot yesterday. I went to the new fabric shop that Don and Virginia Smith have opened. I got some red and gray paisley print Indian Head cotton for a dressy dress. At the library I renewed my card - I guess I haven't used my own since before I went to college. James Koerner's The Mis-Education of American Teachers, which Mr. Carey mentioned a long time ago, upsets me, but it's nice to know some of the criticisms. I'm now reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Am Going to Miss College, Need to Start Doing Things - Tuesday, May 4, 1965

Phyllis complained last summer of being bored - this summer it's beginning to catch up with me. I guess I'll just have to start doing things. I keep thinking how much I'm going to miss college. This afternoon we had a nice rain shower and a little hail. Phyllis and I amused ourselves watching several TV serials. I did some ironing. I like the passage that Dr. Hawkins referred to in his commencement speech about the "wild violets poking their purple heads up through the rusty cans." We were going to go to town but "missed the boat" when Mom and the girls didn't stop for us after school.