Jim Took us to Jalopy Races in Columbus Junction - Saturday, July 24, 1965

Tonight, out of curiosity's sake, Phyllis and I went to the jalopy races at Columbus Junction with Jim. The night that we picked turned out to be one of the "roughest" nights they've ever had. In seven races, there were six wrecks, but each time the driver was apparently only shaken up. One car turned end over end, one went over an embankment, and one sailed over a dike. (Phyl and I were getting cotton candy and missed seeing that one!) This morning Virginia and I went in to town for an hour. My colored pictures are nice - they cost $12.00 to develop!

The Lions Club had Their Ice Cream Social Tonight - Friday, July 23, 1965

Mom got me up this morning to go with her and Phyllis over to the school to clean up the old "band mothers" shack. Daddy is president of the Lions Club now and they used the building for their ice cream social tonight. This afternoon Phyllis, Virginia and I sunbathed for a little while, although we were probably nuts to lie in the sun when it was so hot. It seemed as if Grandma Kay was the main topic of a "gripe session" this afternoon. Phyllis and I were riding our bikes on the back road tonight when Jim came along to ask us if we want to go to the car races tomorrow night.

2 Letters, 8 Postcards and a Phone Call in 11 Days - Thursday, July 22, 1965

It was hot again today. I mowed the rest of the back yard, but it was wet and the mower quit before I got the ditches mowed. Daddy worked on them some this evening. This afternoon I wrote a letter to Bonnie since I've owed her one since she left Park in June. I got another letter from Tex but I'll wait a while before writing to him again - Two letters and eight postcards in eleven days are good enough, plus a phone call between the postcards and second letter. I've received two letters about teachers' associations and insurance policies.

Hotter Today but This is Coolest July Since 1891 - Wednesday, July 21, 1965

Gradually it's getting cooler - from 95 to 84 to 79 - but it doesn't feel much different. I guess we're noticing today's heat since this has been the coolest July since 1891. I didn't do much today. I wrote an eight page letter about our trip and enclosed three postcards to Mrs. Cowan at a cost of 45 cents, cut out more oaktag letters to use for tracing construction paper letters for third grade bulletin boards, and did a little reading. This evening I rode my bike and looked at my three college yearbooks. Shirley is here now and Betty and Linda will be coming, too, to spend the night. Virginia has gone to a show with Bonnie. Mom and Dad are helping freeze Lions Club icecream.

We, Too, Have "Made Way for Ducklings" Near Boston - Tuesday, July 20, 1965

Jim, Larry, Janet, John, Betty, Linda and Shirley came here this evening. I played Touring with Larry, Janet, Linda and Shirley and the others played Hearts. They wanted to go to Iowa City or someplace, but it wasn't a very good night for driving. This afternoon I went to town with Phyllis. I got the things I had taken to the cleaners. They weren't able to clean my two red dresses. I checked out Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings from the library. The line of eight or so baby ducks that also caused us to "make way for ducklings" as eight lanes of traffic stopped for them near Boston last Thursday reminded us of the book.

We Had a Family Reunion at Grandma and Grandpa's - Monday, July 19, 1965

We had a family reunion at Grandma's tonight. Lorahs, Leets, Varners, Parcells and Cuddebacks were there besides us. Varners are going back home tomorrow. Last evening as I was going back through pages of this diary, I had a phone call - it was Tex calling from North Texas State University where he has been since Saturday. If he can keep a 2.5 average (on a 4.0 scale) he won't have to pay back the loan that he got through his church until after he graduates. I mowed some grass until the rain came, then wrote to Tex.

We are Home and the Cousins are Arriving in Iowa - Sunday, July 18, 1965

We got home at 6:45. It took us, to the minute, as long to return from Cleveland as it did to go last Saturday. We are a little tired - and cramped from riding two in a seat belt in the back seat for nine days and 3,113 miles - but other than that, pleased with the results of a wonderful trip. I drove some again in Indiana and Phyllis did in Illinois. Now the fun begins - the relatives are arriving at Grandma and Grandpa McDowell's for another "invasion of the cousins." Ruthie and her three boys have been here, and now Leets and Varners are here.