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.