A Tremendously Interesting Year - December 31, 1963

1963 will soon be over - in 20 more minutes. With a few exceptions, it has been a most wonderful and tremendously interesting year. So many nice things have happened to me and I've done so much. It's always interesting to recall past New Year's Eves. This was a quiet one - I spent it reading Phyllis's and my letters home for this trimester. Phyllis and I went to town this morning. Dr. Smith decided to get my glasses changed somehow since my eyelashes were rubbing against the lenses. Phyllis got her hair trimmed and set. I bought a new winter coat, $40, on sale for $21, at Wards. It looks as good as any other I've seen - blue, nice lines, with a gray "mink" removable collar. It seems such a short time ago that I began this diary. I can't believe the speed of Father Time, who's just about to make another "new" appearance.

Right on Schedule - Monday, December 30, 1963

My train got to Fairfield right on schedule. It really must have been the first time in history. Beginning at 3:30 there was an eclipse of the moon. I looked out once. My grades came today: teaching of reading, A-; theory and technique, B+; personality, C+; social problems, C+; psychological statistics, C; and physiological psychology, D. That's bad, but at least I didn't flunk it. That course! I got a letter from Fred. He is a good letter writer. Betty drove and we girls went to Iowa City with her, and Mom took Orlena, Florence and Mrs. Woodford to the ceramics shop. I looked for a winter coat but didn't find any I liked. I called Mrs. MacDonald. Tonight Mom, Grandma, Marion and I went to Rubio to a shower for Carole Jungbluth Bishop.

Hawks and Meadowlarks - Sunday, December 29, 1963

Dr. Nix and his brother-in-law drove me to Stillwell this afternoon to the train. The 2:00 train was 40 minutes late. As it was, I wondered if we'd ever get there "by 2:00" - I didn't know the exact scheduled time, although I hoped Mr. Nix did - since the two of them - bird watchers - had to slow down to look at every hawk and meadowlark we passed. We drove through the Cookson Hills. I saw more of the Ozarks on the train. We went through Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and back to Missouri. We went through Neosho (Gloria and her mother had driven over for the wedding). Evelyn had told me to look for the pink house where they used to live in Pittsburg, Kansas, but it was dark when we got there. We got to Kansas City at 8:30, a nice amount of time to make the connection with the train to Fairfield. For the first time in history it was leaving on time so I put through the fastest long distance call in history and ran to catch it.

Vivien Was a Beautiful Bride - Saturday, December 28, 1963

The wedding was lovely and Vivien was a beautiful bride. Everyone commented on the pretty cranberry velveteen bridesmaids' dresses. They all turned out very much alike. We had a bridesmaids' luncheon today at the home of a former Sunday School teacher of Vivien's. Regina Stuewe Carlson and her husband from St. Louis were here when we got back to Nixes. I visited with her (as did Vivien) while we all did last minute things. About 5:30 Vivien and I went to the Hagerstrands (their house looks like a model home for Better Homes and Gardens) where Vivien and the attendants had the use of a huge bedroom and two baths to get ready for the wedding. The ceremony (I almost got dizzy standing), picture taking, reception and receiving line were as usual. We three helped Vivien get ready to leave, and then, amidst rice throwing, guess who caught the bridal bouquet! There are several guests at Nixes now, but I excused myself when Regina and Ken left.      

Helping Vivien and Charlie - Friday, December 27, 1963

Mrs. Nix let Vivien and me sleep late this morning. We felt guilty, but I guess we needed it. I helped Mrs. Nix get ready for a buffet lunch for Charlie, his sister, parents and brother-in-law. Roosevelt Rostagan, Charlie's roommate from Iran, got here after lunch. After helping him get settled at the Grovers, Vivien and I went to the courthouse (a landmark in this quaint Indian town) to get the marriage license, took her going-away outfit to Sally's house, where the reception will be, and took my dress to the cleaners to be pressed. The rehearsal was at 6:00, and then we went to a nice new restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. Their minister's wife, the former Joyce Graff, grew up in Washington, knows the [West Chester] Stephens girls, and used to go with Don Argo. Small world! The attendants helped Vivien and Charlie pack wedding gifts tonight.

In Oklahoma for Wedding - Thursday, December 26, 1963

Varners stopped for me at 7:30 this morning and drove me to Kansas City where I directed them to the train station. We got there at 1:30 and the train for Tulsa left at 5:00. I called Evelyn while I waited. I wanted to call Fred but I couldn't remember the name of the people he's staying with and the number wasn't in the student directory as I had thought. (I spent some time looking through the E's in the phone directory!) Vivien and her parents met my train. It takes about two hours to get to Tahlequah from Tulsa. We drove past the Northeastern campus. Two Hundred North Street isn't what I pictured it as, but it's very nice. Vivien and I are going to have to clear wedding presents off her bed so we can sleep in it.

It Was a Nice Christmas - Wednesday, December 25, 1963

It was a nice Christmas. We had dinner at Grandma's. I called Vivien to tell her I'd get to Tulsa at 10:00 tomorrow night. I also talked to Grandma Kay when Mom called to Ohio. I guess I'm about packed to go to Oklahoma. For Christmas I received a pink sweater, Cotillion perfume and talc, shoe tote bag, red and white blouses, diary, and slippers from Santa Claus, soap from Phyl, slippers from Virginia, a pin from Ann, lint brush from Schwartzes, money from Grandma Kay, desk sorter and coat hanger from Grandma and Grandpa. I must get to bed - otherwise I'm going to feel tired one of these times at the wrong time!