February 10, 1962 Back to School, Badly Damaged, Sick of Winter and More Snow and Ice

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The kids finally went back to school on Thursday but I have had a sore throat all week and haven't done anything but lie around.  None of us have been real sick like some people have so we are lucky that way but it sure takes your energy.  I really got caught up on my reading.  B has had it pretty hard this week because I haven't been able to shop or do my usual taxi driving for the kids.  I am better today but won't go to Sunday School tomorrow.

We have some bad news about our church.  It caught fire Monday & is a mess.  They don't know how it started--no one was there but both the minister & janitor had been there earlier.  The fire started in a broom closet & went up an open stairwell.  Things are badly damaged with smoke & water.  We will use a university building for our services until we can remodel the church.  It is a terrible thing to say, but the fire probably was a good thing.  It will force us to do work on that building that was badly needed.  It is a wonder it hadn't caught fire sooner from the wiring.  Some of us had nagged & nagged about that and never got any place.

You're going to be ready for spring with your painting.  I've been trying to get drapes to the cleaners during a sale but with all of us sick I never got it done.  I can't wait for spring to come.  I'm sick of winter.

I got a blouse pattern for Ann but of course, I haven't even opened it.  No telling when I'll get at it now because things are so piled up.  I imagine spring will come & go & I won't get any sewing done.

Bethany Guide bought my Children's Day play & the editor asked to see two others I had.  I sent them right away but haven't heard from him yet.  He paid me $20.  for the one he bought.

We have had more snow and ice but it hasn't been quite so cold.  It is a good thing for the kids have had to walk to school part of the time.  The walk is good for them but when the weather is bad I try to take them.

The kids have made up their school work.  They didn't go to gym after they went back & had that time to study.  The school nurse doesn't think they should go to gym for a few days after being sick & I don't think so either.  Maybe the worst part of the flu is over because there aren't as many kids absent now.

I've run out of anything to write & Ann is sitting here talking as hard as she can so I'll stop."

                              Lots of love,

                                     Bonnie

February 4, 1962 Sick of T.V., Inside Russia Today and No News

eBay

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The fog is thick enough to cut this morning but the sun is trying to come through.

This has been a useless week.  Ann went back to school one day and came home sick.  She had a terrible cold and her head was so stopped up she could hardly breathe.  She is better and I think she'll be fine Monday.  Bob went back for a few days & then got up yesterday with another sore throat.  He isn't up yet this morning.  There is so much of this stuff that they catch it all over when they go back to school.  I thought I was getting it last night but I feel all right today.

There isn't any let-up in B's work yet but he won't have to work tomorrow.  I just don't get anything done myself.  The kids and I are sick of T.V. but we've been reading.  I'm reading John Gunther's Inside Russia Today.  It is real interesting but it belongs to a girl in my book club and I have to take it back on Monday so I don't think I can finish it.  I'm going to the library & get it so then I can finish it.  We pass books once a month and I've had it long enough to read but just fooled around.

I haven't heard about my manuscripts yet.  My book hasn't been gone but two months and this publisher is so very slow I won't look for any answer before 6 months or even a year.  That's a long time to wait.  I should hear about the Children's Day play I sent to St. Louis before long, though.  The Christian Board of Publications is usually pretty prompt & it has been two weeks.  I have always heard from them in about a month.

I want to go to Bloomington a while today if I can to get some patterns for Ann.

B's mother has been writing us cards and is getting better.  It is almost a miracle that she didn't break some bones when she fell.

There just isn't any news to write so take care of yourselves."

                        Lots of love,

                               Bonnie

January 27, 1962 Playing Nursemaid, Watching T.V. and Laying in a Supply of Groceries

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We have had a little lull in our cold weather the last two days.  It is raining today & washing the snow off the streets but we're supposed to get more snow & cold tonight.  Driving has been awful so I haven't been doing much of it.

Bob & Ann have both been home since Tuesday.  Bob has felt pretty bad but Ann hasn't been very sick.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed so I won't take their sore throats.  About 100 kids have been absent from school this week.

I haven't done much but play nursemaid all week.  There was a Quill Club meeting last night but B showed pictures at a Scout meeting so I stayed home with the kids.

I've been working on my other tablecloth since I've been watching T.V. with the kids but I'm so tired of T.V. & so are they.  The days get pretty long for them.

I went to the Pen Women meeting in Bloomington last Sunday.  It was a horrible day so no one came from out of town except the speaker.  She had lived on farms in Holland for 6 months under a 4H exchange program.  She was about Charlotte's age & such a nice girl.  I wish Charlotte would do something like that one of these days.  It would be a real experience.

Marjorie's address is 425 Ena Rd., Apt. 201 B, Honolulu.

Bob had a letter from Beulah and I was glad that she had the pep to write.  I just wrote her a letter & have others I should write.   We had another Christmas letter last week.  At the rate I'm going now I won't get them answered till next Xmas.

Well, this is Saturday.  B will go to school to work some tomorrow morning too.  The kids seem  better today but Bob's nose is so stopped up.  It makes him miserable.

It is cold today but sunny.  Maybe we won't get the snow.  I want to lay in a big supply of groceries this afternoon in case it does come.

I guess I'd better see if I can wade my way into the study.  The kids get so much junk in there because they stay in there so much now.

Hope you both are fine."

                     Lots of love,

                             Bonnie

NOTE:  This is letter 1000.  Yippee!

January 20, 1962 A Clean Snow, A Broken Bag, Plain Pumps and More Chemicals

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Everything is beautiful & white today.  The sun is out and we had a clean snow last night.  The streets are terrible.  They are packed with ice & snow so it is hard to get around.  It stays so cold that I am still hauling the kids to school every day.  It wears me out and I don't get much else done but I think it's too cold for them to walk when it is below zero.  One child froze the end of his ear and I don't want that to happen.  Maybe the cold will end one of these days but the weatherman predicts more snow tomorrow.

The streets were a little slushy for about an hour last Sunday & we went after the bits.  It started snowing again before we got out of the store & has been bad since.  I'm sorry the plastic bag was broken but that was the last set they had.

I'm so sorry Beulah & Jerry have been sick & just hope Nobel didn't take the flu.  We have been lucky but I guess I should knock on wood.

Bob has a basketball game this morning so he & Ann are at school.  B worked in the office a little while.  Then he went to the game.

This is the busy time of the semester for B.  He'll be working days & nights for awhile until the new semester gets under way.

I looked at some sale wool in Normal yesterday but didn't buy any.  The price was good but it wasn't any bargain if I didn't like it.  I sent back my shoes & ordered some plain pumps from Sears.  They haven't come but I hope they fit.

Bob was happy on his birthday even if he was so busy we couldn't do much celebrating.  We gave him some equipment for his chemistry corner but he hasn't had a chance to use any of it.  He has saved his birthday and Christmas money & has an order made out for more chemicals.

My Christmas cactus is full of buds.  I've been babying it along & can't wait for it to bloom.

Take care of yourselves so you won't take the flu."

                       Lots of love,

                               Bonnie

January 13, 1962 Streets Like Glass, Drill Bits, College Girls and Knutsdagen

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We almost feel as if spring was here for it's about 25° today.  It has been horribly cold.  Some days it never got above zero.  I ran a taxi all week for I was afraid to let the kids walk to school.  The streets have been like glass until today.

We haven't had a chance to get the bits but probably can this weekend unless we get another storm.  I hope Daddy hasn't been looking for them everyday.

My cold still isn't all gone but it is just tag ends & probably will last a long time.  I didn't go to S.S. last Sunday because I was still sneezing but I've stopped that.

We are still talking about an organ.  Some of our friends are interested too so we invited two couples over last night to hear our records.  I think one couple will get one already built & probably soon.  The woman is an organist so she wants a better one than I would ever want. 

I've had a houseful of college girls today.  The Y.M.C.A. girls came about 9:00.  I gave them lunch and they left about 2:00.  They really like to come & we like for them to.  There were 15 of us at noon.

Never!

Oh yes, the pants got here just fine.  Thanks for sending them.

I ordered me two pairs of shoes from Ward's sale sheet but don't like either one.  They have long square toes & look awful.  I'll send them back & keep looking.

We are all going to the president's for a party tonight.  It is the end of the Swedish Christmas and we are going to take the Christmas tree down.  It is a children's party & should be fun & certainly different.

We have a new Ward's catalog but I haven't had time to look at it.

I got Ann's Christmas skirt made & was going to make the blouse too & then discovered there wasn't any blouse pattern in the pattern I had bought.  It was all skirts.

Time is going so fast so I'd better stop since we have to be at the party at 6:00.  Don't give up on the bits, Daddy."

                      Lots of love,

                             Bonnie

NOTE:  Marking the end of the Christmas season with the Bone family became a favored tradition involving lots of energetic charades, un-decorating the tree and sweeping the needles out the front door. 

January 1, 1962 A Little More Peace and Freedom, A Big Scout Affair and A Little Time Off

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The old year is almost gone but it went so fast!  We have so much to be thankful for but there are so many that have so little to appreciate.  Let's hope that next year will bring a little more peace and freedom for them.

We are still getting Christmas letters and had a big stack of them when we got home from Richland.

I've been busy all week but can't see that I've done much.  It has taken all week to get the tree and other decorations put away & I've probably missed some of them.

There was a big Scout affair Thursday night and I had charge of the reception afterwards.  I went to the church that afternoon to get things ready and that took about two hours.  It was about 3° above all that day & was too cold for anything.  We had about 250 people that night but some of the Scouts washed the punch cups and it wasn't hard at all.

The office closed Friday noon so B has had a little time off but has worked every minute.  He got the outlets put in the bookcases & an undercoat of paint on by 1:30 last night.  Now he's giving them a coat of semi-gloss.

Bob is staying all night with a friend tonight  & Becky is staying with Ann since we have to be out.

I have to press a dress to wear so I'd better get it done.  Becky & Ann want their supper about 5:30 so I'll need to feed them.

Pillowcases by Grandmother Taylor

We're all making use of our Xmas presents.  Ann had the wardrobe full in 10 minutes & that new quilt on her bed, too.  I have the pillow cases (all of them) on the beds, too.  The record is very nice and you would like it too. 

Doll wardrobe by Granddad Taylor

Daddy's parsnips are real good.  I boiled them, then put butter & brown sugar on them.  Maybe that is how you fix them but I had to look them up in the cookbook.  I hadn't cooked any in so long.

Hope you both are fine."
   
        Lots of love,

             Bonnie

NOTE:  Our granddad made us many pieces of furniture over the years, including the pine doll wardrobe above.  It is 36" x 22" and the inside had tiny dowel rods for hanging doll clothes.   It now houses media of various sorts. 

December 17, 1961 The Christmas Tree, The Ice, The Snow and A Few Cookies

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I wish you could see our Christmas tree.  It is the thickest and prettiest one we have ever had.  We got it last Sunday & the kids decorated it after lunch.  We divided the couch and put it right in front of the window.

We still have ice and snow but most walks are clear now and the middle of the street is clear.  It stays real cold.

The man finally came with our bookcases and mantle.  They really look nice & we're real happy with them.  Of course, they aren't painted yet and won't be for awhile.  Maybe I can do it after Christmas.  B has to drill some holes & run some wires before we can put the speakers on the shelves so they are still on the floor.  He hasn't had time for anything like that.

We have been to Larsen's three times this week to help with their Christmas coffees.  They didn't have as many this year as they usually do.  I'm going to a luncheon tomorrow, then to a tea, then to a dormitory party.  Ann has a piano class party, Bob has a basketball game & B is going to a dedication of a new foreign language laboratory.  Do you think we'll last all day?

Bob has gone to a school party tonight.  He really slicked up before he went.

Ladies Home Journal, Dec. 1961

Ann has been home the last two days with a sore throat but is pretty gay tonight so she's better.  We made a few cookies this morning and I'll make some more next week.

If the office closes at noon Friday we'll be home about 9:00 that night but if it doesn't close till Friday evening then we'll have to come Saturday.  I can't be anymore definite but if we find out in time I'll write a card.

We have our church Christmas supper on Sunday night.  I have to plan something to take for that & will have to find time tomorrow to do some grocery shopping.

I guess I'd better make a grocery list or I won't get what I have to have.

Hope you are both fine & hope to see you soon."

                               Lots of love,

                                      Bonnie

NOTE:  This is the last letter of 1961.  Merry Christmas!  Thanks for reading another year and I hope to see you back in 1962 after a break of a few days.

December 10, 1961 On the Run, A Wintry Day, Gifts for the Forgotten and The Hartford Hospital Fire

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I've been on the run all day.  We've had supper & the kids want to go to a ballgame but I've talked them out of it, I think.

We've had a real wintry day.  It was snowing when we got up & the streets are slushy and slick now.  It rained & sleeted too & the walks are glazed.

I worked at the Mental Health Society office from 9:00 to 1:00 today.  They are collecting gifts for the forgotten mental patients in the state hospitals and each gift has to be labeled as to what it is & whether it's for man, woman, boy or girl.  Some gifts were nice--others were poor.  Christmas is the saddest as well as the happiest time of the year.

B went to Chicago yesterday and will be home tonight sometime.  Several men went to a meeting in a school car.  The roads are so bad I'll be glad when they get home.

The kids & I went to a church supper last night.  I showed our Bahama pictures.  We had a good time but missed B.

I've about got my cards addressed & a good bit of my shopping done.  The kids want to get the tree tomorrow and maybe we can.  B and I have to help Larsens with a coffee most of the afternoon.

I guess you read about the terrible Hartford Hospital fire.  That is where Bob was born so it made me feel bad.

There isn't much to write and I'd better study my Sunday School lesson.  Hope you both are fine.

Bob was real happy with the stamps.  He doesn't have many China stamps."

                             Lots of love,

                                   Bonnie

NOTE:  16 lives were lost in the fire at Hartford Hospital, believed to have been caused by cigarette ashes tossed down a trash chute.  The incident led to significant changes in hospital building codes nationwide.   For a brief video with news footage, use this link:  http://www.harthosp.org/Portals/1/Images/6/Fire_Anniversary.htm

In 2012, Connecticut Public Television released a documentary on the fire.  Watch below.

 

December 2, 1961 Ham and Hamburgers, Teas and Dinners and Keeping Fingers Crossed

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It doesn't seem possible that you were here a week ago.  We sure did enjoy having all of you and wish you could have stayed longer.  I've thought of a dozen things I meant to show you or talk about & forgot them all.

I know you were anxious to get home but I'm so glad Buddy took you thru Springfield.  I knew he would even if he hadn't mentioned it.  He always stops there & I'm so glad Beulah could come.

We still have ham.  I haven't done much cooking since you were here.  B said he'd sure be glad when we could have hamburgers again.  We haven't cracked any of the nuts yet but I haven't done anything much except run around and type.

There have been a lot of things I had to go to.  I visited Bob's room, went to a PTA Board meeting, a tea, a dinner last night & go to another one tonight & tomorrow night.  Then I had to get a letter written about our church Xmas party & get that to the church secretary.  Tomorrow we'll have to address them to all church members.

Every chance I had, I typed and finally mailed my manuscripts on Thursday.  Now the editor has them and I'm keeping my fingers crossed in hopes she keeps one of them.  I wrote two.  She is very slow so I probably won't hear from her in months and months but I'll keep hoping.

B is at school but is coming home soon so we can go after some shoes for Bob.  He has to go back to a meeting after lunch so I must get ready to go.

Hope you are all rested by now."

               Lots of love,

                     Bonnie

November 19, 1961 The Last Flute Lesson, The Real Cold Weather, The Whole Weekend Off and Nothing to Write

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I will write my letter while I dry my hair.  I am going to a luncheon today & didn't get my hair washed yesterday.

B was glad he got to see all of you and I really wanted to come too.  He has gone to the lake to get Bob.  The Scouts camped again last night but Bob wanted to come in early today so he could go to the football game after lunch. 

Ann has gone to a piano workshop.  I told her she had to stop the flute lessons because she won't practice & it's a waste of money.  She has a lesson today & I don't know what she'll tell her teacher.

The weather is real cold but the sun is nice.  Everything was white with frost this morning.

All of us are excited about your coming next week.  I'm so glad Beulah is coming & wish they all could.  B probably told you he will have the whole weekend off.  They are doing some electrical work at school so his office will be closed from Wed. noon.

There isn't anything to write so stay well & we'll see you soon."

                    Lots of love,

                          Bonnie

November 11, 1961 Making A Day of It, Wondering About Thanksgiving, Kind of A Busy Week, Coke & Doughnuts and Better Dead Than Red?

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It feels like spring outside but is cloudy & rain is predicted so that will start the cold all over again.  We never did get the holes filled in the yard and need to do more raking but I don't know when it will get done.

Today is visiting day at school.  All the high school seniors come in to look over the college & make a day of it.  I don't know how many they expect but B will be there most of the day.

Ann stayed with a friend last night & probably won't be home till noon.  Bob is never very noisy so it is quiet around here.

I have been wondering if there would be any way all of Beulah's family could come Thanksgiving?  It would be so nice if all of us could be together.  I don't know whether or how they would manage their cows & I wouldn't beg them but I wish they could come.

I haven't heard any more from Buddy but I wrote to them & I know they'll come.  Did you write and tell them when you're coming or have you decided?

Bob was just invited to go to a ball game so I will be alone.  Today won't seem like Saturday.

I think B's mother & Horace are going to meet B in Springfield & have supper with him.  That will be the only free time he'll have.

Ann likes her hair short because she can comb it herself.  The girl didn't cut it as short as we wanted & that was disappointing but we'll have it cut again one of these days.

This has been kind of a busy week.  We had a group of students Wed. night so I had to get ready for them.  The Y.W.C.A. sponsors conversation groups in faculty homes twice a semester.  They select a topic to discuss & anyone can come.  You never know how many will come.  They talked about this question of "Better Dead Than Red?" this time.  I had coke & doughnuts for them.  Then most of them wanted coffee so we'll still have cokes when you get here.

Hope you both are fine."

                      Lots of love,

                               Bonnie

NOTE:  Both phrases, "Better dead than red" and "Better red than dead" were common in Cold War era discussions of anti-communist sentiment and nuclear disarmament.

November 5, 1961 Tornado Warnings, Trick or Treaters, Tomatoes, Teachers and Top Cat

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We've been having a lot of rain but we did have one real warm day.  The wind blew like March & there were tornado warnings out but none developed.  I cut off the peonies & worked in the yard part of the day.  There is still a lot that needs to be done but it is real cold now so I doubt if I get to do anymore.

Bob went to the dentist again yesterday & then B took him out to the Scout camp.  A few of the boys were trying out some plans for a big camp-out this next weekend.  They had a cabin & B said it was cozy warm.  They will come home this afternoon.

Ann had a friend stay overnight with her.  They are watching T.V. 

Did I tell you B will be in Springfield on the 14th?  I can't remember whether I mentioned it or not.  He is going to represent I.S.N.U. at the inauguration of the new S.M.S.U. president.  We wish the kids & I could come to Richland while he's there but we would have to take them out of school.  B will fly so it will be a quick trip.

I wish we had some of your tomatoes too.  They are 19¢ a lb. in the store so we haven't had many in a long time.   I can't see why they stayed so high in the stores.

We certainly had lots of trick or treaters but they were all real well behaved.  We had lots of little ones & I get a kick out of them.  Some of Bob's friends came too & a lot of kids I never saw before.  Ann didn't go out.  Her room had a roller skating party that day & she had blisters on her feet.  Bob dressed up & had fun but said it would probably be his last time.  He thinks he's getting a little big & so do I.  

I have a rough manuscript written now.  It is for a real little book but it's hard to say much that is important in such a short one.  I have worked on it some almost every day between other things.  I'm not about to give up my church work to write but I'd like to go to a Sunday School class again to hear someone else teach a lesson.  Teachers get in such a rut & I never get to church.  I look & feel so messy when I finish my class & church has always started by the time I get the paste & crayons put away & the children have all been taken care of.

I must stop & wash my hair.  That's a big job & I want to get done before noon.

Have you talked to Dorsey?  Better get it done."

                  Lots of love,

                       Bonnie

NOTES:  Marilyn, a reader from Springfield writes:  After reading your post today, I just had to look in my book on the history of MSU (in 1961,  known as Southwest Missouri State University). In 1961, Dr. Leland Traywick became the 4th President of the University. I see that he earned his doctorate from the University of Illinois, so perhaps that is why your Dad came for his inauguration. The parliamentary room in the student union is named after him. That room is where the Board of Governors and Student Government meet, as well as various other meetings. However, he wasn't the President for very long, he was fired in 1964--a fact I didn't know about until just now. Your blog encourages curiosity!  Thank you, Marilyn, for the interesting information and for reading!

Watching T.V. on Saturday mornings would have meant cartoons...mainly creating background noise except for a few newer premiers, including Top Cat.

October 28, 1961 Homecoming, Holidays and Hamburgers

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"My hands are so cold I can hardly write.  We have been to the parade & it is cold & rainy today.  This is homecoming & we had hoped for a nice day.

Last night we drove around to see the houses decorated & the parade was this morning.  The floats were real nice & I guess they had all been parked inside all night or they would have been ruined.  It rained quite a bit last night.

We have had some frost & the dahlias are ruined.

Images from The Index, ISNU Yearbook

I wish Beulah could come Thanksgiving too.  I keep intending to write to her.  I know how she'd feel about leaving Nobel & Jerry--especially over a holiday.  Ask her anyway & see what she says.  I don't suppose they could get anyone to do their work so they could all come.

We have had several meetings this week & B went to Eureka College to give a talk in Chapel.  I teased him about preaching the sermon & sure enough, his talk was listed on the program as the sermon.

I am on a writing binge again & have spent every spare minute writing this week.  I got a letter from an editor saying she was interested in a little book on Japan.  She sent me one on Alaskan Eskimos to show me the kind of book she wanted.  So that is what I'm doing.  It will take a long time to do a manuscript so I'm working on it.

This isn't much letter but I have to fix lunch for company & then we're going to a football game.  Tonight we go to Potluck.  I'd better get my hamburgers started."

      Lots of love,

            Bonnie

October 21, 1961 The Thanksgiving Plans, The Yard, The Birthday Party and The Usual Full Week

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We have been talking about Thanksgiving & then Buddy called me this week and talked a long time.  He said he'd asked you to come to our house with them & we think it's a wonderful idea.  Don't you think you could come if you started planning now?  He said he wanted you to come to his house on Sun. & then you could all come here on Wednesday.  Even if you didn't go to St. Louis till Tuesday it shouldn't be too tiring since Daddy wouldn't have to drive all the way to Normal.  I told him to bring Francis Jr. & his family, too.  We'll have a wonderful time & we have plenty of beds & plenty of room.  It has been so long since you were here.  Dorsey can take care of things just fine & if you have milk customers just tell them ahead of time that you are coming & they can either get extra milk ahead of time or buy at the store.  It wouldn't hurt just once.

Bonnie, Beulah, Buddy & their Mother, 1937

Ann & I have been to piano class & Bob is raking leaves.  They are wet but we want them off the yard.  The city had a tree cut down & the crew is supposed to repair the yard.  They made some big holes & we want them to see what needs to be fixed.  I get so mad.  You give them permission to use your yard & then they take over.  They ran over our garbage can lid & ruined it & broke a block in the sidewalk.

It is misty & cold today & I'm afraid our Indian Summer is over.  We drove to the lake last Sunday but the leaves weren't turned enough to be real pretty.  The trees in town are prettier.

B is working at school this morning & had a dinner meeting last night.  Ann had a Halloween party last night.  We decorated the basement & the kids had a wonderful time.

This has been the usual full week.  I've tried to squeeze in my ironing but haven't finished yet--may do some today & tonight.

Monday was Etta's birthday so we gave her a party.  I took the ice cream & we all went together and bought her a sweater.  She was so overwhelmed and happy she didn't know what to say.  She stammered & her eyes clouded over & then she began to pray.  You remember that she was the old Catholic lady.  She prayed a beautiful prayer.  It made us cry & I told B that was the biggest dollars worth I ever had.  She lives in a nursing home & is so bright and pretty.  She must be almost 90 but we will never know.  No amount of teasing will induce her to tell.

Then we each went to two dinners, a tea & the PTA meeting & I went to a dessert for the wives in our department.

Ann has a flute lesson at noon & some Scouts are meeting here this afternoon so I'd better think about an early lunch.

Hope you all are fine."

                   Lots of love,

                          Bonnie

NOTE:  I loved it when either or our parents got together with their siblings--always fun and entertaining!  The above photos are 2 of only 3 I have of them together.  We'll see the 3rd one when they get together in 1962.

October 14, 1961 The Haircut, The PTA Report, The Letters and The Lunch

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I'm waiting for Ann, as usual.  She has to wash her hair & is getting dressed.  She suddenly decided last Sunday night after she was in bed, that she would have her hair cut.  So we spent Monday (they were out of school for teachers' meetings) on her hair.  She picked out a picture & went to the beauty shop.  We had it cut & shampooed & set.  It looked cute but has to be rolled up every night.  We're going to give her a Toni when we get to it & then it will stay in.  She likes being able to comb it herself & so do I.

Bob has a friend here for lunch.  He stayed all night, too & Ann has her flute lesson at noon.  It keeps me jumping to get them all in the right places on time.

B has gone to a cornerstone laying for a new dormitory.  I wanted to go but couldn't get ready in time.

We have had some wonderful days & the leaves are all colors now.  I would love to go someplace--even to the lake.  We haven't had a chance yet.  Last Sunday was so nice but I had to work at the church most of the afternoon.  We had our big supper Wed. night & made almost $500.  I didn't have to do a lot this year but was tired when it was over.

I had to make a report to the High School PTA Tues. night.  We've been working on a loan project for PTA & it has been a lot of work and worry.  I think things like that make you tired.

Bob had the wires put on his lower teeth yesterday afternoon.  He says they are sore today & I know they are.

Granny Watterson was here one afternoon for me to fix a dress for her.  She never asks Toni to do anything like that but she could do it if she would.  Granny plans to go to Arizona before long & I hope she can.  It will be good for everybody.  She is pretty well but the arthritis bothers her & the sun would be helpful.

Ann is still coughing from her cold.  These colds & sore throats act so peculiar.  She never did have a fever but felt awful.  Our paper has been telling people to get flu shots.  This is to be a bad year.

I had a letter from Charlotte & one from Beulah last week--just about keeled over.

Surely the shoe factory can be used for something.  It will sure be hard on Richland if they don't figure out something all those people can do.

I must get some lunch.  The boys didn't get up very early but they say they are hungry anyway."

                              Lots of love,         

                                  Bonnie

NOTE:  There were many shoe factories in Missouri, and many were in operation longer than the one in Richland.  I haven't been able to find any information about it, so if any readers have photos or information, I'd love to hear from you. 

It was a relief to have my braids cut off and to be free of the painful nightly detangling and brushing! 

October 7, 1961 The Wonderful Day, The Pie, The Book Club and The Chemicals

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This is such a beautiful day.  It would be a good one to work in the yard but I'm too tired or lazy, one.  Bob has gone camping with 300 other Scouts for the week-end & they couldn't ask for nicer weather.  The nights get pretty cold but I opened the doors yesterday afternoon.

The Optimist Club is having its annual auction today & asked me to make a pie so I just took that to them.  B belongs to it but never gets to go to any of their meetings.  They are raising money to build a permanent ice skating rink for the park.  They have been buying plastic liners to make rinks but these don't last but a season or two.

Ann is sick with a cold again and I'm afraid I'm going to get it.  Bob had one but it never got very bad.  Now Ann has it & she is all stuffed up.  She stayed in bed almost all day yesterday & can't have her flute lesson today.

Our book club started meeting again Monday.  I joined the Book of the Month Club & have 3 new books.  When they have been read by our club you can read them if you want to.  They are Russia and The West, Japanese Inn and The White Nile.  I'm trying to read one before I have to lend it but I can't get very far.

Bob was happy with the stamps.  He doesn't have much time to work with them but still saves the different ones.  He spends every spare minute in the basement with his chemistry stuff.  You should see his laboratory.  I don't even pretend to know the chemicals but he knows what they are & what he can do with them.

I don't think Marjorie will get homesick at all.  There will be so much to see & do that she won't have time.  I think it is wonderful that she could go.

B has been to a meeting all morning and just got home.  Schools are closed all day Monday for teachers' meetings.  Maybe Ann will be over her cold by Tuesday & Bob will be rested up from the camping.

I've been trying to get hems fixed & keep buttons sewed on so I haven't done any work on my other tablecloth.  Maybe that will have to be my project next summer.

It is lunchtime so I'd better see what I can find for us to eat."

                       Lots of love,

                               Bonnie

October 1, 1961 Almost Midnight, The President's Speech and Growing Corn to Music

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It's almost midnight but I went to bed at 8:30 last night instead of writing this and haven't had a chance to do it today.  We had 17 people here for a coffee this afternoon so I spent all day on that.  In fact, most of my week has been spent making cookies.  It poured rain so only about half came.  Now we have cookies for most of next week.  The kids are delighted.  I had asked a college girl to come & help in the kitchen but she got sick so B & I washed dishes & cleaned up after everyone left.  By that time it was time to go to the football game.  It was pretty cold out tonight but we soon warmed up after we got home.

I wish we had some of your tomatoes and sweet potatoes.  We had some baked with a pork roast last Sunday & they were so good.  They were about 15¢ a piece.  Isn't that an awful price for a potato of any kind?

I didn't hear the President's speech but there has been a lot in the paper about it.  Some people liked it & some didn't.  I haven't watched T.V. in a long time.  Our friend, George Smith, who is experimenting with corn growing to music, is supposed to be on the Today Show on Monday.  I'd like to see it but probably won't get to.

Ann started her flute lessons again today but she doesn't care much about practicing so I don't know how long they will last.

Beulah's birthday is Tuesday but I'll be late with her package.  I looked for something for her last week but didn't find anything.

I must go to bed or I'll be too groggy to teach Sunday School tomorrow.  Hope you both are fine."

                    Lots of love,

                          Bonnie

September 24, 1961 A Week on the Kitchen Floor, A Plain Black Dress, Twilight Sleep, Dag Hammarskjold and Life is Peculiar

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We're up to our ears in school again.  While I'm glad it has started, I wish our busy-ness could come on gradually & not at once.  Of course, that's dreaming.  The kids seem quite happy about school & Scout meetings have started regularly, too.

Bob stayed all night with a friend last night & went to the first high school football game.  Bob was to help raise the flag to open the game so he wore his Scout uniform.  It rained during the game so I know his clothes will be a mess when he gets home.

Ann had a friend stay all night with her, too, & now she has gone to a birthday party.

I spent almost all week on the kitchen floor but finally got most of the old plastic off.  I used 3½ qts. of remover & the stuff almost chokes you but with the help of a scraper I took the stuff off inch by inch.  The floor almost looks new so it was worth all the time & sore muscles that it took.  I'd never make a good chore woman for my knees got so red & sore I could hardly touch them.  I thought I'd never get done because I had to stop so many times to do other things but the weather was dry & warm so I kept at it while I could have the house all open.  Now it is waxed & clean.

The temperature has dropped again but I'm glad for the reception for new faculty is tomorrow & it is always so hot to dress up.  I finally found a plain black dress to wear & that is all I have that is new. 

I guess Marjorie has left by now.  I had hoped to get a letter written to her but didn't get it done.  I hope she will like her new job.

Bob is still getting along fine with his teeth.  It seems to be bothering me worse than it does him.  I thought I had told you he would have four teeth pulled to make room in his mouth for the ones that have pushed out of place in front.  I took him to a dental surgeon & they gave him "twilight sleep".  He didn't know anything about it & didn't have any pain afterwards.  It just made him groggy for about an hour & he kept laughing & joking about that.  He got real disgusted with me when I tried to get him to rest that afternoon & just went ahead with his chemistry experiments.  The dentist put the wire on the uppers & started pulling them in this week.  That is the slow part for it has to be done so gradually.  It will be months before we'll begin to see any difference.

Yes, it is terrible that Dag Hammarskjold was killed.  Surely, the world will get straightened out one of these days.  I cannot believe that any country, as a whole, would want to keep things in such a mess but the wrong rulers seem to have so much power.  Life is certainly peculiar -- so good for some and so terrible for others.  No wonder so many people keep asking themselves, "Why?".

My ironing board has been up in the study all week.  I finally finished the ironing so I'd better get it put away.

Hope you both are fine."

                     Lots of love,

                           Bonnie

NOTE:  Dag Hammarskjold was the second Secretary General of the United Nations.  During a mission to negotiate a cease fire of the Civil War in the Congo, the aircraft in which he was traveling crashed in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), killing him and 15 others.  The circumstances were considered suspicious.  He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, posthumously.

The following is video footage at the scene of the crash.  There is no audio.

September 17, 1961 The Rush is On, The Weather is Chilly, Majorie is Thrilled and The Pen is Making a Mess

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"The first week of school is over & it has been a rush one.  Ann decided she had to have a new dress for the first day so I spent Monday & most of Tuesday on that & she went to school all dressed up and happy.  I had had the material for a long time but she kept saying she wanted skirts & blouses so I didn't bother to make it up yet.  When I reminded her of it she said, "But I've always had a new dress for the first day."  I wonder if she'll wear it to Sunday School tomorrow.

B worked at school all morning today.  They have registered over 5000 students & there will still be a few more next week.  We have hardly seen B at home this week & I even had to take Bob to Scout meeting Thursday night.

We went to a dinner meeting last night.  Woody was the speaker or I would not have gone.  We just got home from a reception for new people in our department and we are going to a tea tomorrow afternoon.  I have a Sunday School teachers' meeting too, but may have to leave it early.

Hurricane Carla sent us some real chilly weather & we have had the furnace running for a few days.  None of our fall clothes were ready so we've been pulling things out of the garment bags. I never did get any sewing done for myself so I'm having a time finding things to wear.  I tried to find a dress today in Bloomington but didn't have any luck.  I had ordered one from Sears but it was too tight.

I got a new permanent this week but haven't even looked at hats.  My last year's one looks pretty good so that's what I've been wearing.

Bob had his teeth pulled this morning & got along just fine.  It didn't take long & he was so surprised that he didn't feel it or know when they had taken them out.  The dentist put him to sleep for a few minutes & it was very easy.  We are so glad that is over.

Marjorie must be real thrilled over her new job.  It sounds just wonderful but won't she be missed at home?  Ann keeps insisting that she is going to college in Hawaii so maybe Marjorie will still be there.  Everyone says it is a wonderful place to live.

I think our kids were glad to get back in school.  They get so bored at the last of summer.

This pen is making such a mess that I guess I'll just stop trying to write."

                  Lots of love,

                         Bonnie

NOTE:  The report card on JFK in this saved issue of the Saturday Evening Post  is interesting, but so is the feature on Casey Stengel.  The images above are just for fun, for those of you who are celebrating the season openers of your favorite teams.  Happy Spring!

For photos and more on Hurricane Carla:  http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/?n=hurricanecarla