Second letter postmarked February 28, 1968:
The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 29.
Dear Mother and Mike,
Get ready for my homecoming - March 3 (arrival time 2:30 AM Dallas time). I know you're all going to hate us for that ungodly hour and I can't blame you. Please forgive us and try to understand. Dave says he feels like we're no better than the Dirrs, imposing on y'all this way.
Do whatever you think best about picking us up at the airport. If it would be better on all of you for just Wayne to be there (I realize Mike must go to school the next day and you have to go to work), that will be fine with me. Secretly, I am hoping maybe you can take Monday or part of Monday off, but that is just wishing on my part - there's always Monday night for me to talk you to death.
[Since 1968 was a leap year, March 3 was a Sunday. So our flight must have departed L. A. the evening of Sunday, March 3 and arrived in Dallas at 2:30 AM on Monday, March 4. We would have flown into Love Field in Dallas since DFW Airport didn't open for commercial service until January of 1974.]
[Fun Fact #1: The first landing of a supersonic Concorde jet in the US occurred during the DFW Airport dedication ceremonies in September of 1973.]
[Fun Fact #2: One night in the early 1970s, my parents were out with some friends (Jim and Bernie Pyland). I don't know if they took a wrong turn or what, but they ended up driving on one of the runways at DFW Airport before it opened.]
Needless to say, David Wayne is excited. He drew a picture the other night of an airplane, stick-figure people on the airplane, and stick figures of all of you standing on the ground. He said, "If Knucklehead is there and if he feels like it, I'm going to give him a sock in the nose." He hasn't mentioned any punishment for the rest of you, but you better have your guard up anyway.
[I must have grown out of this violent stage rather quickly, as I don't remember being that way at all.]
Dave is another sad story. He has been gloomy and depressed ever since he called the airport. He was all for me going (relieved is a better expression) and he was just fine until it came to actually setting the day and hour. Of course, he tries to hide it, but I know him too well for him to fool me. He's miserable! He won't know anyone here (Hansens are leaving Friday) and there just won't be anything for him to do. I just pray he'll only have to spend one weekend by himself. He admitted the other night he didn't think he could stand the peace and quiet without David Wayne here.
[Awwwww . . . And to think that Dad was a bachelor just a year and a half ago.]
And then, too, he's worried about me having to get all the utilities turned on, the house cleaned, etc. He feels he should be the one to take care of those chores.
I am pretty excited myself about coming home and seeing all of you again. I would be happier if Dave could be there, too. There is so much for me to do and tales to tell and people to see that I can keep very busy the two weeks Dave is out here. I do hope you've already called the Browns about the baby bed. I really don't feel up to a reunion with them. If Mike could get it beforehand, he'll just have to run over and get it, whereas if I have to go, it'll be like "old-home" week and I'd have a lengthy visit. Not that I dislike them, but I just want to spend time with my family, or shopping for baby things, or just plain resting. And I can't forget about the rest as I'm at that point of pregnancy where I am big, uncomfortable, and tired. The "tired business" has been almost from the first month, however.
[Thank goodness we won't have to hear about this baby bed any more. That was getting as old as the baby food warmer.]
We have just about everything packed - you should see the boxes! It will take a magician to get them all in the car.
[As previously mentioned, it's a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville. No problem.]
I still have my kitchen stuff to get ready, but I can get that done Saturday. Dave has done all the packing and I just supervised, so I'm not worn out in the least bit. We've been doing a little each night so this weekend with Dave will be pleasant and relaxing. We'll call this weekend and tell you the flight number - probably we'll call Wayne, too.
I received a disturbing letter from the Jennings. It seems Mr. J., having nothing better to do, called Wayne to make sure he'd pick me up. In fact, it seems he's called Wayne often lately. The man had also called an airport and found out that I'm not supposed to fly (against regulations during eighth month) so he was all stirred up over that and naturally, told us exactly what to do. As you know, I've never had any complaints about Dave's parents - they're wonderful. But for just a moment as I read that letter, I felt the same about Mr. J. as I did about Charles' dad. (Remember how he was always telling us how to do things.)
[Charles was my biological father. It sounds like Mom had issues with her first father-in-law.]
Dave is embarrassed about his dad calling Wayne. I hope it didn't make Wayne mad. I guess since he retired he's got nothing better to do than worry about his sons. Dave says he never has been that way too much before. Well, we will just have to keep in mind that he means well.
[That's a good way to look at it. Consider the intentions. Another suggestion I heard a few years ago that really helps is to assume stupidity before malice.]
I better get this in the mail. Can't wait to see you and talk and talk and talk. I'll just never run down.
Love,
Linda
[And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the final letter. On March 4 I'll have a blog post about the trip home.]
Letter postmarked February 28, 1968:
I believe this letter was written Monday or Tuesday, February 26 or 27.
The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 28.
Dear Mother and Mike,
Maybe I can do better on corresponding this week. The post office holiday fouled me up last week - also I ran out of stamps and envelopes. More than anything, though, I'm just excited about coming home and I can't seem to be able to get anything organized - thoughts, packing, etc.
Dave didn't get around to calling the airport last week so I still haven't been able to make definite plans. This special "night coach" just runs on certain days (I have no idea which days) so I can't say for sure - around March 3 though. I hope none of you mind us coming in at night, but it's so much cheaper that I can't see doing it any other way. I wish we'd known about this flight when you came out - on second thought, I don't think it was available then.
[That's the first mention of a possible departure date. I guess we aren't going to take that trip to San Diego.]
We did quite a bit of packing on Thursday as Dave had a holiday. We have accumulated so much "junk" since July it's just unbelievable. Even if I get things packed, I don't see how Dave will squeeze things in the car.
[It's a 1965 Pontiac Bonneville. No problem.]
Your letter really puzzled me about Les Mills. I will be anxious to hear about that and even more anxious to hear about the Hawaii trip. Ye Gads! - they aren't really serious about Mike going? I was awfully proud of Mike when he refused that trip this summer - and I sure hope he says "no" to this proposal.
I was so glad to read that Mike was going to work this summer. I sure hope he does as, personally, I think it's the best experience for a young person. I know I didn't like it at the time, but when I really think about it now, work was the best thing I ever did. You know, I'm glad Mike has gone all these places, but if he goes everywhere what can he look forward to when he gets older?
I certainly appreciate Wayne getting the car ready for me. Did you say he put on a new tire? I guess I'll just wait until I get home to settle with him. You also said Bob was with him - did you mean Jim Pyland?
[The car being referred to here was my mother's car, which I'm guessing was something like a 1964 Chevy Bel Air, or perhaps a Biscayne.]
I didn't get the letter in time to send Daddy a birthday card. I knew his birthday was in February but I never even thought about it until too late. Linda had never told me about the picture they got from Daddy. You and Mike will get a kick out of this: A few weeks ago we received a letter from Adelia. (She doesn't write very often because she says her hand fits a hammer better than a pencil.) In the letter she mentioned that the weather had been terrible and that all of their yard was one big mud puddle. She always puts in one or two lines especially for David Wayne and it's always been something about their livestock. In this letter she wrote, "Tell David Wayne that my cats have been going crazy running all over the yard trying to find a dry place to crap." When I read the letter, I just howled but I wish you could have seen Dave's face as he read it - his reaction was funnier to me than what she wrote. We did not pass the information on to David Wayne.
[Well, crap. I missed out on a good laugh there. I do remember one instance during my pre-teen or teenage years when I used the word "crap" in a similar context and I was surprised Mom considered that foul language.]
I just can't believe I'll be home in a few days. I am kinda leery about seeing Dr. Tatum because I never wrote him. I must see him immediately - say like the day after I get home. I really think that I should be taking some kind of vitamin K (?) or something for my blood. The doctor out here said (this was way back in September when he thought I'd be his patient only a couple of months) that my Texas doctor would probably prescribe something since he knew about the bleeding problem. I forgot about it and the doctor forgot about it, so I'm not taking anything. When last I saw Dr. Tatum he said I had a cyst and he also gave me another prescription for the "pill." I'm going to walk in his office and say, "I'm going to have a cyst in a couple of weeks." When I do find out for sure what flight I'll take, I'll call you. Then you better call Dr. Tatum for me and make an appointment - the soonest one you can get. This may even qualify as an emergency!
[Now that we know Mom had a prescription for birth control pills at the time, the question we'll probably never know the answer to is whether or not she was trying to get pregnant while we were in Los Angeles. Initially I would think not since they surely didn't want to run the risk of having, as my dad would say, a foreign-born child. On the other hand, when we first moved there they thought we'd be moving back before Christmas, so maybe she was trying to get pregnant.]
We had a lovely weekend - weather wise and all. David Wayne caught bugs outside and he wore short pants, light T-shirt, and went barefoot. Even with that dress, he had to come into the house to cool off - we ran our air conditioner all weekend.
Saturday I felt kinda blah - I hadn't slept too well Friday night. Dave had to get a haircut and when he returned he brought me a bouquet of flowers. Remember that little flower stand not too far from our apartment? You commented on the sign "BOKAYS." Well, he had walked to the barber shop instead of driving, just so he could go by there and get them. I was just delighted with them. He also offered to cook supper that night. I hadn't planned on that so I didn't have the right kind of meat for cooking out. Well, the food was not a success and after we took about three bites, Dave said, "Get dressed you two, let's go eat out." David Wayne jumped up from that table and was dressed in two minutes, but it took me a little longer - five minutes. We moved so fast, poor Dave was stunned and didn't have a chance to back out. I left dishes, food, etc. on the table and we went over to the Bull 'n Bush for a delicious meal of prime rib. We really made a mistake introducing David Wayne to prime rib as he can eat as much as anyone. You know how the waiters come around after you finish and ask you about dessert? Well, Saturday night this happened and Dave said no and I shook my head no, but David Wayne said, "Nothing for me, thank you." The waiter took about two steps away from our table, stopped, looked back at David Wayne, and then started smiling. Later, we could see him telling everyone in the place about the little boy.
[If he only knew what a little hellion I could be the rest of the time . . .]
Sunday we sat outside with David Wayne most of the afternoon. He played with all his Matchbox cars. Dave is full of surprises - he suggested we call the Hansens and eat out again! This we did and, as always, enjoyed being with them.
Today I've got to get busy and pack some more. Dave promised to call the airport today and check on when I can leave. He knows we have to leave and he wants me to, but still he hates to set a definite departure date. Things will be awfully quiet without David Wayne around and I don't think Dave is going to be happy - he's used to David Wayne's noise and my moans and groans. He gets a big kick just watching me getting up and down from a chair with my big stomach - who is he going to laugh at? A lot of men would enjoy being away from their wife and kids for a week or so, but not Dave. He's really a nut - yesterday as we sat outside, he said, "I wish I could be home mowing the yard." This from the man that told me before we married that he wanted green concrete for a lawn!
[Dad did like mowing the yard, and one of his favorite things to do was stand outside on the front porch and watch the grass grow.]
I better get this in the mail or I'll never get anything done. I'll call soon.
Love,
Linda
Letter postmarked February 23, 1968 (Part 2, written the afternoon of February 21):
In Part 1 of this letter, Mom's doctor (Dr. Danno) informed her that the baby might come early and she might be having twins, so he referred her to a specialist (Dr. Wright). Let's see what the specialist has to say.
Results from Dr. Wright: (1) He gave me a thorough examination and says the baby probably will not come for another six weeks. (2) He also thinks I should fly home end of next week or first of following week (3) No twins - in fact, this doctor was able to tell me that the baby is now about 11" long and weighs 4 lbs. I really did like this specialist and I'd give anything if I'd been going to him all along. I could talk with him easily and I really have confidence in his opinion. I will see him the day before I leave to come home just to make sure everything is alright.
[So the twin scare is officially over. That's something else I don't recall Mom ever mentioning. Dr. Wright's prediction is delivery in about six weeks, so that puts the anticipated delivery date in early April. We shall see.]
[The fly vs. drive home decision appears to be settled now, too, based on Dr. Wright's recommendation. Mom and I might be outta here within two weeks. The end is nigh . . .]
Dave thought I might get depressed over going home early and no twins (we both were disappointed) so he took me over to the Hansen's. We all ate out together and wound up yakking until midnight. Gee, we're going to miss them. They have asked us to come and visit them in Denver in June. Barbara and Erland love Denver and really know the town well so they could show us a good time. Of course, we can't plan anything because of the baby, but it's fun to dream.
The Dirrs left Tuesday morning. I do not miss them as yet and I rather doubt that I will. They just aren't our kind of people. A favorite expression of theirs - used about me in my condition and used quite frequently to describe Suzie herself - was "drop a kid" instead of having a baby. Have you ever heard anything so crude? Every time I heard it, I'd wince and see myself as a cow.
[The Dirrs were in L. A. less than four months, and although they weren't "our kind of people" they certainly made our stay there more interesting and kept Mom from being as bored as she was the first couple of months there. Overall I'd say it was a positive that our paths crossed.]
I got your letter on Monday so I'll answer your questions, statements, etc. I swear I just don't know what to think about Sara. She just goes from bad to worse. In a way I feel sorry for her and in another way I just get disgusted. We might as well face it - she'll never get old because she just never grew up.
[Well, Aunt Sara turned 99 on Christmas Day of 2017, so Mom's prediction of her never getting old turned out to be somewhat inaccurate.]
I know I wrote you about our big weekend so I'll let that pass. Surely you've received that letter by now.
Dave and I haven't made any definite plans on my leaving. As I said before, Dave tried to show me a good time last night so I wouldn't be depressed (He succeeded!) and we really didn't have a chance to discuss dates. I know Dave will arrive on the weekend in the car - either March 9 or 16. I know I'll stay here this week and possibly all next week (February 25 - March 1.) If (and that's a big if) Dave will let me, I'd like to stay over that weekend with him and leave Sunday night, the third. The reason I'd like to stay the weekend with him is so he won't get lonely. I don't worry about him during the week because he'll be working, but the weekends may be rough on him alone - Barbara and Erland won't even be here then as they are leaving March 1.
David Wayne and I will be coming in at night rather than daytime. There is a night coach from L. A. to Dallas that costs only $55. Then it'll be around half of that for David Wayne, so it won't cost much. In fact, we figured that the price will be about the same with me flying - Dave won't have to rent a trailer which was $55, the motel won't cost as much with just one as it did for the three of us, and buying two meals a day for just one person is cheaper than 8 meals for three (Dave doesn't eat breakfast.) Also, I think Dave will be able to drive it in two days instead of three - he can get earlier starts and probably drive a few hours longer at night and the stops won't be as long.
[Well, darn. I don't get to sit in the front seat with Daddy on our drive back to Texas.]
Whatever happens I will let you know as soon as our plans are complete. I can hardly wait to see everybody and David Wayne is beside himself. Dave hates to see me go, but he is really relieved and I can understand why. I feel better knowing that he'll get home before the baby is born - I just didn't want him to miss that!
Well, I'll close - I'm just rattling anyway. Hey, see if you can get that baby bed before I get home. I will start work immediately on the nursery. That will give me a lot to do so I won't miss Dave so much. Can't wait to see you!
Love,
Linda
[No, this was not the last letter. I'll let you know when that one's posted.]
Letter postmarked February 23, 1968 (Part 1, written the morning of February 21):
The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 27.
Dear Mother and Mike,
Did I surprise you with the phone call on Sunday? I said something to Dave about calling you Friday night (after I had visited the doctor), but the Dirrs were coming over and I didn't have time. Saturday, Dave told me to call, but I was sorta depressed (the weather mainly, as it was just a dreary day.) Sunday I felt great and I just couldn't wait.
[Ok, it sounds like Mom visited the doctor on Friday, February 16. She wanted to call my grandmother with some news regarding that appointment, but she didn't call until Sunday, February 18. Let's see what happened at that doctor appointment.]
I probably confused you, but good, about the twins bit.
[I'm confused, too. Please explain.]
I'll try to explain better. I went to the doctor on Friday (just a regular visit). I told him I'd been urinating more frequently. (One night I went every 15 minutes - Dave timed me.) He took a urine specimen and said I might have a bladder infection. Then I told him there was no burning so he didn't think I had one then - he said it meant more pressure on the bladder. He took out his little tape measure, put it around my tummy, and said, "Good God, you just may have that baby here!" Next, I sat down while he gave me a map of the closest hospital.
[Ok, that might impact the departure schedule a bit.]
Then he went over with me again the date of my last period - July 3. No, no, no! - I have not made a mistake on that. Dave and I both are sure about that - it was the day Dave drove to Tyler by himself and came back. Even my neighbor Patsy remembers because she came over that day and I was sick. The doctor figured and re-figured, then said there was just no way - two weeks early, yes, but not a month early unless . . . then out came the stethoscope. That's when he asked if there were any twins in the family - I guess he heard two heartbeats and twins usually do arrive early. He said there was an x-ray that could determine for sure but that he didn't like it (it's a good thing. Dave said absolutely no x-ray to the baby or me) and that it is very expensive. Then he told me to go and see Dr. Wright, a specialist and the one that would deliver the baby if I had it in L. A.
Now to bring you up to date thus far. I called Dr. Danno yesterday and I have no infection. Then I called Dr. Wright and explained the situation to him. He told me to come in today at 2:30. So I'll finish this letter this afternoon. But if he tells what I'm afraid he will, you'll be meeting me at the airport before you get the letter.
[Now that you know a little more than my grandmother knew after the Sunday phone call, this seems like a pretty good place to end Part 1, don't you think?]
Letter postmarked February 16, 1968:
The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 26.
FYI, this is post number 150. We probably won't make it to 200.
Dear Mother and Mike,
I have absolutely no "news" to write since the last time I wrote, but I thought I better let you know we're still alright. Barbara Hansen's parents have been visiting her all week so she hasn't been over to get me out of the apartment. I have really missed seeing her and going places with her. Suzie came over yesterday afternoon, but there is a difference of listening to someone (all I can do with Suzie) and talking with someone (like Barbara and I do.)
[Ain't it the truth?]
Suzie came over and told me all about how it was going to be during her pregnancy and delivery. Since she's had "all this medical training," she knew all about everything. At one point she informed me, "having a baby is equivalent to major surgery, you know." Why how would I know? I've only had a baby, never had all that medical training myself. She is really sumpin' but Dave and I can't figure out what - Dave has a name but I dare not put it in a letter. You'll never believe this but Gene wants to go into the delivery room with her (yes, I said delivery, not labor) and take pictures with their movie camera. Now, if that doesn't give you some idea of why they disgust us so much, nothing I could ever tell you will. We never go around them though, so the only time we have to put up with them is when they visit us - which hasn't been too often since New Year's.
Being with the Hansens has offset the bad of being with the Dirrs. All three of us just love Erland and Barbara and can have more fun with them. To illustrate David Wayne's fondness for them, I'll tell you what he said one night: We were talking about going home and David Wayne was raving on about this being a "no-good" town, etc. Then he stopped raving and said, "I want to go back to Texas, but I sure will miss Barbara and Erland - I like them."
[I guess my parents didn't try to keep it a secret from me how unhappy they were in L. A., if I was ranting about what a no-good town it was.]
Yesterday was Valentine's Day and David Wayne was fluttering around like it was Christmas. He made cards for me and Dave and he enjoyed sending cards to all of you in Texas. We also had him send one to the Sivells and the Hansens. The Hansens gave him a box of candy and a huge Valentine that rocks back and forth. Dave really surprised me by saying that he would get something for David Wayne from us. You know, I do all shopping and gift buying, so this suggestion of his put me in a state of shock. Dave picked out a really cute card and then he got him a bunch of comic books. David Wayne loves comic books and he can recognize many of the words that are used over and over in them. Also, after I read them to him once or twice, he "reads" them back to me - practically word for word. By the way, we try to be careful in the books we select - Walt Disney books are good, also Casper is another favorite of his. Dave got him a Batman comic book a few weeks ago but David Wayne doesn't look at it as much as he does the others.
[I remember having a few comic books when I was very young, but I don't recall ever reading them much after I learned to read. I did love the Batman TV show, though, so it's surprising I didn't look at that comic book too much. Maybe it was a little darker than the campy TV series.]
You'll never guess what David Wayne and I bought for Dave - a pair of underwear with hearts all over them. No, he does not need underwear, but they were so wild and David Wayne had such a fit over them that we got them anyway. Dave said he never expected me to buy him any underwear.
Dave says it'll soon be time to start packing! He's as anxious as David Wayne and me about coming home. I still get in a frenzy thinking about all the work ahead of me in Texas, but I'll still be glad to get home. I'm hoping we can make a trip to San Diego before we leave, but Dave is playing the "stalling" game so I have doubts.
Since I have no other news, I'll close. Take care of yourself and tell Mike to slow down. We'll really be looking forward to our homecoming.
Love,
Linda
The letter in today's post is not a letter from Mom, but rather a letter Mom received from Joan Gambill, one of her high school classmates (Denton High School, class of 1959) who wrote to her in January. Mom first mentioned this letter in the letter postmarked January 8 when she stated how funny it was and that she would send it to my grandmother to read after she replied. Mom mentioned it again in her January 31 letter when she said that she still had not written Joan back.
There are some funny parts and good deal of "discussion" of their high school classmates, plus some interesting perspectives on how things were back in 1968. Other than the names of Joan and her husband I'll use initials instead of the full names of the high school classmates.
The typed letter (one page front and back) was dated January 2, 1967 (should have been 1968).
Happy New Year!
One of my New Year's resolutions this year is to get in touch with friends that I haven't seen in some time --- and you're top of the list. I saw your mother in Russell's and I got your address.
I don't even know where to begin! First of all, Bill and I are living in Miami, Florida (Actually it is Coral Gables, a suburb of Miami). We are both working. Bill is an accountant for Esso Inter-America and I am in the Public Relations Department of three banks (they are owned by the same man). Both of us have good jobs and we absolutely love Miami. It is just fantastic here! We don't have any kiddies as of yet. We had a bit of trouble in that department, but everything seems to be straightened out now (I'm not talking about personal trouble -- MEDICAL trouble). All kinds of little gadgets were out of whack, and we're just now getting them in order. (NOT THOSE GADGETS, LINDA -- get your mind out of the gutter!) Let me clear up any misunderstanding right here. There is nothing wrong with my sex life -- it is enchanting. As Bill once said . . . we don't have any kids yet, but it's fun trying!
[Too bad we don't have Mom's reply to this letter. On second thought, maybe that's a good thing.]
Bill and I went to Texas for Christmas. MRB had a reunion of the old gang in high school and it was absolutely fascinating to see everyone again. I saw people that I haven't seen in seven years! Now that makes me feel old! I saw people like CF (remember him?), JH, TPB, JB, DR, BS, LMW, etc. I just couldn't believe it! SS was supposed to come, but she is still recuperating from her divorce and didn't feel up to it. Also, MJM is divorced but she was there (still pudgy but looks very good).
[MJM was homecoming queen. SS was a nominee for homecoming queen.]
Anyway, it was a wild affair, and I didn't realize until after the fifth glass that the punch was spiked. (I noticed then only because I found myself getting louder and louder and telling people to their faces that they were fat).
JBB and I went together. BB left for Viet Nam on the 20th of December which is a heartbreaking story.
[JBB and BB were in the same high school class.]
She had her little baby boy on the 15th of November while BB was still in California. He was home long enough to see the baby for 8 days and then had to leave. It is just sickening --- especially since he had to leave right before Christmas.
[Although it wasn't stated here, there's a good chance BB was drafted into the military. That's something most of us today can't imagine, since the draft in the US ended in 1973.]
[Fun fact: As of November of 2014 there were no longer any soldiers in the US Army who were drafted during the Viet Nam era. The last one retired after a 42-year career.]
Anyway, we went together to the reunion. (Bill stayed at home since he knows no one in the "group.") JBB and I had a fine time (especially after about three glasses of that punch.) That was the most well-concealed booze I have ever had because I am not a drinker and therefore I immediately taste the stuff -- but not this time -- it was Vodka.
EB and LB are living in Denton. E is teaching in Lewisville and L gets his masters degree this year. No kids.
Bill and I just love Miami. It is so warm and such a fun place to live. We go to the dog races, to the beach and last week we saw Harry Belafonte on Miami Beach. [Day-O!] There is always something to do. I never thought I could leave Denton, but honest to Pete now that I am away, I would never go back. It's really funny. I thought I would cry and carry on to go "home" but this is my home now, and I was glad to get back here after Christmas.
I hope you are doing well. Your mother told me you were expecting. That's great. Write to me and tell me all about yourself and what you are doing, what your husband is doing, etc. (no need to give intimate details -- I still have some imagination.)
After that reunion the other night, I got really tickled thinking about how people were then compared to them now. For instance, I remember what a big thing it was to run for Favorite. What a joke that was.
[The Favorites categories in Mom's high school yearbook were:]
Most Beautiful Girl
Most Handsome Boy (BB was a nominee.)
Most Versatile Girl (MJM won. JBB was a nominee.)
Most Versatile Boy (JH won.)
Friendliest Girl (SS won.)
Friendliest Boy
Typical Girl (Joan was a nominee.)
Typical Boy (DB won.)
Athletic Favorite
Senior Favorite (JB and LMW were nominees.)
For instance, everybody thought that JH would wind up being at least President of the United States -- I mean he was THE man, remember? Well, he's a draft dodger, teaching school on an Indian reservation in Montana and hating every minute of it.
Then there was DB, Most Versatile. [Actually, he won the Typical Boy category. See above.] He can fix a car and that is about it. (I don't mean to sound catty. I like DB very much -- I'm just thinking about high school.) Then there was SS, friendliest girl. She was so friendly that she didn't even show up at the reunion or call to say that she wasn't coming. Let's see -- oh yes -- Joan Gambill -- typical girl. Tell me. Have you ever known anyone LESS typical than me?
Well, I could go on, but I think you get the point. Values change as time goes by. Look at the hippies now. When we were in high school, if you smoked cigarettes you were an instant hussy. Now it's POT. Also, if boys wore their blue jeans below their waist, they were evil.
[How about boys wearing pants so low there are several inches of underwear showing? "Pants on the ground, pants on the ground. Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground!"]
Now it's hair down to the knees! I guess it is all just part of the growing up process. And I wouldn't trade those days for anything -- I'm just glad they are memories instead of realities now.
Gotta run. Write when you have a chance. I will put my address and married name below.
Love,
Joan
[Full name and address, with "Excuse messy typing!" handwritten below that.]
[In contrast to Mom and Dad's situation in L. A., it sounds like Joan and Bill are perfectly happy living in Miami and have no intention of returning to Texas. Joan's letter also gives us a little insight into the personal side of the Viet Nam war, as well as the ever-changing values of society less than a decade after her high school graduation. And who among us wouldn't enjoy checking up on our high school classmates to see if their future success aligned with their high school success or standing among their peers?]
[Joan's letter was a nice little detour. Tomorrow we will resume with our regularly scheduled programming.]
Letter postmarked February 14, 1968 (Part 2, written February 12):
Well, we had our "night out on the town." We first ate at a restaurant, Diamond Jim's. The food was delicious and expensive.
[Diamond Jim's restaurant appears to be gone now, but you can purchase a 1973 menu from there on Ebay. It does look expensive based just based on the menu items alone, even without looking at the prices. I think there was more than one Diamond Jim's location, and one of them, at 6753 Hollywood Boulevard, appears in a street scene from the 1974 movie "Harry and Tonto."]
Next we went to the Statler Hotel to the cocktail lounge -
[The Statler Hotel, which opened in 1952 and was torn down a few years ago to be replaced by a skyscraper called the Wilshire Grand, has quite an interesting history. For starters, every room had air conditioning and a 17-inch TV, which was a really big deal in 1952. Ronald Reagan (the actor) was master of ceremonies at the grand opening. Xavier Cugat and his orchestra were the resident band in a swanky supper club there for awhile (probably before 1968). Richard Nixon and his family lived there in 1961 (after his term as Vice President ended) while they were building a house. Here's an excellent blog post with lots of awesome pictures and stories: https://paradiseleased.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/so-long-statler-a-cheerless-end-for-l-a-s-atomic-age-hotel/. And here's another interesting blog post about it: http://blogdowntown.com/2009/08/4581-57-years-ago-hotel-statler-opens-at-figueroa.]
- it wasn't topless but the gals had plenty of top showing. I had to lead Dave in by the hand as this swivel-hipped girl led us to our table. The "show" was a go-go girl dancing to this wild, loud music while these psychedelic lights flashed everywhere.
[That sounds only slightly better than going to a topless joint. Definitely not my parents' thing. I bet Dad couldn't wait to leave.]
Every two or three songs, the band would play a slow tune. The first slow one they played, Dave looked at me and said, "Too bad we can't dance, honey." I said, "Why not?" Dave said, "No dance floor." I just about dropped my teeth - not five feet from us was the dance floor with people out there dancing! Oh well, as I said the waitresses had plenty of top showing and the three men at our table were trying so hard not to look (or get caught looking) that it was hilarious. I did get to dance.
David Wayne stayed with Mrs. Bruffy and just loved it. Mrs. Bruffy assured us that he behaved absolutely wonderful and she just had a fit when we tried to pay her. She said that would take away the pleasure of keeping him. The next day as David Wayne was telling us about all the fun he had we got this sneaky suspicion that he had actually enjoyed getting away from us and that he'd had more fun than us!
You would have laughed at us on Sunday. The day was kind of a dreary one without sun. We didn't care about going anywhere and besides we had spent quite a bit on just Saturday night. Anyway, we turned the radio on (the radio on the TV) and we danced all afternoon - I danced the slow ones with Dave and the fast ones with David Wayne. I was pooped! That night we ate at the Sizzler - after all the dancing I didn't have the energy left to open a can of beans. We can afford to eat at the Sizzler often as it only cost about $3.50 for all three of us - David Wayne gets hamburger patty, french fries, and milk, and Dave and I eat a steak, baked potato, and coffee. I can't buy the meat and fix it at home as cheaply as that.
[That story about my parents dancing to the radio does bring back some sweet memories. I can remember, at our house in Texas, Mom and Dad sometimes playing albums by artists like Ray Charles or Charley Pride on our old console record player and dancing to at least a whole album side if not the whole album. Now that I think about it, two Ray Charles Greatest Hits compilations were among the first CD's I ever purchased, no doubt since I grew up listening to Ray Charles.]
Well, I guess I'll close. I must start the washing and I have several other letters to write. I never clean the apartment any more except for washing the dishes. Write me again soon - as soon as possible anyway. We don't care whether you know any news or not.
Love,
Linda
P. S. - I'll put in Joan's letter. I finally answered her.
[Oh boy, we finally get to see the infamous letter from Joan we've been hearing about for weeks. We'll cover that next in its own post.]
By the way, when is Daddy's birthday? I know it's in February.
[Papa's birthday was February 19, 1910.]
Letter postmarked February 14, 1968 (Part 1, written February 12):
[I got a little behind on the letters due to a short illness followed closely by some business travel. Hopefully I'll post something at least daily until we're caught up.]
The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 25. It could . . . go . . . all . . . way.
Dear Mother and Mike,
I got your letter today and I sure enjoyed the part about Steven and how he's growing. I can hardly wait to see him. David Wayne just goes into convulsions whenever and wherever we see a baby so I know he'll have a fit over Steven. Which reminds me - I took David Wayne shopping today (we were just bored) and we looked at baby furniture, toys, clothes, etc. Everything David Wayne saw, he wanted to buy either for Steven or for "our" baby. My reaction to the prices was somewhat different and I told Dave tonight that I'd changed my mind on having this baby - we can't afford it!
Speaking of babies . . . we found out about 30 minutes ago that the Dirrs are expecting in September. Dave informs me that this makes the third time this has happened to a Texas examiner stationed in L. A. - they won't be able to get Texans out here at that rate. The Dirr's puppy was run over on Saturday and it died. I was so sorry to hear that even with all the trouble the little thing caused.
I read to David Wayne the part of your letter about him spending the weekend once in a while with you. He was delighted, to say the least. The parents of David Wayne will be most willing. I wonder if he will be will to leave "our" baby, though. I've brainwashed him into thinking that I need his help so he may not trust me to take adequate care of a baby by myself.
We don't know, as of yet, our exact departure date. Dave says three or four more weeks - which sounded fine until I looked at the calendar. I will be home only three or four weeks before the baby is due. Don't talk to this old fat, pregnant, slow woman about having plenty of time to fix up a nursery. HA! I cannot remember what all I had for David Wayne in the way of clothes. I have done absolutely nothing in preparing for this baby - not even one diaper! I do remember that the handle of the diaper bag needs to be repaired and it is filthy. I wish you could get Mike to get my baby bed for me before I get home. If I could just get it to your house then I would feel better about getting it home. As for a chest, we're going to buy David Wayne a new one to match his bed and use the one in his room for the baby clothes. Paint? I'll do good to get it washed.
Dave says, "Don't worry about fixing up the room. I'll take care of it." But you know men. What would he know about it - he thinks the curtains in the room now will be fine and he says all we'll need is the baby bed in there. I'm not really worrying about the nursery though. I'll just do as much as I have time for and feel like doing and the rest will take care of itself.
I'm not going to attempt to go see "Dr. Doolittle" here. Patsy wrote me that in Dallas it is just as expensive as L. A. and you also have to make reservations weeks in advance. I hope that we (you included) can go after we get home. I have all these plans for "after we get home" but I fear that I won't feel like doing much. You know, I don't even know what to do about going to the hospital - I have plenty of gowns but not one that buttons down the front (also mine are sorta flimsy from hospital wear). Dave said he wants to buy me a new robe and that's fine, but when is he going to buy it? On the way to the hospital? It really hasn't hit him yet that there is only a few weeks left and all he has on his mind is just getting me home safely. I have lots of time now to get ready but I can't buy things here and then haul them back to Texas. Gee, this is going to be a wild next two months.
[I guess it didn't really sink in for me until this letter, but Mom and Dad didn't have much time at all to get ready for a baby after returning from Los Angeles. Like Mom mentions, they didn't want to buy a bunch of stuff in L. A. and then haul it back with all the other stuff we had accumulated. It must have been crazy trying to get everything ready after we got back to Texas.]
[We'll end Part 1 of this letter here.]
Letter postmarked February 8, 1968 (Part 2, written February 7 and 8):
Well, I must close (it's morning now). I have to get dressed for the big shopping trip. Dave slept well last night and didn't talk in his sleep about the money I'm going to spend. You never have commented on his talking in sleep and I thought you'd really get a bang out of that.
By the way, have I ever mentioned to you that Dave smokes cigars now? He started it Christmas when Hartford was here. Thought I might better warn all of you. It doesn't bother me and he's very considerate - doesn't smoke them in the car (too close), nor does he smell up other people's houses. David Wayne loves it because he gets all the cigar boxes.
[I do remember having cigar boxes for craft projects, such as that Christmas gift I gave to Dad. I can also remember occasionally making a guitar out of a cigar box and rubber bands. I know Dad didn't smoke cigars consistently after we moved back to Texas, it was more of an occasional thing as I recall.]
I really must go now. I wonder what David Wayne will pull on me and Barbara today. As Barbara says, it's always an adventure when we take David Wayne places - sometimes he behaves so well and other times he's got so much energy that we come home exhausted. Barbara is very thoughtful - she is knitting a beautiful shawl-type carriage cover for our baby. So not to make David Wayne become jealous, she told him she was knitting it for him to give his baby brother or sister. Every time we go over there, he has her get out "his" knitting and let him see how it is coming along.
[Written February 8]
I didn't get this mailed yesterday before we left, so I'll just tell you about yesterday. We started out by walking the few blocks to Barbara's apartment and David Wayne found two slimy worms on the way. Naturally, he wanted to show them to Barbara, but I didn't figure she'd care for worms so we found them a home in the plant box outside. Then we got Barbara and walked about half a block to the bus stop - on the way David Wayne (yes, in just that short distance) collected 6 bugs (the roll up in a ball kind).
[Roly poly. Pill bug. Scientific name Armadillidiidae. Here are some interesting facts I didn't know about roly polies until I looked for the scientific name:
They aren't bugs. They're crustaceans, more closely related to shrimp and crayfish than any insect. (FYI, worms aren't bugs either.)
They don't pee. Instead they secrete ammonia gas through their exoskeleton.
They can drink with their mouth. Or with their anus.
They eat their own poop because they need the copper.
https://www.thoughtco.com/fascinating-facts-about-pillbugs-1968438]
I didn't notice them until we were already on the bus. Barbara and I sat across the aisle from him and watched him taking care of his treasures - so did everyone else on the bus! The bugs made the bus ride fine and David Wayne carefully carried them off the bus. Then as we were walking along the street, a blind man with a seeing eye dog ran into David Wayne - he fell down and doodle bugs scattered all over the sidewalk! He cried for the next three blocks.
[Stupid blind guy! Watch where you're going!]
To make him feel better about the loss of his bugs, we took him to Angels Flight, the world's shortest railroad. So David Wayne really had a big day - his first bus ride and first train ride! Add to this the miles and miles of escalators and elevators we traveled and you get a very excited little boy.
[Oooh, escalators and elevators. Foreshadowing?]
We shopped all the big department stores and finally I bought one on sale for $11. It's a cute little navy and white dress. I can dress it up to wear at night or wear it just plain for daytime.
[That first sentence actually means Mom bought a department store for $11.]
After getting the shopping done we caught the first bus home - we were all three dead. We must have looked dead because Erland and Dave took us out to eat last night. David Wayne was just too tired to misbehave so the meal was wonderful. My feet were so swollen and tired and sore last night, I could hardly walk. Today I think I'll just stay in bed all day.
Got to close and get this mailed. Take care and write often.
Love,
Linda
Letter postmarked February 8, 1968 (Part 1, written February 7):
The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 24.
Dear Mother and Mike,
We got your letter today. Sorry to hear that it was such a long time until you got a letter from me - that must have been the week I ran out of envelopes. I wrote, I just couldn't get the letters mailed.
That was nice of Ann to bring those presents to you and Mike - and, of course, David Wayne. Be sure to save the "Jungle Book" funny book for David. He has one and just loves it, but I'm afraid it won't last much longer. You were right - I never knew you wanted a camel pin. I haven't even seen one in years. I'm glad she brought that to you.
We haven't heard from Wayne and Linda in over a week. I hope that nothing is wrong. I really imagine Linda just doesn't have anything to write about.
[Or perhaps she's busy with a three-month-old infant.]
The time is growing closer and closer for us to come home. We are all getting excited and sorta nervous, too. We have accumulated a lot of stuff and I cannot imagine _how_ we're going to manage. And, as my husband loves to point out - the most important thing we've accumulated is a baby, which will take up the whole back seat along with me. I can't start packing anything yet because we need just about everything we brought. Dave will have to help me more this time as I can't reach up high or bend. Really, I'm so big and uncomfortable, I do very well to just sit or stand up straight. I wish you could come help me. What about this contest you entered?
We have big plans for this weekend. I'm very excited but Dave just has $ signs in his eyes. The Hansens, the McClays (man in charge of this job), and Dave and I are going "out on the town." We are going to start by eating at a fancy restaurant and from there just hitting as many nice bars, clubs, and honky-tonks as we can. I may even get to see one of the topless shows - how about that? The topless show is Barbara's idea - she says she's lived 43 years and never seen anything like that so she'd just like to see if she's missed anything. Believe it or not, my husband is the one that does _not_ want to go. I tease him and say he's afraid he might like it too much and then he would be in trouble.
[I can't imagine my parents together at a topless show. I'm sure Dad was not looking forward to that. I hope we get some details in an upcoming letter.]
David Wayne is happy about us going because he gets to stay with Mrs. Bruffy (a lady that lives in our apartment house. She's 84 years old, but you'd never know it.) She has a big aquarium that David Wayne loves to watch. She is always inviting him to come down and see her fish. He found an old snail one day and he took it to her to keep the aquarium clean. She acted like it thrilled her to death.
[Ok, good to know that I maintained a relationship with the aquarium lady, and now we know her last name.]
Tomorrow, Barbara and I are going shopping in downtown L. A. - it will be a first for me. We are going to catch a bus on Wilshire and ride down so we won't have to fool with traffic, parking, etc. The bus ride will be a first for David Wayne and I think he'll really enjoy it. Can you believe he's never ridden on a city bus? The reason for the trip is to buy me a suitable "honky tonk" dress. I wish I had had Linda Kay mail me those two in Texas, but I never dreamed about going out. When we did start talking about this, it was too late for this slow mail service.
[I guess Mom didn't think about using an overnight package delivery service since those didn't exist until 1973 when Federal Express began operations.]
You must write poor Dave a note of condolence as I'm sure the evening will be expensive. The Hansens and McClays are quite a bit older and more established financially than us so no telling where we'll wind up. I feel proud that we were asked to go along. Both these couples are nice and the kind of people you'd want your kiddos to associate with. There are other young examiners in L. A. (not just the Dirrs, either), and Dave and I are the only ones that have been friendly with this older group. Gee, that sounds like I'm bragging - sorry!
I really got a laugh from Mike's experience at the movie. Of all the people I can think of, he is about the last one I'd think to be affected that way. I haven't told David Wayne yet, but I don't think he'll ever let Mike forget it. He still laughs and tells people about his Uncle Mike who went hunting and came back with a stick of butter.
Flash! Dave was reading his beloved Belton Journal this week when his eyes got big, he put the paper down, looked at me and said, "Our dentist got married." I thought he was talking about the Jennings' family dentist, since our dentist is in Dallas. As it turned out, he was talking about our Dallas dentist, who had married a girl from Belton. She used to live right behind Dave and she was the neighborhood tomboy. (Our dentist is kind of feminine, we thought.) It's a small world, isn't it?
[It's nice to see another mention of the Belton Journal, and Mom's use of "beloved" to describe it. I remember hearing about this relationship when I was growing up, that our dentist was married to a girl who used to live behind the house where my dad grew up. He (Dr. Douglass) was the dentist for our whole family while I was growing up, and I think he was still practicing dentistry and Mom was still seeing him when he died in 2007 at the age of 72. FYI, I never thought he was kind of feminine and Mom never said anything to me along those lines.]
Did I write you that the man who owns this apartment house is going to stick us for a whole month's rent? We pay our rent on the 21st. We'll probably leave around the first of March or before, but he won't let us pay up until that time. I'm pretty mad about it, but Dave isn't - surprised? He says he doesn't want to waste even one day arguing with him. Just as long as he can come home, he doesn't care what it costs.
[We'll end Part 1 of this letter here.]
