February 28, 1968: Mixed Emotions

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.]

February 23, 1968: Doctor, doctor, gimme the news

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.]

February 16, 1968: Baby prep, moving prep

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

February 14, 1968: Another baby

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.]

January 24, 1968: Turtle, Chicken, Byrd

Letter postmarked January 24, 1968 (Part 3):

This is Part 3 of the letter postmarked January 24, 1968.

You asked about the turtle, Snappy. He is just fine and David Wayne plays with him just about every day by taking him into the bathroom and giving him a bath. He also claims he's teaching him to swim. The other big turtle, Mickey, that we bought on Olvera Street died, but it never did much except spit and hiss at us.

[Dead turtles aren't much fun. It sounds like that one wasn't very much fun while he was alive, either. RIP, Mickey. That's a stupid name for a turtle anyway. Everyone knows Mickey is a mouse.]

Oh, about looking up Roy Rogers and Trigger . . . there is a Roy Rogers Museum in Apple Valley and we passed within 10 miles of it on our way to Calico. I said something about going to it but David Wayne showed no interest and neither did Dave after we ran into the heavy traffic. I don't think it would be worth fighting all those cars. The thing David Wayne wants to see is the Batmobile at 20th Century Fox.

[No surprise there. A Batmobile or a horse named Trigger? Hmmm . . .]

I never wrote you the ending to the screen test, did I? Well, Suzie got all dolled up and went over to the studio - located on Fairfax, a very busy street in L. A. She got to wondering what she'd do if they ask her about talent. She said in her East Texas twang, "I can't dance, so I'll have to sing. Now what will I sing?" Sitting in her car on busy Fairfax Street she began practicing on "I Gave My Love a Cherry" from her old Girl Scout camp days. She couldn't remember all the words and none of the right tune, so she gave up, drove home, called the studio and said, "This is Suzie Dirr. Cancel my appointment. I'm chicken!"

[Well that's just too bad. I'm sure Suzie had plenty of talent and would have done fine if she had just practiced a little. If you aren't familiar with that song she was trying to sing, here it is on the Youtubes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaBK0dBV47E]

Via the voodoo doll, Mike - oops! Knuckehead - is seeing the sights in California. David Wayne takes it everywhere we go. He surely does enjoy it. He's sitting in the floor playing with the Matchbox cars and the little circus train. The voodoo doll is laying across the tracks and evidently the train is going to run over it. I'm almost glad you were unable to get the service station because he's been making his own - our shoe boxes are all gone as this is what he's been cutting up, printing signs on them, and painting. He fixed up a service station, a farm, and an animal doctor's building. The service station also doubles as a tunnel for his train. I wrote you that we had to teach him how to play cars, but now he can play _all_ day long with them. The TV never is turned on any more. He hasn't watched even one cartoon since Christmas.

David Wayne is really looking forward to coming home. The first thing he did this morning was to draw a picture of a pelican. When he showed it to us and told us what it was, he said, "I'm going to be looking for one of these today and get it to carry me to Texas in his mouth." I can't imagine what he dreamed about last night. And Dave is just as homesick as David Wayne - he won't rest a minute until he can get me home to have the baby and it will be worse now that he's seen the freeway traffic at night (which I've told him is usually the time most babies come).

[The next part was written Tuesday, January 23.]

I had planned on finishing this letter yesterday but I took a nap. After sleeping I drank a cup of hot tea and guess what - it made me sick. I vomited and felt so weak that I went back to bed. Barbara Hansen came over as I was thinking any minute I'd die. She was going to a discount shoe store and wanted us to go along. What did I do but get dressed, go with her, buy a pair of shoes, and had a wonderful afternoon - not bad for a sick gal, eh?

We picked up Dave and Erland from work and then all of us went to the Hansen's. We listened to some stereo tapes and then walked to a really nice restaurant, Bull 'n Bush, and ate. Our food was delicious - prime beef. It was better this time than the first time we ate there. Again we were very proud of the way David Wayne behaved. He has gotten very fond of Barbara and Erland and just loves to be with them - I'm glad because Dave and I certainly enjoy their company.

Of course, Dave should have come home and gone to bed last night, but he enjoyed the evening. He slept a little longer than usual this morning but said he felt good.

I am sending back the clipping of the "store." Thank you for sending it as we both really enjoyed it. Uncle Byrd looked fairly good in the picture - is it a recent one? He didn't look that good the last time I saw him.

[The clipping about the "store" was a neat article from the November 21, 1967 Denton Record-Chronicle about the closing of the College Store, which my grandmother's aunt and uncle had been operating near the TWU campus since 1916. Uncle Byrd was 85 at the time. Here's a scan of the picture and the title of the article.]

[The address of the store was 1219 Oakland Street in Denton, at the corner of Oakland and East Third Street. It now appears to be the TWU Human Resources building according to Google Street View.]

Also, I'm enclosing a picture of David Wayne that we took Christmas morning. This was the very first picture we took and you can tell he's still got sleep in his eyes.

[This was one of the pictures I showed in the post for the letter that covered Christmas morning, but I'll show it here again so you can follow along with Mom's description.]

The balloon is part of the Johnny Astro toy - the red circle is Mars and the blue is the moon. He really enjoyed this toy, but now that he can work it good, it isn't played with much. The gray and white "8 shaped" thing is his Build-A-Road set for the cars - those sticks on the inside are different road signs and street lights (yellow tops). Right in front of the Santa Claus pinata is the circus train and next to it is the Robot (name - Frank). Between Frank and the train is the Batmobile that does all kinds of weird tricks. Directly being our smiling "ham" is a Slap Trap game - the only thing he asked Santa for and the one thing that he doesn't care much for. If his mother could get on the floor to play _with_ him, he would enjoy the game more.

[Yeah, Slap Trap wasn't very fun by yourself, since the object was to remove the things you were holding onto before your opponent slapped the trap closed. And that's kind of sad to hear about Johnny Astro already being pushed aside after being mastered within a month. I'm pretty sure I played with it some in Texas, though.]

Well, must close sometime. I've got to wash clothes and go to grocery store. Take care and write as often as you can. Congratulate Mike on his giving music lessons!

[I think I previously mentioned that Uncle Mike was in his high school band (trombone). Here it looks like his teaching career started early. Later in life he would teach a few college courses related to the music business.]

Love, 

Linda

January 21, 1968: Woods, blood, and popcorn

Letter postmarked January 24, 1968 (Part 1, dated January 22):

The CCZCC, after the previous letter's adjustment, extends its winning streak to 20. I think Mom's getting the hang of this zip code thing.

Dear Mother and Mike,

Well, I got your letter last Friday and evidently you hadn't gotten the one from me about the "coming home crisis" being over. Again, let me say, it is a big relief to both of us that the job is ending by first of March. As to whether I will fly or ride in the car, we haven't decided for sure - more than likely we'll let my doctor decide that for us. Suzie "spilled the beans" to David Wayne about flying home (I hadn't planned on telling him anything until we knew for sure) so I thought, uh-oh we'll have to fly. But he seems to want to ride home so he can sit in front seat with Daddy and me in the back seat - also he said he needed to keep an eye on toys!

Last Thursday we went on a picnic with Suzie and believe me, the woods is the place for that ole gal. She and David had more fun than any two people I've seen - they followed the horse tracks on the bridal path and made up all kinds of games about them. Suzie found Winnie-the-Pooh's house for David Wayne, climbed trees, did all kinds of tricks on the swings, and they built a campfire (first one David Wayne has seen!) Since we were out in the woods, I could sit back and relax, letting them make all the noise they wanted to - and they did have a screaming contest which sent all the animals in Griffith Park scurrying away!

[Here are a couple of pictures of me and Suzie at Griffith Park, possibly on this day.]

[In the one with the playground equipment you'll see that it's all bare metal. None of that padded plastic crap the kids these days have to play on. Nope. If you hit your head (or any other body part) on playground equipment back in the day it hurt, by golly. It might even draw some blood as a further reminder to be careful and not do that again. And do you think a bare metal slide got hot with the midday sun shining on it? You bet your sweet bare skin it did. How are kids supposed to learn about heat absorption these days?]

[Speaking of blood . . .]

The day was a lot of fun with only one minor accident - David Wayne fell and skinned his elbow, side, and wrist. He didn't cry very much but he was most upset at having to go into the ladies restroom and get the blood washed off! We plan to go on the picnic bit again this week. Oh, I forgot - when we got home, David Wayne fell right to sleep (in the afternoon) and slept for two hours. He probably would have slept longer but I woke him up so he'd be able to sleep that night.

Friday I just felt sorta blah - know what I mean? I called Barbara Hansen and she told me to come over and have a cup of coffee. I bet she won't make that mistake again - I had morning coffee, noon lunch, afternoon beauty shop (we both got our hair fixed), and I was just leaving when Erland came home. I think she enjoyed the day as much as I though.

[Still no mention of that broken feather duster. I might be in the clear.]

Saturday we really had fun - the Sivells had invited us over. We got there about 2 o'clock and didn't leave until 10 o'clock. David Wayne had more fun playing in their back yard with their two dogs. He and Mr. Sivell are great "pals" and Mrs. Sivell said her husband had really been looking forward to our visit. She had fixed a wonderful meal for us. (You should have seen David Wayne eat!) After eating, the men played ball in the back yard and I helped (very little) clean up dishes. Then it was too dark to stay outside so we all watched a basketball game on TV - Houston vs. California. Now, I never watch any kind of sports and Dave watches only football, but you should have seen us pulling for the Texas team! During the game, David Wayne played in the floor all by himself - drew pictures, played with their dominoes, and looked at his "Jungle Book" funny book. He really did behave good all day.

[That basketball game they watched wasn't just any old basketball game. It happened to be the very first time a regular season NCAA college basketball game was televised nationwide during prime time. If that's not enough of a big deal, it was also college basketball's game of the century, between the UCLA Bruins and the University of Houston Cougars. Legendary coaches John Wooden vs. Guy Lewis. Legendary players Lew Alcindor (future Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) vs. Elvin Hayes. The game was announced by legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg. #1 ranked UCLA came into the game with a 47-game winning streak (two and a half seasons). #2 ranked Houston was undefeated that season and won this game 71-69.]

[So once again Mom casually mentions a game being watched on TV and it turns out to be a major historical sporting event with its own Wikipedia page.]

Mrs. Sivell really knows how to get along with children - she had gotten some Jiffy Pop popcorn and she let David Wayne fix his own snack. He was delighted. We all three spent a wonderful day and we are going to try and do something very nice for them before we leave L. A. - what? I don't know.

[Jiffy Pop! Jiffy Pop! The magic treat! As much fun to make as it is to eat!]

[Here are links to three low-quality commercials for Jiffy Pop currently on the Youtubes:]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vegPoI0NgdM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVdMA4QHdUU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-An6eaGItk

[Note the Jungle Book connection with that last one.]

[We'll end Part 1 of this letter here.]

January 10, 1968: Baby flies

Letter postmarked January 8, 1968:

The CCZCC extends its winning streak to 16.

Dear Mother and Mike,

We read in the paper this morning that it was 13 degrees in Dallas. Are you frozen? Jack Frost must be working hand-in-hand with Sears on trying to get you to install that new furnace. Convinced? Come on out to L. A. with us - I wear a sleeveless dress or Bermuda shorts with sandals during the day. When I go out I do put on a long-sleeve dress, but no coat. Usually, I only wear a light sweater at night. Now, don't you hate me? We have "endured? a total of three cold days this winter.

[My grandmother's house was built in 1945. I'm sure it had plenty of insulation. Not.]

The weather is the only good thing about L. A. though - I'm ready to come home. Dave dropped me a bombshell Saturday night - he wants me and David Wayne to fly back to Texas (didn't say exactly when) and him stay here. It seems that he is preparing me for a slight possibility that this damn job won't be over by April. You should be proud of your son-in-law as he is only thinking of me and David Wayne - not himself. His valid arguments are: (1) I would have my own doctor deliver the baby, (2) There would be someone to keep David Wayne while I am in the hospital, (3) I would hopefully have you to take care of me when I come home from the hospital. There is another point on his side that he knows better than to bring up and that is that it would be much much cheaper.

[Oh boy, it's getting interesting now. Decisions, decisions.]

I found out from Barbara Hansen that Dave has been very concerned about all this for a long time. It's the hardest decision I've ever faced and I just don't know. I can't stand the thought of being separated from Dave for weeks. (And let's face it, I'd have to leave a month before the baby is due - I can't very well board an airplane at the beginning of labor.) I would hate for Dave to receive news of a son or daughter via telephone. And more than anything - I want my husband with me.

I don't have to make a decision until the end of February and maybe - just maybe - the job will be coming to a close by then. Dave says that the final decision is up to me and that if I am stubborn about staying here, he'll do everything he can to help me. Barbara has offered to keep David Wayne . . .

[Wait, why can't I stay with Gene and Suzie? Wouldn't that be more fun?]

. . . and Dave says that if you can get off work, he'll pay your expenses to fly out here and take care of me. Can you believe that a man is willing to "miss out" on the birth of a first baby just so the wife will have less to worry about?

[Well, there's also that issue of Dad not wanting a foreign-born child.]

I'm glad you got to visit with Sara but I sure hate to hear that she's sick again. I've tried to compose a letter to her, but I just don't know what or how to say anything.

[Don't worry too much about Aunt Sara's illness. She just turned 99 years old this past Christmas (December 25, 2017).]

David Wayne is having a lot of fun playing with his Matchbox cars and road set now. Did I write you that we had to teach him how to play cars? This morning he has been playing with some flash cards (alphabet ones) that he got in his stocking. He's finally learning the small letters as well as the capital letters. We also have a captured caterpillar in the bug catcher which gets a lot of attention. I woke up from my nap yesterday and found all the toys missing from the floor. On questioning David Wayne, I discovered that he had packed all of his toys for the trip home. We used to tell him we'd go home after Christmas - well, it's after Christmas and he wants to go home.

[It seems as though I've been taking things too literally for a long time.]

Flash! Suzie has taken a screen test! Gene called Dave yesterday at work and told him about it. It seems Suzie saw an ad about a free screen test and thought that she would try to get in the movies. Gene thought that it was great and that she would be qualified. Erland Hansen told me yesterday afternoon (Barbara and I picked them up) that Dave was just speechless when he hung up the phone. All the men knew something had really "shaken" him. Finally, he could no longer keep quiet so he told them - well, you can imagine their reaction, they just howled!

A California man said that these free screen tests were a long-standing hoax in L. A. You go in and have a free interview, then they tell you that you're a potential star, and then the screen test runs you about $300 - or more! Nothing comes from the test except a leaner pocketbook.

[I did not find Suzie or Susan Dirr at IMDB, so she must have changed her name before she became a star.]

The nicest thing I can say is - I hope they get whatever they deserve. Truthfully, did she look like a starlet on TV? The Hansens and I laughed at Dave yesterday until we cried. He said if that's what they were looking for in the movies that he's never go to another one! I am dying of curiosity to find out the results, but Dave says it would be better if I didn't go over there and get things started up again - he's right as always.

Another bit of news and then I'll stop. Remember that alcoholic school teacher that lived by us - the one that drank "cough syrup" at school? Well, she hooked a man and is to be married in June. So never give up hope for Aunt Sara, if that neurotic woman can get a man!

[That's right. Never give up hope. Aunt Sara married her second husband in July of 1969.]

I've been catty enough so I'll close quickly. Take care.

Love,

Linda

P. S. - This baby kicks so much at night that my stomach is sore every morning.

[Early cheerleading practice?]

January 1, 1968: Party Pooper

Letter postmarked January 4, 1968 (Part 3):

This part of the January 4 letter covers Sunday, December 31, 1967 and Monday, January 1, 1968. (New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.)

Sunday we went to Knott's Berry Farm. The girls wanted to go to Disneyland, but there just wasn't time - I had to be home by 7 o'clock to get ready for our New Year's party. The girls were supposed to meet us at a certain time and Mary just turned them loose. (Yes! I kept David Wayne with us.) Well, they didn't show up until about 40 minutes after the appointed time which made everything very rushed for me (like I didn't have time to change clothes, comb my hair, or put on lipstick for the party.) But our day at Knott's was a lot of fun and we even had one of those chicken dinners out there - delicious again!

[Yet another trip to Knott's Berry Farm. Here's a fuzzy picture of Dad and Cliff sitting with some women other than their wives.]

[And here is a picture of me standing next to a snowman that probably wasn't made out of real snow. This is one of those rare photos in which my clothes appear to fit and you can't see that growing belly of mine.]

[Before we cover the New Year's Eve party at our apartment, here is a picture of all of the guests except one, I think.]

[The people in the back row are Cliff, Suzie Dirr, Gene Dirr, Hartford (Christmas Eve guest), Barbara Hansen (red dress), and Erland Hansen. The people in the front row are Ginger and Lynn (Cliff's stepdaughters), and Mary (Cliff's wife). I'm pretty sure Hartford's girlfriend was there, too, because in the same area of the photo album there is a picture of him and his girlfriend sitting on our couch, and she isn't mentioned in the letter describing Christmas Eve.]

[In that group photo it looks like Erland may be holding a camera in his left hand. The table is set up for serving a lot of food, so I'm sure everyone had a great time.]

Now for the party, which was a complete bust!

[Well, maybe everyone didn't have a great time.]

Mary allowed her girls to stay up for the whole thing and they were so loud and silly that they were the whole party, much to everyone's disgust (except Gene and Suzie). I've never seen kids behave in such a manner and get by with it. To top that - The Dirrs brought their puppy.

[Oh good, a one-bedroom apartment with 13 people milling about, plus a puppy that isn't housebroken. Let the fun begin!]

We couldn't believe it. After several new puddle circles on our rug and shooing it away from hosiery, I blew! I told (not asked) Gene to take the damn pup home and not bring it back. Dave backed me up all the way, bless his heart. Does that sound like me? Gene took the pup home, but unfortunately, he and Suzie stayed - she in my bathroom crying and he making a general nuisance of himself. As I said before, the girls and the Dirrs were so loud and silly that no one else could talk. That was our party - "The Sandbox Crowd." Everyone stayed until midnight and we ate (food was good - ham, potato salad, black-eyed peas, cornbread) then all left and I didn't blame them one bit.

Monday morning I just said, "To hell with it!" I stayed in bed until 10 o'clock, fixed only coffee for breakfast (except the girls and David Wayne had Toast'Em Pop-Ups), and I wrapped up ham, bread and potato salad for them to eat and just sent them on their merry way. The rest of the day was spent with relaxing and just talking, talking, talking.

[Can you tell Mom was a little upset? That late trip to the airport on Christmas Day made it the best Christmas ever, and now the puppy and the loud young girls made it the best New Year's Eve ever. I bet Mom and Dad breathed a huge sigh of relief when our company left.]

[This concludes Part 3 of the January 4 letter. I'll post the 4th and final part on January 4.]

December 27, 1967: Puppy boarders

Letter postmarked December 28, 1967 (dated December 26) (Part 4):

Here's Part 4 of the letter Mom started writing the day after Christmas in 1967. Today we'll cover Tuesday, December 26. Mom indicated in the letter that she wrote this part Wednesday morning.

I got worn out writing about the pup trouble yesterday, so I went back to bed. When I woke up at noon, David Wayne was still asleep and he had spit up in bed. I just let him sleep and guess what - he slept until 2 PM.

[Good grief I must have been exhausted from that late night trip to the airport. Mom apparently was, too.]

Barbara Hansen came by a little while after he woke up and I was so glad to see her. She nearly cried when I told her about the dress. As we were sitting calmly talking and admiring David Wayne's toys, a knock at the door and guess who - Suzie with the puppy! It was just like another child coming to see David Wayne's loot and they played - loudly and rambunctiously. Finally, Barbara and I gave up trying to talk and she left.

[It seems as though Suzie is a bit clueless about certain things, like whether or not Mom really wanted to see the puppy that ruined her dress the day before. I'm sure Mom was thrilled.]

Suzie also announced that it was Gene's birthday and that they were coming over Tuesday night for a party!

[In addition to clueless, let's add insensitive, inconsiderate, and unaware of social norms.]

David Wayne was delighted, I had that sinking feeling, and when Dave came home and heard the party news . . . well, I won't tell you his reaction because, really, Mother, I am married to a nice feller.

[I'm sure after getting home after midnight Monday night and getting up early for work Tuesday morning, Dad was absolutely thrilled to find out he was hosting a birthday party Tuesday night. I can probably guess the first two words out of his mouth and exactly how he said them.]

The bad things yesterday were offset by the arrival of packages from you. We had Christmas all over again! They came in the early afternoon, but David Wayne really surprised me by saying he wanted to wait for his Daddy before opening them up. How about that? Now, Dave just got one foot in the door before David Wayne started tearing paper off, but he did wait.

[Wow, that is surprising for a five-year-old. That must have been a phase I grew out of shortly afterwards.]

Thank you so much for my maternity underwear as it was much needed.

[Between the bras, mini-skirts, and underwear, we're covering Mom's wardrobe pretty well. Yay.]

And the money doll was adorable - I can't bring myself to "undress" it yet because it's so cute. We're going to a buffet at the Hansen's Thursday night, so I'll get a new dress for that. But I won't wear it around that damn puppy, for sure!

Dave was so pleased with his sweater, but when he tried it on it was too large. The sleeves just hung. Do you think Mike could exchange it if I sent it back? He really needs it badly and he just really did like it. Both Davids were pleased with the pajamas. They wanted to put them on last night and have me take a picture of them, but with company (boarders!) coming we decided against it.

And David Wayne - I wish he had given us time to get out the camera when he opened his. That alligator soap holder was the cutest thing I've ever seen and he just had a fit over it. And the stocking with bubble bath is adorable - I told him to use the stocking as a washcloth and he could hardly wait to get into the tub. Avon must have the cutest line of things this year - the gold ornament with bubble bath is just beautiful. Dave said that our bathroom looked so good now, he was going to take visitors in there. Dave fixed up the dunking bird last night and David Wayne just can't get over how it works.

[I don't remember having this dunking bird in Los Angeles, but I know my grandmother had one at some point and I'm pretty sure we had another one a few years later. Here's the link to the Wikipedia article ("Drinking Bird") if you need a reminder of what those toys were or if you're curious how they worked. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_bird]

The beetle bug has crawled all over our house by now and thank goodness it's a wind up toy instead of battery powered - we'll be spending a fortune on batteries this year. Now, he didn't jump up and down for joy over the clothes, but Dave and I thank you. The puzzle, books and mostly the Matchbox cars and carrying case were the big deal in his eyes. We are going to the beauty shop this afternoon and the Matchbox cars and case are going with us.

Thank you so much from all of us!

[This concludes Part 4 of this letter. Tomorrow we'll probably have the fifth and final part of this letter.]