November 8, 1976 (Letter from Grayce)

I liked the little picture you sent.  It reminds me of something -- but I'm not sure exactly what.

I just sat down a while ago -- all ready to sew some of the quilt (I had put it away for awhile because I was getting bored with it) and the power died -- maybe this is an omen for me to get out some paper & write to  the 19 people I owe letters to!  What do you think?  It seems to me that the more time I have on my hands, the less I feel like writing to people.  It's true, of course, that nothing exciting happens to me, so maybe I want to spare them (& myself) the boredom of writing about nothing.  You are one of the few "lucky" people who receive letters regularly from me -- I don't suppose you'd like to analyze the reason for this?  I must want to punish you in a terrible, twisted way!  You see, I even started your letter first -- to be sure it got written.  Poor you.

When the electricity goes off (which I hope it doesn't do too often this winter!) you get a chance to realize how much you depend on it -- for good or bad.  For instance -- we're going out to dinner tonight because I won a bet with Brook that he'd get a 95 or over in a test he was worried over.  So, I was planning to get a shower & wash my hair this afternoon.  Not too much to ask, right?  Well, it just occurred to me that the shower will be cold because I used the hot water in the tank to do laundry & I can't possibly dry my hair in time without my hair dryer!  Neat huh?  Therefore, I'll make this letter as long as I can to put off the cold shower.  I can't even heat the bathroom because all our heat is electric.  I'm doomed.  Too bad I never bought any "Psssssst" -- maybe IO will now for these little emergencies.  Maybe I'll try a wheat germ shampoo I hard about?  I don't know, though, suppose I can't get it out?  I'll look like I spent the night in a health food store, or something, maybe the restaurant will be mercifully dark.  Actually, my hair doesn't look dirty -- it just feels to me like it is -- so I guess I can forget it.  How to talk yourself into not worrying about trivia that doesn't seem like trivia at the time.

It's nice that you're using your piano talents again.  Maybe I will get interested again someday. Right now I often pick up my guitar & fool with it.  I don't have a good voice, so I usually only play when no one is around.  (That's pretty often that I get a chance around here.)  I love my guitar.  It was a friend's, but she wanted a Martin, so she sold me her Guild for $80 (she had paid $250 for it or $200, I can't remember which).  It has a lovely sound & keeps me company when I get lonely. It's a right handed guitar, so I had to string it backwards to play it, but it really doesn't make any difference except for the pick guard which is at the top instead of at the bottom -- oh, the hazards of being left-handed -- no wonder the Latins referred to it as sinister!)

On Wednesday, I went to 2 cooking classes sponsored by the Intermountain Gas Company.  One was for french cooking & 1 was for Italian.  I asked my neighbor, Betty, across the street, along, because she doesn't  drive & doesn't get to go many place -- nothing is within walking distance from where we live!  She was so grateful, she took me out to lunch at the Holiday Inn between the classes -- which was awfully nice of her.  We had a really good time -- sampling the results was the best part of the classes -- actually the dishes prepared weren't anything too different from things I make myself, but it was fun anyway.  And the other people there (only about 20) seemed to be very impressed so at least they got a lot out of it.

What do you think about your present situation?  Are y ou going to be looking for a new job soon? It would be great if you could get one out West somewhere, maybe we will get to see each other occasionally, after all.  Brook & I just said the other night we'd like to stay out here for about 5 years.  I hope we can.  Let me know if you apply for anything new.  I'll hope that you find something interesting!

I was surprized to get a letter from Wray last week.  He seemed awfully down in the dumps about his being deposed from his former job as "Asst. to the Dean".  Galvin, it seems, told him he didn't know what he did & whatever it was, it wasn't much!  So Wray told him that he (Galvin) was welcome to do it himself & Wray is now just teaching.  (He said to say hello to you, by the way.) It's kind of sad, because I think Wray really tried, but it seems that that accounts for very little at old GSLIS.  I'll have to try & write a cheerful letter back.

Well, I suppose I'd better get that shower now -- brrr!