June 24, 1976 (Letter from Grayce)

I'm just sitting here, listening to the rain, trying to rest for a while.  I've had a very busy morning. I've been working almost every day trying to finish everything I've started at work.  Tomorrow, my last day, approacheth, AT LAST, as even a lustfully awaited day will eventually do.  Today was my first day off (and at home) for 2 weeks -- so I had a lot to do, you know, the mundane -- cleaning, baking (which I haven't started yet), laundry (which I'm "doing" now), etc.  My last day at Seton Hill is not coming a minute too soon, because I've really started to rattle my cage for the past few weeks -- I suppose because an end was in sight I was even more impatient with things than usual. Sister seems to be doing her best not to have me regret leaving at all.  She tries to hard to give me really boring assignments to fill my last fays.  I try not to get around to them, because I want to finish up classifying a batch of pamphlets.  I decided that I'd ask for a letter of recommendation (I just felt presumptuous one day) and to my great shock, she said she'd be happy to recommend me. I decided not to send this letter out without seeing it (a good idea, since I've seen some letters she's written for other people!) so I went up to GSLIS to read it.  It was very nice (maybe she was afraid I'd not be able to get a job anywhere else & come back to haunt her?)  I saw Wray there & he began to badger me about "When was I going to get another Masters?"  Well yech! to that.  I told him the only thing I was really interested in right now was maybe an art program (he thought I should try Art History, which I'll admit might be more in tune with getting a job! -- but I don't really want to do it.  I would like very much to see what I can do.  (Not learn.)  I have a problem similar to y \ours -- "nothing is good enough" -- which is why I didn't go to art school in the first place.  I was so afraid I wouldn't be perfect.  My father tried to convince me that I was being foolish, but to no avail.  This doesn't mean philosophy was no good.  It really helped me in so many ways & was just what I needed at the time.  It probably did for me something like art would have done -- only not so much a therapy -- do you see what I'm getting at?  I realize it's being presented as clearly as mud!  Anyway, enough of that.

It looks as though it will be westward ho! for us come August 10th.  I'm fairly excited about it, but I do fear having my roots transplanted.  Maybe if I do it often enough, I'll get over this?  I will miss this house so much.  It really is exactly the way I wanted it now (except for 2 rooms we didn't do -- bedroom & spare room).  I wish you could see it.  I was so sorry everything was such a mess when you came in October.  It wasn't even a clean mess   You must have thought it was terrible! Maybe I can send you a few picture of the finished product.

My mother is very upset that we're going.  When we were home for Tommy's graduation, she made it very clear by crying for about 1/3 of the time we were there.  I've tried to make it exciting for her, too, by telling her how nice it will be for her to come out there & visit us & how'll we'll look forward to her visits, etc, but she doesn't want to play.  I was a nervous wreck by the time we were ready to go home.  The news of the flood that weekend did not help matters any, either.  I think she should really find  something that interests her, because now that she's home alone a lot, she gets very depressed.  She said she was going to look for a job.  I hope she can find one she likes.  It would really be good for her.

When I was at home, I saw my grandmother & she said the blood of that saint is not supposed to liquify until September.  She really believes in it because she's seen it happen.

I think my parents are going to come here before we go out west, so I guess we won't be going to Phila.  Of course, that could always change, because my father has a job that he can't really get away from too easily.  If we do come to Philly, I'd love to see you.  (Brook may not come; I may just fly in by myself -- see Mickey can fly!)  We might as well not make any plans yet, though, since I don't know what is going on.

Diane & Bev are coming for a visit for the weekend of July 18th.  (They are staying over til Monday, too.)  I don't suppose you'd like to come for a reunion then?  I was considering asking Bill Louden if he'd like to come too.  I know it would be a nuisance for you to do all that driving, so I won't press you, ok?  I'm sorry I'm such a pest, but I do like to see you & we may not see each other for at least 3 years after this.  (That sounds so terrible!!!)  (We're going to visit Fallingwater.  Does that tempt you at all?)

Our big decision for the month is whether to have me come along on our house-hunting trip to Idaho. Westinghouse will pay for Brook to go, but it will really be a business trip & he will have to show up at work every day.  (It will probably last a week.)  If I went, I could visit the real estate agents and do all that kind of thing during the day.  Unfortunately, the air fare is almost $300 and we'd have to pay for my meals, etc. also.  I'm not sure if it's worth it.  But maybe it would be. We're not sure whether we want an apt. or a house.  (We may not be able to get either because of the flood!) But we'd like a house, if we can afford one we like.  Housing will be at a premium now that so many were water-damaged, so I suppose we'll just have to wait & see.

We have to start looking for someone to buy this one, now.  I hope we make a profit after all the work we've put into it.  I know we'll never find another house as solidly built as this one is.  I'm definitely taking the stained glass.  I just can't part with it.  It would kill me to come back in a few years & see it broken or anything.  You didn't see the window on the 3rd floor.  It's blue & really pretty.  It's also LARGE -- so I don't know what I'll do with it, but hopefully it can just go over another window wherever we live next.

I just can't even think about packing, etc. yet.  I'm not looking forward to that part of moving at all!

I'm sending  you this carrot cake recipe becausae it uses honey.  (Didn't the other I gave you use sugar?)  I never tired either of them, but I think I'm going to bake this honey one tonight.  It sounds pretty good.

Take care

P.S. If you do read any Lessing, read The Four-Gated City instead of Golden Notebook because it is more explicit about her ideas, I think.  (It's the fifth book of a 5-book series, but it can be read without the others, I guess.

June 30, 1976 (Letter from Diane)

Photo credit:  Production Cars

Finally some rest and some time to myself!  I've been doing a great imitation of the headless chicken for about a month now and am paying the price -- literally & figuratively.  But things are getting back to normal.

This merry-go-round started Memorial Day weekend with a trip home.  My sister returned with me for a change of scene and to help me prepare for an influx of relatives the next weekend. I decided to finally buy a dining room set so everyone could eat.  Did you ever try to have furniture delivered within three days of purchase?  Not easy.  But we did it and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

The next weekend I went to the shore for the first time this season & it was miserable.  The wind was very strong and it stuck to the suntan lotion on everyone's skin.  We did see the flower show there so the trip wasn't a total loss.

Then came the big excitement.  My father called to tell me that the car dealership he works for got in a slightly used car in great shape with the equipment I wanted and was I interested?  I was, so I went home, looked it over & bought it.  It's gorgeous.  It's a 1975 Matador coupe with a red body & a cream vinyl roof.  The interior is black with white bucket seats and it's air conditioned!  The thought of all those car payments is scary but the price was extremely reasonable.  Unforgettably, it doesn't get the gas mileage the Ford did and it has a smaller tank.  Not realizing this, I nearly ran out of gas on the Schuykill Expressway.  Total panic!  But I managed to get to a gas station in time, thank God!

On Mon., my roommate from Penn State and her husband came for a few days.  He's going to Fordham in the fall and they're apartment-hunting.  They left Wed  and Fri., more houseguests arrived -- five, in fact.  A friend of mine from Altoona Public Library, two of her children and two of their friends stopped in route to NYC and on Sat., we left for the Big Apple.  The purpose of all this activity was to attend the ballet starring Margot Forteyn.  The whole trip, particularly the ballet, was great!  I came back feeling like I had two weeks vacation under my belt.  Over the 4th, I'll be home again, my sister will be down for the Elton John concert next week, it's Baltimore after that and then -- Pittsburgh!  Bev and I are planning to go the weekend of the 17th (if Brook doesn't have to go househunting in Idaho then.)  I really hope that you can join us there.  Bev wants to go to Poli's.  Remember when you, Bill Louden, Grayce & I went there and the waitress was so horrified when we asked for separate checks?   Maybe Woman's Lib has made more of an impression by now.  So, please try to wrangle some time off.

I'm happy that you're finding your job likeable.  (likable?)  Incidentally, I'm sorry to have let my ignorance of dictionary-making show.  But then, it's difficult to know everything -- not to mention boring.  It would be terrible to live without learning.

Enough philosophy.  I'm going to wash the dishes & soak my feet.  That's the kind of thrilling evening I'm having between weekends -- repairing the damage and resting up.

See you in Pittsburgh?

June 19, 1975 (Letter from Diane)

I'm very sorry to hear that you bug died.  I was certain it could survive anything when it made it back to Pgh after the five of us gorged at the Horn of Plenty.  What are you going to do without a car?  I'm miserable without one -- mine is an escape mechanism.  Besides, I've inherited my father's love of big, fast, gas-guzzling cars, particularly Ford Elites.  Of course, by the time I can afford one (long time), there won't be any gas.  Anyway, I hope you can work something out since being stuck in Deer Lodge doesn't seem to be such a great proposition.

Right now, I'm in the midst of a social whirl I may not survive.  The past six weekends have seen a trip, 2 trips home, 2 trips to my aunt's in Baltimore and 3 of company.  (All of which adds up to seven eight which goes to show what kind of shape I'm in.)  The weekend before last, a friend of mine from Penn State, her husband and 9 mo old baby visited.  It was a beautiful weekend so we trekked down to Atlantic City where they were holding an art show.  Some gorgeous paintings were shown that I would have loved to buy.  Unfortunately the prices weren't so gorgeous.  And  naturally I met one of my co-workers while pushing the stroller down the boardwalk.  Luckily, he had the tact not to ask.  My first roast beef dinner went very well and I'm still trying to figure out what I did right.

This weekend, three of my closest friends visits.  (It was a shame, in a way, everybody didn't get here on the same weekend.)  This time we went to Ocean City, N.J. and got burned.  Somewhere between medium rare and well-done.  I am still red and it feels like some midget demon is sticking needles in my legs.  However, I can now walk again.  Sat evening we went to Steak N Brew (just like Emerson's) where we shook with chills.  I had to send my dripping-red, supposedly well-done meat back and they burned it.  And the waitress had the nerve to ask me why I didn't enjoy my meal!

Just to keep things moving, I'm in a wedding at home next weekend, my sister is coming back with me for a week, and my parents will come down over the 4th.  So far nothing after that until August. I know that one of these days it's all going to stop an I'll be bored to death.  So I'll enjoy while the fun lasts.

Speaking of fun, the Depute District Engineer (who thinks he's 5 stars instead of LTC) called me in for an interview without notifying my boss.  He wants to discuss library policies and procedures on a regular basis which isn't bad but I'm not sure it's so good.   First of all, I'll have 2 bosses which makes for a delicate balance.  And I'm used to being on my own and making my own decision entirely.  I'm hoping I can work this set up to the library's advantage, but right now the DDE is relatively new and therefore unpredictable.  He does have those beautiful green eyes in his favor, if you want a totally feminine viewpoint which I'm sure you don't.

I'm going to put pa stop to this babble before you are convinced that the sun cooked my brain as well as my legs.  (To add insult to my literal injury, I also got my first parking ticket on Sat.) Anyways, I hope this awful red fades before I wear that apricot halter gown on Sat.

P.S.  Have you heard from Bill Snyder at all?  None of us know where he is.  Bill Louden is in Ohio and can hopefully reunite with us in the fall.

January 11, 1975 (Letter from Grayce)

I should warn you, that further insulting remarks about my "citie of brotherlie love", "my faire green countrie towne" (William Penn's own true words) will not be tolerated.  From this time onward, I would suggest that any observation (on this subject) you feel it necessary to make be approached with extreme trepidation.  (i.e. walk on eggs).  Hrmph, I guess I've told him!  The very idea!  (putting a gun to Diane's temple to elicit a favorable remark about a wonderful place!?! unheard of!)

Actually, I am trying to my myself into my most belligerent mood for writing another letter.  That letter will go to our friends, Quality Paperback Service.  (Remember them?)  Really, I have only meself to blame for this situation.  I should never have gotten myself into this because this is only just another of a long line of "club" battles that these weary "check-writing", "protest-writing", "don't' send me another book that I don't want or I will kill myself writing" hands have seen.

It all started (the pain in just recalling this may be unbearable!) about 2 months ago when I, in my deluded simplicity, thought that it would be a good idea to take up reading some existential psych. (Little knowing that I might need some therapy in a short time.)  I happened to see that QPBS had a 2 vol set of Rollo May -- so, ...I ordered it -- "in good faith", as Sartre would be sure to say.  Let me digress here, kind listener, to state another part of my case (maybe this will be counted against me?).  In a moment of crazed mental imbalance -- a moment of time in which even I will admit my lunacy -- I wrote to QPBS and actually told them that my address would no longer be at Pitt and gave them my new address.  (Foolhardy girl that I am.) I think that when they saw this, they themselves must have been convulsed with laughter and awe.  I mean, it was really a stupid thing to do !  I even told them my new name.  Anyway--

After several weeks of not receiving my beloved Rollo, I opened my door one day to find a package which contained -- no, not Rollo!) but Light on Yoga!  Now yoga is very nice, but it is not Rollo! Anyone can distinguish between the two, can they not?  Now -- having already opened the package and seeing Yoga I thought that it must be an omen of some kind.  Someone wanted me to have this book and eat up its contents.  So -- I dutifully wrote to QPBS and told them I received Yoga and how much did I owe and the next day I got a bill (obviously before they got my letter ) for Rollo ($5.60 which I had already sent them a check for!)  Weeks passed -- no word from QPBS -- I felt like K in The Castle.  Then, I got Legend in America! which I sent back with a nasty (but not nearly as nasty as this one will be!) letter.  Then I got something else which I didn't open cause they were not Rollo's size.  I just sent them back.  Then, last but not least, came Rollo -- last but waited for.  So I was relatively happy til I got my bank statement and they haven't cashed any of my checks (I haven't balanced my checkbook for about 4 months for which Brook was so happy!). A week ago I got a letter from them and a bill for 2 books besides the ones sent that I never heard of -- myeer!

(Paul says -- when does this end!?)  Now since I'm finished raving, but I think I'm somewhat talked out.  I'm tempted to send this letter to QPBS except they didn't say anything terrible about Philadelphia, as far as I know, anyway!  And then they might come and lock me up.  --Enough!  I'm not very good company today -- am I?  Maybe I can try again later...

12 January -- I have a new dilemma today.  I never did write QPBS.  I don't think it will help -- maybe if I ignore them, they'll go away.

I have been informed that contracts are signed in March at Seton Hill.  Mary (the cataloger who started in August when I did ) and I are not exactly delighted cause we are both committed til August by our former contracts.  I feel that this is unfair since if I wanted to leave I would still have to stay til August but I'd have to give them 5 months notice.  And I can't start really looking for another job now because I can't start working til at least the end of August.  I am feeling somewhat put out by this, especially since this is no great job.  I have really worked hard here.  I know she wants me to stay -- (certainly, where else can she get a "professional" who will work for 3/25 an hour!) - and has said it repeatedly, but I really am exhausted all the time, commuting from so far away.  I'm tired when I get there in the morning let alone when I have to work til 10 and don't get home usually till 11:30.  And the nun herself is so repressive.  She watches you constantly and nothing you do is ever the way she would have done it.  Mary wants to quit but she has six kids and is divorced and has moved to Greensburg and bought a house there for this job, so she thinks she'll stay another year.  Actually, sometimes I think she's the only reason I stay.  We have fun and she's got a really odd sense of humor.  Sister wanted us to help her on this "project" (she's always dreaming up projects which she hasn't the time or the staff or the money for.)  So we were supposed to cut out pieces of plastic to put over certain index entries to emphasize things like see ref, etc.  (Remember them?)  Do you know she wouldn't even let us touch the plastic.  She had to cut it herself and she practically tore Mary's head off for cutting one piece when she (Sr) went to lunch and there wasn't any left.  She's just so petty and I could never stand that.  She's always after me to turn lights off.  I swear the students will go blind because of her.  Oh, here I go again, ranting.  I'm sorry please forgive me.  I'll stop now.

I heard from Bill Louden and he really likes his job at Heidelburg College (cataloging).  Bill Snyder wrote also and will be in Pgh to sign up for the army.  I can't believe he's really going.  It seemed liked so long ago he first said he would.  I guess I'd better get going.  Well, take care.

January 5, 1975 (Letter from Bev)

Happy New Year!  Were you home for Christmas?  I guess it would be quite a long haul by car.

I only had Christmas day off, but I wanted a little more time, so I took the 26th and 27th as vacation and spent the Christmas holiday at home. New Year's day I spent in Baltimore with Diane and her aunt and uncle.

The week before Christmas was party time at the hospital.  The annual hospital Christmas party was held on the 19th from 1:30 to 4:00.  It took place in one of the gyms on the grounds and was a big success.  Santa Claus was even  present and gave hand-made green ornaments to everyone. (This was a staff Christmas party.  Each ward has its own party for the patients.)

It seems that around the holidays the patients get on edge.  The attendants said that this year was worse than any other. As of December 2d, all the patients who were working on the hospital grounds, lost their jobs.  Due to a federal ruling the hospital was forced to pay the minimum wage of $2.00 per hour or stop all work projects.  The hospital couldn't afford to pay the patients that much, so consequently all work by patients was stopped.  The patients who had jobs were being paid, but not that amount.  So now, that segment of the hospital population, who could do some meaningful work and receive compensation, are faced with nothing but TV, books, crafts, etc. Their small job meant a lot to them.  The hospital is working on an alternative solution to this job problem, but it will probably take awhile for something to get started.  I think the government had the patients' interest at heart when they passed the ruling, but at Delaware State it backfired.  

You sound as if you're very satisfied with your job.  I enjoy my work, but as with any job, I do have some bad days.  Right now I'm so disgusted with the Budget Department.  I have a book budget of $2,000, but I have my doubts if I'll get to spend it.  I've already decided to order my last books for the year in April.  It takes the budget dept. at least one month to process a purchase order and I find that too long.  The library committee meets once a month to select books.  I try to get the purchase order typed and on its way to budget the very same day as the meeting.  The last library committee meeting was Dec. 2d and I still haven't received my purchase order copy, which means the order hasn't been sent out yet!  Heaven forbid I should need any of those materials in a hurry.  I just know I won't get to spend all my book budget.  How do you select books and do you have a budget?

The superintendent of the hospital was to a meeting where he saw a study carrel, used by the Wilmington Medical Center Library.  This carrel had synchronized slide/cassette tape programs to which the user can watch and listen in order to learn how to read a cardiogram, for example.  Well, Dr. Anstreicher was really impressed by this and the next day he called me into his office and requested me to go to the Medical Center and inspect the carrel   It's really a good method for teaching medicine, but I can't see getting one for a psychiatric library.  At least  I haven't found any to operate such a program.  Tomorrow I have to meet with him and give him my opinion about buying such a unit.  I'm against it and will try my darndest to talk him out of it.  The library needs other things more than it needs a $1,000 study carrel.  Would you believe that none of the periodicals have been bound for the past 4 years?  I would like to see some money spent on binding instead of on materials that may not even get used.  There are some things which never get used in that library.  I believe that I'm the only person who looks at Current Contents.  I like to read the Press Digest section and have found the publication's subject index really helpful when Index Medicus doesn't produce what I'm looking for.  Once I start getting some new books in (probably in July!) I want to put out a monthly acquisitions list and include information about the various indexes which the library has.  Some of the staff are regular users of the library and are constantly looking for information.  Then there are some doctors who haven't even been in the library since I've been there.  I would think that doctors especially would try to keep up with what's new in the profession.

You're lucky to have a furnished apartment.  My apartment is beginning to get filled.  Yesterday I bought a small sofa and it makes a big difference in my living-dining room.  My mom gave an end table to use and I hopefully will get a coffee table in the near future.  I like living in New Castle and have made a few friends here.

Do you hear from anyone from GSLIS besides Grayce and Diane?  I had Christmas cards from Bill Louden and Marilyn Long.  Bill is working at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio and Marilyn is a children's librarian at Charleston, West Virginia public library.  I wonder what percentage of our class found library jobs.  During December I had two letters for interviews.  One was for a reference position at Meadville public library and the other was for a position with a company called Service to Publishers  located in Lewisburg, Pa.

Have you had a lot of snow in Deer Lodge?  A few flakes fell here the other week and that has been it for snow.  Of course, winter has only just begun.  Although I only have a 5 mile ride to work, I hope it doesn't snow.  I hate to drive on slippery roads.  Do you live far from the prison?  I guess like most prisons and mental hospitals, it is located far from the view of society.  I've wondered why they try to hide prisons and mental hospitals.  Is it so the people will forget that they exist?

In June I'd like to go to the Medical Library Association convention in Cleveland.  I've given  up on ALA.  I think it's too public library oriented and really doesn't have much to offer me.  Not even any of the division are helpful.  I belonged to the AHIL division which is for hospital librarians, but I didn't get anything helpful from their newsletter.

It was good to hear from you.  Keep in touch.

December 23, 1974 (Letter from Grayce)

When I bestowed you with the name "Tweety" -- not through any great thought about the subject, either -- I never dreamed that such an avalanche would descend.  I really intended this to be quite subtle, but maybe the fact that so many seem to agree is only giving testimony to my original insight.  I suppose the most incisive insights are those that are somewhat intuitive rather than diagnostic.

I'm sorry that it's taken me longer than usual to reply.  I intended to write as soon as I received your letter, but I got sick.  Not real sick, but just sick enough that I couldn't go to work.  As a matter of fact, I wasn't in shape to do much of anything.  I don't think I'll live it down!  Brook had off on Thursday and that was the day it was really the worst.  And my new nickname for this week is "Zombie".  Only yesterday -- my first day "out" -- (I was going shopping and Brook was overly concerned in a very caustic way about whether I could "handle" it!  the noive!)  Anyway, my recollections of Thursday are nil, except that I remember getting up for a dinner which Brook made (I have no idea what I ate except that there was a baked potato which was already buttered, etc.)  Then, apparently, I went right back to bed and slept til 10:30.  Then, at 10:30 I woke up again and waited around and watched the news while Brook told me that I was never going to sleep the night and -- I did.  I don't believe it myself.  Well, at least I'm rested.  Most of the kids at school have been sick -- so... I'm just glad it wasn't mono.  That would certainly not be nice right now.

My Thanksgiving story about driving is only mildly amusing compared to your harrowing experience, but...it took us 14 1/2 hours to get from Philly to Pgh.  Yes -- really!  It took about 4 hrs. to get from Philly to Breezewood (with no stopping) and at Breezewood there was a foot of snow -- all of a sudden -- and it was 15-20 mph the rest of the way with lots of stopping and people getting stuck.  One kid at school did not get back for 2 days!  He slept in his car for 2 nights in Bedford.  I was thankful for teh VW cause we couldn't  have made it otherwise.  I don't think.  I am prone to claustrophobia and our car was all packed with stuff which I was bringing back from my parent's home -- so there was no place to go.  I was quite upset.  I felt, by the time we got home, as if I were born in a bucket seat.

Did you finally get something for your parents?  My parents gave us these 2 big packages when we were home and told us we were not to even rattle them before Xmas.  I can't wait.  I can see them from here.  My father is all excited about whatever they are because he wanted us to open them then and there but my mother forbade such iconoclastic behavior.  I know it's something delicate because she kept stressing that we were to be very careful with them.  Suspense kills!

I am so upset.  Remember the day I went up to Seton Hill and used the pottery wheel?  Well, I made several fairly nice pots along with the Tweety mold, and I also handbuilt a little goblet.  I was so happy.  I wish I were good enough to do that for a living.  But, anyway, all the pots were put into the bisque kiln and came out nicely and so was the tweet cause he's low fire material.  But the next week when they were glazed -- a catastrophe!  Some ass used rice to pattern something they made and left some of it in the clay and the damn piece exploded! and everything in the kiln was practically ruined! (sigh)  I wanted to give most of those things away as Xmas gifts, too.  Oh well.

I have been having the strangest dreams lately.  These happened before I was sick mostly, too, except for one or two, so they are not products of a fevered mind.  I had 2 epic dreams about a week and a half ago.  I hardly ever remember what I dream, but thees were so vivid that I think they were supposed to mean something.  They are rather like a Cecil B. DeMille production with a "cast of thousands"!  The first one contained  I think, almost every person I ever as even somewhat close to before I came to Pittsburgh.  It was almost as if I were reliving my life in the dream to some extent.  I wonder if that is at all like what drowning people are supposed to see before they go under.  And the very next night I had a very similar dream except that almost everyone I knew at Pitt was there.  It was the sequel to Part I, I guess. You were there, and you had a red shirt with flowers (do you have a shirt like this?) -- vaguely remember a lt. blue one like it and seeing a red one like it in a store window when we went for a walk one day -- across it in a line and jeans on.  I can remember what almost everyone was wearing.  Diane was wearing this culotte thing that she wore the very first time I met her and Bev was really dressed up and going to work at Western Psych.  They were both very nostalgic dreams and I do think they had a message for me.  Remember when you told me that I just had my head on backwards when I was so sad that everyone was leaving in August?  Well, you certainly were right about it.  I'm still that way, somewhat, but I think those dreams were to tell me to stop it.  I really must.  I'm just slow, I guess.

 Speaking of movies -- when we were at home, we went to Theater of Living Arts to see -- The King of Hearts.  I really wanted to see it -- but when we got there there were only 3 seats left and there were 4 of us -- so...myeer!  Well, maybe another time and we purposely didn't go to the first 2 shows because we knew they'd be crowded.  I just thought that by the 1 AM show there would be more seats.  Foiled again!!  Ange and John had already seen it so they didn't really care.

I am now on my 3rd driving permit.  Please do not laugh or make fun of me in any way as this is a very sensitive area for me.  My first permit arrived while I was in the hospital 2 years ago after my head broke a windshield -- so I was not a candidate for driving lessons at that time.  My second permit came in August and I hardly was even out driving at all and then all those wedding things etc. and now I have my third.  Now nice.  I felt really bad about it until my cousin Beri and her husband came over on Thanksgiving and Bill told me that Geri had the most expensive driving license on record, he thinks.  7 permits!  Well, I, being very thick with Geri, did not of course, laugh, or even smile.  (Geri has always been very good to me and we've always stuck together from the days we were in kindergarten and I hated milk and she used to drink mine for me so I wouldn't get yelled at for waste!)  So now at least I know I have 4 more to go before I break the family record for permits.

Brook wants us to get a van so we can go camping, but I can't even drive the VW -- so I find it difficult to picture myself driving such a big thin.  He insists that they are not hard to drive, but....

Well, I guess this is all.  (All?)  Bill Louden is working at Heidelburg College in Ohio and really likes it.  You may already know this, but I thought I'd tell you in case you didn't.

P.S.  Margaret (remember Mgt?) McMillion is on her way!  She's been accepted into Foreign Office for Jan. 16th and they haven't told her where she's going yet.  (WWIII?)

P.P.S.  I was just wondering if you looked anything like Tweety when you were 3.

October 24, 1974 (Letter from Bev)

How do you like your job and what's it like in Montana?  Grayce told me that you were working in a prison library.  Speaking of Grayce -- Diane and I went to her wedding.  Bill Snyder was there, but had to leave.  He had an accident and both of his headlights were knocked out.  He leaves for the army in January.  I don't know if Bill Louden got a job yet.  Have you heard from anyone at GSLIS?  Diane has a job in the library at the Customs House in Philadelphia.  I don't think she has started working yet.

Since September 16th I've been working as the medical librarian at Delaware State Hospital (it's a mental hospital).  The library is small  but quite adequate for the staff.  I do everything in the library, including shelving books!  I'm kept busy everyday and often I don't get things done that I had planned to do.  Some of the doctors expect to be waited on when they come into the library.  I'm not too pleased with having to look call numbers up and then get the books off the shelves while some doctor is following me around.  But how do I put an end to something like that which is expected of me?

This past weekend I went to a Medical Library Association conference at Rutgers.  Janet Seltman, who is working at Medical College of Pa., w there.  I met many people, including the librarian from Eastern Psychiatric Institute.  She's nothing like the late J. O'Mara.

I'm living in the town of New Castle, which is small (pop about 4,000) and safe (I hope).  My apartment is in an old house which was built around 1800.  I have a bedroom, bath, small kitchen, and combination dining-living room area.  The apartment was unfurnished and still isn't exactly what one would call furnished.  So far, I only have the essentials -- bed, dresser, table, and two chairs.  Hopefully, by spring I'll have a sofa.

Are you employed by the Federal government or the state of Montana?  I'm working for the State of Delaware, which gives me a lot of Monday holidays.  The benefits are good, probably better than working for a public library.

I wish you the best on your birthday and I hope that you are happy with your job.  Keep in touch.