March 29, 1977 (Letter from Grayce)

We just had a great 4 days.  Brook starts shift work tomorrow, so gets these 4 days before. Unfortunately, we didn't get anything done that we had planned -- like taxes (yech!) and fixing the VW, although he might do that tonight (I hope) since it's snowing now & I need to drive the car to work tomorrow & I don't' think the Fiat would be as good in snow as the UV.  Oh well...

Did I tell you how Brook's hours will be?  He'll work 7 days straight (leaves at 10 P.M. & be home at 10 A.M. next day) & then he'll have 2 days off.  Then he'll work 7 more days (leave a 2 P.M. & home at 2 A.M.) & get 1 day off & then he'll work 7 more days (leave at 6AM, home at 6 P.M.) & then get 4 days off -- which we'd like to use for trips to nearby places, but some of which we'll probably use for poor Brook to catch up on his sleep.  The "school" part of the program is over & Brook did really well & now he has a few tests every once in a while, but mostly he'll be in the plant itself, in practical situations.  We cannot take any of his vacation off until this part of the program is over in August, but then we'd like to take the full 2 weeks & drive to California.  You'll have to tell us some good things to see & do -- ok?  We'll be going to Reno 1st to see Kathy for a day or two. She's definitely coming with her friend Bob for Easter.  It will be so good to see them -- unfortunately, Brook will be on the 2-2 shift -- so we won't see him too much.  (He doesn't get any holidays off, but he does get a raise, so he guesses it's worth it!)  Right now I'm trying to decide where I can take them around here -- so they won't be bored stiff.



Have you been watching Scenes from a Marriage on PBS?  It's on Wed nights here.  I'm sure a polar bear like you wouldn't want to miss it.  I really like Bergman & Liv Ullmann is one of my favorites.  I didn't get to see Face to Face -- a big regret.  Maybe they'll get it out here yet -- but I'm not holding my breath.  The film they get here are never the good ones!  I was excited about The Front because it was so much better than anything else here.  They seem to really go in for the Whitewater Sam type films.  Brook & I have these free coupons for the drive-in here, but all the films are really strange.  The other night we decided to go, just for the hell of it.  The features were Lipstick (yuck) and Hustle (double yuck).  We had a good time though -- making fun of the acting & the plots.  I made a gigantic bag of popcorn & we took a six pack of Coors & we giggled for 3 hours.  Oh well -- that's life in the little town!



Tomorrow is my boss' birthday.  She just recently got a divorce & she seems awfully lonely so I'm having her over for dinner.  I really like her a lot.  It's so nice having someone normal to work for after my last experience.   Linda is not nit-picky, or spiteful, or a shrew, or any of the lovely things Sister Mary Ronald was.

I think you made the right decision about not moving to N.Y.  I can't imagine living there -- although I'm sure it would be very exciting.  But I'm not sure I'd like the excitement of wondering what would happen to me next.  One of my closest friends lives in N.Y. alone & I do worry about her -- as she lives in Soho & there are lots of strange things happening there all the time.  But she loves it, so...

We seem to have this in common.  I always worry about wasting time -- although I know I do waste it.  But usually I have to be "doing" & I like to have something that I've produced to show for the time I've spent.  Right now, I've been doing wall hangings, but feel like I'm in a rut.  My sewing machine conked out & I'm waiting for the needed part to come in.  The salesman was very eager for me to trad in my economy model for the Diana (electronic) machine -- $600.  Or the Athena (also electronic) -- $1200.  I did try them out & they are great, but the question is do I need something that fancy?  They both do fancy stitches (although the Athena does about 2x as many), but when I make something, I usually like to embroider it myself & make up my own design.  So I guess I'll pass.  Besides, I really can't see spending that much.  Maybe in a few years, when my present machine is a little older.



You know, I hardly ever watched TV very much before I came out here, but I've watched it more now than before.  Sometimes I just put it on to hear people talking!  But I've noticed something which I think is very harmful.  People on TV -- even "middle-class types" have so much more than real people.  Women who are just secretaries wear fabulous clothes & never repeat their clothes from week to week & they live in these great apartments & drive expensive cars.  It must make people who are really poor sick!  I'm sure everyone else noticed this a long time ago, but I've just discovered it, and I think it's awful!  Especially since so many people don't seem to realize the TV is a big illusion -- & a crazy one, at that!  It must be terribly frustrating if you believe that real people live that way who have the same job you have, or your husband has, etc.

Oh well...take care.

March 15, 1977 (Letter from Grayce)

Part of a double bill, "Cornbread, Earl & Me" being the other feature, at a West Springfield second-run theater.


These pass 2 weeks have been incredibly good ones for me!  My horoscope (a very accurate one which I sent away for) said March would be very active & it certainly has been, so far!  It all started with a premonition 2 Sundays ago.  I have to call it a premonition, because I felt a positive PUSH to go out that day & buy a newspaper -- something I only very rarely do!  Brook was working & I went to get a paper & I opened it up & the first thing I saw was an ad for a display assistant at Seat her in the Mall.  It sounded like it was something I'd like.  So on Monday, I casually walked into Sears, asked about the job, was interviewed & an hour later, they called me & told me I had the job.  I was amazed, since there were so many applicants!  Actually, the girl who interviewed me is my boss & we just got along very well & seemed to have some things in common.  Anyway -- I started yesterday & it's going to be a d day per week thing (although I'll have t work a full week once in awhile, but my hours are very flexible, which is always nice.  I can start as early as I want, after I know what I'm doing more.  I do all signs for display & also help make up the displays & I'm also responsible for the printmaking for sales, ads, etc.   So far, I've just been making signs, which has been interesting & they really keep me busy -- which I like!  Part of my job will also be to make sure the different department keep their displays neat & their decorations in order, etc.  I'm not sure I'll like doing that, but I suppose after I know people better, I can adjust.  I'm just happy to have a job that is consuming, right -- now.  I'll still have time for crafts.  (Although no sewing 'cause a part on my machine coked out & the man says it'll take 6 months [no one hurries here] to get it replaced.  There goes my new summer wardrobe!)  I guess it doesn't matter too much.  I can wear anything I like here most of the time (& most of the time, that's jeans of course!) because I get so dirty.  Yesterday I came home looking like a person who might have been trapped in a coal mine!!!  It does feel good to get right into something with your hands, though, instead of sitting somewhere doing the same stuff all day -- every day.  And the atmosphere in the display room is great -- free & open & I feel at home there already.  (Odd, since It usually takes me longer than 2 days to get used to new physical surroundings.)  Well, enough about the job....

Brook bought me an aquarium & some fish to keep me company.  A dog would be a responsibility I'm not prepared to accept right now.  Maybe later on.

The fish are really beautiful & I just love watching then.  I can just sit there forever!!  I've even begun  to discern separate personalities among them.  Their traits are most noticeable when they are fed -- especially their aggressive & survival instincts.  I'd like to get some angelfish soon -- maybe in a month.  But, they may be difficult to care for.  I'll have to find out more about them.  They don't go for walks, but....

Last Saturday night, I had some of Brooks' chums over for dinner.  Most of them are single & eat dinner every night at the site cafeteria (where 2 have gotten ptomaine poisoning!), so they were really appreciative of a "home-cooked" meal.  We all had a good time.  I really liked all of them. (I've always been wary of engineers, for some reason -- some of the ones I know at V.U. were such zombies! & seemed to have no soul!)  They were all so different, and interesting.  Brook had told a few that I had Tarot cards & they all wanted their cards read (which was fine with me, since you can find out so much about a person that way.)  They weren't too skeptical, either, as I had suspected they would be.  Anyway, it was fun.  John Taggart told me he might be coming home with Brook a lot in the next few months.  I told him, in that case, I'd have to starting taking a few lessons from the "ptomaine kings" at the site.

Well, that's about all this time.

P.S.  I've got you beat.  I have $1.78 in my piggy bank.