1

Wed.
2-19-58

Dear Mother and Daddy,

My correspondence has really gotten into sad shape. We don't
have anyplace to throw things, in our room, since I have unanswered
letters piled everywhere. I have taken to dragging a pile of them
out to the dining room table every day and trying to get through
them, but it's a losing battle. By the way, I don't have the
Botzum's address to thank them for the cigarette pots. That sugar
scoop is one of the most immediately useful gadgets that we have
received. It's a good thing that you noted what it is for, because
I never would have guessed. Teaspoons sticking out of sugar bowls
always get in the way or get flipped out onto the floor in a flurry
of sugar.

Today my letter-writing got interrupted by the delivery of
yet anotherwedding present, from an old friend and business
associate of Jim's. Its a Universal automat c coffee pot, and it
has everything. All you have to do is remember to put the coffee
and the water in it, It anticipates all the little fallacies that
ruin coffee and pots, and almost pours the stuff for you. Now we
can put the one we bought on our honeymoon in the garage, and we
are all set. I would hate to calculate how many gallons of coffee
it takes to build a really good track rig, or anything else that
comes out of our garage, for that matter. It's cheaper than booze,
with none of its attendant problems, and is an equally good solution
to the "Wont you have a ..." problem when unexpected company
arrives, and that's the only kind we have, constantly. We do
most of our entertaining in our pajamas, it seems.

Thank you for the clothes and books. I wore the grey suit
to see "Inherit the Wind" the other night, and received many
compliments. That was some night. We had a stage-struck 16year old
on one side of us and a couple of "Tee many Martoonis" comics on
the other. When the lights went out, the TMM started yelling,
"Someone's picking my pocket!", which made Paula feel very good,
since she was sitting next to him. Jim convinced the 16 year old
that the only way t o start her acting career was to go and ask
if hey could use her. So Paula got the guy to promise to "be like
a little mouse" and the 16 year old asked and got an affirmative,
also it was a tremendous play, and we had a good time, ever if
it was a restless "mouse". I read "Letter from Peking" in
two days and enjoyed it very much. I wonder what you would have
done if I'd married an Oriental, had me kidnapped the day before
the wedding? I haven't looked at "By Love Possessed" yet. My
favorite book reviewer wasn't impressed by it, but I plan to give
it a chance as I get more time for reading. Jim and I are currently
studying DR. Dick-Reid's "Natural Childbirth". We heard him
speak and saw some of his movies and we're all for it. After reading
his book and understanding alittle bit about the whole thing,
I can understand why there is no sense in trying to discuss it with
people who think their own experience is proof that it won't work.
We have seen it work, from start to finish in color movies.

Thank you also for the valentine. I suppose ours was late as
usual. Oh well, why not drag a good thing out for as long as it
will last. Jim brought me a beautiful heart-shaped box of candy,
the first I've ever gotten on valentine's day, I think.