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May 11, 1947
Dear Mother and Daddy,
I have just gotten up to write you before running off to church. I have so much studying and things to do this afternoon, I knew I would never get around to it if I waited until afterwards. I really intended to write on Friday, but after I got through with all my little erands and tests I just didn't feel like doing anything but going to bed. I had to hand in a book report on Friday, and I also had an Economics test. I had so much work to do for both of them that I had to get up every morning at six-thirty to study and didn't go to bed before twelve-thirty anyway, and by the time that Friday came I was completely dead. I had to read a book of about five hundred pages for my book report. I don't think I have ever read anything so fast, and when I got the book report done it was eighteen typewritten pages long. I only have one more of those to do - thank goodness. By the time I got that off my hands, I was really too tired to do any studying for my economics test, and I would have asked to take it later, except I would have had to take it next week, and I have too more tests next week, and I never could have studied for three. Besides, I have got to arrange it so that I will get more sleep. I can't understand why I am having so much work to do all of a sudden. I have been having on the average of two tests a week every week this quarter. I didn't have nearly so much work last quarter - it's certainly keeping me busy. I have a test in History next Tuesday and one in Comparative Religions next Friday. I was very glad you set me that clipping - it was very interesting to read. The next week I have another Economics test and two book reports, and I'm beginning
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to wonder if I'm ever going to find time when I am not under pressure for something.
My music lesson went very well this week, but Dr. Popper didn't say very much more about the Rhapsody in Blue, except he still thinks that I should learn the piece, and he thinks I should learn the piano part with the orchestra rather than the piano solo, so that must mean he still wants me to do it with the orchestra, although he didn't really actually say anymore about it. I really feel that I have gotten quite a bit out of my lessons. Dr. Popper is just the kind of teacher you feel you have to do your best for regardless of what he says about the way you play.
Last Friday night we all went to a circus sponsored by the Shriners in Oakland. Eve's father had gotten Eve about fifteen tickets, and so she asked Ruth, Dilys, Judy, Sally, Betty Jayne Jones, and me and our dates to go, which of course we all did. We left here about six-thirty and all drove up together. As luck would have it the only convenient way was to have Art and Judy go with us. It wasn't so bad going up because Eve and B.J. were also along, but coming back there was just Art and Judy and I did feel a little uncomfortable about it. I just love to see Art out with Judy because I like to see him out having a good time with some one who measure up to him, and Judy certainly does, but I'd just as soon see them from a distance. Regardless we all had just a wonderful time - I think it had been quite sometime since anyone had been to a circus, and everyone really went all out for it. We all came home with little toy snakes that you scare people with and have been using them suddessfully ever since.
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Yesterday we went to the track meet and baseball game in the afternoon. We didn't win the track meet, but it wasn't so disappointint because we really didn't expect to. One of our swimmers, though, a Bob Anderson, broke and national swimming record so everyone was very pleased about that. We also won the baseball game, and every one was overjoyed at that because it was with Cal. and we haddn't won a game from them in ten years. The score was six to one.
Last night I went with Jack to a Barndance that the Phi Delts gave. It was a wonderful party because everyone you knew and wanted to see was there. Maggie Alesen came up to spent the week-end with Mary Pat Marsh, and I saw her there and had a very nice talk with her. I just wore a plaid shirt and my pedal pushers. It was out side and they played a lot of square dances and things which were lots of fun to do. Of course they were having the Junior prom last night which I would have loved to have gone to, but you couldn't possibly have gotten any of those boys to go to something like that when there was a beachcomber, or a hobo party, or a barndance the same night. They all just love to go to a party where you have to look your worst possible. Next Friday night though the Zates are having a formal dance. I couldn't believe it when they told me - it is so unlike those boys to give a formal dance. But anyway I'll get to go to a formal dance at last. It sounds almost unbelievable. For the first time in about three weeks I won't be told to wear the oldest thing I've got out on Saturday night.
I've just been on pins and needles to hear from you ever since I wrote you about Ruth's asking me to come home with her this
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summer. I keep trying to think of all the things you could think of for reasons why I shouldn't go, but I really can't think of any good ones why I shouldn't, and so many why I should. I will certainly be old enough, being twenty-one by then. I have the money to go, and besides you said I could use it to take a trip last summer. I will be gone for about three weeks, which means that I will still have about ten weeks at home; so you will certainly have enough time to see me. Ruth's mother wouldn't have asked me to come if she haddn't wanted me to or thought I would be too much trouble, besides Ruth said that they had been talking about it for quite some time, and that her mother had been wanting her to bring a guest home; so I know that Ruth didn't pressure her to have her ask me to come. It would be different too if Ruth lived in some little town, but Washington is such an interesting and worthwhile place would insist on my seeing everything there was to be seen. I'd probably never have the opportunity to do it so cheeply again, and I'd be in very good hands the whole time, so that you wouldn't have to worry about me. Ruth said there just wouldn't be any question about our going on the train so that I could see the country along the way, and the stop over we would have in Chicago we would spent with her Aunt and Uncle who always meet her when she comes through. I just hope you won't say no, because I want so much to go.
Love to all,
Mary
P. S. Happy Mother's Day!
