Friday, May 19, 1968
Dear Daughters:
It is now 9 P.M. and we just got in from the Church were Rev. Marshall showed slides of their life in Argentina where they spent about 17 years. The family also sang two songs in Spanish which were good. He said in all of Argentina they had about 50 miles of four laned roads.
This afternoon John, Kevin, their Mothers and me went to Dayton to their Museum of Natural History. Believe we were all there about four years ago with the Bruces but we couldn't seem to recall much of it. There were several animals very much alive - like the wolves, owls, etc. that were on a leash but right out in the open view and reach. We also went to the Planetarium show which emphasizes how little we know about the universe. The reason for going this afternoon was that the Boys' Scout troop was making it a project.
Yesterday your Mother and the Beers drove the Intermediate MYF up to Worthington to the Methodist Children's Home and the Methodist Theological School, there were about 14 who went. There was also some Scout program on yesterday which conflicted with several of the boys. Several of the local Boy Scouts are going out West this summer on one of those BIG camping trips and this meeting yesterday was a prelude for this.
Harpers are trying to sell their house in NV. Perhaps we told you that Mildred Storer and her family bought where the Vaughn Huffmans use to live.
The Fawleys are telling us that Peggy is going out to the Univ. of Iowa this summer and then going to Eastern Kentucky this fall.
Last night we all went to the School house where the music dept. put on "Babes in Toyland" which sorta of a theater in the round presentation. The band was on the stage and then the audience sat around the other three sides. They had a partition up at the back two corners from the stage where the players could get in and out for their parts. John won a prize for his poster, the prize being a free ticket, so went both nights. We saw the Beans there and Bruce is still "nuts" about trains.
Had our first radishes out of the garden this weekend and have three tomato plants with tomatoes set on – they had blooms when they were put out. Strawberry prospects look good if the weather continues to cooperate. It seems like we have been having the monsoon season for it rains again before the ground gets dried out from the last downpour. We have had asparagus several times, both from our patch and also from the patch on the lot near the Church.
Daddy is now working on our bathroom's usual plumbing problem. So I took over. He has really told you all the news there is to tell and some that I hadn't heard myself. Word is also out that Dr. Custis has sold his practice and is going to work in a small animal clinic in or near Lebanon but will retain his home here. I don't know where the new veterinarian will be located.
We stopped at a Lum's restaurant near the Red Barn in Xenia on the way home from the Natural History Museum & had some very good sandwiches. John had one of their specialties – hot dog steamed in beer; it also came with sauerkraut but he didn't try that. I have noticed one in Kalamazoo – did you every try it, Catherine?
Roberta, we got an invitation from Mrs. Hinerman to stay all night in Glen Dale with them when we go to pick you up but will have to write and tell her that we have other commitments at that time. We would like to get back to Raven's Rock some time. Do you think we could get there without Teacher Tom's map? That was a big help.
Debbie Walvoord came over and talked to us last night during the intermission of the musical. She was one of the ones in charge of lighting for it – a real job in staging, etc. Tom Mitchell was one of the best and also Elaine Harner (you could really hear her) and I was surprised at Johnny Joy in his part. Steve Brandenburg and Wayne Smith were also good. We saw Cathy Cline – she was one of the dolls. There were ninety some in the cast so you can see what a big production it was. They gave Mrs. West a pin and earrings and Mr. Perry a gold watch after the performance on Saturday evening. Friday night they sang "Happy Birthday" to him.
The Marshalls are moving to Dallas Center, Iowa as soon as school is out. It is a few miles west of Davenport and just south of I-80. The Savages are also moving to Iowa – a real small town there where someone says they already own a house.
I picked up Phyllis last Friday when I took a cancer patient down to Cincinnati to see her doctor. Phyllis had a real nice trip – had spent one day with the Hortons. The same day they got word that Joe had not gotten the Rotary Scholarship so they were a little downcast about that. He had said that if he didn't get it he would start working on a Fulbright scholarship which would be as much but wouldn't entail speaking to Rotary Clubs in France (in French).
Perhaps Irene can give Catherine an intense German course if she comes home with you for a few weeks, Roberta. They can concentrate on it here and at Lakeside. The Beers told us that his mother and father are planning on going with them to Lakeside this year but I didn't ask if they had a cottage yet or what.
We are anxious to know more about the possibility of your going to Germany next spring, Catherine. How about that? Will this combine your career-service or you will take it after you get back?
Mrs. Walker rode with me when we went to Worthington yesterday. She said Patty is hoping to get a job and if she doesn't her daddy says she has to go to summer school in Wilmington. Her mother is going first summer term.
Mrs. Fawley says Stan is in a quandary as he has rushed through college only to end up in the armed services the way it looks now. He finishes next January and Yale where he has applied for Divinity School cannot accept him until the following fall. So he will probably end up going to Ohio Methodist Theological Seminary as they will accept him in February. Otherwise Uncle Sam beckons him.
One thing we forgot to mention about "Babes in Toyland" was their playing with jacks, balls and the paddle ball, which we are about to begin making. Haven't really decided on a name yet for the paddle ball, so may just end up calling it "Wells Paddle Ball," though we need something zippy like our competition in their "Fli-bac" or Bo-Lo." Fred did have the printing press running yesterday as a demonstration so we widen our horizons a little wider. Have had a couple of complainers recently where people have bought ropes and when they did not last but a couple of days thought they had been gyped – and so forth.
Spring is really here as I am doctoring the first poison ivy, it would be nice to be immune to that stuff. But it could always be worse.
John and Mary Virginia are counting the days to Lakeside. The days really are flying by and we are looking forward to the time when you will all be home again. We are enclosing a few paper clippings for you to read. We had a Republican reorganization meeting last Friday night for the next two years and Harold Thornburg and your Dad are back on the Executive Committee for the next two years. They are planning a big dinner the early part of Sept. with a big name speaker (like Senator Tower of Texas) at $10 a plate and will also honor Congressman Brown who will no longer be our representative thru the reorganization shuffle. As Harold T. said wonder if we could go and divide a plate and then eat at Burger Shef later for the balance of the meal.
The present Enquirer boy does not have too much zip – even in May (hate to think what it will be like when Winter comes) as he gets around now around 8 A.M. and on Saturday it was 8:45. Serena got her Girl Scout camp registration for two weeks, starting the last week in June, which is the period she applied.
No sign of the Frump family across the street yet, tho they were up recently and mowed the "high spots" on their front yard. The Kiblers also got home this past week and Gibsons up the street have put a huge aluminum awning out over their driveway. The big brick opposite the School is still vacant and Mike Williams is doing a good of job keeping the grass mowed. Write when you can for we always enjoy hearing from you.
Mother and Dad
P.S. If you or your friends have any good ideas for the paddle ball name let us know.
