1987 Catherine's Letter -Sep.9

Wednesday, September 9, 1987

Dear Mother & Dad,

Hi!  It was good talking to you and John on the phone Saturday night.  We had a nice long weekend since all three of us had three days off.  Gerry and I played golf on Monday at Happy Trails RV resort in Surprise -- 22 miles from our house --17200 W. Bell Road.  Roberta and Wendy went to a movie and out to lunch while we were gone.

Wendy seems to enjoy her new bicycle.  Somehow she seems much more vulnerable on a ten-speed with the skinny tires than she did on her old bike.  She now locks her bike at school so that is a new challenge for her also.  She likes her teacher and hasn't had too much homework yet but time may change that!  Last night she did have some spelling homework and she thought it was real tough to have to use 8 spelling words in only 4 sentences.

My computer class [at Glendale Community College]  is interesting and close enough I can walk through the park when I have an hour off.  I have finished the word processing part and next comes spread sheet.  I haven't been down yet this week since Monday was a holiday we have been busier than usual at the library.

During the month of August the new Main Library circulated over 90,000 books, with 59,000 of those being children's books, 25,000 of those were picture books or easy readers!  Also registered 5100 new borrowers!

Programs started last week except for Time for Twos which will start next week.  I've been practicing fingerplays to do with that age group.  Should be interesting.  Also starting next week is a group for 10 to 12-year-olds called the B.R.A.T. (Books, Reading and Talking) Pack.  We've had 30 applicants and haven't really pushed it at all yet.

I'm trying to give you samples of all the different types of print.

Well my lunch hour is almost over so I better close.  Mother, we just got a complaint on a book by Katherine Paterson called Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom.  Have you ever read it?  The complainer said it was anti-Christian and too morose for children.  I read it.  It's about the Taiping Rebellion in China in the 1850's.  From the blurb about the author I gather Paterson's father was a missionary in China.  I didn't think it was morose or anti-Christian, plus I think it would be difficult to get any child to read it but . . . .

We still didn't get your letter – must have taken a wrong turn somewhere!

Love,

Catherine, Gerry & Wendy