March 27, 1955 The Beautiful Day, The Miserable Day, The Rowdy Kids and The New T.V.

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I'm really slow.  Here it is almost bedtime on Saturday night and I'm just getting my letter written.

I haven't accomplished much this week but have kept pretty busy.  We got the venetian blinds up in the bedroom and our old curtains were so near gone I decided to dye some old drapes.  I had to do the job twice and still you can see the pattern.  They don't look too bad and we are using them anyway.

Last Sunday we drove to Champaign to see our friends we met in Tokyo.  It poured rain the whole time we were there and the kids got rowdy but we had fun.  She cooked supper for us so we were late coming home.

Thursday was a beautiful day but I was on the go all day.  The wives in the Education dept. got together at 1:30 for dessert and then I dashed home to take Bob to piano at 4:00.  That night I went to another club and told Toni that I hadn't done anything but drink coffee and talk all day.

Yesterday was such a miserable day.  It snowed all day and although it thawed a little today it is awfully cold.  B and I went to a program at school last night and almost froze.  There weren't any cars on the street but there was a huge crowd at the program.

I'm still trying to house clean.  Yesterday I finished the walls in Bob's room but have the windows and floors yet.

My suit is coming along nicely but a little slow.  This cold weather has sort of taken my sewing mood.  I have to be in the mood to really get sewing done.  B took me to Bloomington this afternoon to get the lining.  He will be gone until next Wed. night and I want to sew while he's gone.  He leaves about 11:00 in the morning to go to Cleveland.  He and Jim Wheeler have hotel reservations together.  Did I tell you we decided not to go to Alabama?  Our vacations didn't coincide closely enough.  I haven't heard from Eve since I wrote we weren't coming.  She probably had a fit.

My sweeper had to be repaired so we took it downtown today.  The place that fixes it handles T.V. sets among other things and we got to looking and talking.  Tonight we own a new set.  It is an R.C.A. table model on iron legs--very simple but nice enough.  The screen is 21" and gives a good picture.  The kids are really thrilled.  We traded our old Crosley combination on it and got a good deal.  Other places wouldn't give us anything for the old radio.  It still worked well and looked nice but was in our way since B built the other radio.

I have a speech tomorrow night and have to do some work on it or it won't be much of a speech."

            Love to you both,

                   Bonnie

March 19, 1955 The Cleaning Spirit, The Shantung Suit, The Marbles and The Prettiest Sweet Potato Vine

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It is a little quiet around here.  Bob and Ann are in bed and B has gone to a meeting.  I'm tired tonight for I have cleaned all day.  When we had those wonderful spring days I got the cleaning spirit so started to house clean.  It took me three days to do our bedroom but I feel that it is really clean.  I never did get to it last fall.  The rugs never were cleaned last fall either but the cleaner has promised to take them in mid-April.  I clean them with Glamorene but they get so dirty here that they need a thorough job once in awhile. 

It is real cold again and snowed a bit last night.  Today was cold enough to keep it from all melting but the sun was bright.

I finally found a suit pattern I liked but now to find time to make the suit.  I have a piece of real heavy silk shantung and it will make a nice suit.  It is beige but I wish it was navy.  I couldn't get navy when I bought it for they didn't have it.

Bob is still awake and he wants me to tell you he has about 100 marbles.  He says he is collecting them.  All the first grade kids have them and they trade until Bob has a different bunch every day.  We are cleaning his room now and he has it all planned to rearrange his furniture.  I don't know how it will turn out.

The first grade has been talking about plants so Bob took a geranium and a sprouted radish to school today.  They planted peas today in paper cups.  I have the prettiest sweet potato vine and he wants to take that to school too.  I'm afraid it would never get there without breaking.

Hope you both are fine."

                 Lots of love,

                       Bonnie

NOTE:  Bob and I were thrilled to find the marble collection recently.  The bag was made out of a scrap leftover from our bedroom curtains. 

March 12, 1955 The Indians, The Gamma Phi Circus, The Earring and The Chicago Trip

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Another Friday already.  Ann's class had a program about Indians this afternoon so I have been to that.  They made costumes and it was real cute.  I took some pictures and I hope they will be good.

Tonight is the school circus and the kids are excited about going to that.  The college students put it on and they usually have a professional or two to perform.  Bloomington is winter quarters for lots of circus people.

Image from The Index, ISNU Yearbook

Ann went back to school on Wednesday.  She still had lots of chicken pox scabs left.  One was hanging on her ear today and I took it off.  She informed me that she wanted that left on for an earring.

The weather has finally turned nice.  We are all enjoying it and I have been doing some cleaning.  Seems like I have more pep when the weather is nice.  Of course, I can get more done when I don't have kids under my feet.

I sure do like my new blouse.  It came Monday and you couldn't have sent anything nicer.

Buddy told us at Xmas that they were coming up right away, but then the winter turned so awful no one could go anywhere.

I still haven't written to Roger.  I am so behind with my letter writing.

B enjoyed his Chicago trip.  There were three meetings he attended.  He actually took part in only one.  Sen. Fulbright was a speaker at one meeting.

Bob still likes piano.  I think the class is doing fine.  There are 12 children in all.

Ann is outside with some good shoes on so I'd better go see to her.  She is hard to keep up with."

                     Lots of love,

                           Bonnie

NOTE:  The picture above of the kindergarten "Indian Day" is the only one I could find.  I remember making the milk carton moccasins and the fringed grocery sack vests.  Cowboys and Indians was a favorite activity throughout the year. 

March 5, 1955 The Coma, The Funeral, The Chicken Pox and The Nice Birthday

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"This has really been some week!  B got up and took the 4 a.m. train to Chicago last Saturday and the came home that evening.  We were busy Sunday then getting him ready to leave in the afternoon for Chicago again.

One of our old maid friends has been very sick for a long time.  She had been in a coma for three days and Toni and I have been called up there so much.  The other two old maids would get worried and call us.  They called me Sunday morning and she was taking on so badly.  Toni and I took turns staying with them and she finally died while I was there.  I had to leave to take B to the train so Toni stayed while the undertaker was there and until some other friends came.

The children were upset about Janey's death as well as B's leaving so I've stayed right with them most of the week.  Ann went with us to the piano class but got bored so I hope I don't have to take her any more.

While the children were at school Monday I went and visited with the Ladies (the same ones we call the old maids) and then on Tuesday Lola Rine and I went to the funeral home during school time.  Ann began breaking out with chicken pox that night but didn't feel too bad.  She doesn't do badly in the day but doesn't sleep much at night.

Granny Watterson kept all the children so Toni and I went to the funeral.  It was Catholic and was held in a little town about 15 miles from Bloomington.  We were gone all morning.  Most of the service was in Latin but he preached the short sermon in English of course.

B came home last night and we were all sure glad to see him.  It is sort of lonesome around here when he's gone.

I had a nice birthday.  I got several packages and a lot of cards.  Toni made a surprise birthday cake for me and after school the children gave me a birthday party.

I forgot to say that all three of Toni's children took chicken pox when Ann did.  This is some house full of kids.  Bob is happy to be done with it all."

                 Love to you both,

                         Bonnie

NOTE:  For this birthday and several to come, B would give Bonnie jewelry he purchased in Japan, including the silver bamboo pieces pictured above.

February 25, 1955 Lost Letters, Ann Sneaks Around and Enough Cold and Snow

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Our letters must have got lost last week.  We heard from the Belshes today and they hadn't had our letter either.  We wrote at the usual time and you should have had them.

Bob went back to school today and Ann still hasn't taken the chicken pox.  Lynn sure was disgusted because she couldn't have them the same time Bob did.  It would have been nice.  They could have entertained one another.  He kept me jumping to find things to do.  There were two days that he felt bad but got along very well.  He didn't have many on his face but lots on his back and the marks are still there.

B and I went to school last night to a meeting of first grade parents.  Ann was still up when we got home.  I had her in bed when I left but she wasn't asleep.  As we went out the door B said if we waited five seconds we'd see her come down the steps.  This new sitter is good with the kids but can't get Ann to bed if she is awake or wakes up later.

Since Bob got sick I haven't done anything to the house so I've tried to do some cleaning today.  I didn't get very far, though.

It is still a little cold but Ann took her tricycle out yesterday and had such a good time.  We've had our share of cold and snow.

It is about time for the kids to come home so I'd better stop.  There isn't any news to write anyway."

               Love,

                    Bonnie

NOTE:  In the national news there was much debate about the existing U.N. charter.  Middle East peace and security concerns were prominent in discussion in Feb., 1955 leading to the Baghdad Pact between Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and the U.K.  Conflicts between Israel and Egypt were escalating.  There was always much discussion in our household about current world events and politics.  One of my earliest recollections is of Bonnie saying that she didn't believe there would be peace in the Middle East in her lifetime, or during that of her children's.  At the time I had no idea what she meant.

February 19, 1955 Chicken Pox for 5, A Style Show Mob and Seedless Tomatoes

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Our news this week is that Bob has chicken pox.  He felt a little bad Wednesday noon but went to school and to David's birthday party after school.  We thought he had a sore throat when he wouldn't eat supper but he was breaking out when he woke up Thursday.  Now he is broken out pretty good.  His face isn't bad but his back is covered.  He has stayed in bed without any trouble but is hard to entertain.  Since all of the kids were exposed they play in his room so he doesn't get so lonesome.  All five children will probably have them but we wish they would do it at the same time and not drag it out.

I can't remember when I ever had the chicken pox but hope I have.  Did I?

We got such a nice package from Beulah.  I had written to her a day or two before it came and haven't had a chance to write again.  Charlotte had made Bob some horse's heads to hang on the wall.  He sure is proud of them.  He took them to school to show the children and then forgot them.  Then he got sick.  Lynn went all the way back after them today when he asked her to bring them home for him.  She can hardly stand it that she hasn't broken out with the chicken pox now too.

Image from the ISNU Index

There is a play for children at school tomorrow and we were going to see it.  I'll take Ann and go if she doesn't have chicken pox tomorrow.

Bob's thumb doesn't bother him.  The nail is black as can be but never hurts.  After the first two days it has been all right.

I went to a benefit style show with Toni one night.  Their church was having it.  It was real nice but there was such a mob there that we couldn't even get into the room where they style show was and had to watch from the hall.  We could see real well but couldn't hear a thing that was said about the clothes.

Our new neighbor is real nice.  Toni invited her and a few of us other neighbors in for coffee one afternoon.  Ann played over there one afternoon and their little 5 yr. old girl came over here once.  They have a 10 yr. old girl too.

It is warmer now so we have mud.  It is worse than snow but always has to be after the snow.  I'll be glad to see spring.

The article I'm sending is about the friend who gave us the seedless watermelons.  He hopes to market a seedless tomato this year, too.

I think I'll go to bed.  I've been up and down the stairs too much today!  Hope you are all fine."

                     Lots of love,

                           Bonnie

February 12, 1955 The Smashed Thumb and The Piano Classes, The Deep and Slippery Snow, The New Help and Sweet Rolls

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I hope it is warmer there than it is here.  It was 11 below last night but got up to 0 today.  I went to Normal for a few minutes and the cold made my head hurt.  We have an awful lot of snow too so the streets are bad.  The children don't mind the cold and walk thru the deepest snow they can find.  I keep after them about coming straight home but they always come in covered with snow.

I shut the car door on Bob's thumb yesterday and he spent a miserable night but it doesn't hurt now unless it gets bumped.  It made him sick (and me too) it hurt so badly.  It turned blue right away and the nail will come off.

Bob enjoys his piano classes.  There are twelve children and they do have a good time.  He has practiced every day without a word and seems to like it.  Another girl and I have been taking turns driving and it was my turn yesterday.  It was storming so that B came home and drove.  The snow was awfully deep and it was slippery.

We have a new sitter and the children like her real well.  She is a freshman so I hope she'll be in school for awhile.  Ann was real disgusted when she found out the girl wasn't going to eat with us every night.  The cooking hasn't been too bad and I've enjoyed having the kitchen to myself again but I hate being in the kitchen so long cleaning up.

I've looked for Ann a ballet teacher for a long time and finally found a real good one.  I was all set to take Ann to her first lesson and she balked on me.  She simply would not go.  I'm going to try to get her to go next week but if she doesn't want to I'll just forget it.

The children like their Valentines.  They are having parties at school on Monday so Bob and Ann wrote the names on all their Valentines tonight so they are ready.  Ann does real well with her printing.  They don't teach the kindergarten children to print at all--not even their names--but she has written her name a long time.  Now she can write her friends' names too and a lot of them without help.  She likes to practice the piano when Bob does, too but doesn't want to go with us when he takes his lessons.

B and I were invited to a Valentine's party tomorrow night but our sitter is going home for the weekend so we won't go.

Edna called us last night and asked us over for some hot bread but it was an awful night and Bob was restless with his sore thumb so we didn't go.  Edna bakes light bread all of the time.  They don't buy bread at all.

I'm making some sweet rolls so I'd better go see if they aren't ready to bake.  Come over and have one while they are hot."

                   Lots of love,

                        Bonnie

NOTE:  For the Sweet Roll recipe, also referred to as Christmas Rolls, use the link:  http://annbkennedy.blogspot.com/2012/12/december-2-4-1953-sasanobori-and.html