August 11, 1962 Nice and Quiet, Surprised and Happy, Wonderfully Cool and A Nation of Sheep

Quiet I.S.N.U. campus

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"It is so nice and quiet around town today.  Summer school is over and the short post-session will begin Monday.  So many faculty families have gone on trips it makes us wish we were on our way too.  Sorensens left right after graduation yesterday and we don't know whether we'll see them again before they move or not.  They came down last Sunday evening for awhile and brought us a Japanese print they had brought us from Japan.  We were completely surprised and happy.  The print is old and valuable and we took it to Bloomington today to have it framed.

Our reception for Sorensens was a huge success.  Everyone said it was so nice.  There were around 200 or more there.  We had punch and cookies and had the rooms decorated with lots of flowers.  The only thing I had was black eyed Susans but made a pretty bouquet of them & then went to a friend's house and got roses, dahlias and glads so we had lots.

I've been working a little more on my suit but it is a real job.  I think I have it figured out now, though.

I don't have a thing on my calendar for next week so maybe I can get something extra done. 

We talked about going to the fair at Springfield today but no one wanted to go but me so we just stayed home.

It has been wonderfully cool again but the sun is hot.  This weather is almost perfect.  I have tried to pull weeds every day but still have a long way to go before I'll have the flower beds cleaned out.

We have decided not to have the kids come on the bus since B's mom is having so much trouble with her back.  Rosalynn has her hands full with company & looking after her mother.  Our kids would only add to the confusion and they understand that.  We might still come another weekend before their school begins & maybe that will satisfy them.

I just finished reading "A Nation of Sheep".  You should read it and "The Ugly American", too.  Maybe you could get them from the bookmobile.  I don't own either one. 


It's about supper time so I'd better stop.  Hope you both are fine."

                            Lots of love,

                                  Bonnie

NOTE:  Use the link for information about the author, William J. Lederer:  http://www.library.umass.edu/spcoll/ead/mums158   (Book image source is eBay)