April 19, 1969 The Upsetting Week, The Beautiful Day, The Pouring Rain, The Howling Wind and The Ruined Stockings

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Thanks for the pretty anniversary card. We didn't do much celebrating for I taught Sunday School & B had a meeting at school. We went for a short ride later.

We're sorry we couldn't get to Richland as we planned but it has been an upsetting week and Ann came home Thursday. I don't know whether B's mother understood everything or not but one of Ann's good friends died of cancer and the funeral is this morning. The boy was 19 and had a lump removed from his neck in January. It was malignant but they thought he'd be all right. He was a pre-med student at U. of Kentucky but had to drop out, of course, and tried taking some classes here so he could have the treatments they gave him. He had to stop that in mid-March. Ann was pretty upset about it and has spent most of the time with his family or at the funeral home. I don't know the family at all but the kids knew one another for years and have always been real good friends.

Today is a beautiful but cold day. Thank goodness the sun is out. Yesterday was an awful mid-winter day. The rain poured and the wind howled. It couldn't have been more depressing.

Ann's finger is all right now but you can still see where it was cut. The day after that happened she missed a step and fell on both knees so they are scratched up & blue. I think she cared more about the stockings she ruined than her knees, though.

I don't see why Beulah didn't tell you she wanted to come, too. It would have been so nice for all of us to be together. I could crown her.

It sounds as if Aunt Cliffie doesn't want to quilt Ann's quilt so don't worry about it. Don't ask her again and if she mentions it that will be fine but if she doesn't maybe I can find someone here to do it.

We'll try to see you next weekend unless something comes up again.  We'll let you know if we can't get there."

                Lots of love,

                     Bonnie

NOTE: There were rigid rules at my college regarding Freshmen having a car on campus. And even more rigid rules for traveling off-campus. In spite of telling, and having the approval of my advisor to go home for the funeral, I got a serious reprimand from the Dean on my return to campus. It infuriated all of us, and I think it was in part, what inspired me to graduate in 3 years.