Stone Diaries, The - Carol Shields [87]
The Christmas present was a hoot. I must be the only person in the state of Indiana, maybe in the whole Western Hemisphere, to have a reading lamp made out of a giraffe’s foot—where in God’s holy name did you find him (her?)? I think you’re back to being the Daze of old—though I hope you know what you’re doing, taking on a baby. Yikes.
See ya soon, Fraidy Bloomington, Indiana, January 10, 1956
Fraidy’s no doubt told you what happened, Dick’s little "lady friend" in Cleveland, anyway I won’t go into detail on a postcard.
Just gotta get away for a couple of weeks—from all these gee-dee memories. I’ve taken the house off the market—that’s one decision anyway. See you next Tues at Palmer House.
Love, Beans Ottawa, February 2, 1956
Dear Mrs. Green Thumb, Just wanted to let you know your column on Chicago gardens pushed my husband’s magic button. His nibs hates traveling like all get out, but after reading about the Morton Arboretum, he’s decided we’ve just got to go see for ourselves, so we’re driving down in April.
Glad you’re back. Pinky What’s-his-name doesn’t know "nuttin" about Harrison’s Yellow versus Persian Yellow.
Yours sincerely, A Faithful Reader Northampton, Mass., April 6, 1956
Dear All, Sorry I haven’t written lately but I’ve been going through a lousy time with Russian lit, also with the professor (a drip) and my roommate, Shirley, who’s depressed about her boyfriend, another drip. Also it’s been raining a lot. I’m thinking about changing my major, maybe Spanish. Or sociology. Or education. Everything I think of seems irrelevant.
Love, Alice Northampton, Mass., April 20, 1956
Dear Mother, Just to let you know I’m feeling a whole lot better and I really did appreciate you coming, especially when I know you’ve never flown in an airplane before and are scared to death of crashing. I think you’re right, that I was feeling down because of Dad, the thing about it being just one year after he died, one year exactly. I had a long talk about it with my Russian prof who said he really truly understood how I feel and that these one-year anniversary things can hit you hard emotionally and it was okay if my term paper was late.
I’ve decided to stay with my Russian major. We’re into Gogol.
What a soul that man has, Russia’s great soul incarnate.
Give my love to Warren and Joan and Bev and especially Victoria and tell them I’ll be writing soon.
Alice P.S. Forgot to comment on your new hairstyle which is just the mostest. Makes your neck look thinner too. Have you ever thought of tinting over the gray?
Ottawa, September 3, 1956
Dear Mrs. F., We wondered if you would care to join the Recorder staffers for our annual dinner at the Press Club, September 20th at seven o’clock. Pinky Fulham always plans a superb menu and a wonderful evening of songs and skits. Perhaps, if you would like to join us, I could call for you and drive you there. Do please let me know.
J.
Ottawa, November 14, 1956
Dear Mrs. Green Thumb, At last, someone’s solved my black leg problem. Any advice on thrips?
A Faithful Reader Northampton, Mass., November 20, 1956
Hi all. Up to my eyebrows in mid-terms. Just wanted to say happy first birthday to Victoria. Can’t wait to see her again.
Alice Bloomington, Indiana, December 20, 1956
Hope this reaches you by Christmas. Happy holiday cheer to all.
Beans and I are thinking of New Orleans for February. How ’bout it?
It’s all over with Georgio. I got tired of holding in my stomach all the time and pretending I was his girly-girl.
Peace, joy, etc.
Fraidy Ottawa, January 15, 1957
Dear D., The Recorder staff loved your piece on how to graft cacti—the perfect topic for winter gardeners. Pinky Fulham’s done a few drawings (which I