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October 5, 1946
Dear Mother and Daddy,
I just got back from my first music lesson. It just couldn't have gone better. I finally saw him (Dr. Popper) last Tuesday. I'd gone to his office about six times and called his house several more times, but I was never able to get ahold of him. Finally I left a note on his desk saying when I would be up to see him; so I finally got to talk to him. At the time he was anything but enthusiastic; he said he would start me, and then I could change to another teacher he knew of that was very good, but that he didn't have very much time for teaching because of his music classes. Anyway he told me to come and play for him this morning. I practiced Fantasie Impromptu very hard to play for him, and after I had played for him he asked me where I had been these last two years, and why he hadn't gotten ahold of me before. He said perfectly wonderful things about the way I played, although he did say there were a few rusty spots in the piece. When we came to talk about the price of the lessons, he said that if I didn't have enough money to pay for them, he would loan me the money. However I assured him that I had the money. He played for me lots of different pieces that I could play, and they sounded all so difficult, and I asked him if he were sure they weren't too difficult for me and he said no, not at all. So it seems he was pleased with me, and I was certainly pleased with him.
I had a wonderful time with Bob last weekend. Of course everyone was in such high spirits after the score we made against Idaho, that we could hardly stand it. Bud Spiegl gave a small party at the Circus Club afterwards.He was with Virginia Walker, Kay and Bill were there and also two other couples that I didn't know but who were awfully nice. Right after the game we went swimming, and it was the most perfect thing to do because it was so hot. Of course I didn't have a cap and my hair got terribly wet, but I just put it up in a rat afterwards, and let it go at that. After we went swimming, we came home and changed our clothes, and then went out there again. They had a buffet supper and dancing afterwards. There weren't very many people there, and everyone
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agreed that it was just the nicest party. I also saw Bob for a while on Sunday, and we had a very nice time together, but when he asked me out for the next weekend, and I told him I had already planned to do something, trouble came. He came down Thursday and took me out to dinner, and told me that I would either have to give him the priviledge of coming down to see me every weekend, or not at all. I couldn't say yes, and I couldn't say no; so I just didn't say anything. However, I think he took that to mean that I didn't want him to. I have no idea what will happen now, but it will be at least interesting to see.
Tonight I am going out with Sandy Power. All the girls seem to think he is very nice looking. I may also finally have a date with my Delt friend. I found out that his name was Arthur Matthews, and that he is president of the Delt house, no less. The only Delt that I know, outside of George, hashes here, and has suddenly become very interested in Ruth, and so he always stays afterwards to talk. He keeps telling me that there are several Delts who have asked him to get them dates with me. In the course of the conversation I told him about this boy whom I had seen around quite often. As it turned out he was one of the boys who asked George Grimes to fix him up a date with me. George then asked me if it would be alright if I went out with him sometime when he had a date with Ruth. Of course I didn't say no; so it looks as if I will be getting to know him bette, maybe.
I have been having to do dome quite hard studying lately. We had a Econ test yesterday, and I did everything possible to get a good grade in it. It wasn't too hard, and I don't think that I really did too badly. You can never tell about tests like that though, and I could just as easily have gotten an F as an A. For my history course I have to ready two books a week, and reading as slowly as I do, I find it a little difficult. I just finished reading a book for Cabeza de Vaca about his journeys in America. He was the first white man to cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific; it took him ten years to do it, and the account of it is just about the most interesting thing have ever read.
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The fact that I can never stay on key when I sing is finally going to bring me a little fun. There are two other girls in the house who have the same trouble; so the three of us are practicing a little song to sing at the Halloween Party. We are having a little trouble keeping it a secret. Everytime we go into a room to practice, some one will come in and try to find out what we are doing. Finally we had to tell them we were planning a surprise and ever since they have continually made remarks about it. I don't know how we will ever keep it quite until Halloween. None of us can ever talk to each other without someone immediately running over to try and find out what we are talking about. Luckily one of the girls, Joan McDonough, is the student manager of the school, and she has a lovely office down at the Student Union; so every afternoon just before dinner, we meet down there and go through our little routine. It should really be good when we get it done.
Well it is about time for me to get started to go to the football game. Everyone is much more excited about this one than last week, which means none of us can hardly control ourselves. We have to play the University of San Francisco. They will certainly be no picnic like the Idaho team was, for they are rated seventh in the country, first on the coast, and have two all-American stars. We will be awfully lucky if we beat them, but just hope and pray that we do.
Love to all,
