Depression years

(1934)
Because of staying home so much and having so little company, I became very nervous and went to a specialist.  ***  [Polly's memoirs, written in 1980, stop here (in mid-page) .  For some years thereafter she was badly depressed.  She stopped writing in her 5-year diary on September 14, 1934, about a year after Caroline came.  In 1980 she wrote another set of memoirs, "My Pets," which will follow on this blog.  A bit later, she wrote a memoir about her brother Lyndon, which will also be posted eventually.  For the next few months, this blog will be posted only on alternate days, when Skip can get to his desk.]

Ghost writer

(1980 memoirs)
In the spring we were taking a walk and talking about some graduation exercises.  "What did you think of so-and-so's address?" Lorin wanted to know.  "Well," I said, "I thot it was very very good, especially for him.  I never thot he was capable of talking so well, let alone writing up a speech like that."  Then a teasing smile came over Lorin's face.  "He didn't."  "What?"  "I wrote it for him."  It was only then that I recalled the speaker a day or two ago running across the campus toward Merriman Hall shouting for "Kay!"  So he must have been fairly well known for this art.

Halloween

(1980 memoirs)
This [social whirl] went on for two years until in my Junior Year I started going with Lorin.  On Halloween, after a movie, I think, he asked me to marry him.  We got engaged first and became acquainted later.  From then on all we cared about was being together.  We went to parties, movies, walks, and wrote for the school paper, as far as I recall the only class we had together.

Ordeal

(1980 memoirs)
At that time graduates from Country School Eighth Grade had to write and pass an exam to enter High School.  This was a terror.  Imagine how frightened country kids can get who rarely go into town to go into a big strange building and write an entrance exam.

Teeny letters

(1980 memoirs)
I said [to Boobie] I guessed I could [write to him], and later when his mother also asked me to write I again said yes.  I believe we each managed one or two letters.  It was amazing how little there was to write about and how very interested we were in other things just then.  I think he went to St. Johns but time hazes over facts like that for me.

My girl

(1980 memoirs)
While living on Ruepings' Estate, my brother and I often played Hide & Seek with the Rueping kids and their friends.  One summer night Boobie and I were kneeling behind a bush when he gave me a very sweet kiss and said, "You're my girl now, Carrie.  Will you write to me when I go away to school in the fall?"

Martha Parsons

(1993 July, Parsons memoirs)
[To her Rueping memoirs, Polly added a few scattered recollections about her own family.]
[Martha Newton Parsons was my father's mother.]  She was illiterate, and Aunt Lois [her daughter] used to say she could get the Martha all right but when it came to the Parsons would just write a big P and trail off the rest.  I think Lois wrote it over and explained so she could get her pension from her husband [William Henry Parsons] from being a soldier in the Civil War.

Pleasing Frank Parsons

(1992 Memoirs)
Once or twice my father came to see how I was getting on, and we were both rather afraid of him.  He came to eat and she [Olga] made a point of buying meat for noon dinner, but he slept at the hotel.  I was obliged to write him once a week and saw one of the letters where I said, "It snowed and snowed, father."  I guess news was scarce and I knew he would have no interest in the doll outfits Florence Fenski and I would make of Aunt Olga's scraps, when Florence said, turn it up there and put a feather right here, and it will be the cutest little hat you ever thaw."

Editing

(1992)
Skip, I hope you are editing this [memoir].  Am I repeating myself?  ...  Isn't this at a point where you can finish it yourself?  ...  And if I think of interesting incident, always can be added.  [The blog is reproducing Polly's fragmentary recollections pretty much as they were received.]

Barter economy

(1992)
My Aunt Lois gave me a $10 gold pen in a case and on chain around my neck, and I gave it for my first ride in a plane for 10 minutes.  Maybe it was $5 for five minutes - whatever.  Lorin watched me, would not go up, and said he was glad I was safe on ground again, but I wished for a longer ride.  That was at the football field, I think.

Journalism

(1992)
It is often of interest how couples met.  I think we [Lorin & I] met after school when we met with a group wanting to write for the college paper.  ...  I learned to be a journalist and wrote for the school paper, the "College Days," and also the literary magazine, "The Scribbler."

Mrs Lincoln

(1966 July 3)
You remind me of Mrs. Lincoln, who strapped a typewriter to her running board when setting out on a long trip; in case she should be moved by some glorious scenery, Pearl, her husband [aka Judge Lincoln] could pull to the side of the road and she could type up her emotions.

Car reader

(1994 January 8)
Christie the mail person says she knows Skip's writing by this time, as today when she brot the mail around and said, "A card from Skip - I know his writing by now."  Skip, let's work up a code to fool her!

My tales

(1993 April)
Are you publishing my tales?  Be sure to mention a freak snow storm that closed all the schools, making it possible for Jan and Bob to go to Madison, and many others, I imagine.

Menus

(1993 September 30)

I am OK but lazy - rest a lot. The meals are OK. I am reminded of Sis Pedrick, who used to fill her letters up with her menus, much to her older sister's disgust.

Poetry?

(1993 July)

I hope you remember - when you were here - we were going down the hall to dinner and I hurried you up so you (and Sherry) could meet Earl, our famous poet. I intended to go to the office to buy you a copy of his poetry (ahem) $10.00. "It costs to have the printing, and that you know." Well, I'm sorry I didn't get you a copy of Earl's book right then; but here is a copy now, and you can understand why Margaret Scott turned her head and smiled when I asked her to point out the poet to me. She said her part was to show him how to get his poems copyrighted. No word of quality of writing, etc.

Amanuensis

(1993 July)

I told you I often wrote for Ron becuse his eyes are bad.... So before lunch he asked me rather primly if I could write this letter - "Won't be long," he promised. ... So - at the close of lunch, Ron said, "See you after dinner?" - "Yes." - "In your room? Won't take long." Ede [who was sitting between us] was staring first at one and then another. "I am his amanuensis," I explained. "WHAT?" she asked with popping eyes. "Yes, I am his stenographer" "Oooo," greatly relieved.

Get-well rimes

(1993 August 3, for Sherry)

Heard you were sick
Hope you get well quick;
Don't ride too fast
Nor work too long;
Try to stay healthy,
This is my song.

Bed writer

(1993 May)

Grace was just here emptying waste baskets. She thot it very odd that I was writing a letter in bed. So I am. I feel you are wanting me to say something, but what can it be? Ask me.

Blind poet

(1993 May)

Well, another bit of news. I have been asked to write for a blind poet, published in Madison papers, name of Thompson. Margaret Scott said she helped him get his stuff copyrighted. I am anxious to meet him but can't imagine how it will be when ... he feels a poem coming on.