Christmas Letter, 1975

December, 1975 

It hardly seems possible Christmas is here already – but it is. It’s been quite a year. Lots of activity, which (perhaps along with age) finally caught up with me. 

I’ve done little acting this year, but had all 4 of my TV shows aired. In March, I was an “Appalachian mother” on Juvenile Court, a 15 minute simulation on TV of an actual court case. In July I filmed a Procter and Gamble in-house-commercial. A Girl Named Sooner aired on Wed. June, 18 and The Sellin’ on Nov, 28, both nationally. As things look now, that may be the meteoric rise and fall of my TV career. 

School is really hard this year. Three separate new class preparations for 4 classes this semester and 4 different classes and preps – 3 new – for next semester. I can hardly keep up and it’s certainly not enjoyable. I’m also debate coach going to 3 or 4 weekend tournaments, as well as teaching my U.C. speech class.

The first half of this year I did much work on my house and “played carpenter” with Bill’s help. A new kitchen counter & sink, a ladder to the attic and a roof were put in by workmen. I am laying quarry tile over 1/2 my basement floor, since my housekeeper and I have both broken bones slipping on the smooth, wet cement. It’s really slow going so I’m only about 40% done so far. In added insulation on the entire attic floor, Then Bill and I together laid plywood floor and studding supports to partially finish the attic for storage space. Our biggest project, May thru July, was building 3 rooms and a bath, all by ourselves, in Ellyn’s clubhouse at the camp! I now have my own room and furniture there, fully insulated with electric heat. No more freezing in cold weather. 

I guess it’s a good thing I have that room because – my most exciting news – in Sept. I bought 50 acres of farm and forest land right next to Ellyn’s camp. We had an unusually beautiful fall and I spent almost every weekend in Indiana tramping around my land! 

My only vacation was a week in Aug going to Michigan Upper Peninsula, the Soo straits and across to Canada, again with Susie Giles along. We had a great time, I guess I should have taken more vacation and rest and done less carpentry work. Sept. thru Oct. I got more and more exhausted and fatigued and unable to get anything done. I missed over a week of school and was really ill, but it took me until Nov. to discover (and convince the Doctor!) that I had anemia again. A month of B12 shots and anemia pills and I am just now getting back to feeling well and normal. I have curtailed my many activities and am really taking it easy these days. 

My Dad is still going strong at 84 d Brownie bulldog, at age 2, is still lovable and playful, and Bill & I continue our friendship as usual. I look forward to catching up on picture printing and sewing this spring and enjoying my land next summer. I hope you too can look forward to a very happy new year.