July
My first teenage crush was on Buddy Husky a teenage Rodeo calf roping cowboy from Lubbock Texas in the Summer of 1968. I was so careful not to show my feelings. He and his cowboy pal Boyd took me along in Buddy's El Camino listening to Marty Robbins Strawberry Roan on his 8 track player. I even took up beechnut chewing tobacco to be like them and bought my self a cowboy hat. . My favorite memory of that summer is going to the movies to see the Odd Couple and sitting behind a row of some other boys wearing hats and Buddy complaining "what is this a Cowboy Association convention?" And the boys removed their head gear ha! We went to a café afterwards where we shared a huge platter of onion rings and had cherry vanilla cokes. Bill Poore always teased me about my ordering onion rings when ever I could. I suppose they were nostalgia food for me. I almost moved to Lubbock after high school to attend Texas Tech with Buddy but I met John Cunningham in Orange County and my falling in love with him ended my infatuation with Buddy. How different my life would have been if I had taken a different path.
Monday 1 July1968
When I got up at 9:.30 Mom was here talking to Pauline. After getting cleaned up I went back to Grandma's at 10:.30. There Grandma was fixing dinner and we had quail that Grand]!la had bagged last fall. I cleaned up the kitchen afterwards and then Kay and Pauline came down to visit. Mom asked Pauline to let Kay go to Texarkana with us to see John and Ginger and Pauline said she could. That evening we went to see Mrs. Sullivan, Kay's other grandma and Kay and I played cards with some of her grandkids. I learnt a new game and its fun, but I don't know the name of it. We all played until 11:00 p.m. when Kay had to go home. I went to bed on the couch soon afterwards. Weather 75 degrees and its gonna rain some. Mom is gonna get some antiques for Jean while she's back here. Mom told JW while back here she was going to look for antiques and J.W. said, "Should be no problem there. This whole country is antiquey!" I thought I'd falloff my chair. It was so funny. I know Grandma doesn't like for me to go down to Mrs. Sullivans because she is so jealous hearted of her. Last year when Donna and I were here we spent a lot of time down at Mrs. Sullivan's because she had books and liked to play cards. Once I told Grandma how smart I thought Mrs. Sullivan was and that set Grandma off. She started to sputter saying "She's not so smart as to join the Baptist! She left the Gospel to join up with the Baptists. I reckon that makes her real smart." Ever since then I knew that going to see Mrs. Sullivan was a sore point with Grandma and so when we went, we always acted like we had a bad time when we got back.
• Congress passes a ten percent income tax surcharge to defray the ballooning costs of the war.
• General Westmoreland is replaced as U.S. commander in Vietnam by General Creighton W. Abrams.
• The Phoenix program is established to crush the secret Viet Cong infrastructure (VCI) in South Vietnam. The VCI, estimated at up to 70,000 Communist guerrillas, has been responsible for a long-standing campaign of terror against Americans, South Vietnamese government officials, village leaders and innocent civilians. However, the Phoenix program, which is controlled through CORDS under the direction of Robert Komer, generates huge controversy in America concerning numerous alleged assassinations of suspected Viet Cong operatives by South Vietnamese trained by the U.S. The controversy, generated in part through North Vietnamese propaganda, eventually results in Congressional hearings. Testifying in 1971 before Congress, Komer's successor William E. Colby states, "The Phoenix program was not a program of assassination. The Phoenix program was a part of the overall pacification program." Colby admits that 20,587 Viet Cong had been killed "mostly in combat situations...by regular or paramilitary forces."
Tuesday 2 July 1968
Had to get up at 6:00 to go on down to the Lake. It's been raining all night and was still raining in the morning when we left. We went and picked up Kay and were on the road by 8:00. It rained on us all the way until we got off the Caprock. Kay slept most of the way. I'm sure tired too, been tired lately. Seems like I'll never get enough rest. We got into Lake Stanford by 12:00 and we had lunch at the house. Kay and I soon got tired of hanging around the house, so we walked to the Shipman's Store just down the road. After that we went to Jeffcoat's Store, and I called the Huskys. I just spoke to Mr. Husky. He said they might come down. In the evening Kay and I walked to the Anchor and bought some stuff and cokes. We watched TV the rest of the night. I went to bed at 12:00. We're going to Texarkana tomorrow. Been ate up by the chiggers and itch like crazy. Grandma fried fish for dinner. 80 Degrees at the lake. Rain on the plains.
[Curtis Eugene Husky born 11 Jun 1918 in Wise, Texas Death and died 1 Feb 1991 in Palo Pinto, Texas]
Wednesday 3 July 1968
The weather is clear and cool 75 Degrees in Texarkana. We all got up at 4:00 a.m. And were on the road by 4:30 to Texarkana to see John and Ginger Johnson and the boys, Chris, and Craig. Kay is going to stay with them for two weeks. Even though Kay and I were dead tired we sang old songs all morning long to pass the time. Something was wrong with one of the tires, so we stopped in Decatur for an hour to get it fixed. We got back on the road and in Paris, Texas we stopped to eat. I had a hamburger and onion rings. It only took an hour longer to get into Texarkana. Mom and we found a motel on the Arkansas side of the city and that's the furthest east I've ever been in my life. Texarkana is so different from the Texas I know. It’s so green and full of trees. There's no trees or precious little on the plains and down at the Lake most of the trees are mesquite trees which I'd call overgrown bushes. We all went shopping with Ginger. She's really nice. Bought some groceries and I bought some magazines to read. In the evening Ginger took Kay and I to a bookstore, to the zoo, and to a miniature golf course. We played miniature golf for a while. I finally went to bed at 11:30. Ginger and John's boys sure have grown and how I love them. They are so cute. Mom looks so tired. She must be worn out by all the driving. It’s good to see John Johnson again but he's really gotten heavy. I really remember as a 17-year-old boy that summer of 1962 when we came back to Texas in our Camper. I remember John taking us to Littlefield to the plunge. It was so much fun. Afterwards we had cherry cokes and corn nuts at the Littlefield Dairy Queen, and I remember how neat I thought John was and how grown up he was. I was only 11 then. That time was neat.
• Three American prisoners of war are released by Hanoi.
Thursday 4 July 1968-Independence Day.
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| Buddy Huskey |
Weather nice and cool 80 degrees. Got up at 7:30 with Mom and Grandma and Grandpa and checked out of the motel and went back over to John and Ginger's. They weren't up when we got there so we all ate breakfast together. Except for Kay who was still a sleep. John and Ginger took us to the Texarkana Lake, and we stayed there for a while. Then Ginger took Mom and me into Arkansas to see the Red River. At noon we said our goodbyes and left. I know John is really special to Grandma. He's her first grandson and I can't compete with that. We drove back to Haskell the way we came through some pretty East Texas towns. We got home to the Lake around 5:00 and the Huskys were down. I was so excited to see them and for them to meet Mom. But I was also kind of afraid that they would be upset because of Donna and Buddy. However, when I went over there, they treated me good like nothing had happened between Donna and Buddy. Buddy, Pam, and I went into Haskell to get some firecrackers and we set them off at night. We were having so much fun I hated to go back to the house and leave the Huskys, but I did at 11:30 and then I went to bed. We ate lunch at Jacksboro. I had a barbecued beef sandwich. It was a long busy day and I hate to see it end. I'm sleeping upstairs and have both windows open for a breeze. The crickets are chirping so loud it’s hard to go to sleep.
[ The radio astronomy satellite Explorer 38 launched.]
Friday 5 July 1968
Got up at 7:30 and went over to the Huskys. They were just getting done with eating breakfast. In a little bit Buddy, Pam, Judy, and her fiancée Johnny Schroder went over to the cat walk where Grandpa's boat was tied up and we went water skiing. Buddy tried teaching me the basic way to get up and after two times I got rope burns on my legs, but I almost got up. When I fell back into the water, I forgot to let go of the pull rope and I was being dragged along in the water on my back with water going up my nose. This is the first time I ever tried to water ski. It’s fun but tiring. A t noon we went back to the house, and I ate with the Huskys. Mrs. Husky fixed fried chicken. This afternoon Buddy had to leave to back to Lubbock to see about a job. I really hated to see him go. It doesn't seem the same without him. We kids in the afternoon went back out on the water, but I got a headache I guess from not wearing my glasses. I finally got away from the Huskys as bad as I hated to, around 10:30 and went to bed. The chiggers are killing me especially around my waist band.
Saturday 6 July 1968
Weather 89 Degrees. When I got up at 8:00 I went back over to the Huskys and went out on the boat with Pam and tried to get up on the skis again. I'm not as interested without Buddy to teach me, so Judy and I swam mostly until I got a cramp and had to get back into the boat. In all the commotion we lost the boat ladder and we had to climb up out of the water by pulling ourselves out of the water. It’s harder than you think, and it was quite comical seeing us straddle the side of the boat with and arm and leg over the side trying to get back in. We walked back up the road to the house and found that Mrs. and Mr. Husky had gone to Stanford on business so in the afternoon Judy, Pam and I went to the Anchor to get some cokes. When Mr. and Mrs. Husky came back Mrs. Husky cooked some steak for supper and Grandma cooked some catfish. We all decided to eat together and had a big dinner out in the Husky's back yard. We sat and talked and visited for the longest time. Watched the sunset. In the evening they came over and watched TV. some with us. I went to bed at 11:00. Mom said I could go home with the Huskys till Tuesday! Great! All my underwear has turned pink from the lake water. I'm sunburned a little from being in the water today. I miss Buddy. I remember once he and a friend of' his who came down to the Lake too and we went crawdad hunting for bait. We drove the pick-up out into the country to this Iittle bity mud hole and Buddy said we had to get out in it to catch the crawdads. It wasn’t my idea of' a good time wading thru a mud hole teeming with water moccasin snakes and who knows what else. We walked thru the brush to get to the mud hole, and I just knew I'd step on a rattler or a tarantula or something creepy. Buddy thought because I was a city kid, I wouldn't go along with, but I did and caught my share.
[Arlie Christine Sawyer Husky born 29 June 1920 in Hill County, Texas. Died 6 July 2000 Harris County, Texas]
Sunday 7 July 1968
I got up at 7:30 and rounded up all my stuff and went over to the Huskys to help them pack. We got off around 10:30 and drove on into Aspermont where we ate. I had a hamburger and a coke which Mr. Husky paid for. After that we drove on into Lubbock out to Quirt Street on the edge of town. Buddy wasn't at the old place. Mr. and Mrs. Husky then went off some place later and I played cards with Judy and Pam until Buddy came in around 4 O'clock. I went with him while he worked his horse some. I watched and played with his bird dog. The Huskies have five dogs! Johnny and Judy and Pam and I later went and got something to eat. In the evening I went to the show with Buddy and his friend Philip Boyd. Boyd is tall and lanky in a cowboyish sort of way. He and Buddy both chew beech-nut tobacco. We went and saw GREEN BERET with John Wayne. It was good. After we took Boyd home out in the country, we came back to Quirt Street and went to bed around 12:30 I'm tired! Weather wise it got up to 83 degrees but it’s raining now.
[Abbie Hoffman's "The Yippies are Going to Chicago" is published in The Realist. The Yippie movement, formed by Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Paul Krassner, all committed activists and demonstrators, is characterized by public displays of disorder ranging from disrupting the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange to the destruction of the Clocks at Grand Central Terminal, the main commuter station for workers in New York City. The Yippie's will be in the center of action six weeks later at the Chicago Democratic National Convention, hosting a "Festival of Life" in contrast to what they term the convention's "Festival of Death." ]
Monday 8 July 1968
I had a very restless night last night. Had to sleep with Buddy so besides sleeping with someone and in a strange bed, the wind and rain blew in on us and the dogs bolted into the house afraid of the lightening. Buddy wasn't use to sleeping with some too and he couldn't get any sleep. I wonder if this is how it would be if I had a brother. Buddy had to get up at 6 to go to work. He got himself a good paying job at welding. He's 19 years old. Johnny Schroder, Judy, and I cleaned out the kitchen into boxes in preparation for the move into their new house on Geneva. Pam started driver's ed this morning so she couldn't help. I also cleaned up Buddy’s room really good and helped the Huskys move their stuff into their new house. Mrs. Husky gave me a real nice set of drinking glasses. She's got to leave tomorrow to go to Jacksboro to take care of her mother's estate. For Dinner we went to UNDERWOODS. I love their food. It’s the best in Lubbock. I tried to iron some of Mrs. Huskys things for her trip and some of Buddy's shirts. Everything is a mess from the move. I have dosing myself with alcohol because of the chigger and mosquito bites all over my body. They sure have made a meal out of me. Buddy and I finnally went to bed around 11:30. We are so tired.
Tuesday 9 July 1968
The weather is cool and cloudy 75 Degrees. Got up at 8:00 and Mrs. Husky was already done. She left to go to Jacksboro. In the morning Johnny Schroeder and I moved some more stuff into Buddy's El Camino to take over to the new house. There we all cleaned up the house and started to shelf paper the kitchen. I moved some stuff in to Buddy's new room which he says he's never going to use. He's upset about moving from Quirt Street which had been his home for almost all his life. I worked pretty hard most of the day moving stuff into the kitchen and getting that ready. That was the hardest. We quit working when Buddy got home from work, and we ate out at the Sizzling Sirloin. I had a steak sandwich for dinner. Buddy was really tired from working as a welder. I am betting to love the Huskys better than my own family. I feel so close to them. I fuss and fight with Pam like she was a younger sister and Buddy treats me like a younger brother. He and I take hits at each other just in fun. We all tiredly went to bed at 11:00. Judy, Johnny, and I have been the ones who have almost did all the moving all by ourselves. Mrs. Husky is in Jacksboro, Mr. Husky is out working, Buddy is working all day here in Lubbock and Pam is taking drivers Education. The Husky's new house is at 5605 Geneva Street near Monterrey Shopping center while their old house was on the edge of town almost out in the country at 5202 Quirt Street. They are going to just rent out their old house and keep the property so they can keep their animals. Buddy's horse is stabled out on Quirt Street.
10 July 1968 Wednesday.
Today was such a strange day for me. I got up at 8:30 and Buddy and Pam were already gone. Johnny and I loaded more stuff in the Ell Camino to take to the new house. Just Judy, Johnny and I were left to do the work. We finished shelf papering the kitchen and started pulling the dishes and food away. It was very tiring work, but we were proud of our selves for getting so much done in the kitchen. I am very, very tired. I got to get some rest because my mind is getting tired as well as my body and I am saying and thinking things I shouldn't. That evening when Buddy got home from work we went to the Longhorn Cafe for dinner. I was so tired I just had onion rings. A big plate of them. I was just too tired to eat. In the evening went with Buddy over to Boyd's where they were making dates for Friday. I don't know why but I started to think about Donna and Buddy and leaving tomorrow and missing the Huskys and Buddy and I got to crying over thinking of Donna. I guess I was just so tired and all that I was overly sensitive. I felt left out with Buddy and Boyd making plans, so I left on my own. I guess I didn't want Buddy to know I was crying. Boyd lived at 411 53rd Street so it was a long walk. I walked around for a while not knowing "where I was. It was night and I just wanted to be alone. I'm a very tired boy. Not since Donna's running away have, I felt this alone and rejected. Finally, I came back to Boyd's got in to Buddy's El Camino and cried to myself until he came, and we drove home. I went straight to sleep on the floor. I didn't even want to sleep in Buddy’s bed.
Thursday 11 July 1968
I got up at 9:00 and took a bath. Buddy had already gone to work, and Pam is at Summer School. Mom called this morning and said that she hadn't heard anything from Grandma and Grandpa Williams, but she thought they'd probably leave tomorrow. I loaded a few more things to take over to the new house and left the old one at 9:30. Mr. Husky got ready to go to Stamford on business this morning, so it was just Judy, Johnny, and I again. At the new house we finished putting the kitchen items up and we mopped and waxed the floors and the living room one. Judy fixed a dinner of pot roast for Buddy and all because everyone was getting tired of eating out. Judy and I pulled weeds in the back yard and Johnny mowed the front yard and I mowed the backyard. Buddy came in with Pam and Mr. Husky at 7:30 p.m. and we ate dinner. Buddy was in a bad mood. They reluctantly took home around 9:00 but we didn't get out to Grandpa's farm until 10:30. But to my surprise Mom had already left to go back to California. I was really upset and mad at Grandpa Williams. They Huskys left for home at 11:00 and I am here at the farm. What a whirlwind. I feel so like the breath has been knock out of me and I ache to be with the Huskys.
Friday 12 July 1968
I got up at 6:30 a.m. Oh I was so very tired. I wish I could die and maybe then I could get some rest. No joke. It rained a little at night at Spade but not here. Helped Grandpa load up the pick-up and by 7:30 I was on the road again with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson. I really feel awful about not getting to see Mom before she left. I had so much to tell her and it’s all Grandpa Williams' fault. I'm so mad at them I'm never going to visit them again. Outside of Spade Grandpa let me drive. He thought I'd like to, but I was too tired to say no. I drove on to the lake which is a good 150 miles from the farm. We got there at 12:00 and ate lunch of hot dogs or at least Grandma and Grandpa did. I was too tired to eat. I've lost 12 Ibs. since I've been back in Texas. I went grasshopper catching with Grandpa in the afternoon, but it wasn't any fun. I just didn't feel like it. I feel strange. Sick, I think. Really miss Buddy. Grandpa and I got back to the house at 3:30 and I went upstairs to get same rest and immediately fell asleep at 4:00 p.m. I slept thru the night. The weather was a cool 80 degrees with min on the plains.
Saturday 13 July 1968
Got up at 10:30 after sleeping 18 and a half hours. I must have been exhausted. Watched T V some and ate lunch at noon. We had hot dogs. In the afternoon I painted some with my tempera paints and listened to the radio. I tried to write Kay in the afternoon, and I finished up a painting I did for Buddy. It’s a cowboy with his roping horse. I expected the Huskys to come in sometime today, but they didn't. I hear there is rain storms around Lubbock. It has been very cool and extremely windy down here. 83 degrees was the highest it was. I have to close the windows upstairs at night because of the cold. That's really unusual for this time of the year. When Donna and I use to sleep upstairs we use to pray for some breeze to cool us off it would be so hot. I use to sleep with a wet cloth to wipe my face to try and get some relief. But the heated air and chirping of the crickets made it almost impossible to fall asleep. In the news Russia is holding a meeting about Czechoslovakia and Charline wrote a little while back that little Jerry Griggs is fine now.
Sunday 14 July 1968
We got up at 7:30 to go to Church in Tuxadoe just outside of Stamford. [I really liked this, Church. I feel so good sitting next to Grandma with Grandpa up leading us in singing Gospel songs. I really enjoy going to Church with Grandma and Grandpa. Every time I have grape juice it brings to mind communion with Grandpa and Grandma. I guess that’s why I like to drink grape juice while eating crackers.] We got home from Church at 12 and had fried fish and fried okra with fried potatoes. It was so good, and Grandma makes these big old baking powder biscuits she calls toadstool biscuits because they are so big. Grandma fired some fish up for Mr. Husky too because she knows how much he loves it, but they didn't come in today either. I’m really depressed and miss them. In the news it said that Lubbock had 5 inches of rain and it’s still storming! I helped Grandpa put the cover back on his boat because it looked like rain down here, but it only did slightly. 75 Degrees. Rained just enough to raise the humidity level. I mowed the lawn today and am starting a new picture. I wrote Donna, Judy, and Kay all today. I want to send Buddy his picture, but I don't have any boxes. I watched TV for a little bit before doing to bed at 10:30 p.m.
Letter to Donna- 14 July 1968
Hi Donna. How's Terry and All? Do you like your new apartment? I can imagine how glad you are to get out of that mad house and how I dread going back there. If it wasn't for Mom, I wouldn't. It took us a day and a half to get back to Texas. I'd never drive back again in my life! Oh, and wasn't it nice of Grandma and Grandpa Williams to let us know so much beforehand that Gary was going with us? That's a little sarcasm. It’s bad enough with Grandpa crabbing all the way back without having to listen to Gary brag too. I always kind of liked Grandpa before you know but now, I don't care if I ever saw him again. Just little things he did kept bugging me but when Mom left to go back with them is when I finally just couldn't take him anymore. First little things like not telling us Gary was going, not getting the brakes fixed which delayed us Letting off that Friday until 2:30 in the afternoon bugged me. But that was fine and dandy. Then he started getting on Mom's case for going so fast and Mom was only trying to make up for the time he lost us because of the brakes. We got into Phoenix at 9 that night which is damn good time you know but then Grandpa started bitching because the motel rooms cost was too high! What has he cared? Because Mom was paying for it anyways including Gary's. She also paid for the dinner we had including Gary which I really didn't mind except Grandpa later gave him money and me none. He had nine bucks on him to pay for his way back which he didn't have to spend. The next morning, we got up at 4:30 to get an early start. When we were looking for a place to eat breakfast in New Mexico Grandpa kept picking out these old greasy nigger joints to eat at and again Mom was the one paying for it so what did he care for? Also, I spent a dollar going back buying cokes at the gas stations and Grandpa and Gary would want a drink part of mine instead of buying their own. Really cheap. What can you say? Well anyways what really made me mad was Grandpa gave Gary a dollar for no reason at all! Just that he might need it. I didn't say a word and neither did Mom, but I was hurt. Well anyways Mom drove all the way back and as tired as she was, here Grandpa was arguing all the time with Granma over the route and telling Mom she's going to fast all the time. Then Gary was jumping in and out all the time to stretch at the gas stations while I stayed in because of the heat- well Grandpa yelled at me for getting the back seat carpet dirty with my feet! I wasn't even to blame but did I say a word? But what really hurt more than anything else was that after I'd spent the week over at the Huskys and I was coming home Thursday night to see Mom off in the morning because that’s when Grandpa and Grandma Williams said they were leaving, they left without sailing goodbye! Here I came home with glasses and junk that the Huskys had given to me that I wanted Mom to take with her and with loads I wanted to tell her, and Mom's gone! I was so exhausted mentally and physically from the trip and helping the Huskys that I hadn't had any rest and I just wanted to see Mom and talk to her before she left. So here I come with the Huskys to see Mom and she was gone! Really Donna it was like a slap in the face! Grandma Johnson said that Grandpa Williams had come by that morning and asked if Mom was ready like she should just be sitting there waiting for them. Ha! I was so damn mad at them because they knew I would have wanted to see Mom off. Well anyways I'm still madder than hell. Oh well, I know you have problems too. Around the 4th we all went with Kay to Texarkana to see John and Ginger. Boy has John lost weight Donna. He's still heavy but he ain't huge no more and the boys are really growing. I usually don't like little kids, but I sure do like them boys. They really are the cutest kids I've seen. Sunday the 7th I spent the week with the Husky's to help them move into their new house in Lubbock. Oh, Donna did you know that Mrs. Husky's mother, we met her last summer died? She loved to paint so well. She died just three weeks ago, and you remember Linda Westbrook, that girl that was down the very 2nd summer we were back? She was adopted and all. Well, her mom and Dad treated her so bad, and she committed suicide in a car wreck killing her and her mother. Pam said that Linda was in love with Buddy and that day she came over and she said to take a last look at Buddy. They didn't know at the time that she was going to kill herself. Anyway Mrs. Husky gave me a set of glasses, twenty-seven in all. Judy is betting married on the 27th of July and she's invited me. It’s going to be a very small wedding, a house one, with only the immediate family and one or two close friends there. I met Johnny Schroeder. He's nice but kind of weird. But a good match for Judy. Pam will be a sophomore this year and Buddy got himself a job welding. He failed at Sul Ross and isn't going back. He's a rodeo nut now and his girlfriend is a hippy. Her name is Abby Guess. Well write me if you want too. Love and Miss You- Junior P.S. Mr. Husky says he wants to say hi and that he misses ya. I'd like for you to save this letter please
Monday 15 July 1968-
Very Windy and warm 90 degrees. Got up at 8:30 and took my shower. Grandpa was out running the trot line already and Grandma was watching TV At 10:00 Grandpa came in and said that the water is spoiled so we had to go into town to get fresh water to drink and cook with. While in town we also got groceries. We had hot dogs and potatoes for dinner. We got a letter today from Mom and it said she got home 6:00 last Friday. I painted the rest of the afternoon and finished my 2nd painting. I talked to Grandma some in the afternoon about things in general. In the evening I started my 3rd painting and Grandma, and Grandpa went to the Whites. I worked on my painting till I went to bed at 10:30.
Letter from Mom 15 July 1968 received on the 17th
Dear Ones, well like I said we made it home ok. Didn't have a bit of trouble. By the time we saw Beulah and Edgar and then stopped and ate lunch in Muleshoe it was 2:00 before we left. We drove till it was dark so that put us in Deming, New Mexico. We left there around 5:00 and drove on home. Got here around 5:30 Friday. I am sending this to the plains as I don't know where you are. Did you ever get Jr. tracked down? Guess he is enjoying the Huskys. I sure do like them. Well Donna has been sick with kidney trouble. I just wonder if she won't always be troubled with them. You know she has always had kidney problems. If she doesn't get better, she's going to the doctors. I'm going to send her to a kidney specialist. And I worry about Charline as she has R.H. negative blood type which isn't common. If Gary has R.H. positive she could be in trouble. You know that's what causes blue babies. So, the doctor wants to know Gary's blood type. They take blood out of her arm every month. She sure does look pale. Have you heard or read anything about Irene? Has Kay come home yet? I was in hopes JW and Polly would go after her. John sure has a nice family. I hope my grandchildren turn out as nice. Well don't know anything to write. Edgar's still working long hours. Looks like we will half to put a new roof on the house. Tom and Jean are ok. Barbara and Frank are leaving the 1st of August for Oregon, for a month. Haven't seen anybody else.
So will quit. Love June P.S. Jr. Charline has got that cat so spoiled you wouldn’t believe it. Boy is it mean. Your ticket was $5.00.
1968 Jul 15, Commercial air travel began between US & USSR
Tuesday 16 July 1968
Got up at 9:30, took a shower and cleaned up some before watching TV until 11:00 where then I drove to the mailbox, up on the main highway. Grandma Johnson got an invitation to Judy's shower. Grandma fixed stew for dinner and cake and strawberries for dessert. In the afternoon I finished Pam's picture. It’s a girl in psychedelic colors. Also went to the Anchor with Grandpa. In the late afternoon Grandma and Grandpa walked down to the catwalk and went fishing. They didn't catch nothing. I started another painting, but I ran out of white, blue, green, and black. Around 8:00 Grandpa had me starting to house paint. Had to scrape the old paint with a wire brush first. Can only work at night because it’s so hot in the day. I did the north side of the house. Grandma. and Grandpa sat and talked with Mr. English one of their old fishing buddies outside in the backyard. I worked until it got dark at 9:30 and went on inside. I went to bed at 11:15. The weather is starting to get warm and not so quite windy as it has been. 93 Degrees. We are going to Seymour Thursday for the rodeo there. John Warner, Grandpa’s friend will be there. I wrote Larry Jaeger today. I miss my friends.
17 July 1968 Wednesday
Got up at 9:00 and got cleaned up then went outside to paint the trim on the house. I painted until 10:30 when it started to get warm. For dinner Grandma fixed a meatloaf and homemade biscuits. In the heat of the afternoon, I read some from THE LAST 100 DAYS which is about Hitler' s last days. I'm getting really bored. I already finished SEVEN DAYS IN MAY which was excellent. It was about a military plot to take over the government by declaring the President insane. Around 5:30 it started to cool off and Mr. and Mrs., Husky came down around 7:30 from getting back from Jacksboro. I sure was glad to see them. I gave them Pam's and Buddy’s pictures to take back with them to Lubbock. I rode with them into Anson just to be with them while they were down. They left at 9:30 and Mr. Husky said Judy got my letter yesterday. I wrote Jerry Smith and Mom letters just before going to bed at 11:00. The weather is getting hot and humid without as much winds as we had had. 95 Degrees. I want to be with Buddy so bad and see the Husky kids. I feel kind of empty inside without them.
17th July 1968 Letter from Kay Johnson my cousin-
Dear Jr. I got your letter today and I was glad to get it. It sounds like you had a great time with the Huskys. Mom called me Sunday and said that you had been staying with them. When is your mom going home? Is she driving back alone? If she is I bet, she drives like she did in New Mexico about 80! ha! I’m supposed to be coming home next Monday but I'm gonna try and talk Mom into letting me stay longer. I'm having a great time down here. We do something every day or nite. We go swimming, fishing, shopping, Miniature golfing, picnics, shows. I think we're gonna see WAIT UNTIL DARK tonight. I've seen it before, but I could watch it a hundred times. I've looked all over for ORDEAL BY HUNGER and FOREVER AMBER, but I still can't find them. I guess I'll have to go to the library. How did you like Ginger and the kids? I think June really liked Craig. When June leaves will ya’ll come back down to the lake or will you stay with the Huskys or what? How long are you gonna stay out here in Texas? Ginger got a letter from Grandma today. She said ya’ll stopped at Seymour and saw John Warner. What did he say about Donna getting married? I'm glad you are learning how to ski. It was fun wasn't it! How did you get a rope burn? Forgot to let go of the rope when you fell!? ha! Guess what? I was just reading your letter over and I found I had left out a page when I read it. So, forget those questions I asked. Your Mom's already gone and you’re down at the lake. Sorry. I’II start over. Well, how are things at the lake? Are the Huskys down there? If they aren't what are you finding to do? I Guess I better close. I'll be home soon. I’m flying! Watch my plane get hi-jacked to Cuba! ha! I'll see you some time. Thanks for writing. I’ll be home probably before you could get another letter down here. Have fun at the Lake. Love Kay P.S. I got this cute little sweatshirt that says NOTHING GOES RIGHT WHEN YOUR UNDERWEAR’S TIGHT.
Stewart, George R. Ordeal by Hunger the Story of The Donner Party, first published 1936.
18 July 1968. Thursday
Today we went to Seymour for the Old Settler's rodeo. I got up at 7:30 and got cleaned up then painted the house trim until 11:00 when then I got ready to go to Seymour for the rodeo. We ate a light lunch of sandwiches then got on the road at 1:30. I drove all the way [67 miles] and at 3:30 we got there, and I bought some more tempura paint and a straw Cowboy hat. We met John Warren at 4:00 at his house and we visited until the parade started at 5:00. John Warren owns the farm that J.W. and Pauline farms at Hart Camp. The parade was made up of riding clubs and high school marching bands. The horses and their riders were fun to watch. The parade didn't last long so we went and got hamburgers afterwards then went over to the rodeo grounds to get a good seat. Because it was the Old Settlers rodeo there was a lot of old people there. It was so hot and humid sitting in the stands waiting for the rodeo to start. It finally did at 8:00 and I loved the Grand Entry when the riding clubs march their horses in a circle with the Spanish, French, Mexican, American, and Confederate flags carried in the lead. Other clubs held up banners and penchants and there was enough of a breeze to see them swirl in the wind. At the last when all the clubs have formed a circle in the middle then a lone rider came racing in on his pony carrying the Texas flag the grandest of all! My favorite to watch are the Brahma bull riding and the bronco riding. I don't care too much for the barrel racing although I know it’s hard to do. I also like the calf roping; but I feel sorry for the little calves that get thrown on the ground. Calf roping is what Buddy does in the rodeo and he says it don't hurt them, but I don't know. It was a great rodeo and I enjoyed it tremendously. It lasted until 11:30 p.m. I think the Old Cowboy Reunion Rodeo on the 4th of July at Stamford is probably better, but it was still great. I love the rodeo. John Warner came with us back to the Lake and he drove because he needed his car. I went with him to keep him company. John Warren is really old, but he drives 80 miles an hour, so we got home at 1:00 a.m. I went straight to bed. The weather was very sultry. 97 degrees in Seymour.
[Intel was incorporated as N M Electronics (the letters standing for Noyce and Moore), but quickly changed its name to Intel, formed from the first syllables of the words integrated and electronics. Jul 18, The UK enacted sanctions against Rhodesia for a 2nd time. The first time was on June 17.]
Friday 19 July 1968
I got up at 8 and I got cleaned up. Grandma had me clean up the kitchen really good because J.W. and Pauline were coming down today. John Warren left after dinner and we had fried fish, corn on the cob, biscuits, and milk gravy. With all the goings on at Seymour I lost my paints so after John left, we had to go into town to get water so while there I bought 3 bottles of paint and a razor clip for my razor. Pauline and J.W. came in at 5 this evening, and we had sandwiches for supper. I got a letter from Kay, and I painted the rest of the evening. J.W. and Pauline and Grandma and Grandpa visited the rest of the evening too. They all went to bed around 11 O'clock. I went to bed on the couch at 12 after working on my paintings. The weather warm days 93 degrees and breezy at night.
• President Johnson and South Vietnam's President Thieu meet in Hawaii.
Saturday 20 July 1968
When I got up at 10 a.m. JW. and Pauline had already left for Texarkana. Grandpa was up painting already when I got up. He took down the screen doors and I painted them for him and then I finished painting the house all together. We had sandwiches for dinner because it is very hot. 100 degrees. Except for one or two clouds it was clear skies. Later I went over to the Husky's house to look around and remember all the fun times Donna and I had there. The grass is so tall over the lot between Grandma and the Huskies. We are leaving for the plains Monday because it’s starting to get too hot. It’s not as humid on the plains so Grandma and Grandpa can take the heat better up there. I don't know if I'll ever get to see the lake again after this year. In the evening tried to paint a picture but watched TV most of the night. We watched the Miss Texas beauty pageant and Miss Lubbock came in 3rd place. She should have won. Went to bed at 11:30. Mom wrote a while back that Charline has RH- blood which might harm the baby.
20 July 1268 Letter from Larry Jaeger High School Chum
Hi Edgar, you old pea picker. How are you doing in Dixieland? Everybody is ok out here in miserable California. I hope you are having a good summer because it will soon be over. But you're probably making the best of it gong all over Texas. Last week my aunt and Uncle moved to Waco, Texas. My Dad was going to drive one of those big U-Haul trucks for them, but they hired a moving van to take their furniture back. Boy, I bet it’s hot where you are. It’s been really nice weather here with only “zwei oder drei Tags sehr warm.” [2 or 3 warms days] You probably miss the beach all right, but you can lay on the shore of the lake you’re at and get a good, blackened tan. I haven't been doing much out here but loaf around. Last week I took Lyons and Clemmons to the Santa Ana Broadway walk-in. It only cost us 50 cents apiece and we saw IN LIKE FLINT, and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. Oh, I got to tell you that Bill Lyons broke his arm and will be in a cast for “vie. oches”. [four weeks] A few days ago I went over to your place thinking you would be home so you could go to court for that ticket, but your sister told me you would be home around August 1st or etc. You better make it down here because August 3rd and 4th is the NEWPORT POP Festival in Costa Mesa. Tickets are $3:50 at the Music City. I didn't hear about the flood in Lubbock but I'm sure it cooled you off. You probably won't see me when you get back because My Mom, brother and I are going up to Northern California around the beginning of August. I can't think of any more to “sprechen Sie” [tell you] about so I'll see you. Von Jaeger P.S. Thanks for the dollar. I can use it to buy my killing license and don’t break a leg skiing.
Sunday 21 July 1968
When I got up at 8:30 got cleaned up to go to Church in Tuxedo. We left at 11:30 and got home at 12 noon and Grandma fixed fried fish for dinner. I never get tired of fish. Catfish is ok but my favorite is crappy rolled in flour and corn mean and deep fired in Grandma's kettle she keeps just for frying fish. Grandpa started rounding up things so we can go up to the plains either Monday or Tuesday. It started to rain at 3 so Grandpa and I went and pulled the boat out of the water. The rain didn't cool things off at all. It just made it more humid. I thought I was going to suffocate the air was so thick and heavy. Helped Grandpa mow the lawn and watched TV rest of the night until I went to bed at 11:00. The weather is humid! and hot! and very uncomfortable! 95 degrees is the temperature. I wrote letters to Donna and Judy.
Monday 22 July 1968 After getting up at 7:30, made up my bed and gathered up what little I had left upstairs. I loaded up the pick-up and we were on the road by 8;30. Goodbye Lake Stamford. It was groovy. When we got outside of Haskell Grandpa wanted me to drive on in to Hart Camp, so I did. That is a long 200-mile trip. We got home at 12 noon exactly and I unloaded the truck. The house was nice and cool from being locked up and we ate sandwiches of Vienna wieners for dinner. In the afternoon J.W. came over and asked me to help him plow some irrigation ditches and start some wells up which we did until 6:30 When I came home, I was so tired and sick from riding the tractor out in the hot sun all day. I ate a bite of supper and took a hot bath. I went to bed at 8:30 but it’s too hot to sleep even with the fan on. It’s slightly cloudy and hot weather 90 degrees. I got a letter from Mom with $5 in it for me. Donna is still sick with Kidney problems.
Tuesday 23 July 1968
Yesterday J.W. asked me if I'd work for him this summer. He said he'd pay me 85 cents an hour which he said was more the what the going rate is. I said sure! I can use the money. Grandma also said that she would match whatever money I make from J.W. this summer! I'm going to be rich! Got up at 7:30 and made my bed and got out in the fields by 9:00. I hoed on Grandpa's place until 11:30 with Grandpa helping me. At 12:00 we ate dinner and had meatloaf, corn on the cob, and black-eyed peas. We rested until 1:00 and then got back out in the field and hoed until 3:40, We got the whole field cleared of weeds, so we quit for the day". I worked 5 hours at 85 cents an hour. Grandpa went down to the Gin at Hart Camp to gad about, and I visited with Grandma about the family until Grandpa got home at 6. I ate some brownies that Grandma had made and then I fixed me a supper of eggs and sausage. J.W. came by in the evening for a while. I watched TV until 9 when Kay came over and we talked until I took her home after a while. Grandma and Grandpa have gone to bed and I'm about to. It’s 10:10. The weather is hot days and warm nights. Clear skies 95 degrees. Grandpa cashed my check from Mom today, so I'll have some money.
Wednesday 24 July 1968
I got up at 8:00 and got back out to the fields to hoe some more. Grandpa and I stopped at 11:30 to go back to the house and have some dinner. Grandma had fixed a roast in the pressure cooker with some potatoes. Had more black-eyed peas. Grandma is the best cook. In the afternoon Kay came out to the field to bring us some iced tea and said that the Huskys had called so I went back to the house and called them back. They said they wanted to come and get me to take me to Lubbock for Judy's wedding. They said they'll some and get me this evening. Grandpa and I went back to hoeing in the field and I made $4.25 today hoeing. In the late afternoon we went to Littlefield where I got a haircut. It looks bad! But not as bad as that burr haircut that Grandma talked me into getting in the 8th grade. That was the worst. Even Grandma thought it was a mistake after wards. When we got back from Littlefield, I went up to J.W.'s and ate hamburgers with them and Kay. J.W. also paid me my money! I came home at 7:30 and waited the rest of the evening for the Huskys to come in which they did at 10 O'clock. I must admit that promptness is not their strongest point. Went with them to Lubbock and went to bed in Buddy's room at 12:30. Got a letter from Donna and Mom today. I'm going home August 7.
Thursday 25 July 1968
The weather 90 Degrees clear and partly cloudy. Got up at 7:00 to help Buddy get off to work. I met Mrs. Schroeder and Johnny's brother and sister. I drove Mrs. Husky's car to pick up Pam from school and in the afternoon, we went to the bank where I cashed my check. Then we went to Furr's cafeteria to eat lunch. I had barbecued meat and rice. Afterwards came home and helped Pam and her friend made rice bags for the wedding. Judy's colors are white and lavender, so we colored the rice violet and but the rice in some kind of mesh cloth and tired them with lavender ribbons. They looked nice. Later Pam and I walked up to the Monterrey Plaza and there I bought Mrs. Husky a book on Phyllis Diller. It’s so funny. In the evening Pam and I went and picked up Buddy from work. After he got cleaned up, he and I went out to this corral and stables where he and Boyd practices calf roping. Boyd is really a bronc rider though. Mrs. Husky won't let Buddy ride the broncs because he might get hurt. I saw Buddy's horse get shod today. I never saw that before. Gee that was interesting how the blacksmith cleaned out the horses hoof then filed away hoof until it was nice and smooth then he nailed the horseshoe on the bottom of the hoof. It doesn't hurt the horse because it’s like our fingernails and it’s just dead skin. In fact, I think the horse likes it at least Buddy's acted like it did. It was fun sitting on the rail post and watching Buddy practice roping the calves. Buddy and Boyd both chew Beech-nut chewing tobacco. I tried it for the first time today. It’s kind of sweet and you just put a wad in between the inside of the mouth and teeth. You just let it kind of sit there then spit out the tobacco juice and try not to swallow. I swallowed some of the tobacco juice and I thought I was going to get sick. I'm spitting all the time now, but I don't know where to when not outside. I got to get a can and carry it around like Buddy does. After a while we came back to the house on Geneva and the Husky's practiced the wedding ceremony, but Buddy really didn't want anything to do with it. He's so uncomfortable outside of his boots and blue jeans.
Friday 26 July 1968
Weather 95 degrees and partly cloudy. Got up at 10 and Judy and I were the only ones home. Pam did come home from school shortly after 10 and it seemed really quiet with just us three. Johnny came over for a while and helped Judy pack the car tor tomorrow. Then we went and got a cherry-vanilla coke in the afternoon. At 4:30 Mrs. Husky and I went and picked up Buddy from work and later I loaded some folding chairs for the wedding tomorrow. I smashed my finger. ouch! We had Col. Sander's fried chicken for supper and after eating Buddy and I went over to Boyd's where he was riding a tractor plowing out in some field. We rode on the tractor with him and visited for a while really until 8:00 and then we all went to doctor a sick calf of' his. I think it had red eye. At night we drove to Idalou really driving all around. Boyd was so funny. Some guy was with his girlfriend and cut in front of us and Boyd hollered, "Hey go ahead and screw her, I did!" I almost died laughing. Buddy's 8 track tape player is really neat, and we listen to Marty Robbin's Old Cowboy and Gunfighter's Ballads. I really like that album, especially STRAWBERRY ROAN. Boyd is kind of nasty but really fun. He asked me what does a man do standing up a woman sitting down and a dog on three legs? I was embarrassed but said "Pee" Buddy and Boyd laughed at me and said, "No Shake hands." Hardy har! We stayed up until 1 a.m. watching TV laughing and having a good time. We spent the night at Boyd’s, and I slept on the couch by a toss of a coin. Philip Boyd is Buddy's best friend and he's so easy Going and fun to be around. He's not as shy as Buddy and I think probably gets Buddy into some trouble with his mouth at times. When we went to the show and saw the Green Berets. A bunch of guys came in wearing cowboy hats and sat in the row in front of us and Boyd said, "What the Hell is this? the Cattleman Association?" I scrunched down in my seat, but they did take off their hats!
Saturday 27 July 1968-
Got up at 6 a.m. at Boyd's, stiff from sleeping on his couch. I got dressed and messed around until Buddy and Boyd finished eating their breakfast. I wasn't hungry. I don't like to eat in the morning. Buddy and I left Boyd's at 7 and we stopped to feed the cattle before going to the new house. There we just watched TV until 9 when we then went to the old house on Quirt Street to tie cans and shoes on some string to later put on Judy’s wedding car. After that we went and picked up Judy's car from the repair shop and then went back to the old house to get ready for the wedding. We had to take a bath because hadn't over at Boyd's. I helped Buddy tie his tie. He wasn't too good at it. The wedding took place at 2 O'clock and Judy sure looked pretty, and Johnny was looking good in a big beefy German way. He looked out of place in that suit and tie. During the reception which followed the ceremony we all sneaked out and fixed up Judy’s car really good, tying the shoes and cans to the bumper and writing Newlywed on the car windows. When they got ready to leave on their honeymoon, we all followed them to the city-limit honking our horns and yelling like idiots. It was a blast. After that everybody went home. Buddy went and took a nap while Pam and I watched TV. At 7:30 Buddy left to go see his girlfriend Abby Guess. Pam and I were so bored after that, and the house seemed so empty without Judy and Buddy. It was hot and sticky, so I took another bath at 9 since there was nothing to do. I am ready to go to bed. Ate chopped beef for dinner. The weather is cloudy. 96 Degrees. I guess I’ll never see Judy again since she's gone off to live in Stockton. It really makes me sad because I really love Judy like my own sister. She's always been so kind and sweet and good to both me and Donna. Some of the best times in my life was spent in the company of Judy. I'll miss her southern accent and calling everything and everybody "Tacky". I think that has to be her favorite word. What a long day. I finally got my letter from Kay and Larry Jaeger
[ A 3-day race riot began in Gary, Indiana.]
Sunday 28 July 1968
Buddy didn't bet in from his date until 1:30 so we slept until 10:15 when Boyd came over and got us off and going. Boyd had to leave at 11 and soon after that Buddy and I drove over to Quirt Street to feed the animals and to pick up the clothes we had left there yesterday. On the way home we stopped and got Pizza for the rest of the family for lunch. Buddy, Pam, and I just laid around watching TV the rest of the afternoon. Later Buddy and I got to wrestling and goofing around. Mrs. Husky made supper for us. Fixed a roast with potatoes. I didn't eat much because I was depressed about leaving to go back to the farm. Buddy left to go practice his roping, so I said good-bye to him and at 7:30 Mr. and Mrs. Husky drove me back to the farm. Grandma and Grandpa were at Church when we got there so we just sat out in the yard until they came in just a little while later. We all sat out in the backyard beneath the tree, and we talked and ate ice cream and wedding cake which Mr. and Mrs. Husky had brought out for Grandma and Grandpa. At 10:15 we said our goodbyes and they left to go back to Lubbock. I thought my heart would break when I saw them drive away. It’s now 11 o'clock. At least I'll get to see them one more time on the 4th of August. Grandma invited them to come to the Hardman County Reunion, so I'll bet to see them then. I've been doing some serious thinking and I've decided that next year I'm going to go to College in Texas and live with
the Huskys. They asked me to stay with them and go to Texas Tech. The weather was warm 91 degrees and not as hot as it has been.
Monday 29 July 1968
Grandpa got me up at 7:30 to go out into the feed to start hoeing. J.W., Grandpa, and I hoed until 11:30 where then Grandpa and I went up to the house for dinner. Grandma fixed fried catfish and fried okra. Afterward at 1:30 we went back out into the fields and worked until 3:30 when quit. I came back to the house so tired. Must have walked 10 miles today up and down the rows of feed. I talked with Grandma while Grandpa took his daily trip down to the gin at Hart Camp to visit with the other old men and to play checkers. He comes home around 6, watches the news as always, then we eat supper. Usually cold cereal. Nothing much on TV. So, I took a bath and read a little before going to bed. I wrote Mom today about my staying with the Huskys. I've been listening to the radio often now and reading. I like CLASSICAL GAS and GRAZING IN THE GRASS and HARPER VALLEY PTA but most of all I like Marty Robbins Gunfighters songs.
[Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical Humanae Vitae, which reaffirmed the Church’s opposition to abortion and to all contraception except the rhythm method.
Tuesday 30 July 1968
After getting up at 9 went to hoeing, for J. W. with Kay on a cotton patch on J.W. 's place. Kay was ready to have a fit because she didn't want to have to hoe this summer, but it was fun working with her and we hoed and talked until 11 a.m. I went back to Grandma's for dinner, and she fixed blackeye peas, fried okra, pressure cooked steak, and a peach cobbler for desert. It was as Pauline would say Larruping Good! After dinner went back up to J. W.'s to hoe until later in the afternoon I drove Grandma and Kay into Littlefield. While Grandma was shopping for a dress, Kay and I cruised around Littlefield. We got back to the farm at 5 and Kay and I started to hoe some more. We chopped big old weeds down that were as tall as I was. And the stink weeds really did stink. I think I chopped down as much cotton plants as weeds by the end I was so tired. Kay has caught a cold and doesn’t feel well. We hoed until 7:30 in the evening before coming in. J.W. and Pauline said that they were going to that Hemisphere Fair and we had to go along. We were mad because we don't want to. It sounds so boring. When I came home from J.W.’s Grandpa was mad at me for not hoeing very long. I'm already getting blisters. I read before going to bed at 10 O'clock. I've been reading BRAVE NEW WORLD which is just great. It’s about the future and how everybody is cloned to think alike and act alike.
[In Gary, Indiana, policemen took aim at snipers after the third night of racial unrest. 64 people were taken into custody. Mayor Richard G. Hatcher, the first Negro mayor in a city with a Negro majority, said that he now believes that gangs realize they will not be allowed to use violence to get what they want. Saddam Hussein took charge of internal security services in Iraq.]
Wednesday 31 July 1968
Grandpa woke me up at 7::30 and I waited for Kay to come pick me up at 8 a. m. to start hoeing. At 8:30 she still hadn't come so I drove up to J.W.'s and I finished hoeing the cotton fields today. My back and arms are so sore. I started on the feed until dinner time when Grandpa took me home. We had blackeye peas, fresh corn, cornbread, fried fish, and peach cobbler for desert. Went back to work at 1 p.m. and finished hoeing the field I started that morning. I just started another one when Kay came up and introduced her girlfriend Dianne to me. She was a pretty blond girl and I guess Kay's best friend. After that I went back to hoeing until it started to rain. After it quit raining J.W., and I worked for 2 more hours until I had finished my field. After that I drove over to Hart Camp to buy a soda pop before going back to the house. Visited with Grandma some before going up to Kay's at 7:30. Stayed until 8 when then I went with JW to see about a calf that was born dead. The placenta got wrapped around its head. It was sickening. After that I came home and wrote Buddy a letter and took a bath. The bugs are so bad on the feed that by walking up and down the rows they smash against your clothes which get this slimy junk on them which then turns our clothes stiff. Yeech! I’m going to bed at 10. Got a letter from Mom today and we aren't going to the Hemisphere Fair after all! Yeah! Weather is cloudy and partly rainy 85 Degrees. This is the last day in July, and it’s been a long, long month! The 4th of July seems so long ago. At the beginning of the month went to Arkansas with Mom to see John and Ginger, then went back to the Lake, then went and spent a week with the Huskys, went back down to the Lake for a week, went to the rodeo at Seymour, went back to the Plains, went back to Lubbock for Judy's wedding, and now I'm back at the farm. I'm not mad at Grandma and Grandpa Williams anymore. I was just tired and upset that I didn't get to see Mom before she left. My love for the Huskys has grown so much that it hurts not to be with them. I've decided to try and bet into Texas Tech next year no matter what it takes. I can bring my grades up, I think. The Huskys want me to come live with them and help Buddy get back into college. Judy's married now! Everybody is growing up. Things are changing so fast I don't know what to think. I've really gone Texan with my Cowboy hat and chewing tobacco. I'm glad I came back this year even though I miss Donna. I know grandma misses Donna and cries all the time when she talks about her being married and not able to come back, she and Grandma were so close.
• [The Beatle's recorded Hey Jude.]
August
Thursday 1 August 1968-
Got up at 8:30 and saw that it had rained all night so It’s too wet to hoe. So, this morning I watched TV some and later went up to JW's to help Pauline shell some black-eye peas. I came home at noon and Grandma had fixed some sweet corn and black-eye peas for dinner. She also made a cake for dessert. We got a letter from Aunt Alice. Alice and Spencer will be here this weekend for the Hardeman County Reunion. Tomorrow sometime I'm going to the show in Lubbock. In the afternoon I just watched some more TV until in the evening Kay came and got me to go up to her place to play cards. I played Hearts with Pauline, Kay and J.W. Came home at 10 to go to bed. The weather is clear with chances of rain tomorrow. 85 degrees was the highest it go t today. The GOP Convention starts in Miami this morning. I talked to Pauline about going to Texas Tech. She thinks it’s a good idea and that I'm smart enough to get in. Oh, I hope I can get into it.
Friday 2 August 1968-
Got up at 8:30 and was ready to go hoeing at 9. I had to wait on JW, so I didn’t get started until 9:30. I chopped cockleburs and devil claws in the field on JW’s place until 12 when Grandpa fetched me home to eat dinner. I had wild duck and dressing. I went back to hoeing at 1 and at 2 Kay told me nobody was home at her house so I could call the Huskys. I told the Huskys that I would be in Lubbock tonight and then I went back to hoeing until 2:30. Then I came back to Grandpa's to get cleaned up. At 4 I went with JW and Pauline to Lubbock, and we ate at Underwood's at 5:30. I called the Huskys from there and we met them at the show at 7. Kay and I waited in the lobby for Pam and Buddy and while waiting I called home in California and spoke with Mom. I asked her if I could stay back here in Texas and finish my Senior year in Lubbock. She didn't say yes or no but that she had to talk it over with Dad. Anyways I'm not going home anyway soon because Grandma said I could stay a few more weeks if I wanted to. The movie we saw was the ODD COUPLE with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. It was so funny, but Pam said I was like Felix Unger always cleaning. That kind of embarrassed me. The movie was over at 10 and we were back to Hart Camp at 11. It was so good to see Buddy and Pam again. The weather was 95 Degrees. Clear blue skies. Beautiful Sunny Summer day. There was an earthquake in Manila.
Saturday 3 August 1968
Got up at 10 and made up the bed. In the morning I wrote a long letter to Donna about how I plan on staying back here in Texas and living with the Huskys. Grandma fixed for dinner fried okra and potatoes. Afterwards I went down to Kay's to visit. I helped her finish up the dishes and then she and I finished up all the hoeing that needed to be done so I am thru! We visited this old, deserted house out in some field, and I stole the porcelain door knobs to take home to Mom if I have to go. Nobody lived there and the house was about to fall in. In the late afternoon I helped Kay finished her work then we washed Grandpa’s car really good. I came home at 6 and ate supper and goofed around in my room the rest of the evening. It’s now 10:30. The weather is sparsely cloudy and 90 degrees. I got sunburned on my neck hoeing, so I guess I'm a real red neck now. J.W. paid me my money. I made about $20 hoeing this summer. Politics, Politics! that's all we hear on T.V.
Sunday 4 August 1968-
Got up at 7 to get ready to go to the reunion in Lubbock. We picked Kay up at 8 and we were ready to be our way. We got into Lubbock at 9 and we went to the Reunion place to drop the food off that grandma had made. Some potato salad and fried chicken. Then we went on to a Church of Christ meeting on 4th street. We got out of Church at 11:45 and then we went back to the Reunion Hall. Kay said that if Grandpa's old cousin tried to kiss her, she would hit him. He always tried kissing the young girls. Donna was mortified the time she went, and he tried kissing her. The Huskys along with Philip Boyd came about 1 but Mrs. Husky didn't come along because she was ill. After we all ate and the old folks started talking about the old days in Hardeman County, Kay and I left with Pam, Buddy, and Boyd to go see Buddy and Boyd practice roping at 2. I asked Grandma if I could, and she said it was alright. We stayed at the corral until 6:30 watching them rope calves. Then we all came back to the Husky’s house and at 7:30 we guys left the girls there and we took the horses to the s table, and it was 8; 30 by the time me and Buddy took Boyd home. We all got back to the reunion at 9:00 and Grandpa was fit to be tied. Mad ain’t the word for it! I never saw Grandpa so mad, and Grandma was worse! Grandpa started yelling and saying how he was going to send me back to California for going off and not telling them where we went. They took Kay and me home and we got there at 12 with them yelling at us all the way. I told Grandpa that I did tell Grandma where we went and he said, "Tressie says you didn’t, and I’d come more to believing her then you! " That really made me mad and now I don I t care how mad they are! I might never get to see the Huskys again, so I don't care what happens to me! Had a little meat for dinner.
Monday 5 August 1968
I got up at 7:45 to wait for Kay to come down and get me and she did at 9 but in the meantime Grandma and I had a talk. I told her that I told her where we was going to be, and I knew she deliberately didn't tell Grandpa. Grandma got to crying and I got to crying and before long we were hugging each other's neck and we made up. Grandpa kept teasing me the rest of the morning and I guess that was his way of making up too. Down at J. W.'s, Pauline, Kay, and I snapped Beans until I thought I better come home at 10:30 a.m. At 11:30 we ate dinner and Grandma fixed okra, yams, and corn. In the mail I got a letter from Mom with $5 in it! The rest of the afternoon I read VALLEY OF THE DOLLS because I'm done with BRAVE NEW WORLD. At 6 Kay came down again and brought me back up to JW’s and we all played cards with her cousins Brenda and Danny. While up at J W’s I got a phone call from Mom, and she said that Dad didn't want me to go to school back here. I spoke to both mom and Dad. I'm not too disappointed, I guess. Came back home and read some more before going to bed at 11. The Republican Convention is all that is in the news. Old Reagan is a candidate now. Weather 98 degrees.
• The Republican national convention convened in Miami Beach. Ronald Reagan announced that he would seek the GOP nomination for president. He soon threw his support to Nixon.]
Tuesday 6 August 1968
Mr. and Mrs. Husky’s Wedding Anniversary. I got up at 8 and Kay was here to take me up to her house to help her mom shell some more black eye peas. We talked while we shelled the peas and when we were through Pauline got 15 jars canned. At 11:00 Kay took me home where we ate dinner. Grandma fixed fried crappy and fried okra. My favorite with cornbread. In the afternoon I read VALLEY OF THE DOLLS until 3 O’clock when Grandpa and I went up to JW’s. There is Kay and I sat around not doing much. We wanted to go to Littlefield, but we couldn't get Grandma to go. She isn’t feeling well. Kay and I went back up to Kay's until around 8 where then she took me home. I went in my room and finished reading Valley of the Dolls except for 4 small chapters. In the news just the same old GOP convention junk. Eisenhower had a heart attack. I went to bed at 11:30 .
Wednesday 7 August 1968-
Got up at 9:30 and in a little while I went down to Kay's but not until after lunch. I had blackeye peas. Up at J.W. 's, Kay and I played cards and talked. I told Grandma today that I'll be going home the 14th and that I want to spend some more time with the Huskys before I leave. Grandma cashed my check from Mom and in the afternoon, Kay asked me to go to church with her at Spade. I said OK and we went at 8:30 and we got home at 10. The Weather is very warm. 92 degrees. In the news Nixon is now the nominee of the Republicans. He was nominated over Reagan and Rockefeller. In Miami near the convention there were a few riots. Because of Health, Education, and Welfare, federal funds for schools in Lubbock are cut off because they say they ain't integrating fast enough. I finished reading VALLEY OF THE DOLLS this morning. While in Lubbock this coming weekend, I got to get my plane ticket and some information from
Texas Tech on how to register for next year.
Thursday 8 August 1968-
Got up at 9:30 to go into Lubbock. I thought I wasn't going until tomorrow, but Grandma says today. I think she is kind of mad. But I was glad because that meant more time with the Huskys. I packed and tried to call the Huskys from J.W.'s but couldn't reach them. In Lubbock we first went to the Airport, and I got my ticket to leave next Wednesday. It cost $63 because I was going student standby which is the cheapest way to fly. l've never flown before. This will be my first time. At the airport I tried calling the Huskys and still nobody was home, so I called Buddy at his work, and he said that everyone is down at the lake so my plans to stay with the Huskys fell thru. I was really disappointed. We came back to the farm, and we ate sandwiches for dinner. I went up to JW. 's
for the rest of the day really bored and frustrated. A friend of Grandma's, a woman named Skeet, came to visit Grandma so I asked Grandma if I could stay up at J. W. 's and she said yes. Kay and I got so bored that we went driving around and while out on a dirt road we hit a skunk and he sprayed the car. Boy did it ever stink! We were disappointed because Pauline wouldn't let us go to Post to see Buddy and Boyd ride in the rodeo there. I went to bed at 11 O'clock. The weather was hot 92 degrees. Grandma
gave me $25 to match what I made hoeing for J.W. like she promised. Never had so much money at one time.
• At their Party convention in Miami Beach the Republicans nominate Richard Milhouse Nixon to be their presidential candidate. Nixon promises "an honorable end to the war in Vietnam."
• Nixon has been challenged in his campaign by Nelson Rockefeller of New York, and Ronald Reagan of California. Richard M. Nixon is chosen as the Republican presidential candidate
• In Florida, a riot broke out in several neighborhoods of Miami, Florida, including one community just 10 miles from the Republican Convention. 3 Negroes were killed by gunfire.]
Friday 9 August 1968-
Spent the night at JW’s and I got up at 7 and in a little while I was out in the corn field helping him get the corn that Pauline is canning now. I stayed at J.W. 's until 10:30 then I went home to Grandma's for dinner. Grandma fixed macaroni and cheese. In the afternoon I went back up to Kay’s, but she was gone. She went over to her girlfriend Dianne, so I went up to the gin at Hart Camp to see what Grandpa was doing. He was playing checkers. 1 bought a soda pop and watched for a while, really bored, and I left at 11:30 and went driving around. I was so bored! I even drove into Olton just to be doing something. Came home at 5 and watched TV the rest of the evening but nothing on but Politics. Grandma only gets two stations anyways. Grandma and Grandpa went somewhere to get some peaches at 7:30 and I put a load of clothes on to wash. It’s 11:30 now and it’s too hot to sleep. The weather is sure getting Grandma down. 93 degrees. With Kay gone sure is nothing to do.
• Nixon appointed Spiro Agnew Governor of Maryland as his running mate.
Saturday 10 August 1968
Got up at 9 and in the morning, I drove Grandma down to Littlefield to go shopping for groceries. While there I also got my good shoes repaired. I tried to reach the Husky's but still nobody was home. We got back to the farm at noon, and we ate sandwiches and had Kool-Aid to drink. In the afternoon I went down to Kay's to see if she was home yet from Diane’s, and she was. We talked and played cards until I had to go home and get ready to go with Grandma to pick up my shoes in Littlefield at 6. At Littlefield I called the Husky's again, and I finally got a hold of Mr. Husky and he said to sure come stay with them until I leave for California. So l'm going to go to Lubbock Sunday and stay until Wednesday. We got home from Littlefield at 7:30 and I ate some sandwiches that I had bought in Littlefield. I went to Kay's at 8 and only stayed to 8:30 because it began to rain very hard, and I wanted to get back before the roads turn to mush. It came down so hard that I couldn't see the road up in front of me coming home and I just prayed I wouldn't go off into a ditch. At Grandma's I watched some TV then at 11 I went to bed. It’s my last night on the farm. The weather is 86 decrees with rain and lightning.
• In West Virginia 35 people were killed in the crash of a Piedmont Airlines Fairchild FH-227 at Kanawha County Airport.]
Sunday 11 August 1968-
Got up at 8 to round up more of my things and to get ready to go to church in Littlefield. We got home at 12:15 and Grandma fixed dinner. We had fried chicken, fried okra, and peach cobbler, all the stuff I love. I know Grandma fixed it especially for me. At 1: 30 I got all my things together and put them in the car. I drove to Lubbock with Grandma and Grandpa, and we got into Lubbock at 2:30. At the Husky's, Pam and Mrs. Husky were still down at the Lake and Buddy was with Boyd coming back from a rodeo at Silverton. Only Mr. Husky was home to greet us. While in Lubbock, Mr. Husky went with us over to Grandpa's nephew Andrew Peters to get some grapes. Grandma and Grandpa left at 4 to go back to the farm from Andrew Peter's and by the time Mr. Husky and I got back to the house Pam and Mrs. Husky were in. Mrs. Husky fixed sausage wieners for dinner at 7 and Buddy and Boyd came in just in time for supper. After eating supper with us, Boyd left to go home at 10. Buddy and I went to bed at 11:30 because he had to get up and go to work tomorrow.
• Eight US troops were killed and 50 wounded when an Air Force F100 fighter accidentally bombed a US unit near Ta Bat, northeast of Saigon. The fighter intended on hitting Viet Cong who were located in front of the troops.
• The USSR announced new military maneuvers along the Czechoslovak border.]
Monday 12 August 1968-
I got up at 6 and fixed Buddy his lunch and then woke him up at 7. It had rained last night, and the thunder woke me up early. Mr. Husky got up about the same time as did Buddy because he had to go see about a job in Brownfield. Buddy left at 7:30 and Mr. Husky left at 8 :30. I then did the dinner dishes that were left over from yesterday and at 10 Mrs. Husky and the girls got up. Marcia, Pam's cousin is staying with the Husky's too. At 11:30 Mrs. Husky took us to the bank, and I deposited $40 into a Savings account at the Plains National Bank. Then we went to this Chinese Restaurant and ate dinner. In the afternoon Mrs. Husky took me up to Texas Tech and I got a booklet I needed for information on enrollment. After that we went to the Museum on Campus and after that got home at 3. Mrs. Husky cooked steak for supper and Buddy came home from work at 5:30. Mr. Husky came in at the same time. He got his job in Brownfield. This evening Buddy gathered up all his things to move in with Boyd. I went with him to help him carry his things and spent the night at Boyd's. 86 degrees.
Additional Material
Tuesday 13 August 1968-
After getting up at 6 sat around until Buddy got ready to leave for work at 7. He dropped me off at the house at 7:30 and there I again did the dinner dishes from last night. It had rained out by Boyd's last night. Around 10 a.m. I called Texas Tech and found out what I needed to know about the dormitories. At 11:00 we all left to go eat lunch with Mr. Husky in Brownfield. We were too late to eat with him, so we drove around and saw where the Husky's use to live. I had tacos for dinner at Mr. K Restaurant. Buddy came home at 5:30 and Mrs. Husky fixed meatloaf for dinner. After supper, the Huskys and I went over to feed the cows at 7:30. From there I went with Buddy over to Boyd's where I met another friend of Boyd's Ronnie Burleson. We all went driving around Lubbock. We went to the Eighty-Niner to eat something then we went to the Hi-De-HO Drive-in to get some cherry-cokes. We went back to Boyd’s at 10:30 and we watched Johnny Carson on TV until going to bed. Ronnie Burleson stayed the night, so I had to sleep on the floor because the couch was taken. 85 degrees. Had a lot of fun today.
Wednesday 14 August 1968
Today is my last day in Texas. I can't believe it. The time has gone by so fast! I got up at 6:30 and got the rest of the guys up. I said good--bye to Boyd for good this time. Then Buddy drove me home and he came in with me and Mr. and Mrs. Husky were up already. I was doing everything to keep from crying when I said good-bye to Mr. Husky and Buddy. After they left, I took a shower and packed my suit cases. Mrs. Husky and the girls went to the old place to feed the animals, but I stayed at the house packing and thinking about all the good times I had this summer. I sat in Buddy's room and looked at the painting of the cowboy on his roping pony I had painted for Buddy and was so depressed to be leaving. I guess I have really changed some this summer. I have side burns and a cowboy hat and chew Beech-nut tobacco. I even enjoy Country Music especially Marty Robbin's Gunfighter Ballads. Buddy has the tape and plays it all summer on his tape deck in his El Camino. When Mrs. Husky and the girls got home at 12, I went with Pam and Marcia to pIay tennis. A friend of' Pam's, Rick played with us. We didn't pIay long and at 1:00 I came home, and Grandma and Grandpa came in. I got dressed to leave and at 3 we all went to the airport to see me off. I was surprised to see
JW and Pauline there with Kay. I barely got there before I had to get on the plane, so I didn't have time to cry. I just said goodbye and got on the plane at 3:45 and it took off. I was too depressed to be scared about flying but it did feel funny when we lifted off the ground. I saw Lubbock disappear and the landscape turn into a green and brown crazy quilt. I was so miserable. We stopped at Midland to pick up more people and got into El Paso at 4:30. There I had to change planes and I got bumped going student stand-by. I had to wait two hours for the next flight, so I called Mom to let them know about the delay. As I was buying a magazine, I got this horrible sick feeling because I couldn't find my ticket. I was just sick and then I retraced my steps, and I remembered I had them when I called Mom. Just then I was paged to come to the ticket counter because someone turned in my ticket. I was so relieved. I didn’t know what I would have done if I had lost my ticket. Anyway, after that I clung onto my ticket until I boarded the next flight to L.A. I got into L.A at 7:30 and Mom, Dad, and Charline were there to pick me up. We got home at 8 and I was so antsy I couldn't stay cooped up, so I went over to Jaeger's and to Donna and Terry's to tell them all about my trip. I went to bed with a bad headache at 10:30 The weather in Texas was 85 degrees. 75 degrees in California. I can't believe I'm not in Texas anymore. I miss it so bad. I feel like I'm in a dream and when I wake up, I’ll be back on the farm, but I know I won't.
Thursday 15 August 1968- I got up at 10 and at around noon Mom and I went over to Jean Horan’s, and we talked for a while. When I came home, I started to clean up my room and unpack. In the afternoon Terry came over. He's out of work again and around 5, he and I carried a bed from across the street that Jean Horan didn't want any more. It used to be Jimmy's and now Jean wants to use his room for sewing. I'm going to use it. Mom fixed spaghetti for dinner, and I didn't eat any of it because Bonnie and Bill and Larry came over. They know that Charline is pregnant. I talked with my cousin Larry mostly and they left at 9. I went to bed at l0:30. The weather is 80 degrees. I can't believe I ever was in Texas. I was just yesterday but now it seems as if it never happened. Something is wrong with my arm and the left part of my chest. I have a sharp pain there. I miss Texas oh so much.
• Pirate Radio Free London began transmitting.]
Friday 16 August 1968
I got up at 9:30 and Mom went to the unemployment agency and Charline cleaned up the front room. I had a very sleepless night because of the pain in my arm and chest. It kept me awake most of the night. Today it still hurts but not as much as last night though it is now starting to bother me again. Around 12 today Jerry Smith came over and he and I went to the Huntington Park Plaza. There I put a pair of pants and a belt on lay- away for school. In the afternoon Charline had to go to the doctor's and I went with her to keep her company. While she was there, I went and bought some oil paints to start Judy's picture I had promised her. I painted part of it today. Donna and Terry went to the show. We had steak and salad for dinner, except I had a McDonald fish burger. The weather is a cool 79 degrees. My room is now ready to sleep in. I still miss Texas and the ones I Iove. I told Jerry Smith about Charline. Figured he'd find out sooner or later anyways. He didn't care.
Saturday 17 August 1968-
The weather is 80 degrees. While I was back in Texas, I didn't get a chance to record the song surveys so I'm recording them here. July 3rd-Grazing in The Grass, July10th-Grazing in the Grass, July 17th Hello I Love You, July 24th CLASSICAL GAS, July 31st CLASSICAL GAS, August 7th PEOPLE GOT TO BE FREE August 14th People Got to Be Free. I just had a sandwich for lunch. In the news Eisenhower is recovering from his heart attack slowly. He's still on the critical List. Terry Pierce has a job doing something.
Letter from Grandma Johnson 17 August 1968
Dear Jr. Just got you letter. Had worried about you. Know you did feel alone in El Paso waiting for a plane. My we have been lonesome. Your room looks so empty. Wouldn't of been so bad if JW, Polly, and Kay hadn't left next morning. And to make it worse rained Friday and Saturday. Think they enjoyed the trip. Guess Kay will write you all about it. We are going to the lake tomorrow evening. After we go to the doctor to have our eyes seen about. Wish you were here to drive for us. We will come home Saturday as the meetings start at Olton Sunday. Wish you were here to take it in. Jr. put your hat up you left. Will still be back here next summer. What’s wrong with Donna? Guess she has to work sick or well. Rent has to be paid and bills to pay. (Wish I was a single girl again). Grandad at last got him a hive of bees. There making honey and is he tickled. Polly and JW just came by. Going to Marie's to get some peaches to can. Still have plenty corn, okra, and peas, to eat. Canned a bushel of apples for pies. Now with the honey won't we eat! Have you seen your boyfriends yet? Guess you have cot your pictures made by now. If you start painting, you won't be as lonesome and won’t be long until school starts. Do study hard with Tech in mind. Time will go before you know it. I've got to pack my suit case and have everything ready so we can take off. My old ankle still hurts don’t know what's wrong. May be when I get my eyes tested will help so JW thinks ha! Write so I'll have a letter when I get back. We love you and miss you terribly. Just Grandma and Grandpa
me thing
18 August 1968 Sunday-
Went over to Grandma Williams today and everybody was over. At White Front I bought an album “Gunfighter Songs and Cowboy Ballads” by Marty Robbins. The weather 79 Degrees. .Had Chicken for dinner. This a song I heard in Texas- Texas T-E--X-A-S Texas ---- , That's where this old Cowboy's heart is ---I got the Texas' Blues---Waco, Dallas, Houston, El Paso, Fort Worth and Old Amarillo---Your message is a getting thru --- How I wish I was in San Antonio---With a Senorita down where the old San Antoine River flows Texas T-E-X-A-S Texas ---- That's where this old cowboy's heart is--- I got them Texas Blues
I received a letter from Grandma Johnson dated 18 August 1968 , “Hi Jr. I'll talk to you awhile. Guess you are busy. We went to Church this morning at Littlefield. Will be to Olton tonight as their meeting got started last night. Went down to the lake last Tuesday to see how the boat and everything was. Haint [Hate] to leave things to long at a time. Everything was ok. Didn't fish any. Was too hot. Came back by John Warren and spent the night. He was happy to see us. Hopped around just like Grandpa Johnson always did. He gave us some nice peaches. I'll can tomorrow. We had some rain yesterday. Cooled things off some. You should see my gourd vine. It has vined everywhere and had gourds on it. Haven't seen the Huskies since you left and won’t since school started. Guess you heard from Buddy and Boyd. Me and Grandad will get our eye glasses tomorrow. He will half to ware [wear] his all the time and my one eye is as usual. Do take care of yourself. Hope Donna is feeling ok now. And Terry has gone back to work somewhere. Is Bonnie and Bill still at Mr. Williams? Dread the Convention. Guess there [they’re] getting ready for a full blown one and lke [Eisenhower] not to die till he sees Nixon elected. Essie [grandma’s oldest sister] wrote she hadn't heard one word from Jess [Grandma’s twin brother]. I trust somebody will take care of him. Poor Brother Jess what will become of him. Kay seems anxious for school to start in the morning. There’s nothing of news. Write when you can. We love you Grandparents.
19 August 1968- Monday
I got up at 10 and made an appointment to see my counselor at Rancho for 1:30 and Mom made me an appointment with the doctor about my arm and chest at 5: 30. At 1:30 I was driving around before going to see my counselor and I made a bad stop at a red right and a cop pulled me over and gave me a warning. I can't seem to judge distances anymore and I told this to the doctor when I saw him. He said it was due to the plane ride and my pain in my chest and arm were muscle spasms from hoeing last summer. At school, my counselor told me I couldn't change any classes until I got my program card. He said that he didn't think I had the grades to go to college and not to get my hopes up because he didn't think I could make it in college. For dinner Mom fixed steak. The weather is warm days and cool nights. 80 degrees.
20 August 1968 Tuesday
I got up at 10:30 and took a shower and when I was thru, I cleaned up my room and painted some. Ate tuna salad for lunch. In the afternoon I went to the library for Mom and returned some books for her. When Dad got home, we had Pinto Beans and corn bread for dinner. In the evening I painted before going to bed. I'm reading a Civil War novel HOUSE DIVIDED. The weather is a warm 80 degrees. In the news Russia sure shook everybody up by invading Czechoslovakia. President Johnson called the Security Council into action. Sure, was a surprise. I thought Russia was above that sort of thing. They really are criminals.
• The Soviet Union invades Czechoslovakia with over 200,000 Warsaw pact troops, putting an end to the "Prague Spring," and beginning a period of enforced and oppressive "normalization."
21 August 1968 Wednesday
Got up at 11:30 and watched TV until 1:30. Then I fixed a tuna salad for lunch. I went back to my room and cleaned it up. After that I started to paint until 3. Then I copied down by song surveys and tried to get them organized. I went to the bank for Mom also in the late afternoon. We got a letter from Grandma Johnson in the mail. I wrote a letter to the Huskys. When Dad came home, we ate dinner. Mom fixed steak and leftovers from yesterday. Around 7:30 Charline and I went to the La Mirada Drive- In and we saw YOURS, MINE, and OURS and THE PRIVATE NAVY OF SGT O’FERRELL. There was a lot of kids at the show. We came home at 12. I got an allergy to something I think because I have a rash that really itches. It was a pretty day though not very warm. 80 Degrees. BORN TO BE WILD #1 KHJ.
• After 5 years Russia once again jammed Voice of America
• The Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the "Prague Spring" liberalization drive led by Alexander Dubcek.]
Thursday 22 August 1968
I got up late in the morning and didn't do much. I wrote Kay today and I also learn the words to Strawberry Roan a favorite song of mine. I'm going to paint my room this weekend. The weather’s 85 degrees and a clear nice day. I can see the mountains. Charline has picked out two names for the baby which is due in November. Rebecca June and James Thomas. She's going to have fits if it’s twins. This winter I'll be taking care of the baby mostly because of everybody working. I would like Charline to have a boy so I can help raise him.
• Pope Paul VI arrived in Bogota, Colombia, for the start of the first papal visit to Latin America.
• In Czechoslovakia, a Soviet-led invasion crushed the Prague Spring reforms. In 1997 3 Communist Party leaders, Milos Jakes, Karel Hoffmann, and Joseph Lenart, were accused of conspiring with the Soviets.]
Friday 23 August 1968
Sure, is hot today! 103 degrees but its dry heat with no smog at all. I started to paint my room today after I took everything out of it. Mom helped me some. It’s sort of a butternut color only more white then yellow. For dinner I went to McDonalds and got some fish burgers. I wrote Buddy today. Dad got his tools stole at work. Watched TV most of the night and read some from MASSACRE AT WHITE RIVER. I've been listening mostly to Cowboy Western Music since I've been back in California. In the news Russia is still the main topic with everybody mad that they invaded Czechoslovakia. Their leader Dubcek is reported to be alive and not killed by the Russians.
23 August 1968 Letter from Cousin Kay Johnson-
Dear Jr. Hi. I sure was glad to get your letter. Sorry I took so long to write but you know how it is. High School is great, and I like it a lot. It makes Jr. High look sick. But I can tell it'll be harder. Already I'm having a little trouble with Algebra. My real problem is that I have it 1st period and I'm usually a sleep! Ha! How is California? A lot different from Texas I imagine. You don't forget all the fun you had back here, ok? I'm looking forward to your coming back next year. Has Pam wrote yet? She told me that she was. So did that other girl that was at the airport. Did you enjoy that plane trip? I know you must have. Was June at the airport? And worried when you were late? That Hemisfair was a gyp. I can't say that I really had any fun. If spending money on nothing is fun, then I sure had a lot of fun. Diane and I ate on top of the Tower of' the Americas which made me sick cause it was so high and was revolving in about three different directions. Anyways they didn't serve hamburgers or anything of that sort, so we ordered the least expensive thing-that's a laugh. We got 1 piece of chicken, 1 bowl of green beans and some biscuits and our bill combined was over 9 dollars! We were broke then. Mom and Dad seemed to like it though. But it’s beyond me how they did. Their anniversary was Monday. 25 years and they didn't even celebrate. How are you and your family? Everyone's fine down here. John called Sunday and they moved to another house over by the college. It’s brick and two bedrooms. I guess they could use more room. The songs back here are retarded. They haven't changed since you left. Have you heard Harper Valley PTA? It may not be out there but you’re not missing much. How much money did you deposit in your Savings Account? How much interest do they pay? I would start me one but no money. Oh well. My classes this year are Algebra, Physical Science, English, Band, Health, Basketball, and Home Ec. I think I'll do pretty good on most of them. Maybe. Are you ready for school to start? The first day was a grind. I had a headache that would not stop but I'm ok now. I guess you just have to bet use to it. I guess I better close. Always Kay
• Tower of the Americas is a 750-foot (229 m) observation tower with a restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. Tower of the Americas, designed by San Antonio architect O'Neil Ford, was built as the theme structure of the 1968 World's Fair, HemisFair '68. The tower was the tallest observation tower in the United States from 1968 until 1996, when the Las Vegas Stratosphere Tower was completed.
Saturday 24 August 1968
Got up at 9 and Dad had to work today. I didn't do anything until the evening when I dug some trenches to a lay a sprinkler system in the front yard tomorrow. I also painted a second coat of paint in my room, and I moved all my stuff' back into it. I still have the baseboards to do. I'm getting a new bedspread and curtains to match. I talked to Mark Casas some today and Larry Jaeger finally came over today from getting back from Northern California. I messed around over at Marks until 8:30 where then I went over to Larry Jaeger's to spend the night because his parents are still up North. We had a couple of Beers and talked about our summer vacations. We went to bed about 1: 30 The weather is 90 degrees.
• France became the world's fifth thermonuclear power as it exploded a hydrogen bomb in the South Pacific.
Sunday 25 August 1968 Got up at 7:30 at Jaeger's and I wasn’t feeling well because of my allergies. We talked some more before he took me home at 9. When I got home, I worked with Dad the rest of the day putting in the sprinkler system in the front yard. For dinner we had roast beef and potato salad. We got the sprinklers all in today, but dad says the water pressure needs to build up. At night we watched the last show of the Summer Brothers Smother Show with Glen Campbell. That was my favorite summer show. In the news the Democrats are having their convention in Chicago and HHH is in the lead with McCarthy and McGovern trailing. The Czechs are having talks with the Russians in Moscow and the Biafrans are dying by the tens of' thousands in Nigeria’s Civil War in Africa. The weather is warm 88 degrees clear and nice.
Monday 26 August 1968
11:30 p.m. I don't feel well today. I ache and get an allergy. I got cleaned up and, in the afternoon, ate some lunch. Then I cleaned up my room and finished reading Massacre. It’s good but a little drawn out. I went to the store and to the bank for Mom when Charline got home from Linda's. I got a new shaver head for my razor. In the late afternoon before Dad got home, I started to fill in the trenches left from the sprinkler system. For dinner we had steak and fried potatoes. For dessert we had cake and ice cream. The rest of' the evening I spent in my room. I love being able to go into my room and not get bugged. Mom got her Silver Service set today. In the news the Democrats are having their convention in Chicago. The Hippies are demonstrating in Chicago to stop the war. The weather is clear 86 degrees.
• Mayor Richard Daley opens the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. While the convention moves haltingly toward nominating Hubert Humphrey for president, the city's police attempt to enforce an 11 o'clock curfew. On that Monday night demonstrations are widespread, but generally peaceful. The next two days, however, bring increasing tension and violence to the situation.
Tuesday 27 August 1968-
In the morning I helped Charline paint her room and at noon we finished so I went down to McDonald's and got us something to eat. In the afternoon I worked on my record surveys until around 4 where then I worked on filling in the rest of the trenches. After I got that done, I went over to Jean Horan's and visited with her in her Den until 7. I came home and ate dinner. We had meatloaf and pinto beans and squash. Dad worked late and wasn't home until 7:30. I went back over to Jeans and listened to the Democratic Convention on T V. The Democrats are in such a mess. Ted Kennedy might be drafted as a candidate if they can't decide on McCarthy or Humphries. Today was President Johnson's birthday. The Anti-war demonstrators are trying to interrupt the convention, but Mayor Daley has his police out in force. I came home from Jean's at 10 and it’s 11 now. The weather is nice and clear but just a little hazy from all the forest fires we have been having 85 decrees,
• [om Haden, anti-war organizer, was beaten up, put in a paddy wagon, and whisked off to a Cook County Jail.
28 August 1968 Wednesday
Mom and Charline went to a Weight Watchers club today. They got back at noon, and I watched a movie The GHOST GOES WEST until in the afternoon when I went to the store and library for Mom. I went over to Jaeger's and talked to him and his parents some too. For dinner I had chicken and rice. Watched more of the Convention until 8, when I then went to my room and listened to the radio. On the Road Again is #1 on KHJ Harper Valley PTA #1 on KFOX the country western music station I listen to. I wrote Grandma Johnson, JW and Pauline, Philip Boyd, and Pam Husky. The weather is warm hazy skies 93 degrees. In the news Humphrey was nominated to run for President by the Democrats. There are lots of riots in Chicago now because the Peace Platform for Viet Nam was voted down. The Chicago Police are busting heads left and right. The Ambassador to Guatemala was murdered. And President Eisenhower is off the critical list from his heart attack.
Judy Huskey Schroeder wrote me a letter that was dated 28 August. “Dear Junior, Well how are you doing in California? We are finally settled and moved into our little house. Our address is Rt.1 Box 85A Ft. Stockton, Texas 79735.
I had to register my pupils Tuesday and this Thursday, and Friday I have to attend meetings. School starts Sept.3 and Johnny goes back Sept 4. I wish you could see our little house. It has one bedroom, but our couch makes into a bed. We are two miles away from my school and we are out in the country. The people we rent from live next door to us. They have a garden and are always giving us things. They are very nice people.
I am teaching the sixth grade in a brand-new school building. Boy, it’s really nice. Guess what, Johnny and I got us a 1968 Cutlass Supreme Olds. It’s a dark green with a lighter green on the top. We gave my F85 back to Daddy and Pamela may get it.
Mother says you are planning on going to Tech, That sounds real nice. Hope you don’ change your mind.
Johnny is working in the yard right now. Changa is with us now. We went home last weekend and got her. Everybody at home is doing fine. They sure hated to see you go.
Well I guess I better close for now and get to cleaning house. Write when you can. Since I’ll be here during the week by myself, I will enjoy hearing from you. Our telephone number is 336-5275 Area code 915 With love always Judy
• In Chicago, Ill., Vice-President Hubert Horatio Humphrey was nominated by the Democrats for US Presidency on the first ballot.
• During the Democratic national convention in Chicago, 10,000 anti-war protesters gather on downtown streets and are then confronted by 26,000 police and national guardsmen. The brutal crackdown is covered live on network TV. 800 demonstrators are injured. Riots broke out outside the Democratic National Convention as police and anti-war demonstrators clashed in the streets. The 1969 film "Medium Cool" was set during the Chicago Convention riots of 1968. Connecticut Senator Abraham Ribicoff (1910-1998) nominated George McGovern for the US Presidency and strongly criticized Chicago’s Mayor Daly for his strong-arm tactics in controlling protestors at the Democratic National Convention. By most accounts, on Wednesday evening Chicago police take action against crowds of demonstrators without provocation. The police beat some marchers unconscious and send at least 100 to emergency rooms while arresting 175. Mayor Daley tried the next day to explain the police action at a press conference. He famously explained: "The policeman isn't there to create disorder, the policeman is there to preserve disorder." Twenty-eight years later, when the Democrats next held a convention in Chicago, some police officers still on the force wore t-shirts proclaiming, "We kicked their father's butt in '68 and now it's your turn."
• The United States is now experiencing a level of social unrest unseen since the American Civil War era, a hundred years earlier. There have been 221 student protests at 101 colleges and universities thus far in 1968.
• "Harper Valley PTA" is a country music song written by Tom T. Hall. It was a major hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley in 1968, and crossed over to the pop charts as well, eventually selling over six million copies as a single, making Riley the first woman ever to top the U.S. pop and country singles charts with the same song. Jeannie C. Riley's recording of the song won her a Grammy for the Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.
• On the Road Again," a song by the blues group Canned Heat, was released as a single in August 1968, and appeared on their 1968 album Boogie with Canned Heat as well as the 1969 compilation The Canned Heat Cookbook.
• The Ghost Goes West was a 1935 movie about a Scottish Ghost going to America with the castle that was bought by Americans
29 August 1968 Thursday
Got up at 10:30 and watched TV some. I didn't do nothing in the afternoon until I went over to Jaeger’s, and we drove around for about 2 hours just talking. Came home at 4:30 and watched some more of the Democratic Convention. Charline went to the doctor's and Mom and Jean Horan went shopping. I talked with Jean's daughter Carol Griggs about Hippies and politics for a while. She and her husband are living at a Hippie Colony down near Laguna Beach. I went home about 7 for dinner. Mom made steak and mashed potatoes. I didn't eat until later at night where then I made waffles. I watched TV until about 10 then I read some. I wonder about some brown spots which have broken out like a rash on me in my groin. Probably nothing but it itches. In the news Sen. Muskie from Maine was chosen as Humphries running mate. Never heard of him. Mom and dad are about ready to vote for Wallace. 90 degrees and hazy out today.
• Carol Horan Griggs was married to “Farmer John” Griggs who was the largest LSD distributer in southern California. She would be a widow in less than a year. Carol Jean Horan was born 7 May 1945 in Long Beach. She married John Griggs 20 July 1962 in Las Vegas when she was 17. She met John Griggs while involved in the surfing scene at Huntington Beach. I did not know her well as it was the summer between 5th and 6th grade when she married and left Tom and Jean’s home. When I was in Jr. High, I baby sat their children Jerry and Jennifer born in 1963 and 1964. Carol’s youngest son Full Buck Moon was born only about a week before John overdosed.
Mrs. Christine Husky wrote me a letter dated 29 August with the address of 5605 Geneva , Lubbock Texas . “Dear Junior, I am sitting up here at the hospital with Husky. He fell off the side of a tank at Brownfield and broke his heel in two places. The Dr. daid he would out it in a cast tomorrow and maybe he could go home. I took Arnold to Levelland College this afternoon and they said he could enter South Plains College this fall. He seemed real thrilled about getting to go to college. He and Boyd went to Ralls tonight to see some horses buck. He is supposed to ride in the Ralls rodeo, I think Saturday. Slaton is to have their rodeo next weekend.
I went to school this afternoon. I got my books- the ones I issue to the pupils. I go again tomorrow to finish up preparation for school next Tuesday. I am teaching Science, Health & Safety in the 6th and 4th grades.
Judy a & Johnny came last weekend. They have already moved to Fort Stockton. Judy has started her Inservice already. Her school starts next Tuesday too. They took Chango home with them. They have a little house about two miles out in the country. They live near their landlord and they will watch after Judy while Johnny is gone. Johnny is going to teach in the Geology lab while he goes to school. He gets $90 per month. That will help. They got a new Olds Cutlass super. They sure are proud of it.
We are so sorry about your illness. You better take your medicine. Sure hope you are free of pain by now.
We went out to watch Arnold and Boyd rope last Sunday evening at New Deal. They did fairly well.
We haven’t seen your grandparents since you left. I guess they are up in the mountains on a lake somewhere.
We have new neighbors that moved in across 57th Street from the garage.
I went to Federal Jury last week. I was chosen one of the twelve the first day. I really enjoyed it. We decided the Pipe Co. and West Texas State Bank at Snyder did not owe the federal Government anything. I met a lot of new people. Most of them were from towns and from Lubbock, such as Littlefield, Brownfield, Seminole, etc.
Uncle Curtis said to tell you he missed you and wished you were with us again. We sure enjoyed your visit with us. Thanks again for helping us to move,
We took Marcia to the lake and met her dad and stepmother down there. The water was so rough they couldn’t ski, but theu went into the water over at the anchor and seemed to enjoy it a lot. We love you Aunt Chris.
Pam Husku wrote on the back of the letter, “ H, How’s things. Fine I hope. I haven’t been doing much. Boy, I dropped Richard as soon as possible/ I’ve been saving a little. Have you been very busy? Have you seen very many movies or T.V. stars. Maybe you’ve seen an Audie Murphy movie. Well I better go. Write you later. From a start to be born -Pam
Friday 30 August 1968
Got up at 10:30 and took a shower and shampooed my hair. In the mail I got a letter from Judy [Husky Schroeder] and my school program card. I called the school and made an appointment to see my counselor. Also, in the afternoon I called Judy back in Texas to surprise her and got one instead. Mr. Husky had fallen at work and broke his heel in two places and is supposed to get out of the hospital today and Boyd almost put his eyes out when a horse threw him up against a fence at a Rodeo. After talking to her I wrote back to the Husky kids and told Pam and Buddy how mad I was that they hadn't wrote and told me about Mr. Husky. I also went to the store and bought some get well cards which I sent. After that news I cleaned up the front yard and had spaghetti for dinner. At night Jaeger and I drove around from Long Beach to Bellflower to Brea to back home. We then went over to Jaeger's where I and argued with his brother some and went home at 12. The weather is cooling" off.
Saturday 31 August 1968
Mom got me up early for us to go to the cabin, but I didn’t go because from somewhere I got lice [Body lice]. Any way I stayed home by myself to disinfect my room and get rid of my life. Dona and Terry came over in the afternoon and after they left, I called the Huskys. It sure was good talking to them. After that I wrote them, Buddy, and Grandma Johnson. In the evening Jaeger and I went to the bus depot to mail Kay her package records and books. I cost me $4. I bought tostadas for dinner and in the evening, I watched TC=V the rest of the night until Jaeger called, and we talked until midnight. I slept in mom’s bed while disinfecting my room. The weather isn’t warm but not really cool. 85 degrees. In the news there was an earthquake in Iran with 3,000 people dead.
• In northeast Iran, some 7-12 thousand people died in the 7.8 Dasht-e Bayaz earthquake, which also destroyed 60,000 buildings.
• I probably contracted crabs from Jimmy Horan’s mattress that Jean had given me. Jimmy was a long shore man in Long Beach, single and of course sexually active. In adults, pubic lice is transmitted by direct sexual contact; children generally contact the infection via nonsexual transmission from their parents. Transmission by bed linens and infested clothing is less likely and doubted by some. Intense itching of the pubic area is characteristic. I did not have sex with anyone, and I did not know I had crabs until I went to the health department. Unlike the head louse, which lives on its human host, the body louse lives in clothing (commonly in the seamed areas) and then transfers to the human host to feed. The life cycle of the head louse and the body louse are similar in character and duration. An important difference, however, is the ability of the body louse to survive for up to 30 days away from its human host. Body-lice infestation is a prominent public-health problem in communities with large populations dealing with poverty, overcrowding, and poor personal hygiene. Reused mattresses and bed linens as well as communal beds are risk factors. Itching is the primary symptom of body-lice infestation. Areas where seams of clothing are tightly adherent to the body are the most likely areas of involvement.
September
1 Sept 1968 Sunday
Got up to put a load of clothes on the wash in the morning and tried to get rid of the lice. I didn't do much in the morning because Donna. and Terry came over so Terry could· work on his car some. There wasn't much house work to do because I kept the house pretty clean. I like staying by myself. It’s a good feeling when I'm not lonely. I had some taquitos left over from yesterday for lunch. In the evening Larry Jaeger came over after I got my room cleaned up and we watched "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" on T. V. It was good. After he left at 11:30 I watched "Auntie Mame" which was really good. Went to bed at 3:00. Weather was beautiful 81 degrees.
• Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey kicks off his presidential campaign at New York City's Labor Day parade.
• Sep 1, Pirate Radio Marina in the Netherlands began transmitting.
2 Sept 1968 Monday Labor Day
Got up at 8:30 and cleaned up the house until 11:30 when Donna and Terry came over to do their washing. Jaeger came over in a little while and he and I went over to my Grandma Williams in Norwalk. I left a painting I did for Minnie a long time ago. Came home and Mom and Dad still hadn't come in so after Jaeger went home, I went over to his house, and I met some friends of his Bill Lyons and Gary somebody. We all cruised around all night until 2:30 in the morning. I came home and went to bed depressed after talking all night about Texas. I wrote Pam today in the afternoon. I had hamburgers for lunch. The weather is cooling up 85 degrees. In a few more days it will be a full moon. Not much in the news. Just Labor Day death tolls and who cares about that?
3 Sept 1968 Tuesday
Got up at 10:30. Charline went down to the store for some more lice killer stuff and in the late morning Mom and Charline went over to Grandma Williams for a visit. I spent the rest of the morning putting that lice stuff all over my body. In the afternoon I watched TV and read some before Mom and Charline came home at 2. Charline and I went up to Zodys at the Orange County Plaza and I bought some writing paper that was on sale. For dinner had fried steak. Jaeger came over in the evening to tell me about his new job and to go riding around. We went over to his mom and Dad’s, and I talked with them until 9 at night. Then Jaeger and I drove around some. He’s getting on my nerves some with his silliness. Been seeing too much of him, I guess. 83 degrees. Cool.
Letter from Aunt Pauline Johnson 3rd Sept 1968
Dear Junior. You are a living doll. Thanks so very much for the 1968S. I haven't seen one back here. Mother nearly took it away from me. We did enjoy the HemisFair. Most of all I wanted to go up on the Tower of the Americas and we did. Kay and Diane ate up there. Took all their money. Hope you have a ball over Labor Day weekend. Of' course Olton has school. Ginger and John have moved in to a brick two-bedroom house. Said the dining area and living area was as large as the one they had. I am so glad you have seen your counselor for I know you are plenty smart to enter Tech. But sure, helps to have the right subjects. JW is taking short jogs each morning now getting ready for deer hunt. He really enjoys that, and I am so glad. He works real hard all year and that is his one real enjoyment. We have now been married 25 years. I hope Junior when you pick a mate you will be as considerate as he has been all these years. I know you have the disposition to be, and it does make for happiness. Enough sermon for today. You are sure a nice person. Hope you will come back next year. Tell the family hello and study hard. Thank You. Love J.W. and Pauline
4 Sept 1968 Wednesday
Got up at 10:30 and I went in the morning down to Huntington Beach Plaza to get my school clothes off layaway. I got two shirts, one pair of pants, and a light cloth jacket. When I got home, I made me a hamburger for lunch and Charline took the car to go grocery shopping. I forgot all about my appointment to see my counselor at school. I could have kicked myself for that. Now I have to go up there tomorrow and see if I can make another one. Charline and I went to Standard Paints on Lincoln and Brookhurst and I bought some more oil paints to finish Judy Husky's picture. I painted on it some before Donna and Terry came over for dinner. We had steak and baked potatoes. Jaeger called but I didn't speak to him long. I won't be able to paint anymore until the paint on my canvass dries. The weather is very smoggy and overcast like we are going to have an early fall. I hope not. Its 12 midnight and Harper Valley PTA is number One on KHJ.
5 Sept 1968 Thursday
Got up and went down to Rancho Alamitos to make an appointment to see my counselor. I did for later in the morning. I saw Mr. Starr my old P. E. teacher down at the school. He sure has changed. I came home and cleaned up my room and later in the morning I went back to see my counselor and I waited an hour till 11:30 before I was told my counselor couldn’t see me. It made me mad. I saw Steve Manning up at school and we talked for So while. After I got home Bonnie, Larry, Minnie, and Grandma Williams came over. We ate tuna sandwiches. I went home with them to stay until Sunday. I played some of my Albums over at my cousin Larry's and watched TV. I had to sleep with Larry, so we went to bed at 11. 90 degrees in the day but cool at night.
Letter from Grandma Johnson 5th Sept 1968
Hi Jr. Will answer both of your letters. Sorry you had such a. time with the lice. You could have got just one nit on the plane or anywhere. Mexicans and Indians all carry them. I'm tired and can it get rested. Skeet called and wanted us to come down Labor Day. We went Sat. Come home yesterday. Don’t know when I ever enjoyed a trip any better. Was raining and cool. Went to Church Sunday and Sunday night. Also went to Ft. Stockton. Went thru the Museum. Talked about Judy. if had known where she lived would of seen her. Next day went to a big Bar-Be-Que of beef, goat, and chicken. Then on to the rodeo. And to a big street dance that night and watched them dance a while. Was we all pooped when we got in. Fay and Skeet had so much freight to deliver the next morning. We left early got home around noon and John Warren come in just a few minutes and he wanted to go to the R.E.A. meeting. See if he could see anyone, he knew so we went. My there sure was a crowd there. Wilburn and John got a flash light. I got a pencil. ha! Is it any wonder old grandma is on her last go around. John putting down an irrigation well. Though won't need it this year as we have had a lot of rain since you was here. Crops are good. Just need sunshine. John and Ginger have moved to a different house. 2-bedroom brick house. Rooms were big and 7 clothes closets. Know their proud of them. Hope the boys have a good yard to play in. Tell Donna she could write me sometime. What is Terry working at now? Good you got all your painting done and things cleaned up. School time is here. Kay seems to like it ok. I hope Buddy does go to school but how are they going to make it on just her wages? It’s going to be a long time before he will do anything. Wilburn and Elmer out hunting Doves. I hear one cooing. I think it’s a sin to kill the little things. Guess we will go to the lake before too long. John said he would be down after Joy had her baby. Said he wished they wouldn’t have anymore. As it upsets him. I guess nearly as much as Donna getting married. ha! Jr. how do you like the Democratic Conventions Wasn't it a disgrace. But I think it made Wallace more votes than ever. Hope June, Edgar. and Charline, Tom and Jean had a good time at the cabin. Keep them big fat letters coming. I enjoy them. We love You Grandparents Johnson
6 Sept 1968 Friday
Got up at 9:00 wasn't feeling good. Everyone ate a big breakfast except me. Grandpa and Bill went to work, and the rest cleaned up the house really good. In the afternoon listen to the records with Minnie and Larry until he went with his parents over to his uncle's. Then I played AGGRAVATION with Minnie the rest of the afternoon. At night Minnie and I watched a movie Kings in The Sun until I got tired of it. I then went into the front room and talked to Grandma. I went to bed at 11:30. Had hamburgers for dinner. Cold in the mornings then it warms up to a hot 95 degrees. Strange weather. Early fall.
• Feminists protesting outside the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J., tossed articles including cosmetics, girdles and bras into a trash can ostensibly for burning, although nothing was actually set on fire. Miss Illinois Judith Ford won the pageant.
Mr. Curtis Husky wrote ma a letter dated Sept 6. “Dear Junyor. We have done you dirty by not writing you. We are all O.K. I am staying at home. As I can’t drive my pickup. Buddy is back home. Don’t stay with Boyd long. He is still working at the same place. Sugarput [Pam] Is getting ready for school. They started on the 3rd of Sept.
Junyor we sure do miss you. You may not think so. But we sure do. It won’t be long till summer again. We are looking forward to it. We have been back to the lake once since you were here. We don’t spray any of the weeds was much too high.
I received your cards . I sure was proud of them to know that someone paid some feeling for me. I am doing O.K. I am on my strong legs. They get me around But not too good.
I am not much a writer as you can see. Maybe you can make out what part of this is. Son, we all miss you a lot and looking forward to seeing you this coming summer.
We haven’t heard from Grandparents or grand ma since you were here. Guess
tThey are on their trip. Hope they make it OK. Well I will stop here now. Tell all the family Hello from us. We love all of you. I am going to mail this. Will try to write again soon. We all love you P.S Had a card from Stamford & Grandmother today. All Ok. With Love to you & Your family. God Bless you. Husky the Old Man. Buddy and Boyd are at New Deal roping today. Pam, mother and I are home.
7 Sept 1968 Saturday
Got up felt better then yesterday. I shaved and got cleaned up and Bonnie fixed some hot tea for me. Larry watched TV most of the morning. Minnie and I played cards with Larry until he left then we played with Grandma from 2 until 5. We had tacos for dinner but before we ate, Larry and I walked to White Front Store, and I tore my pants in the pocket jumping fences. At night Larry went swimming over at the neighbors while Minnie, Grandpa, Grandma, and I played Mexican Dominoes until Grandpa got tired. Then Grandma, Minnie and I played cards until I went to bed at 1:30 a.m. Cool in morning 97 degrees hot in afternoon.
• Women's Liberation groups, joined by members of New York NOW, target the Miss America Beauty Contest in Atlantic City. The protest includes theatrical demonstrations including ritual disposal of traditional female roles into the "freedom ashcan." While nothing is actually set on fire, one organizer's comment quoted in the New York Times the next day - that the protesters "wouldn't do anything dangerous, just a symbolic bra-burning," lives on in the derogatory term "bra-burning feminist."
Letter from Mr. Husky 7th Sept 1968
Dear Jr. We have done you dirty by not writing you. We are all ok. I am staying at home as I can't drive my pick-up. Buddy is back home. Didn't stay with Boyd long. He is still working at the same place. I suspect he's getting ready for school. They started on the 3rd of September. Junior, we sure do miss you. You may not think so, but we sure do. It won't be long till summer again. We are looking forward to it. We have been back to the lake once since you were here. We didn't ski any as the wind was up to high. I received your cards. I sure was proud of them to know that someone paid some feeling for me. I am doing ok. I am on my wood legs. They get me around but not too good. I am not much of a writer as you can see. Maybe you can make out what part of this is. Son we all miss you a lot and looking forward to seeing you this coming summer. We haven't heard from your Grandparents. Guess they are on their trip. Hope they make it ok. Well, I will stop here now. Tell all the family hello for us. We love all of you. I am going to mall this. Will try to write you again soon. We all love you. P.S. Had a card from your grandma and Grandpa today. All ok. With love to you and your family. God bless You. P. S. Buddy and Boyd are roping at New Deal today. Pam, Mother, and I are home. God Bless You. Husky the Old Man
8 Sept 1968 Sunday
Got up to go to Grandma's church at 8:30. Everybody ate breakfast except me. I just had hot tea. I wouldn't go to Grandpa's Sunday School part of his church, but I went to Church service part. After Church we all had dinner of Pot Roast. It was good. Bonnie and Bill took me home and stayed until 8:00 Milton and Marie came over too! We ate tacos. We all talked, and I mowed the front yard. Everybody went home at night, and I put my oId mattress on my bed and got rid of the one with the crabs. It was crabs I had not lice, but lice sounds nicer. At night I wrote Grandma Johnson a 12-page letter. Hot and Smoggy. 95 degrees. School doesn't seem like it will start Tuesday.
9 Sept 1968 Monday
Got up at 7 and Mom and I took some junk in the back yard to the junkyard before it got hot. Today is Admission's Day Holiday. When Mom and I got home I went and got more of my clothes off layaway. I also had my Senior Picture taken at Roberts Studio downtown G.G. I'll get them in 2 weeks. In the late afternoon I went over to Barb Weltes, and we talked. I came home and put some clothes on the wash. I watched TV until Jaeger came over and we went driving around LaPalma looking for a Church of Christ. He went home and I watched TV till going to bed at 11. I got some donuts and won a 1/2 dozen. First thing I ever won. 106 and smoggy.
• Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) became the 1st black to win the US Open men’s tennis singles championship.
10 Sept 1968 Tuesday
Got up at 6:30 to get ready to go to this 1st day of school. I'm a big bad senior now. I have School Service Art 1st Period which I like. Economics 2nd Period which I don't like, P.E. 3rd Period which I don't think will be too bad since I have Mr. Starr, and 4th Period Biology with Mr. Kerby, who’s from Abilene, Texas. I sat out on the Senior Lawn at lunch and for 5th Period I have Individual Reading which I think will be ok, and 6th Period Painting and Drawing which I'll have to drop for geometry. Mr. Wendt isn't sure he'll let me into School Service Art until I show him a resume of my work. I have to gather it all up because I haven't kept anything at all. Mr. Adam's economic class is too large and some of us might have to switch to another class. After school I came home and ate lunch of tacos. Charline went to night school again and I bought a new TV guide. Jean Horan has her phone cut off, so she is using ours for a while. I rounded
up some of my Art work to show Mr. Wendt tomorrow. It was a strange day and it passed quickly enough. Saw all my old friends. Weather was nice 95 degrees and beautiful out.
11 Sept 1968 Wednesday
Got up at 6:30 again to get ready for school. It was foggy out this morning, but it burnt off quickly. I drew some sketches in 1st period Art. I have homework in Economics, got our locks for our lockers in P.E., drew lab pictures in biology, talked with Jerry Smith and his crowd at lunch. I also checked out a book "The Horse Soldiers" to read in 5th period. In 6th period I drew and talked to the girls in that class. Came home after school and fixed tacos again. Cleaned up my room and when Mom got home, I went over to Donna's to get the typewriter and I bought some things for biology. I wrote the Huskys in the evening and I got a letter today from them. Did my homework and I listen to KHJ "Harper Valley PTA" #1 on the radio. Cooler today 90 degrees. We have Fluffy our cat back again.
• The Soviet troops started leaving Prague for the countryside. At the beginning of October, the Czechoslovak leadership went to Moscow to negotiate "normalization". As an outcome, the political leaders remained in office and submitted to the Soviet demands.
12 Sept 1968 Thursday
Got up to go to school as always and in Economics I got transferred into Mr. Nelson's class. It’s an X class which means smart, and Mr. Nelson doesn’t want all 10 of us so we'll probably have to go back to Mr. Adams. I was really embarrassed, and it made me feel bad. In 3rd period I sat around in P. E. and talked with Barry Wendell. In Biology took notes and got out five minutes early for Seniors' break. At lunch talked with Jerry Smith and his bunch. Read some in English and after Art went to see my counselor who got me into geometry 6th period with Mr. Huggett. My counselor said that I shouldn't expect to go to college because of my grades. His way of telling me I'm too dumb to go. Went home after that and didn't eat dinner. Did my homework and went to bed at 10.JO. The weather as usual lately is crummy. It used to be so nice now it’s only 80 degrees and foggy mornings. Nothing in the news.
13 Sept 1968 Friday
Got up as usual and got ready for school. In Art Mr. Wendt gave me a project to do. Guess he finally thinks I can do something. In Economics everybody had to go back to Mr. Adams dumb bell class except this one guy and me. Thank God. It would have been humiliating to be sent back. But now I'm in a super hard history class with a teacher who thinks I'm stupid. In PE we got weighed in and I'm Five feet 8 inches tall and 159 pounds. About 20 pounds fat. In biology took notes and at lunch I put all my books in my locker instead of Jerry Smith's because of a locker's check they're having. In English read some more and in Geometry got settled into that class. Mr. Huggett ain't so bad as they say. After school I went down to Penny's at the Orange County Plaza and bought some shoes. Didn't do nothing the rest of the night. I didn't eat dinner. They had steak. Weather warm enough in the afternoon but low clouds in the mornings and at night 80 degrees. Hope school goes well this year. So far, it’s been a bummer.
• Rev. Billy Graham carried word to Pres. Johnson from Richard Nixon that Nixon would give Johnson a share of the credit when the Vietnam War was settled. Johnson later became convinced that Nixon was using Anna Chennault, widow of a WW II general to persuade Pres. Nguyen Van Thieu to sabotage the Paris peace talks with the communists.
Letter from Grandma Johnson 13 Sept 1968
Hi Jr. We're here at Haskell. We are at the lake came down yesterday. Went for a boat ride this a.m. Sure enjoyed it as usual. Wilburn and James are hunting doves this evening. You should see my gourd vine. It’s got everything covered and a lot of gourds. Husky’s place looks lonesome. I don’t doubt if they get down now before Spring. I sent Husky a get-well card. No not any of them good at writing as Donna knows! ha! Tell Donna I’m mad at her and Terry for not writing me. Glad Donna's hair is back to natural color. Tell her and Terry to come back Xmas to see us. I know you are glad to be in school again. Do make them good grades so you can come back after school to stay. Grandpa and grandmother’s home will always be yours. I wrote Pauline this morning and told her Kay is playing ball at Lubbock. They’re running their self-stiff there. First ball game coming up Friday night the band will march and Kay in the lead! It will all be over before you know it. And they will be left alone like the rest of us. Oh yes, our mail come right by the door now. You and Kay won't half to go to the Anchor so much! Ha! Guess John Warren will be down one day this week that is if Joy had had her baby. Is Minnie Lee staying home now? Know Bonnie and Bill are happy to be in a home of their own. Is Pam, Margie Fern's girl going to school? How is Uncle Ed? He looked bad last Summer. Write when you find the time. Sorry your okra didn't do so well. JW sure had a lot and watermelons and muskmelons. Jewel brought 3 big ones down and okra and tomatoes. They’re pulling cotton here and grain are combined. John and Ginger wrote they sure like their new place they moved to. The boys was sure growing. Craig was talking some I guess when Chris will let him. Love from us. So glad to get your letters. Grandparents.
14 Sept 1968 Saturday
Got up at 8 and did some housework. Dad went to work today. In the afternoon I did most of my homework for school and some of my Art. Bonnie and Bill and Larry came over about 2:30 before Dad got home. When he did, he was a little tipsy. Mom had me go to the store and get some more junk for dinner. Milton and Marie came over with the kids and they ate dinner with us. The kids, Larry, Charline, and I went to the show and saw PARENT TRAP and THE GNOME MOBILE. We got home at 12, and Milton and Marie and Bonnie and Bill then went home. For dinner had barbequed steak. The weather ok not good. 80 degrees cloudy and cold in the morning. Early Autumn.
15 September 1968 Sunday
Got up at 9. Didn't do much rest of the day because it’s crummy weather and I don't feel too great. Mom fixed some stew for dinner. I stayed in my room rest of the day trying to get some homework done. In the evening I watched Walt Disney and the Phyllis Diller Show. I read my Civics book until I went to bed at 12:30. I have a pimple on my forehead that is really sore. Mom mashed it and it hurt like hell. The weather is bad 75 degrees. Looks like rain but it won't. Got a phone call from Kay. She said the package I sent her wasn’t back there yet. I'll have to see about it tomorrow. The Polls have Nixon winning over Humphreys and Wallace.
• The Organization of African Unity condemned the secession of Biafra.
16 September 1968 Monday
Got up at 6:30 to go to school and get ready. In Art I worked more on my project. In Civics I had a test over chapters 1 and 2. 3rd period given our spots to stand for roll call in P.E. 4th worked with microscopes. At lunch I talked to a bunch of kids, and I bought my ASB card. In 5th period read a. little more from my book and in Geometry corrected our homework. I got a ride home from Jaeger. I got a terrible headache and Mom is sick. I went down to Santa Ana to see about my package to Kay and while I was out, I bought a gym shirt for PE. It’s gray and blue inside. Came home at 5:30 and I didn't do much still have a headache. Watched Rowen and Martin's Laugh-In and later took a bath. I’m doing my homework now at 10 o'clock. Ate ham for dinner. Weather 80 degrees and cold and foggy mornings. Got a letter from Grandma. Johnson today and I wrote her.
• Republican presidential nominee Richard Nixon exclaimed, "Sock it to ME?" in a taped bit for the NBC-TV comedy program "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In."
Letter from Kay Johnson 16 Sept 1968
Dear Jr. How are things out in California? We're fine out here. It was good talking to you last nite. I'd call more often but my problem is that once I start talking, I can't stop and that runs into money. I'm really sorry about that package. I mean you go to all that trouble fixing it up and paying to mail it and then it has to get lost. I hope it turns up. Did you insure it? Let me know when you find out anything about it ok? We had our first football game of the season Friday nite. We won 59-0. Looks like we might be district champions again! hah! I'm in the band you know. Well anyways we marched on the field at halftime. I felt dumb but everyone said we did really good. I'm glad the new shows are coming on TV. I was getting tired of those reruns. What makes me mad though is that every Monday nite we have band practice and that's the night Laugh- In comes on. I wish I didn't have to miss it. I think it’s so cool. "ROSEMARY'S BABY" is showing at LUBBOCK, but mother has already informed me that I'm not about to see it. Oh well. I went to the show last nite. I saw ''No WAY TO TREAT A LADY". It was pretty good. I'm sorry Mr. Husky is out of work. How long did you tell me it was before he could go back. Buddy's not going to college this year, is he? Well, how do you like school I know it must be great being a Senior. I sort of envy you but really, I'm having a great time being a freshman. You're the only one I've told this to. If I told anyone else, they'd make sure that life was made a little harder for me. Those upper classmen can think of 100's of things for Freshmen to do. Oh well I kinda enjoy it. I'm still having a little trouble with Algebra, but I think I'll pass. What is your hardest subject this year? I noticed you were taking Biology. We're required to take that our second year. Are you still planning in coming to Texas? I hope you won't change your mind. I think you'd really like going to college out here. Well, I've rattled on enough. I'll close until next time. Write or call soon. Love Kay.
17 Sept 1968 Tuesday
Got up at 7;00 because it was cold. Got ready to go to school and in Art messed around until 2nd period. There I had civics. We talked about amendments and gun control laws. In PE got my clothes marked and tomorrow I'll have to suit up. Talked to Barry Wendall and Jensen mostly about Niggers and the South. In Biology took a short quiz and at lunch got my lunch pass so I can go home if I want to for lunch. Spent rest of lunch talking to Bill Lyons and Duane Clemmons. In 5th period, read some more and in Geometry studied for a test tomorrow. At home I had a ham sandwich for dinner, and I did all my homework and wrote Kay. The weather 85 degrees. Cool in the mornings. Mom’s feeling better. Charline went to night school. Nixon is at the Anaheim Convention Center.
18 Sept 1968 Wednesday
Got up at 6:30 to get ready for school. I turned in my art project in School service art and in Civics we prepared for a test tomorrow. In PE we did fitness exercises and running. I got sick from my shoulder hurting so bad I couldn't breathe so I'm going to the doctor's tomorrow to see what's wrong. In biology we had Lab again and we looked at hair under a microscope. At lunch I went home with Jaeger and Edwards. We went and got a coke at McDonald’s. Read in English and I took a test in Geometry. At home I cleaned up my room and did my homework. For dinner everybody had steak except me. Stayed in my room rest of the night and went to bed at 10. I don't feel well. 80 degrees. Cooling off. Overcast. "Hey Jude" by the Beatles number One on KHJ
19 Sept 1968 Thursday
Grandpa Johnson's birthday 67 years old. Got up at 7 because of the cold. Got an excuse out of PE from Mom and I went to school. In school service art I did my math homework. In civics I took a test and I’m sure I got a n A on it. In PE I talked with this guy from the East Coast. In biology we discussed Chap. 2. At lunch I talked with Clemmons and Lyons. I guess they and Jaeger, and I will go to the game tomorrow. When I got home from school I went and saw the Doctor. He took me out of PE & gave me a prescription for some pain pills. I bought some do-nuts and went over to Donna’s to see what they were doing. Came home at 7:30 and did some of my homework. Watched TV with Mon and I went to bed at 11. Cold day 74 degrees chilly and cold at night. 50 degrees.
20 Sept 1968 Friday
Got up at 7.00 to get ready to go to school because it was so cold. In art I did my math homework. In civics we discussed George Wallace. In PE I got transferred to study hall. In biology just discussed Chapt. 2 some more. At lunch I went to the Pep rally with Bill Lyons and Duane Clemmons, and I bought my ticket for the game tonight 50 cents. When I got home from school, I took the car down to the car wash on Dale Street and Chapman and washed it and cleaned it up good and at 7 I went down to the game with Lyons and Clemmons in Huntington Beach. We played Fountain Valley there at Huntington and lost 16-14. It was a great game, and the kids were really spirited. I saw Steve Hall and his friends there and we talked at half time. I came home at 12 and went
to bed. Weather 76 degrees and chilly at night. Ate Onion Rings for dinner.
21 Sept 1968 Saturday
Weather cool but nice 78 degrees. Got up at 10 and cleaned up a little. Mom paid me $2 to clean up the kitchen. It was a. mess. In the afternoon Bonnie and Bill came over and asked Mom and Dad to come over and help them move in to their new house today. Mom left around 1 and I finished what I was doing until Donna and Terry came over to do their washing. We had hamburgers for dinner. I mowed the lawn and cleaned out the weeds between the evergreens in the front yard. They left at 5 and I watched TV rest of the night because the new fall shows start this week. I watched the Saturday Nite Movie on NBC BECKETT which was excelled. Watched some other things too. Mom and Dad and Charline got home at 11:00. I went to bed at 2:30. I went to the doctors again this morning.
22 Sept 1968 Sunday
Well, this is the 3rd season of the year. The last days of Summer were cold and miserable but today was out of sight! Warm beautiful smog free. 85 degrees. Mom, Dad, and Charline were back over at Bonnie and Bill's when Donna and Terry came over. We ate lunch and I had taquitos, and we went over to Bonnie's too. Everybody was there helping unpack. Donna and Terry didn't stay long but I did until 3:30 when I came home with Dad. Read the newspaper and watched TV the rest of the day. Watched "Zorba the Greek'". The news is that Russian satellite came back from around the moon. Humphry visited President Truman and Wallace is in Montgomery.
23 Sept 1968 Monday
Went to school again. Didn't feel good all day. I joined the Pep Club after school and got my proofs for my Senior pictures. I also wrote a letter to Grandma Johnson. I didn't feel good, so I went to sleep from 5 to 7 o'clock where then I ate a little dinner of steak. Watched Rowen and Martin Laugh-In, The Outcasts, and Carol Burnet Show. They were all good. Went to bed around 11:30. It was very hot today a sure change from last week. 95 degrees. It’s nice though not smoggy at all hardly. In civics got a bunch of stuff for all the Seniors. College things and all. Threw mine away since I' m going back to Texas. Went home for lunch with Jaeger and Alan Edwards.
• The TV western "The Outcasts" premiered. The one season show featured Otis Young (d.2001 at 69) and Don Murray working together as post-Civil War bounty hunters.
Letter from Grandma Johnson 23 Sept 1968
Dear Jr. How are you and school getting along? we are ok. Had a good rain last night. Everything is warm and cozy. I still love to live here. Mr. and Mrs. Husky was down Saturday nite. They are still running after that old cuss trying to get his money he worked for last summer. He was on crutches but doing very well. Doctor said would be 6 months before he could do anything. She said she wrote you so guess she wrote you all the news. Buddy was liking school better. Guess they had a time with him. When Boyd and all the rest started to school, and he was left out. Said she came in and found him crying and he couldn't stop. I feel so sorry for Buddy, but you can't live anybody else’s life. Said Judy sure did like teaching and Pam likes her new school. JW called yesterday said they had called him that Nathan Mix had passed away. He was Grandpa's nephew and Wilburn’s cousin, I guess. Anyway, they lived close to Dallas and Grandad said he couldn't drive so we won't go. Wish you were here to drive for us. JW said they were going to the Fair last night at Lubbock. I don't know a thing of news. You know not much goes on here. Write when you find the time. I love you. Grandparents.
Letter from Kay Johnson 23 Sept 1968
Dear Jr. It was good to hear from you as usual. How is everyone out there? We're all fine. Grandma. and Grandpa are still down at the lake. I don't know how long they're gonna stay. School lets out early tomorrow for the South Plains Panhandle Fair. I can't wait. I wish you were back here to enjoy it. I wonder if Buddy in entering the rodeo. What do you hear out of the Huskys? Do they write you? I still haven't got the package yet. We'll be in Lubbock tomorrow, so we'll go by and check on it. I hope it comes soon because those people have got where they groan every time, we come in. Every time we're in Lubbock we go by and it’s never there. Oh well its bound to get here someday. I was gonna be smart and send you "Shoot 'em Up Baby" by Andy Kim since you liked it so well, but it’s been off the surveys so long that I can't find it at any of the stores. I'll keep looking and if I do find it, I'll send it to you, ok? I like all the new songs that are out. Especially Hey Jude and Baby Come Back. I haven't heard "The Weight" yet. We probably won't even get it. I take that back. It just came on the radio except Jackie DeShannon sings it. Your individual reading class really sounds neat. We don't have anything like it. All we do is read and do book reports. That doesn't bother me cause I like to read. In English 1 we're taking literature. I really like it. Texas Tech takes up classes tomorrow morning. Just think maybe in about a year from now you'll be going to Texas Tech. I hope you get to come back out and go to school here. It'd be real cool having you right here in Texas and not way out in California. When do you graduate? I told Mom I was gonna fly out to your graduation, but she didn't think too much of that. When are you gonna get your senior pictures? You'd better be sure and send me one. You've already had them taken, haven't you? School is passing fast. We've already gone a month out here. A good friend of mine Debbie McClain has had a terrible experience. I
don't think you met her, did you? Well anyways last weekend her mom and Dad who were separated were driving separate cars and he forced her to stop and then pulled out a gun and shot her then killed himself. Mrs. McLain is still in the hospital. His funeral was Wednesday. It was just terrible, and I feel so sorry for Debbie. You just never know what might happen do you. We won another football game Friday nite. Looks like we just might be district champions again. No conceit just facts. ha! I guess I rattled on enough write back soon. ok? Your cousin
Letter from Buddy Husky 23 Sept 1968
Dear Jr. Well, I guess it was about time I sat down and wrote you a letter. I hadn't forgot you. It was just that it was hard for me to set still long enough to write you. How is everyone back there. Is your hair long yet? I hope that those Californians didn't make too much fun of you dressed like a cowboy. Speaking of being a cowboy I am working part time pushing cattle at that new sale barn in Lubbock I showed you. It sure gets large when you have to walk around it. I am using my horse out there. It sure is good experience for both of us. I started school Monday. I am taking English, history, biology, horticulture (the study of vegetables, fruits) and I am also taking rodeo P. E. At our first class meeting we had to clean up the rodeo arena, pull weeds, build stalls, and haul hay. I have P.E. today but I hope we don't have to clean up anymore. I am driving back and forth to school which is 60 miles round trip. I was late to history class this morning, so I didn't go. The teacher said last class meeting if we were late that he would run us out of class if we were late. I would get really embarrassed to have him run me out, so I just didn't go. He seems to be mean because he said if we clicked our ball point pens, he will run us out. I may not last in that class too long. ha.! I sure wish this year was over, but it hasn't even started. Its 11 am Texas time and I has English at 1:00 O’clock. I had to write an autobiographical essay of myself for English. Boy was that hard. Excuse the English in this letter because I am writing fast so I can get everything I think written before I forget it. I’ll write soon to keep in touch. Your Cowboy friend Buddy.
24 Sept 1968 Tuesday
Got up at 7 and got ready for school like always. In art didn't do anything and the rest of the day I didn’t do anything. Feeling better then yesterday but it’s awfully hot. 100 degrees. Having a small Santa Ana wind condition. For dinner we had spaghetti and watched TV until 9 o' clock. In my room I tried to do some of my homework. I finally went to bed at 11. In the news Ol’ Humphreys is out here in California promising everybody the moon. They had decided to let that nigger Clever speak at Berkeley though Reagan is foaming at the mouth about it. I don't want anybody for President anymore. I don't care who gets it now that McCarthy's out.
• The TV show "Mod Squad" premiered on ABC and continued to 1973. It was about 3 hip young cops who worked undercover in LA. A film version was begun in 1998. 1968
• The CBS news magazine "60 Minutes" premiered on CBS-TV on a Tuesday night. Don Hewitt created and produced the TV news show "60 Minutes." He wrote his book "Minute by Minute" in 1985.
25 Sept 1968 Wednesday
Go Got up at 7:15 to get ready for school. I brought to School Service Art a picture and my paints from home, so I’ll have something to do. Mr. Wendt ignores me. In Civics just talked about the election and in biology we had lab. Me and Jody did most of the work in our group. At lunch went home with Jaeger and Alan but dropped off at my house. I got a letter from Kay and Buddy finally. Frances Ann was over because she is giving Charline a baby shower in October. Went back to school and after it was over, I listen to the radio almost the rest of the night except for a new show called "Here come the brides" Went to bed at 11:00 Had warmed over spaghetti for dinner. It was hot again today 98 degrees. My cousins Gary and Terrie were picked up on Marijuana charges! Wrote Kay and Buddy today.
• Here Come the Brides is a television series that aired on the ABC television network from September 25, 1968 to April 3, 1970. It was loosely based upon the Mercer Girls, an effort to bring civilization to old Seattle by importing marriageable women from the east coast of the United States in the 1860s. As a television western, it was a bit of an oddity in that it rarely featured any form of gunplay, and violence was generally limited to comical fistfights. Stories highlighted the importance of cooperation, racial harmony, and peaceful resolution of conflict. Plots were usually a mix of drama and humor. Being one of the first shows targeted at young women, most of the humor was at the expense of the men, but not particularly bitingly so.
26 Sept 1968 Thursday
Got up at 7 and got ready to go to school. I painted in School Service art and in civics prepared for a test tomorrow. In biology took notes and at lunch went to the school library and in 5th period I finished. reading my book. After 6th period I came home, and Mom and Charline were gone over to Bonnie’s. I got a letter from Grandma Johnson today. I took a shower and but some more crab killer on me after I started itching again. In the afternoon watched TV and the rest of the night including "Gypsy" with Rosalind Russell which was good. For dinner had meat patties in gravy. The weather was a little cooler and breezier then yesterday. 85 degrees. Donna and Terry came over today. I' m going to the game tomorrow. We play La Habra and that’s always fun. Geometry is getting hard for me. I hope I can keep up. Mr. Huggett is so boring. Grandma and Grandpa Williams Anniversary.
• Hawaii Five-O premiered on CBS TV and continued to 1980. It starred Jack Lord (d.1998 at 77) and was the longest running police show in TV history. It’s theme song was "Walk Don’t Run" by the Ventures.
27 Sept 1968 Friday
Weather a lot cooler 80 degrees. Got up and went to school. In school service art filed down some blocks and in Civics took a test. In biology took notes and at lunch went to the Pep Assembly in the Gym. In individual reading I'm rereading ''Becket'' to compare with "Thomas". After school I got my work down and prepared to get ready for the game tonight. Took the car down and washed it and at 5:30 I went over to Donna’s with some donuts. At 6:15 went and picked up the friends that were going with me. We got to La Habra early and went to Taco Bell. At the game met some girls and we all goofed around the rest of the night yelling Pep Yells! Rancho won the game 14-7 and ever body ran out onto the field. Celebrated all the way home down Beach Blvd. I went to bed at 11.
28 Sept 1968 Saturday
Got up at 10:30. Cold this morning overcast like it might rain. I didn't do much all day just changed my room around. Donna and Terry came over in the afternoon until Mom and Dad left to go to Fed-Mart. In the late afternoon Donna and Terry came back over and I went and bought a new ink pen and a record "Shoot 'Em Up Baby". In the evening Mom and Dad and Donna and Terry went over to Frank and Barb's to party. Charline and I stayed home and bought a pizza and watched TV the rest of the night. In bed at 11:30. The weather is crummy. 70 degrees. Wish it was warmer. Politics is all there is in the news. What is there about a political year that causes people to act goofy?
• Beatles' "Hey Jude" single went #1 on the Billboard Chart and stayed #1 for 9 weeks.
29 September 1968 Sunday
Got up around 10:30. Tried to clean up my room. The weather is poor and cold. The kind I hate. I rather have it hot then cold. I just can't get warm when I'm cold and cold weather depresses me. Grandma. and Grandpa Williams and Minnie came over around 2 o'clock. Mom and Dad had just finished hanging a new lamp in the dining room. I took Minnie over to Donna and Terry's because she had never been there. They all left around 4:30. The rest of the night watched TV until I went to bed at 9:30. Ain't feeling too well. Wrote Buddy today. Mom called J.W. this morning. Grandpa Johnson' s got a cataract on one eye. Talked to Kay on the phone.
• This date marks the thirtieth anniversary of Neville Chamberlain's Munich agreement ceding Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland to Hitler. This action widely seen as a major contributing factor to the devastation of World War II. The domino theory which underlay so much of American action in Vietnam can be seen as a direct response to the failure of international response to the German dictator.
Letter from Judy Husky Schroeder 29 Sept 1968
Dear Junior. It was good to hear from you. Not much is happening around here. I'm still enjoying my school teaching. I teach arithmetic, spelling, English, geography, health, science, reading, and art. I'm not very good at teaching art. Speaking of Art, Johnny liked the picture you had on the front of the letter, so he took it to school and put it on his wall. I liked it too, but he wouldn't let me keep it because he wanted it. Buddy is doing great in college now. Also, he is working at a stock barn on weekends. That's where they auction off cattle. Buddy rides a horse and drives them into the ring. He is living at home and driving back and forth from Levelland. Texas. I think that's about 60 miles from Lubbock. I think he is still planning on being a Vet. Daddy's foot is still bothering him. Mother said today he may have to go back to the doctor's before the 8th. They may come down here next weekend. Mother seems to be doing just fine. Pamela didn't say much on the telephone when I called today but she seems to be doing fine. Yes, I'm really enjoying my home especially when Johnny comes home. Hey Junior, I didn't even know Charline was married. Have you been keeping secrets from me? To answer your question about Buddy's smashed thumb I don't think he ever went to have it seen about. I really don't have too much to write about. Nothing interesting. But I guess I better go and write my cousin Marcia. May God Bless. Love Ya. Johnny and Judy
Letter from Grandma Johnson 29 Sept 1968
Dear Grandson. How are you. We are well. Weather still pretty though I heard was a cold front due tomorrow evening. Grandad sure enjoying his trot line. Sure, gets some big old cat fish. We'll soon have the deep freeze full. Mrs. Riggin broth me a gallon of grape juice. I made some of the best jelly. They keep us in vegetables. We are going to Abilene with Mr. and Mrs. England Monday. Will shop some. Did let the bird dog run loose till he brought in 2 men's hats and a quilt. I don't know the shoes he has drug in if they were only mates. We will go to Haskell in the morning. Get a few groceries. I don't know where Kay ever got her records or not. Pauline said Bobby and Laura took Margaret home. Haven't heard from John. Don't know where Joy ever had her baby or not. He sure was worried about it. There’s nothing that would be news so will close. Love You. Grandparents.
30 Sept 1968 Monday
Didn’t go to school today. Felt sick to my stomach. Slept till noon. I got a letter from Grandma Johnson and Mrs. Sullivan. I got up and didn’t do anything all afternoon. The weather is so miserable. Cold, damp, overcast, just plain miserable. In the evening when Dad got home from work, I took the car to Rancho and got some books to study. For dinner had taquitos and watched TV rest of the night including Laugh-In and Carol Burnett. Went to bed at 11. Mom is sick too with an upset stomach. Charline got a letter from Gary's mother. Gary' s blood is RH positive, and Charline is RH negative. It may harm the baby. hope to God it doesn't. That would be awful. Weather 70 degrees. Just three months more until the new year. What’s to come?
• The 1st Boeing 747 was rolled out of the Everett, WA., assembly building.
• The Big Mac was created by McDonald’s franchisee Jim Delligatti in Pittsburgh. It sold for 49 cents.
• The Soviet spacecraft Zond ("Probe") 5 became the first to loop around the moon and return to Earth. The L-1, given the name Zond, was a spacecraft designed to carry two cosmonauts on a single loop around the moon. The L-1 suffered repeated failure and never flew with a crew. The unmanned L-1s traveled to the moon five times under the Zond name.
• The 900th U.S. aircraft is shot down over North Vietnam.
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