September 27, 1962 writing from Columbus, Ohio on TWA In-Flight stationery
Dear Mother,
Well, I really don't know what to say. I saw him and I'm glad. It's just hard to explain to you. It was just good to see him, that's all.
In ORD, we met Kathleen and chatted. Then I took him on the airplane and I think he got a kick out of it. I had to check my galley so he stood and watched. Then I showed him the cockpit. The cockpit door was closed and when I opened it, the passengers had already started boarding, so I shut the door and he said, "Now what do I do?" He said he wouldn't fly on that pane for anything. I said he must be kidding. I asked him if he wouldn't feel safe with me, even if I held his hand, and he didn't want any part of it. He was so funny I almost split laughing at him.
He may stop in KC on his way out to Calif. Boy was he nervous. I think he found it hard to look at me.
Well, I have to board the old rattle trap now. More later, and please don't think I'm all in love again. I think I'm using my head for a change.
Love and xxxxxx's
Tish
November 13, 1962 Written on Mayfair Lennox Hotel stationery
Dear Mother,
Today I go to PHX and I'm so excited. I hope I can get a little sun. I have 35 hours there so I plan on being by the pool the whole day tomorrow.
We got the cookies yesterday and the girls thank you too. As usual, they are delicious.
I got my gloves yesterday. It was so exciting to open a box from Paris. They are beautiful. I feel so elegant in them and they fit perfectly. The girls went nuts over them. Thank you very much, mother dear.
I'm enclosing my Christmas and Birthday list. You told me to send my Christmas list - guess you forgot I'll be 21 on December 20th!! ha ha
Love, Tish xxxxxxxxx
November 16, 1962
First of all, I went to the KU-Calif. football game with George Sat. It was about 40 degrees and drizzled through the whole game. I knew, at my age, I should wear heels to a game, but I get too cold. So, I was smart. I wore a darling outfit of Jan's. It's a red plaid pleated skirt with a red plaid top that goes over the skirt to the hips with big pockets. The sleeves are black knit and it has a black knit turtle neck collar. I wore black knee socks and my new black suede boots. Actually, I looked like "Betty Co-ed", but I was warmer than Shirley, who we doubled with, in her heels. I still froze to death tho. I just can't take cold weather. (Never could and still can't!) As I sat there shivering I thought how hot I was the day before sitting by the pool in PHX.
KU won the game and afterwards we went to this place called The Stables. It was packed with kids. I finally got warmed up. Then we went back to KC and ate at a restaurant and George brought me home. I don't think I'll hear from him again, and couldn't care less. It seems as though this boy has one thing on his mind and I just couldn't put up with it any longer. I told him several things. One, he apparently never learned how to treat a girl on a date, and he certainly didn't know how to respect a girl. I said I didn't have to put up with it and wouldn't. Shortly after that, he left.
That's really the first time I've spoken so freely with a boy. He's only 22 and just doesn't seem grown up. You know, i used to think who was I to tell someone they're in the wrong because I never felt older, but I guess I've changed my thoughts. I'd rather sit home than fight him off!!
Yesterday I got ambitious and cleaned the spare room. What a mess! I just can't stand windows without curtains, so I ironed two pair of those white ruffly curtains that used to be in Dianne's room. We didn't have any rods in the spare room, so I hung them with brown heavy string. You'd be surprised at how good string works. You can't tell the difference, they look so pretty.Then I brought up an old antique chair from the basement and put that in there. I also took down the ironing board that always stayed up in that room, and now we store it in the hall by the back door. Then Diane and I ironed all the table cloths and napkins that had been on the couch in that room for about three months!
I got the dining room table all set for Jan and Sandy's Thanksgiving. I bought two little wax turkeys and some long brown candles. Then I fixed a basket with Indian corn and fruit to put in the center. I wanted everything to look real nice for them.
It will be hard to be flying on Thanksgiving, but I know it will be harder for you, mommy. I hope I get that trade so I can get home next weekend.
Love, Tish
November 30, 1962 St. Louis Layover
Dear Mother,
I got home okay Sunday night. No snow here! It was so good to be home. Thank you for everything! I unpacked and repacked for my flight. It's a long, tiresome day on that 286. When I got home, Jan had a date and when he came over he asked me if I wanted to go to the Apartment (neat bar with couches and chairs) with them and he'd call his roommate, Tom. I can't remember if I mentioned this when I was home that Tom is a teacher at Rockhurst (Catholic) College. He called me up last week and asked me out for last Saturday. Well, I decided to go and we met Tom there. He is a FINK! - (and that means really out of it!) He teaches Latin (no wonder!) and German. He is by far the oddest boy I ever met. When he took me home he didn't even walk me to the door!
In the course of our conversation earlier, he asked me if I would like to go to this meeting (or club) he belongs to for 21 - 34's at church. Well, I thought perhaps I could meet someone of interest there, so I said I'd go. He was also taking another fella who teaches Spanish at Rockhurst.
So Tue. I was laughing and joking about this character and said he'd probably just honk the horn for me. Well, 9:00 rolled along and there was a horn beeping out front. I really couldn't believe it! This guy is actually 29! We all go in hysterics and I refused to go out! So, finally he gave up on the honking and came to the door. We were all so furious that the girls weren't going to let me go. Jan went to the door to tell him I wasn't here, but she couldn't keep a straight face and said just a minute. She came upstairs laughing and said the other fella was wearing one of those gabardine type English trench coats all belted. I didn't know how I was going to regain my composure to go down there and face them....But I did, and we were off.
After a short meeting, they dim the lights and dance. There were about 80 people there and they seem like a good group. They have beer and pop. Of course, I had to dance with Tom and he does a complete box step about a foot away from me. He left for a minute and I was digging for a match when this fella came up to me and lit my cigarette and asked me to dance. This is really funny. We introduced ourselves and he asked me where I worked and I said TWA. He said do I know "so 'n so" who was there that night and I said no, and he said she worked in the office on Baltimore, and did I work out at MCI (the overhaul base). I said no, I'm a hostess and work in the air. Well, if you just could have seen the change of expression in his face. He completely lit up. It was a scream. Somehow, I was a different girl, entirely, to him.
I left poor Tom in the lurch and danced with this fella the rest of the time. His name is John Franzen. He asked me out for Sat. night and I said I went out on flight Friday, so he asked me out for dinner last night. He also came over after his night classes Wed. and we went out for coffee.
He's not real tall and not a complete doll head, but is loads of fun and very attentive and nice. We went out for dinner and I wore my gold knit dress with a scarf and he complimented me. Afterwards, we went window shopping on the plaza. The plaza, by the way, is out of this world. I've never seen decorations and lights like these. I really had a good time. He already asked me to go to the club's dinner dance at a country club on the 15th. And he wanted to meet me at the airport Sunday. It sure is nice to get all this attention all of a sudden.
I hope I haven't been boring you with all this jazz, but it's my way of talking to you like I used to when I'd come home from a date and you'd still be awake and I'd come in your room and sit on your dressing table stool and tell you all about it.
By the way, George didn't give up after my little talk. He's called twice. Maybe he'll take the hint now.
Love & xxxxxxxx's Tish
I was really looking forward to reading my letters from December 1962, my 21st birthday month. But, there aren't any letters from December! I really don't understand why. I wondered how I celebrated my birthday and, where I was on Christmas.....I don't know. The next leter is dated January 10, 1963.
Happy New Year!!!!
Happy New Year!!!!
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