Sunday, October 1, 1972

Oct 1, 1972

13119 Hermitage

Dear Family,

The big news this weekend is the weather — a cool front finally penetrated as far as Houston and it’s cool in this part of Texas for a change. This morning (at 8:30 AM yet) the temperature is 55°F and outside it almost feels like summer in El Cerrito. The change started with a rainstorm Friday evening which was preceded with a pot of spectacular lightning but with only a small amount of thunder. When we got up Sat morning and I stepped outside I felt like I should run inside and get a jacket (but I didn’t, just shivered in delight instead). The rain was a little over an inch and this plus several other rains this past week have kept the ground moist and the grass green. Palma just came thru the kitchen loudly asking what she is supposed to wear to church this morning as all her current wardrobe is adapted to hot muggy weather, but I’m sure she’ll make out all right — she said she slept with her windows open last night and woke up to a really cool room. I wonder what our reaction to this kind of a change will be a year from now — yesterday evening we were at another Shell family’s house for dessert and a visit and they were saying that their neighbors (Houstonians for 4 years) had complained about this awful cold weather that had descended on them.

Yesterday was a rather busy day, seemingly with a good part of it taken up in a couple of shopping expeditions. In the morning after finishing up the usual Sat AM chores I drove off to the bank, and then to Sears where I bought a new battery for the old Plymouth (the battery gave out one day last week so I had to take the old one to Sears when I got the new one, and install the new one myself) and also some brackets to steady the gate post (that leads to the garage) to the house. The post moves in the ground and the gate binds against the garage wall (it did, that is, I fixed it later yesterday afternoon). Then on to a post office station for stamps and a stationery store for a 3 ring binder for Jean, and a last stop at Weingarten’s for some grocery shopping. After lunch I swept pine needles & oak leaves off the roof again, gardened a bit, then took Laurel & Jean shopping for some jeans & shoes for Laurel. I used the trip to get some picture wire (for the mirror I’m going to put up in the front hall this afternoon) and a new needle for the record player as the old one was giving out — just happened to locate a shop that had the appropriate kind.

Friday evening we had the Johnstons over for bridge (and talk and dessert); it was fun playing bridge again after a long time. When they left about 11 PM the lightning preceding the cool front was just starting, but I think they got home before the rain started. Tuesday evening was open house to Spring Forest Jr High where Laurel goes; both Jean and I were favorably impressed by the teachers — most of them comparatively young and still idealistic. Wednesday I took Jean to a candidates night for the upcoming school board election & then to a “tea” for Shell wives of the area. Wasn’t too much impressed by the candidates, either incumbents or challengers. Thursday Laurel has her first violin lesson with her new teacher & likes her. The new from Muriel continues good but she didn’t write much about her classes.

All for now With love, Carl