The start of a new month which threatens to be a mighty wonderful one, as I go on beaming!

I took my Child Psych exam and studied for tomorrow’s Law job—had a hard time though to concentrate on anything so serious.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow with all my heart. It’s like a second chance after Bill had been sent to his P.O.E. and I didn’t expect to see him again for a long time. I hope that it all turns out beautifully cause now that the time is drawing near I’m becoming a little scared about the whole thing—but so extremely happy!

I took my Law exam in a rather coherent daze and finally got on the train to come home. I rode all the way up with George Crozden, an Ensign friend of Sheila’s, who made the trip very pleasant.

We got in Penn Station at eight and I met Mother, Glory—and Bill; and I’m happier than I’d even hoped to be. We came home and I saw Dad who looks much better than I expected—and everything seems swell. Home can be purty wonderful!

Bill looks grand and is even nicer than I’d remember—or perhaps it’s just that we’ve both grown up considerably. We talked a great deal and became acquainted all over again. He’s a wonderful person.

It continues to be beautiful! Dad’s birthday, with temporary storms smoothed over, took up some of the morning—Bill coming over to take me out driving in the family Chrysler over to Yohey’s to see them and his mother and sister—took some more time.

This evening Bill and I went into the city to the Music Hall to see “Mrs. Parkington” and then went to the Commodore to eat, drink and dance to Vaughn Monro’s orchestra. It was all very smooth and reminiscent of former good times—Bill came back to the house afterwards. We stayed up rather late talking deeply. He’s really serious in a wonderful way; and I’m not confused anymore. I’m so happy!

I really can’t believe this! Bill came over early this afternoon and after much discussion Mother and Dad decided I could go home to Wilkes-Barre for the night—since Bill was ordered to return to camp a day earlier.

At about 2, Bill, Gladys, Mrs. Boyd—Bill’s grandmother and I started driving the 150+ miles to Wilkes-Barre. It was a grand luxury to take that long ride. Their home is just what I’d expected—and Bill is super in that atmosphere—little things like watching him fix the furnace suddenly become important. We had a delicious seafood dinner in Exeter and then Bill and I thumbed through his old snapshot albums etc. back at his home. I felt as though I’d been there always!

I wish the time would pass to test Bill’s plans for the future. Things could get tremendously deep now. In a way, I wish we’d let them. Damn the war!

Bill woke me up and I gulped breakfast before taking the 2:45 a.m. train back to Hollis. He bought my ticket and a chair on the Pullman. God, I hated to say goodbye to Bill this time! He’s definitely going overseas—and I want to be with him so much more. I pray that future time comes soon. Oh how I want the war to be over! So that we could have a chance to live normally.

As soon as I got home Bill Brennan called and for the first time I was home to talk to him. He came over and we drove around with Mother and Dad. Then this evening I went over to the Brennan’s. (Breakfast with the Boyd’s—Supper with the Brennan’s. Even the cold light of morning was cosy however) Bill Brennan’s real nice-- is getting involved in the complications—and seems slightly bewildered—or perhaps I am!

These past few days have been the best ever. I’m so terribly thankful for them but wish they hadn’t stopped.

I relaxed around the house today writing a long letter to Bill and getting a big kick out of doing anything so simple as washing and ironing the handkerchief he gave me at the station: I have a terribly empty feeling without Bill and want to be with him so badly.

We had a Chinese lunch—drove around with Dad—and then Gloria came over this evening.

This has been the most perfect vacation ever—I sure wish I could live through it all again.

Election Day!

I arrived back at the KΔ House safely—and was taken back into the fold after much proper enthusiasm. My vacation still seems like a sensational dream and I loved it good.

My trip back was really pleasant—I rode back with a soldier who poured out a tragic story of mortal life, ill, and then 6 Airborne soldiers adopted me and I felt terribly smooth.

I got B+ on my Law exam and the same on my Psych exam. I was real pleased.

There was a letter from Floyd [CSSM] alumnal bulletin and a wonderful letter and postcard from Bill. He’s so super and I love him good!

Roosevelt appears to be winning the election by a landslide. Dewey would have made a good man too!

We dashed around all day—going to classes—fooling around downtown doing shopping. Flat Hat and Treasury work—and completely remodeling the pink n’ blue room as we chopped off the heads and feet of our beds and hauled 35-lb cement blocks up to the third floor, on which to rest the beds. I’m developing muscles!

The intramural swimming meet took place this evening. It was quite exciting.

Heil Roosevelt—as we roll up the Fourth term.

We dashed around finishing our room today and it really looks smooth. We covered the desk and bookcases with blue material and fixed our beds in true Roman couch style. We’re real impressed with it—comes with a new outlook on life—the pink and blue room now involves a new lease on things and we beam.

Tonight there was a big Festival for Books for War Prisoners fund. It was fun and really stirring—made us realize how tremendously lucky we are to be able to snare an education—and makes us want to do more with it.

Annual Honor Convocation was today. I beamed at being one of the students honored and at sitting on the stage because of my scholarship. It was a thrill!

The storm has set in as we begin to do our rushing business in earnest—staying up day and night to do invitations and the like.

Grades came out today. Mine weren’t too sharp: an A—3 Bs—and 2 Cs. The second C was in Modern Painting—can’t understand it cause I got B on my midsemester. I’m sure I can bring em up though.

I received a really potent letter from Bill today—he’s on his way to Camp Swift, Texas—and I received a recording of his voice. It’s tremendously sweet and thoughtful of him; and I miss him terribly!

A heck of an Armistice Day!

A classless Saturday, but we were buried under the mass of invitation-making and from the usual Flat Hat, KΔ stuff and hauling refreshments for the WAM barn dance.

Mrs. McClelland is down for the weekend and this evening Elaine and I went to the Lodge for dinner with her and Beth. Her brother came tonight too and the evening was a wonderful family affair. They’re all really tops and I love ‘em good. Our weary outlook has been refreshed!

Our last day of quasi-peace and we took advantage of it to sleep real late today. From there on in we made invitations till we dream of them and did last minute preparations for tomorrow as the deadline is here.

This evening Elain, Eleanor and I broke away and went to the movies to see “Going My Way” again. It gave us a refreshing outlook.

Already yet we’re weary!

[Fastal] Day!

Rushing has started with a bang and even now our smiles have began to wear them around the Gay [Chitchat] edges. The thought that it’ll all be over a week from now cheers us immensely though.

There was no rushing this evening and we went to the concert given in Phi Bete by Mona Paulee, the Metropolitan opera Mezzo-Soprano. She was excellent and I enjoyed it tremendously.

I received a howl of a letter from Lee Shepherd, one of the Airborne soldiers from Camp Mackall, whom I met on the train back from Billsburg last week.

And still the ever-increasing numbers of Freshmen roll in. They’re all dears and I love ‘em good, but I do wish I was seeing less of them.

I reaped in the mail today!—from home, Jimmy (who has just bought a motorcycle), Eddie and three letters from Bill in Texas (they’d all piled up and just arrived today—his letters are all quite wonderful!)

My outlook has changed and to my amazement I find that I’m almost enjoying Rushing this year. Today was our Ration Book day—and we dressed in gray skirts and yellow sweaters, without shoes—very effective.

We dashed around all day—and then I stayed up until 5:30 doing invitations.

Surprisingly I’m less tired today than I’ve been in a long time, in spite of getting little sleep last night.

Our Daisy Mae and Li’l Abner party made a big hit and we beam at the enthusiastic way with which our endeavors are received. We lean toward the optimistic.

I received two more sensational letters from Bill. He wants to give me his school ring. I don’t know.

The last day of regular house-rushing as we dressed up smoothly in our black dresses and had a white rose ceremony - Now we devote ourselves to manual labor of decorating for our big parties Sunday and Monday; Tuesday the bids go out; and Wednesday we settle down to a normal existence again.

Another wonderful letter from Bill. He’s written every day since I’ve seen him, and is so tremendously sweet.

An interlude between house rushing and the parties, as we worked quite hard putting up decorations for tomorrow’s Candyland Party - while the manual labor approach begins.

Bill’s letter was kind o’ sad, as he plans to go overseas really soon; and then he wrote Mother and Dad a rather potent letter. I want to be with him so badly.

We slept an’ slept until time to get up for dinner today, and then dashed around doing last minute things for the Candyland Party. The Party was a success and all went better than expected.

This evening we went through the frustration of tearing down Candyland invitations and putting up decorations for Hotel Party.

The last day of Formal Rushing as we heave a sigh of reactionary relief and prepare to wait for the bids to come out tomorrow night and learn whom the sisters will be. This suspense is terrific!

Our Hotel Party was really smooth, and we were pleased with it. I can almost turn sentimental now that my last year of formal rushing draws to a close.

A letter from Bill was rather hurried from overseas preparations but was very sweet. I hate to think of him actually going overseas. I want the war to be over so tremendously - more than ever now.

A day of suspense, waiting to learn how many Freshmen are going KΔ - as we bit off all our fingernails. Till we knew, Elaine, Beth, Eleanor and I went to the Lodge for supper and then went to see “Sweet and Lovely,” the Benny Goodman movie and felt so much better about the whole thing.

We sat around excitedly the rest of the evening - and nearly died at word that KΔ snared 39 pledges - All wonderful girls too. The second largest group was 28, which means we’re really tops. Oh God, we’re so terribly thrilled and happy about this whole thing, and can’t believe it.

Our beam perseveres though we’re still not convinced that KΔ has truly acquired 39 new sensational pledges. It’s so much more than we’d even hoped for that it still hasn’t penetrated.

At noon today Silence was broken, and we all swamped over to the dorms to gush and take the new KΔs to the Greek’s for lunch. We swamped the place and practically tore it down in our exuberance.

Then this evening we had a mass buffet supper for all. It was very nice.

Another wonderful letter from Bill, which gave me a rather convincing glow.

Back to an ersatz normality, as the realization hits us of how far behind we are in our work. It’s an unattractive prospect, cause I’d much rather relax and bask in the glory of our pledges, instead of driving away with this study business

Big boxes from home - and Beth, Elaine, Eleanor and I celebrated our home Thanksgiving by munching on cold roast chicken and the like. It was wonderful!

Today’s letter from Bill was another terribly sweet one. He’s so very understanding - Keeps telling me to shop around so that I’ll really be sure of what I feel.

A rainy, miserable day with still more work to be accomplished. It doesn’t seem as though I can possibly get it done, but I’ve thought that before and somehow it usually does get done. I surely am living for Christmastime though at this point.

I did some Flat Hat work and then became emerged in Child Psychology. It’s interesting stuff but at times becomes boringly involved.

Bill’s letter was wonderful again. I’m getting so spoiled from so many letters from him, but I love it.

I slept later this morning and then moseyed around downtown doing the errands I hadn’t had time for, during Rushing.

This afternoon we had an informal Rush party for Vivian Moses, [Joyce] Wilck, and Barbara Simons, three girls who were undecided when bids were handed out.

Tonight I was forced to do Child Psych and was much annoyed at having to study of a Saturday evening, especially since I had to fight a wonderful beam after having called Bill. It was a poor connection, but his voice was quite clear and I heard him say a lot of wonderful things. I do so wish it were an around-the-corner call though.

A Sunday best forgotten, since it involved much studying for Child Psych.

House Committee gave us a call down for hair on our dresser scarf after we’d spent hours vacuuming and cleaning our room. We momentarily blew off, but otherwise our spirits remained unruffled.

My little sisters are Margo Ross and Margie Beers, both wonderful girls!

A nastily rainy day, with the Child Psych Exam verging on the stinker variety - though I think I made a B out of it.

We had a Contracts quiz, and then the rest of the afternoon I vainly tried to study for tomorrow’s Fine Arts exam. The steady pace still continues!

Mail from Mother and Dad, Floyd and Bill - all very nice. Bill seems to be doing very well with the 96th Chemical Battalion and I’m pleased.

Song practice and sorority meeting (our first since before rushing)

Elaine’s and my Christmas presents to each other arrived - they’re sensational beer mugs with KD seal and our nicknames.

This morning featured last minute studying for my Modern Painting Exam, which wasn’t as bad as expected.

This afternoon and evening involved reaction of having no immediate exams for which to study - and I even took time out to play bridge - the first in weeks.

News that Lib Taylor, our province president, is coming Friday made us start to scurry around getting records, etc. up to date.

Beth and I have decided to go to Tappahannock to spend Thanksgiving with Floppy and Scarlett. It sounds like fun and we’re really looking forward to it.

Sweet letter from Bill!

We dashed around this morning, doing last minute things and then at 2:30, Beth and I hopped the bus to Lee Hall. We had to change buses there and stood in the middle of the crossroads in the pouring rain, causing certain experience. Beth and I always have fascinating fun when we set out on an adventure together

At seven Floppy and Scarlett met us in Tappahannock and drove us out to their beautiful home where they live all by themselves. They cooked supper and then we went to a typically small town movie to see “There’s Something About a Soldier”. We had a soda and then bulled around the living room fire. Such a wonderful atmosphere.

Happy Virginia Thanksgiving!

Beth and I slept late and then the four of us cooked a tremendous dinner - shrimp cocktail, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed onions, peas, stuffed celery, biscuits, cranberry sauce and minced meat [pork]. We sipped sherry and had a lovely time - hating to leave and come back to Billsburg. It was really an experience being completely on our own - and much fun to be that domestic.

Back into the usual mad hysteria at the KΔ House!

The 40th pledge:- Jeanne Owens.