4 April 1991

Dear Todd:

Congratulations!  Hopefully you won’t even be in Saudi Arabia any more when you read this.

As far as snow for skiing is concerned, it’s looking pretty grim.  Here in Springfield the snow is already all gone.  If you’re home, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

So how was your Easter?  Did you get a chance to celebrate with a big Easter dinner or anything?  On Easter Day my whole family (9 of us) went for a 2-hour hike in the thick of the woods – it was pretty exciting.

I guess I’ll let you go for now.  I wish you the best back in the U.S. & God bless you.

Love,

Jolie

2 April 1991

Today someone came into the office who reminded me a lot of that really weird guy in the movie Twister.  His hair was cut the same length, brown, but was curlier.  He wore jeans (which was different from the Twister guy), a black leather jacket, and he carried a black motorcycle helmet.  He had that slow, annoying whiny sound to his voice like Mr. Twister, only not as bad.  His face had a pointy feminine look to it like that Twister fellow, but the look was handsome on him because it was shadowed with masculine whiskers.  Overall he was rather attractive, which is surprising since he reminded me of that weird guy in Twister.

10 March 1991

Last night I babysat for my boss.  I was lucky because last night both Kimmy and Ken fell asleep on the couch by 9:30.  First I carried Ken upstairs, changed his diaper & put him in bed with his nightlight and tape player on.  Then I carried Kimmy up.  I quickly took her clothes off and put her pajamas on before she woke up and had a tired tantrum.  I put her to bed, but had to wake her for a second to give her her medicine.  Neither one of them really “woke” up; they probably didn’t remember how they got to their rooms the next morning.

Later, as I was watching T.V., their big golden retriever, Blondie, came over to be petted.  I sat by her for a while, then got up to go to the bathroom.  When I got back, Blondie looked up guiltily from my purse and backed away.  I picked up my purse to find she had slobbered all over it.  She had even unsnapped it with her nose and slobbered on the inside!  I cleaned it out with Kleenex.

Tomorrow is Maggie’s 22(?) birthday and Amy is her birthday buddy, so since she had to work she asked Keiko & I to work on the decorations.  We made 3 signs and put one on the stairwell door, one in the bathroom, and one on Maggie’s door.  Mine is on the stairwell door.  It says:  “BART says:  Hey, man, wish Maggie a happy 22nd, dude.”  And I copied a picture of Bart Simpson in the corner of the sign from a picture on Poonam’s door.  Then Keiko & I decorated Maggie’s door with streamers.  We put a sign at eye level on the door and framed it with spiralled red crepe paper.  Then we took 3 different colored balloons that Keiko had blown up and put one above the door, one to the right of the sign, and one to the left of the sign; they were all on the door’s frame.  Then we took pink crepe paper and twisted it from the top balloon, swooping out & down to the side balloons, then spiralling straight down the sides of the door.  Then we took 4 short strips of the red crepe paper and folded them in half at an angle so they looked like “blue ribbons” given for the best apple pie at a fair, and put one in each corner of the framed sign.  For an extra touch we took 4 smaller strips of pink crepe paper and folded them in half the long way; we twisted them in a circle and taped one end together, then fluffed out the other end so it looked like a little pink carnation.  We put one in each corner on the red ribbons.

Later tonight Beth, Keiko, Andy, & I decided to bake a cake for a party tomorrow for Maggie.  LeeAnne had already measured the oil & added the eggs to it and gave it to Beth in a cup.  We each tried to be helpful, but no one was sure enough of their culinary skills to take charge.  Andy tried to clean a bowl for mixing in by using Ajax.  We all laughed & teased him about that.  We couldn’t find a cake pan, so we used a cupcake pan instead, only we didn’t have paper cupcake holders.  We just greased each cup, powdered them with flour, and poured in the mix.  Beth had to leave early because she was expecting a call from her dad, and the rest of us sat around joking and staring at the oven wondering if the cupcakes were done.  When we did take them out they were all crumbly, and we crumbled them into what resembled moist soil into a Tupperware container.  We had some mix left, so we added oil to it so it wouldn’t be so crumbly and spread it into a square on a cookie sheet.  When it was done we put it in a different container.  We laughed & joked about the ruined cupcakes & finally decided we’d make “dirt” by first laying the square in a bowl or pan or something, then smoothing chocolate pudding on top of that, and covering that with the moist crumblies.  For a final touch, we will probably put a flower in it so it looks authentic.

Update:  In the end, Andy just bought a chocolate German cake in a box; Maggie heard about but never saw her 1/2-inch tall birthday cake or her cupcake crumbles.

9 March 1991

Hi Tim!

I got two letters from you at about the same time – Pretty nice.  First of all, when do you get to go home?  Hopefully real soon.  I know the reason I first wrote was because you’re in Saudi, but if you want to keep writing after you get back, that’d be great.  Truth is, it’s kind of boring around here, and a letter from you pretty much makes my day.  And no, I don’t have a boyfriend; but let’s stick to pen pals for now, okay?

By the way, you still owe me a picture.  I don’t care if it’s a bad one – look at mine; it’s definitely not one of my most flattering, but it is a picture!  And just to make you feel better, I rarely wear glasses.

Since you asked – Spain was great!  I stayed with a Spanish family the last 10 days, and every day they stuck me in their boiling sun for hours without sun screen.  But don’t worry, the burns eventually turned into a real nice tan.  The best part was a tiny village called Trujillo just west of Madrid.  It had this really old castle, and no other tourists!

Like you I’m going to teach, but I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to teach:  Math, Spanish, English, or just elementary education.  Just the other day someone told me I’d be perfect for the Peace Corps, so who knows?

Also like you I can listen to just about anything and eat all kinds of foods.  I like to listen to rock, classical stuff (like Bach), and 50s & 60s music.  But my latest favorite is that African group I told you about – Black Mambazo.  It’s all non-instrumental and mostly in Zulu, but it sounds really cool.  If you like I can send you a copy of my tape.  One of the few types of music I don’t like is that heavy metal head-banging stuff.  Naming my favorite foods is tough because I’ll try (and like) almost anything.  (Don’t worry, I never get fat.)  But I must say there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned cheeseburger and fries, with a chocolate shake to wash it down.

There really aren’t too many new groups out:  Wilson Philips, Nelson, Alias.  Mostly old groups like Sting are coming back with new songs.  The worst new group out is Vanilla Ice, a preppy rapper.

There’s a movie about the Doors out that’s really popular, and a Kevin Costner movie called “Dances With Wolves.”  Jack London’s story “White Fang” is a movie now, too.  What I want to see is “Awakenings” with Robin Williams.  It’s about a guy who wakes up from a coma after about 10 years.

The snow’s all melting here, so now everything is dripping wet.  A lot of the birds are already back and some people have even started wearing shorts again, even though the highs are still only in the 50′s.

I’m getting an apartment this summer and hopefully I’ll be able to do some traveling around the U.S. as well.  You wouldn’t believe how little I know about my own country.

So tell me:  what’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get back?  After 6 months you must have a whole list of things you want to do.  Whatever it is, make it creative!  As if I have to tell you that, Mr. Scuba, Sky, & Mountains!

Until next time, be good & keep healthy!

Love,

Jolie

P.S.  By the way, when’s your birthday?

P.P.S.  Long enough letter for you?

5 Marzo 1991

¡Hola Deborah!

As far as the apartment is going, it looks like you & Stephanie are going to be the only ones (I know) staying there for the school year, but I’ll be joining you guys in the summer (actually, you’ll be joining me in the summer).  Mom’s taking care of your leases, & I’m taking care of mine.

As far as Quantum Leap is concerned, we (meaning me & Amy) don’t watch much TV at all, even though we each have one.  She mainly watches MTV & I mainly watch the TV-10 movies.

Tonight I volunteered to do Telefund calling (you know, calling alumni to get them to pledge money to the university).  It was really fun, even though some people got rude about it.  Afterwards they said we could call anywhere in the U.S. free so I called Trudy & Ricky for awhile, then I called Jack.  Gladys was taking a nap so I didn’t get to talk to her.  Trudy & Patti positively hate each other, according to Trudy.  Also, Trudy turned herself in for treatment, for both depression and chemical dependency.  Did you know Trudy, her friend, Ricky, & his girlfriend are all living with Gladys?  Trudy also told me Gladys’s thinking of moving and (“you can’t tell your mom”) Ricky got his girlfriend pregnant.  I guess no one outside of their family knows, yet.  And she made it clear that Mom’s not to know yet either.  Ricky doesn’t have a job yet but they’re going to keep the baby.  And both Jack & Bob quit their jobs.

On to less depressing subjects, did I tell you the Mambazo concert was great?  Don’t worry, I have a copy of their Shaka Zulu tape from Andy & a copy of some other guy’s CD of them, so you can hear it when you get back.

You’ll have to write me details about these trips you’re taking!  And just how tan are you guys getting?  If you don’t stop having so much fun, I just might break & fly down there for Spring Break!

You got my pictures by now, didn’t you?  I’ve still got the negatives, and I know you didn’t get a picture of Sarah & Delilah yet.  Everyone wants one so I have to make reprints.  And with your camera – they lost it.  Mom kept asking them for it & finally they gave her your money back.  So you can buy a new one when you get back.  And Barbara and Bob want their New Years pictures.  Barbara wasn’t pleased when she found out I let you take them to Mexico.

Susie stayed with me last Saturday night while Amy went to a friend’s house.  She was sick & I had to babysit that night so we didn’t do much.  On Sunday we walked around a lot and she took pictures of the ducks.  I nearly went broke eating all my meals at BK & treating her to ice cream later.

I just wore my contacts for 40 hours straight.  I put them in around 9 AM on Thursday, stayed up that night until 4:45 AM working on English, and fell asleep with my clothes on and contacts in.  When I woke up a few hours later I only had time to change clothes and put a drop of Saline in each eye before I had to go to class.  And tonight I ended up babysitting late for my boss.  Before I left, I quickly took them out, cleaned them, and put them back in.  I just took them out again at 1:15 AM.  They were a little sticky, but I got them off fine.

Would you like to hear the explanation of why everyone thought Stephanie got sick & left Mexico?  Here’s the story:  Andy & I were talking about the latest news from Mexico (comparing notes).  We were talking about Stephanie when he suddenly mentioned that he had heard Maggie had gotten sick and had to go home early.  (Don’t worry she had tonsilitis but she’s fine now.)  Anyway, I was so busy thinking about Stephanie that I didn’t connect that he said Maggie instead.  So we talked about it for a few minutes, not realizing that the other person was having a completely different conversation.  Later when Mom picked me up, I mentioned what Andy had told me and asked if Stephanie’s parents had mentioned anything.  She got all worried that Stephanie was so sick she’d drop out of college, so she called Stephanie’s parents to see if she should pay the $140 rent down payment the next day or not.  Stephanie’s parents in turn got all worried and called Stephanie to see what was going on.  Stephanie didn’t know anything (except that it wasn’t true) and called both Andy & LeeAnne.  Meanwhile, Mom tells me she (& possibly Stephanie’s parents) think that Andy had just started the rumor to be popular or something!  I assured her that wasn’t true & went to ask Andy what went wrong.  After talking it over we realized it was just a tiny misunderstanding that got blown way out of proportion.  It certainly got people jumping, though, didn’t it?

Did you know there’s a nationally known author of children’s books living in Springfield?  I interviewed him for an English paper.  It was a very shocking interview:  he’s not anything like I had expected.  He’s 38, tall, and thin like a basketball player.  He’s also gay, “living in the 90′s” as he puts it.  It’s weird because at one time he was married for 5 years and now he’s living with a man.

I started this letter on the 5th and now it’s 2:00 AM on the 9th.  I better say goodbye now and get some sleep!  Get it?  (Ha!)  ¡Hasta Luego!

Love,

Jolie

P.S.  Talk about hurting hands!

Wednesday, 27 February 1991 8:10 P

War’s over!  I can’t believe it!  I just heard Bush on T.V.  He’s declaring a ceasefire tonight at midnight.  I never thought it could be this easy – I think most people were expecting WW III.  I guess George knew what he was doing.  I can’t wait until our troops get home, but it might be a while.  Our major casualties were the 28 killed in a bungalow bombed.  I think only 4 were killed in combat.  People joke about the new “drink” Scud Light.  Apparently it takes 9 to hit you.  (Sick, huh?)  So long, Saddam!

19 February 1991

Dear Tim,

How are you doing?  Keeping happy, I hope.  Just in case I enclosed this cartoon which – personally – I thought was hilarious!  It was in our university paper.

I just heard about the 4 Iraqi soldiers who surrendered to the Life Magazine reporters.  It sounds as though their morale is way down.  How’s the morale on our side?  I hear there is a strong sense of duty to the U.S. felt by most of the soldiers.

People are buying yellow ribbons left & right here to show their support of the soldiers.  They’re hanging on doors, cars, & trees.  Even my 11-yr-old sister is selling them.

So what do you do for fun?  Do you have many books, radios, or decks of cards?  Do you get time to write to your family a lot?

Here’s what’s going on in my life:  a week ago a guy in my dorm set his room on fire by throwing away a lit cigarette.  No major damage (except his toasted room) but the alarm kept going off for the rest of the day.  The weather is all screwed up; we’ll get freezing snow for one week, then a warm spring sun for the next week, and then it’s back to an icy blizzard.  And we finally heard from my older sister who is studying in Mexico for this semester.  She was working so hard she couldn’t find much time to write.  Is this your problem too?  Anyway, write when you get the time.

Love,

Jolie

P.S.  Don’t forget – you’re always in my prayers.

18 February 1991

Todd:

I put in this article from the university newspaper because I thought you might enjoy reading it.  It’s pretty funny but it makes you think, too.

When you said you went “up North” do you mean near the border?  Do you guys get a chance to “mingle” w/the Arabian people or are you mainly keeping to yourselves?

Enough questions.  Do you wanna hear how cruel our weather is being?  After a bone-chilling couple of months, the sun finally came out and melted the snow to almost nothing.  Then, after everyone decided to pack away their sweaters, an icy wind came along blowing away the sun and bringing in a thick screen of snow.  The foreign students are beginning to think there’s no such thing as real warmth here.

I heard the other day that the thing in greatest demand (by soldiers) in Saudi right now is M&M’s!  Are they really that popular?  Aren’t they melted by the time they get there?  (Hah!)

Speaking of chocolate, I think I’ll get out my modest supply and get back to my English homework.  Keep the letters coming, and I’ll keep praying for you.

Love,

Jolie

3 February 1991

Dear Debbie,

I thought I’d write to you & let you know how the Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert went.  When it first began, I thought they were going to be like Milli Vanilli, in the sense that their singing began before they were even on the stage.  They came in in two rows from the back of the audience.

The Arena was the fullest I’ve ever seen it.  I got a bleacher seat, but everyone I was going with – Maggie, Chris, & Keiko – all had seats up in the East Galley, a section above the bleachers.  Needless to say, the concert was sold out.  I really wanted to sit down in the bleachers, but I didn’t want to sit alone, so I tried to go with everyone else.  At first they wouldn’t let me through, then Chris got Maggie’s ticket & gave it to me to use.

[*Didn't send*]

31 January 1991

Dear Tim,

How are you doing?  I have no idea of what it’s like over there right now for you guys, except for what they tell on the news about scuds, plans of attack, and casualties.  Are you & your brother doing alright?  Please let me know.

As you’ve noticed by now, I’ve put in a picture of myself, but don’t think I always look that bad.  It’s one of my most recent pictures, taken this summer when I was in Spain for a month touring around with 100 other people from local high schools.  Yes, that’s the very first snail I ever ate, and it wasn’t all that bad – it just lacked any flavor.

We started a new semester about 10 days ago.  I’m still undeclared.  I’m taking English, Spanish, Math, Geology of Nat’l Parks, and Self Defense.  My classes are tough but they’re a lot of fun, especially my English class.  Right now we’re learning to write descriptions, anecdotes, and dialogue.  The textbook says we should practice by “observing” people – especially strangers – and describing them in detail.  Also, we should write down unusual overheard conversation.  Sounds like fun, huh?

Tomorrow night I’m going to listen to this really great Christian singer & guitar player with my younger sister here at the University.  Then Sat. I’ll probably babysit for my boss, and on Sunday I’m going with a bunch of friends to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the African tribe that sang with Paul Simon in “Graceland.”

I hope this war doesn’t drag on much longer, but from what I’ve heard of Saddam, he’d probably keep fighting just for the sake of fighting.  People here are divided on whether or not to support the war, but they all support you guys.  Keep on writing, and I’ll keep praying for you every day.

Until next time,

Jolie