Jul 08 - Chess, Football & Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Saturday, July 8, 1972 - Page 190
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

(4:00 PM 7/9/1972)
I woke up today at about 10:00 A.M. when Tom Shearing came in. They found me in the retreat house at 8:00, when they saw I wasn't in Abbott's. Before getting to work, I played a game of chess with Mike Mills and beat him. We worked on the walks leading from the reception center --- (TEMPORARILY STOPPED) It is now July 9, 4:30 -- to continue with last entry -- Mike and I layed about 30 feet of side walk, with Greg, Jeff, and Tom mixing, and Jim & Pearce making the forms. Tom H., Bruce, John & Clint worked at the Sheckle's again -- they'll be gone till Monday or Tuesday, so they won't work there again for awhile.

Mike & Greg mixing cement

I want to get this over quickly, so I'll go as fast as I can -- Six nuns came Saturday, so did Penny, whom I met in January. I played her a game of chess after supper (won of course). I tried to find Bruce so we could give her the psych test -- I found him in the Abbott's Cabin playing chess with Greg -- he lost several games, and things deteriorated into a philosophical/theological discussion that persisted till 11:30 P.M. (that's a period of several hours).

I gave Tom Shearing my drawing of the girl on page 153 [6/1/72],* so she's not there anymore [Side note: * See page 153 for info on that. (June 1)] -- he appreciates art so I let him have it for free tho he offered to pay. --- We played football today: Me & Bruce against Greg, Mike & John -- when Jim joined our team, we won, 21 to 7. Rah! --- Jonathan Livingston Seagull has made its appearance. I'm "in" cause I've read it.

Wikipedia: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach, is a fable regarding a nice-guy seagull learning about life & flight, and a homily about self-perfection. First published in 1970, over a million copies were in print by the end of 1972, Reader's Digest had published a condensed version, and the book reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller list where it remained for 38 weeks.

TOMORROW: Geri from Europe Trip Arrives

Jul 07 - Darlene, horses & an unfortunate allergy

Friday, July 7, 1972 - Page 189
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

(4:30 pm 7/9/1972)
Can't remember much of today -- Mom called and Jain [mom's sister] was still there so I talked to her, Willie [Jain's son: my cousin] was still there so I talked to him (he's fifteen now -- gee, last time I saw him, he was knee high to a coke bottle). We layed the side walk from the steps of the retreat house to the drive way -- we didn't lay it all, but finished what needed it. I primarily layed the cement in the forms, and finished the surface.

Mike mixing cement for sidewalks

The days have been hot -- Friday was hot too, so Tom Shearing, Greg and Jeff went swimming at Lion's Head (that's the place we swam at before). Clouds moved in fairly quickly, followed by lightning, thunder and rain which lasted at most fifteen minutes. Then the skies cleared again. Bruce, Clint and John worked down at the Sheckle's place, cleaning up the flood damage. They rode back on horses, with Darlene Sheckle, a cute 22-year-old gal who stayed for supper.

Fr. Gil forbade any further riding of horses because last time he permitted it, it cost him a couple of vet bills. But we had to ride the horses back, so I rode bareback with Darlene, Tom H. rode with Clint, and Bruce & John rode single -- two colts followed along. Darlene is a friendly person I'd like to know better -- but there's a problem -- for the first time in my life I was allergic to horses. When we left their place to drive back in the rain I became very sick, sneezing and wheezing. I slept in the retreat house so I'd not disturb anyone. Mike Mills (the National Guardian) came back late Friday nite.

TOMORROW: Jonathan Livingston Seagull