The Honeymoon Was Over ( Six Months Before It Began) !

The following chart is not my Blood Pressure, although it is up today and my head is aching. Weather change in progress, probably. My hub says I can predict the weather better than Tom Perillo (weatherman on T.V.).

This is a Cultural Adaptation chart. Actually it is quite accurate for my move to The Netherlands 35 years ago. (Suppose my spouse went through this same rollercoaster when he came to live here in Louisiana nine years ago.)

The following Love Letter to my parents on February 1, 1980 says it all:

1 februari 1980

vrijdag middag

Dear Mother and Daddy,

We've got real blue sky and sunshine today, and I'm a little " under the weather." We visited J's family last weekend and everyone was sick with colds. I guess I picked up a 'bug' from one of them. Right now it is a scratchy throat. I wonder what will be next.

I happened to think today that I haven't written in over a week. Well, there hasn't been much going on. And since I haven't worked at all so far this year, you can imagine what shape I'm in. I've visited a couple of employment agencies, but no luck yet. I don't mind being at home, but there isn't anyone here to talk to. And since I am not working, I don't feel like I can go shopping. So you can see it is indeed a drag.

We received your Valentine card two days ago. I've got it sitting in the living room window. I bought Valentines when I was in Alex., so I'll mail those next week. We may celebrate the day in Amsterdam at the Mexican restaurant. We haven't been there since late November, so that will be a treat.

Tuesday I went on an Ancor (American Women's Club) tour of the Rotterdam police station. We were treated royally and spent from 10:00 am-4:00 pm seeing the mounted police, etc. I really wish that we could meet every week. At least I would have something to look forward to. Maybe next week I'll go work at the Thrift shop.

We will have a new queen on April 30. Queen Juliana made a short announcement  on t.v. and radio at 8:00 last night that she will abdicate the throne to Beatrix on the Queen's birthday. This was expected several years ago, but old Dutch ladies think they know all and know best. J's mom is no different. She can hardly believe that I'm capable of handling everything. She doesn't know what good teachers I had, huh?

J. and his parents want to go skiing in Italy in March. I'm not overly excited because I will be left with the other beginner skiers at the lodge all day while the experts have a good time. I even suggested that they go without me, but you can imagine how that went over. Hopefully, we'll only stay a week or 10 days. I'll be ready for warm weather after that.

Mother, I ordered some towels and such from J. C. Penney's to be sent to your house. They should arrive the middle to late February. When you have time check to see if there are 4 bath sheets, 8 bath towels, 8 wash cloths, 2 bath mats, and a pair of slippers. I charged these to my account, so you will get a regular bill for about $100.00. Four of the towels and wash cloths are Mrs. S's, but the rest are mine. After they arrive at your house (the packages), I'll let you know what we can do with them. It really depends on the size of them.

I baked a pound cake with coconut to take to J. and M's tonight. They are cooking hare and invited us to eat with them. Her baby was due this week, but it hasn't come yet. Anyway, we will get together for dinner at their house. We haven't been there in a couple of weeks, so I'm looking forward to it.

I am almost finished with a baby afghan for M's ( note: SIL) new baby. I will mail it this week. I will send it to her old address since I don't think they have moved. I'm always the last to know anything!!!

I'll close and go mail this and check my mailbox. Write when you have time. Did you get J's letter?

Love, Linda and J.