Enough is Enough!

Darling,

Where is this lounge located? I'll have to get on my specs to read the fine print. Johnnie is so talented. I am impressed!

I drove by your place today on the way to see Des, and I saw you backing out of the driveway. I didn't honk (that would be so vulgar!), and you turned right onto the expressway. Did you have to go into the city today? Oh, no, don't tell me, Jack was working today! On the weekend?

Francine, you have to start putting your foot down. Enough is enough. Jack is truly burning the candle at both ends and well, to be perfectly honest with you, I didn't want to bring it up, but didn't Mr. Maxwell pass away at an early age from a heart attack? Oh, my dear. I'm so sorry I brought that up, but I think brutal honesty is needed right now.

Jack is the love of your life, your rock. You have got to protect him, and in doing so, yourself. Would you like me to ask Lou to have a talk with him? Lou will be back in town this Tuesday. I believe he has meetings the whole week (he has to present to the board on Friday). He promised me a night out on Saturday, and I would love to have you and Jack join us. Maybe the fellas could get together at the lounge (have a chat over their scotch) while we are getting our hair done, and then they could swing by and pick us up. What do you think?

Please, dear, get back to me. I am concerned.

Much love,
Vicki

Dear Me!

Dear Vicki, September nineteenth

I can imagine that you have had to sit down at this point to see that your dear friend has written back to you. I should have picked up the telephone to ring. After all these years of friendship, you do realize that I do get “involved in projects” and just kind of switch into other gears sometimes.

Thank you for the note you sent, checking up on me. I can confess to you that I have been in a state lately. Well, gee, it has been more than just lately. You are a dear friend and I couldn’t let even more time pass before I communicated with you.

Yes, it has been Jack’s car that you have been seeing lately at the lounge. The poor dear has been working late at the office for weeks now. I just don’t have the heart to ask him to drive back across town to have dinner with his wife and only to have to return to the office. His new boss doesn’t seem to appreciate his talents and his abilities. I don’t think that he realizes that Jack didn’t just go to any law school. It is frustrating to sit back and keep my thoughts to myself.

So I have been busy involving myself in projects. I have been redecorating the guest bedroom. I saw some dreamy wallpaper in the May issue of Metropolitain Home. I just kind of got carried away and ordered new curtains, sheers, bedspread and dust ruffle.

I would love it if you and Lou would be our first guests to stay in it. If we start up with the Bridge Club this fall again, I will insist that you and Lou stay the night. (Then maybe Lou could relax a bit and have a second or third cocktall that night.) Then you and I can get up early, and have coffee in the kitchen. I think the guys would enjoy not having to hear you and I catch-up on everything from a new strawberry shortcake recipe that I found on the back of the new Betty Crocker cake mix to wondering why I let Cookie and Art get under my skin so!

I must confess that I am a little worried about Jack. I just don’t know if he finds me “interesting” anymore. I know that he has been mentioning all of the funny and “interesting” things that his paralegal says and does at the office. Oh, Vicki, I am terrified that Jack might not have as much work at the office as he says he does. I want to believe that his boss is “hard-boiled” as Jack has me believing.

I have been almost insisting that we eat at the lounge every weeknight. Being in public and giving me the chance to force myself out of the house and put some lipstick on has been helpful. But frankly, I must confess, I am worried.

The house is becoming frightfully quiet and I could use a good cup of coffee and company. I know that you have shared with me that Lou often has gals that pay him a lot of attention to him. Of course, Lou being the smart fellow that he is, knows what he has in you and would never stray.

Dear me, this note has become a letter. I hope to hear from you soon.

Affectionately,

Francine

A Few of My Favorite Things!

#10. A Fabulous Palm Springs Weekend

#9. Drugstore Cosmetics & Toiletries

#8. Saturday Nights at the Club

#7. A Sparkling Clean Kitchen (with floors you could eat off!)

#6. Cocktails, Cocktails, Cocktails!

#5. Yellow Roses

#4. The Artistry of Shorthand on a Brand-new Steno Pad

#3. Cary Grant

#2. Summer Fruit

#1. My Invincible Bridge Partner, Lou

Santa Fe Roadtrip Anyone?

Dearest Francine,

Darling, the dust has settled and you managed to keep nice and tidy and above it all, like you have always done in the past! I don't know how and why I seem to get pulled into all the drama. Maybe it's because (between you and me) Lois and Evelyn enjoy stirring up the drama and rattling my cage. Why? Maybe because, frankly, they are missing drama, excitement, and passion in their own lives. There, I said it. Lois and Evelyn need to get a life.

The next time one of them calls, I've got to take the high road and refuse to listen to their gossip, or more so, spread it around. Will you hold me to that?

Now, on to more pleasant things. Tina has invited us out in March to her lovely home in Santa Fe. I will drive. The Caddy needs a tune up and a tire rotation, so I'm taking it into Venrean's next Tuesday. All you need to do is get permission from Jack. Can he live without you for a week? You know the fellas from the club will take good care of him!

Tina has ulterior motives for our trip, actually. Her ladies guild is having a charity ball for the mission and she needs her gals to pitch in.

We will also be working with the children from the nearby reservation. Tina would like me to see if the club, Washington Heights High School and First Imperial Bank could donate typewriters, adding machines, carbon paper, steno pads, and other ancillary stationery supplies so we can teach the girls secretarial skills.

I will be setting up learning labs at the women's club and will need to have three other ladies to lead the tables at the other labs. Darling, do you need to brush up on your shorthand? I can give you a mini lesson at the club after our Tuesday golf game. If you are unable to make it or if Jack can't live without you, I understand. I can make reservations on the Super Chief.

I don't mind flying solo, but it just won't be the same without you, my dear. Remember the last road trip we took and the "incident" at Coyote Falls? As long as I live, and as God is my witness, I will never divulge, forget, experience anything like "that" ever again in my life.

I do need to get back to Tina by the end of this week, so give me a buzz. Again, I will understand if you are unable to go with me. I know my situation with Lou is different than yours with Jack. Since Lou and I aren't married, I can leave at the drop of the hat. Also, Lou is away two-three weeks out of a month on business, and I have the liberty of coming and going as I please, and he does not mind in the least. I think that's also why Lou wanted me to keep working for so long, to keep my little mind occupied. Most of March, Lou will be back east on business. I think if that man could, he'd live in that damn office. That's another letter. I don't want to bore you to tears, darling.

That's all for now, my dear. I hope all went well with Jack's presentation at the lodge. I know how interested he is in politics and speaking on behalf of Senator Aldridge was a great honor. You must be so proud of your handsome, brilliant, and prosperous sweetheart.

Fondly,
Vicki

I am NOT Surprised!

Dear Francine,

Well, well, well. Just got off the phone with Lois. You would not believe what she witnessed today sitting by the picture window at her kitchen table. I got a play by play as the inevitable was happening.

Here goes:
Jean, as I'm sure you heard passed away this weekend. I am truly sorry for her daughter. She seems like a nice young lady. BUT, she also seems awfully naive and trusting, because as soon as her mother's body was taken to Calder & Sons to be prepared for the viewing, Cookie came in for the kill. That's right, Cookie immediately started to ransack the house.

Lois saw boxes and boxes being carried out by Cookie and Art into a U-haul. Yes, they rented a U-haul to cart away their loot. Lois said Cookie was carrying clothes, Jean's two fur coats, that gorgeous oriental rug Jean's husband brought back after the war, the Reushanheimer paintings, and the antique walnut armoire from her master suite. Lois said Art asked their down the street neighbor, Glenn to help him get the armoire in the U-haul.

Jean's daughter is basically so grief-stricken, she told Cookie and Art they could take anything they wanted. Lorraine (that's the girl's name) said she just wanted the family photo albums and the dining room set. Lois told me not to have too much pity for her because Jean left her the title to the house (which is now worth something like $995,000) and a savings/checking account with over $375,000, so she did well for herself.

I don't know about you, but I'm sickened by Cookie and Art's latest display. I knew deep down in my bones that Cookie's act last weekend was nothing but crocodile tears. Francine, I've had enough of those two. As my dear old mother would say (when she'd get a little soused) "They can all rot in hell, for all I care."

Count me out for the get-together/going away party at the club. Who is hosting this party anyway? I thought Art burned all his bridges at the club when his membership lapsed and his bar/restaurant tab of over $12,000 has yet to be paid. And by the way, what in the hell does Cookie need with two fur coats living in Cathedral City anyway?

Ta ta for now,
Vicki

Let's Give Jack Some Time to Cool Down

Vicki, dear,

Needless to say, Jack was put off at the remembrance of Art's behavior last summer. He had just settled into his favorite chair, newspaper in hand, pipe in his mouth and wanting to unwind after a hard day at the office. So the timing was not quite right to bring up Cookie and Art's arrival in town. I don't blame Jack's having a grudge. It is not the first time that Art has thought about Art first. We don't have to mention the sale of our old Lincoln a couple of years ago. Remember when they were living in Santa Monica and so "broke."

I think that I will let Jack cool down a bit before I ask him about getting together with the gang. I know that I might be able to interest him if he learns that Joe and Shirley will be there also. He really enjoys Joe and talking about golf and the likes.

I will be over at noon to pick up the silver. I look forward to a cup of coffee. (That new percolator coffee pot is dreamy. You make the best coffee in town. And I won't pass up a piece of your Cake-Walk winner coffee cake either.

Ta, ta.

Affectionately,

Francine

News Travels Fast

Charlotte,

Just read my mail and realized what a state Vicki is in. You have met Cookie and Art before. They were the loud couple at the Bridge Club party at Les and Tina's a few years back.

Fondly,

Francine