January 1, 1975
The start of a new year and already I am exhausted. I have been traveling too much. Last night was fun. I always have fun in London, though. It holds a special place in my heart, and I just love the Ritz Hotel. I'm glad I decided to go the New Year's Eve Party given by my editor even though Andy was not here. Oh, Andy, gorgeous Andy, I am beginning to think does not hold a place in my heart anymore. Actually I had too much fun without him. Something tells me this relationship is not going to last. Well, I have to start packing. Back to New York.
January 5, 1975
I am finally getting a chance to write. This new story I am doing for Newsday has me running ragged. Andy just called again. He wants me to go to Chicago with him. I just can't. I need to go to LA next week. He got annoyed. Lately he seems to be getting annoyed all the time. I think it is time to tell Andy goodbye. He'll get over it. There
were plenty of girlfriends before me and there will be many more after me. Andy is so into himself, not someone I want to spend my life with, or for that matter, a week in Chicago. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever find someone to spend my life with.
January 17, 1975
Glad to be in LA. I love the sunny weather. Maybe someday I'll move out here, but I know I'd miss NY and the east coast. It would take something really special for me to leave NY for good. I need to get back to work and finish this story. When I get back home I all going to have to talk to Andy. Not looking forward to this.
January 21, 1975
Well I saw Andy tonight, and I told him it was over. Actually he took it well, exceedingly well. Somehow I think he already has another girlfriend. This will be no great loss in my life. I think I need to stay away from men in general for a while. Relationships are becoming a hassle. I never seem to have time for a social life. Maybe it's because I haven't found the right man.
January 30, 1975
Only a week without Andy, and Susan is trying to fix me up. Someone named Elliott Manning. I don't like his name. She swears that we have a lot in common. He owns a game ranch in Australia. Well, maybe, but not now. I told her in a few months maybe.
February 14, 1975
It's Valentine's Day, and it is raining. Fits my mood. No flowers, no candy. But Pa did send me a card, he always does. Maybe I need to go home for a while. That sounds like a plan.
February 26, 1975
I am back in Hillsdale. It feels good to be home and to eat Walter's homemade cooking. I rode Sweet Sue today, down to the lake. She always makes me happy. Pa looks good, but I can tell he is aging. We were reminiscing about Mom today. I wish she was alive. I still miss her, after all these years.
March 5, 1975
Pa insisted on having some of my old friends over. Some of the girls I went to Grisham Hall with. All of them are married, of course. And they all have someone they would like to "fix me up" with. They told me if I was waiting for Prince Charming, I might as well forget about it. Maybe they are right.
March 10, 1975
Susan is on my case about this Elliott Manning. She claims he is dying to meet me after he saw my picture. I told her next week, maybe. I am so busy at work. I will never get to start that book.
March 17, l975
This is a good day to stay inside. St. Patrick's Day in New York. You can't even walk down the streets. I think I'll just go to bed.
March 2l, 1975
I finally met Elliott Manning. We went out to dinner. He seems nice enough, and he does own a game ranch in Australia. He wants to take me there next week???? I told him to slow down. He is definitely moving too fast.
March 28, 1975
This is the third time in the last week Elliott has sent me roses. Well, I would say he is obsessed with me. He calls at least three times a day begging me to go to Australia with him. What does he think is going to happen? I barely kissed him goodnight last night after we had dinner, again.
April 2, 1975
Springtime in New York has finally arrived. It is a wonderful time to be in love. Can I be falling in love with this man? Susan insists he is the one. I don't know. I don't feel fireworks. Maybe I need to give it some time.
April l0, 1975
My author suggested I do piece about Australia. Can this be a coincidence. Okay, so I guess I will give in to Elliott and go to Australia with him. I know if I go, he will expect me to sleep with him. He constantly is hinting about it.
April 20, 1975
I am looking forward to going to Australia and seeing Elliott's game ranch. Actually that is the only thing I am looking forward to. He gave me a diamond bracelet last night. Maybe I am giving him the wrong message. I don't feel the way he does. Am I leading him on? I don't see marriage in the cards with him. He already told me he loved me about twenty times. I can't bring myself to say it. Actually I almost never have been able to say it to any man.
April 24, 1975
The flight was long, but it was pleasant. Well we slept together last night. It was okay. He has this thing about me rubbing and scratching his back. I didn't want to rub or scratch his back. He didn't like that. I am seeing things in him that I really don't care for. Well, how does the saying go? You really don't know a man until you sleep with
him.
April 26, 1975
The game ranch was wonderful. I was in heaven. I can see myself living on a game ranch. Elliott thinks I am crazy. I think I am going to have a headache tonight.
April 28, 1975
The tension is so thick between Elliott and I, you can cut it with a knife. I need to get that article done. That is why I came here. He doesn't seem to understand this. He wants to spend the day in bed. I told him I wanted my own room. I should not have come. No more men for ten years!!!!!
April 30, 1975
We are cutting our trip short. Elliott is really annoyed. I hope he doesn't drop me in the ocean on the way back. I explained to him that I really don't feel the way he does. He said I need time. I don't think so. He said he will make me love him and someday I will be his. I want to go home.
May 2, 1975
It is good to be back in New York. My article in Australia was really not up to my expectations, but Marcia loved it. I went to the gym to work out. I am so tense and irritated lately. Elliott called me again last night. I don't want to see
him. I just want to be alone.
May l5, 1975
I decided to go Hawaii for a few weeks. I really want to get started on my book, and I need to get away after the Elliott episode.
June l5, l975
Working hard on my book. Nothing much to report.
July 4, 1975
I am going back to New York tomorrow and then I will spend the month of July with Pa in Maryland. Another month or so and my book will be done.
August 5, l975
The summer is almost over and my book is finished. I haven't had too much time to write in my journal, but then again, I haven't had much to write about. I have absolutely no social life right now, and that is the way I like it.
August 20, 1975
I was thinking about registering for a class at NYU, but I missed the registration deadline. Maybe I'll do it in the spring.
September 5, l975
Susan invited me to a barbecue at her house out in Southampton. Of course she had about 5 men she wanted me to meet. I kept my distance. I just don't seem to have any luck with men, especially blind dates.
September 20, 1975
My book is going to be published. I am so excited!!!
October 10, l975
We all went out to celebrate the success of my new book. Marcia said it should be on the best seller list in a few weeks. I don't know about that.
October 20, 1975
Marcia just called me with an emergency assignment. I have to go to London to try to get an interview with Jonathan Hart and some hush-hush deal is he working on. Something about Kingsford Motors. Why me, I asked her. She said Mr. Hart is difficult to pin down, and besides, I can be very persuasive and my looks won't exactly hurt. Don't tell me I am going to have to put up with another man trying to undress me while I am interviewing him. I tried to wiggle out of it, but no luck. I guess I better pack.
