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11

The first was a party thrown by the Sjobergs, who lived in a small Byrd house in Wesleyville by this time. We think it was a dinner party. Prior to going out there, the Reeds invited us and the Lamborns to their apartment on West Seventh for a drink (or two). Charlie had acquired some applejack and we imbibed this in some manner now forgotten except that it was very potent and when we embarked for the Sjobergs, all of us were quite high. [[underline]] Correction: [[/underline]] That was the other party! At this party, we first met as described but Charlie served sidecars which produced the same result as already described. We were feeling so good that we decided we'd best all travel to the party together in one car. We don't recall whose car but I remember vaguely the ride through town feeling just GREAT and Willie recalls vividly waving to people whom we passed. And thus we arrived at the Sjoberg residence. But the others who'd gotten there ahead of us were stone sober which rocked our equanimity slightly but not seriously. We had a great time and Willie's major recollection is of sitting at a card table with Charlie Reed and studying with him a Sears-Roebuck catalog, particularly the numerous ads for various articles of apparel made of nainsook--and to this day, they still giggle at each other when the magic work "nainsook" is mentioned.
The other party was the Reserve Officers New Year's Eve dance, both Charlie and Walt Scarborough being in the reserve. This was held at the Armory but first we think we went to the Reeds and imbibed the applejack mentioned above, getting a good head start. Then we proceeded to the Armory where we occupied a long wooden table and continued to drink applejack. Also we danced. And at least Charlie and I got very tight as well as ill. But before all this happened, Willie remembers dancing with Charlie and being obliged to hold him upright with a strong grip on his Sam Brown belt, he and Walt wearing their uniforms. My illness made it essential that we depart for home before the mystic hour of midnight and this made Willie hopping mad. Charlie recalls the Scarboroughs accompanying them home early where he repaired immediately to the bathroom to gag miserably and ineffectively over the commode while Maybelle held his head. I still remember this affair and I believe it hammered home to me the hazards inherent in overdrinking to the extent that I got into such a condition very few times thereafter--but there have been some moments.
And now I shall finally wind up this account of what happened to us in 1934, other than my business activities, which will be covered in a separate section. The wind-up concerns our great Canadian trip with Barbara and Charlie and follows: