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Sunday, May 17,1953--WASHINGTON, D.C.-- That was the night I was afarid the cancelled plane would never take off and so took the train. And the telegram I sent wasn't delivered. I was so proud walking up to the room-clerk and saying "Mrs. Saarinen" and then the porter and I arrived at the room. And you were sleepy and you'd been worried and you hadn't dared to put the beds together. But your arms were wide open and soon you did fix the beds and then we made love and were happy being together and then you gave me the absolutely marvellous "marvellous" letter and that was much nicer than any of the presents you tell me you will never give me.

Monday, May 18, 1953--WASHINGTON, D.C.--Breakfast was sort of business-like and fun in a new way that morning--in a way of what it would be like when you were going off to work and I helped you find papers and tobacco and pipe and glasses and then you left and I stayed for a while and read the "marvellous" letter again before I went to work. Then, when I came back, there was a note on the bed for me. And I showered and put on a robe and finally settled down to the Cleveland speech, which we'd been neglecting for far too long. And suddenly you appeared. We ordered drinks and then sat with pipe and cigrette and talked--It was wonderful, for you told me about the day, about the St. Louis meeting (and we read the description) and about the Smithsonian meeting and I told you about Dexter Hall and all the Victorians, etc. And then we lay in "a married moment," just very quiet and close and terribly, terribly together so that neither of us could ever feel alone in the world again. And then we had more good talk about strategy and architecture and we went to dinner and discovered a splendid red wine (whose name I meant to remember) and then we came back and we were locked in another embrace...

Tuesday, May 19, 1953--WASHINGTON, D.C. AND NEW YORK, N.Y.-- There was breakfast in the room and me hurrying and then phoning you from the airport to ask you to bring my coat. And I arrived in New York and went to the Langdon and registered for us--no, the Barclay--and the man gave us a suite. And it was nice to go up and unpack and to have the sense of preparing our home again. Then a busy day and finally back there and ordering drinks and turning down the lamps and waiting for you--a lovely, cherished act for me.

You were tired when you arrived and there was too little time for adequate rest--but there was a little and I felt badly there wasn't more. Then you were worried about what to wear and I felt during dinner in the room that you were even more tired than you thought and that that was why you were upset about dinner-jacket or not and I had the good sense not to make an issue of it and so learned a good lesson, because soon the tension eased. And then we were at the Museum--our first public appearance, both of us feeling so proud and happy and not wanting to be indiscreet but managing to meet for that walk through the garden, which was, for me, the best part of the party. And Shu gave her good housekeeping seal of approval that night, which pleased us both. And Philip was also a sponsor. And then it was nice to go home together and, tired as we were, to sit inside for one drink and talk about the party--and then to go to bed together.