Dear Diary-

It's October 29th and the long months of waiting, planning and anticipating are over. Tomorrow I drive to Chicago- in a dress for four whole days of glo ri- ous release, four days of being myself - a woman. EV- erything is packed, all the arrangements and excuses, are made and, at last, I'm ready. And what a chore it has been albeit a delicious one to decide which frock to travel in, and what coat and which shoes and accessories. Let's see, the turquoise feathered hat and scarf to match go beautifully with the black crepe sheath with the little buttoned jacket, but they cert- ainly don't mate with the beige cashmere coat and, the black wool winter coat is really too heavy for this weather but I do need some kind of coat. It's too chilly with just a bolero seater. Besides, the hat is too formal to wear with a sweater. So, leave the hat home? No, it's too pretty, and anyway I just love hats. Well, darn it, take the hat box then, and pretend not to notice when the bell-hop looks at you that way and seems to say, "I'll never understand why a woman can bring so much stuff for a three night stay. Well, I hope there's a good tip in it.

And so it went. I'm sure I'm taking many more things then I can possibly use. But it is better to take too much then too little isn't it? Besides I'll never forget how disgusted I was with myself last time when I got half way there before I realized I hadn't brought my fur cape and had to rent an evening wrap. I'll never let that happen again. Still, it seems like the rès a million things to remember and forgetting just one would be tragic.

Anyway, I'm ready to leave early in the morning. The only thing I regret is that I won't be able to buy traveler's checks with the money I drew from the bank, because I'll be leaving so early. Previously I'd plann- ed to dress today, go to the bank, give the teller the money and tell him I wanted the checks issued in the names of: Miss Kathryn Frances Spencer.

How I love to write that name! And then when I came back from the trip I could go back and cash in