Kathy to Hilary, October 4, 1971 cont., Tehran, Iran October 4, 1971 cont.
Logo for Iran's 2,500 celebration. 
Iran will soon be having her 2,500 year celebration. It’s a pity to be living here and not see any of it because all the festivities are down in Persepolis and Shiraz. The city is decorated even more than Christmas in the States. The city is swarming with policemen as the dignitaries have arrived and they all need protecting. What’s so special about a country celebrating 2,500th year of “oppression by the monarchy”? (I don’t mean it, just kidding SAVAK!) It just doesn’t happen too often, that’s all. Everyone is really jumpy, armed soldiers at gas stations, banks. Our friend, the guard of the Arteshi dovom [lived next door to an army depot] stops people standing in a fighting stance and points his rifle. It’s his big chance to be a real soldier.
Tent for 2,500 celebration in Persepolis. 
I went to a Persian wedding reception last weekend. I felt like a bull in a china shop, wrongly dressed, of course. A stupid new brown dress from the Sears catalogue with a white collar, like something a Pilgrim would wear to Thanksgiving. My stupid shoes even had buckles on them. The dancers reminded me of mating cranes. The father of a famous Iranian singer--Googosh--her portly father got up and did a solo dance, looking for all the world like an amorous elephant. He swayed, bumped and ground, while balancing a chair on his forehead. What agility!
Nothing much else to say. Please write soon. Who’s with you at W&L? Who’s at Yorktown?
Love, Kathy
Tent city at Persepolis. 
5:53:38 AM 
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