2270 South Vine
Come with me as I meet my Mother through this series of letters, she died when I was 6 months old and this is my very first real glimpse into her world, who she was, who she wanted to be and how she loved my Father.
A collection of 36 letters hand written by my Mother Joyce at University of Denver and sent to my Father Earl at University of Colorado Boulder when they were first engaged in 1952. The letters span from September 1952 - January 1953. My Mother died from Breast Cancer in 1971 at the age of 40. The original language of the letters is read intact to maintain the integrity of the authenticity of her words, 1952 is a very different time culturally and economically.
2270 South Vine
Letter 7 10/08/1952 Scratch Pad, Sock Diamonds, and Missing You
In this intimate, handwritten letter from October 8, 1952, Joyce shares her unfiltered thoughts and daily moments from college life—academic procrastination, social drama, a leaky pen, and a longing for connection with her sweetheart. Set against the backdrop of campus routines and small apartment life, her reflections are equal parts charming, chaotic, and poignant. From swim sessions and Mu Phi Epsilon to spilled coffee and sock diamonds, this entry is a slice of mid-century emotional life at its most tender and honest.
October 8th, 52, on kind of scratch pad paper. It starts out in pen. Dear sweetheart, needless to say, I should be studying or practicing or doing extra reading at the library, but I'm not just in the mood for it right now. Mrs. Curtis answered my letter saying she had referred the letter to the Dean of Women. So I guess we wait for some more.
Mother got another form and filled it out and sent it back. So Raper undoubtedly has it by now. These kids go swimming every night. So help me, I'm going to go over and try once more. Not that it will do me much good for the shallow end is so small and so filled. It's only once a half hour I can even get to go across. And to think I used to go in off the side of the pool and on the deep end and swing down and swim down. Last summer with fins, I had a good arm stroke, but I can't do that very well either now. I was supposed to call Lou Anne Juergens about mu phi epsilon of which she is president, but so far I haven't done it. Over in parentheses.
I guess I told you last year that Mu Phi Epsilon is an honorary music group like Delta Omicron. And since there isn't a chapter of DO here, I asked Marilyn if she'd see if I could be adopted into Mu Phi. So last summer they asked about it at convention, and Marilyn tells me I'm supposed to get a hold of Luanne since she asked Marilyn to find out if I'm still interested this year.
I don't know yet what it involves so I'm not sure I'll go along with the party but at any rate I have to find Blue Anne.
I'm going to buy a new pen tomorrow. It just switched to pencil. This one just soaked up a Kleenex with leakage since I began this letter and is out of ink. Please excuse the pencil and my writing on two sides. It's four o'clock, so I'll run over to work and finish writing later. Bye for now. Back from work, the place was practically deserted.
I'm toying with the idea of asking for three hours a day instead of four, say from 3.30 to 6.30. That would give me 17 and a half hours a week since Wednesday. I can't go to work until four o'clock. Then I'd be working Saturdays too. Otherwise, I'll ask for Saturday off. Johnny says she isn't yet making out very well and she won't unless trade picks up.
Frankly, I don't see how any of the restaurants near here do anything. There are seven in one area, the Union and two more down the street. Winnie's in a mood again. She's been ranting and raving about someone she doesn't like and none of us would go get light.
Bills light bulbs. None of us would go get light bulbs with her and she has two more days till she sees Bob and she doesn't have an answer ready, etc. I hope I live to see a day in this apartment without even the mildest of spats between the cats. I'm beginning to hurt all over. So if that's any sign, I guess all's well. So far I still haven't practiced any
So far I still haven't practiced any. Tomorrow I'm going to go over after work for a while and I'll try to limber up my fingers. For some reason I just can't make myself study today or tonight. flipping over or tonight either. By now, I guess you know I bought some bigger envelopes. I decided that that was the only way to get along with this scratch pad. Now that I think about it, I have 11 more shots on my camera. I hope the film is still good. I got it last Christmas. I don't know when I've taken so few pictures. My album is in section
is in section of first year at IWU, first vacation, et cetera, and it's going to be the slightly empty from last year on. My little sister took about four or five rolls of film last year, but Ray's mother gave her the film. Say that reminds me, I think I have a couple shots of Cleon and Ray together. I'll show them to you, or have you already seen it?
This morning in the union, I spilled coffee all over the place. So now I'll have to take my black crocheted purse apart and wash it. I hope the cleaners can get it out of my skirt. There's only a small spot. George Mooney told me today that he is very much in love with someone, with some little girl that skates in the ice follies and wants to marry her.
He admitted he wasn't sure if he loved her or not, but he is really infatuated. That poor little boy falls in and out of love faster with more people than anyone else I know. And he's 23 or four. It really tickled me when he said he was in love. He even says he's not going to have one date until next spring when they're together again. Give him one week and he'll be with some girl from here.
George is too fond of women to read books for very long. Did you get my other two letters last Wednesday and Thursday? One of the girls in the dormitories asked me where I got such a big diamond. She has a single diamond, which is some smaller, but very pretty. I really haven't seen many rings as big or bigger than mine. I never will forget the night you.
I over the phone for the diamond being so small. I sure miss your nightly phone calls. When the phone rings it seems like it should be you. I'm almost through with the second set of diamonds in your... of diamonds in your socks. Or I should say sock. You can have one for your birthday and one for Xmas and then you'll have a pair. Don't laugh. That's about the way it'll happen.
Marilyn wants to know how you rate three letters a week of four, five and six pages. And if I don't get a letter from you tomorrow, I'm going to sit down and cry. I'm lonely and I want to hold I want you to hold me so I can hug you and kiss your neck. I just love to lie in your arms and kiss your neck. There's just tonight all day tomorrow and tomorrow night and Friday. Then Friday night I can see you again.
I'm going to stop writing and start reading the pre...redesigned of the horse. The pedigreed I'm going to stop writing and start reading the pedigreed of the horse or maybe I'll leave it till tomorrow. Good night my darling. I love you so much. All my love. Joy see
