Letter 16 11/11/1952 Puppets, Piano, and Missing You

November 11th, 1952 — Joyce writes Earl on another Monday, her longing so intense she says she’d walk the turnpike just to be in his arms. Her day has been a whirl of productivity: reading assignments, practicing McDowell’s Sonata from memory, doing laundry, and handling dorm life gossip — including Winnie’s likely March wedding and a tangled triangle involving Anita.

She learns she’s not eligible for associate membership in Mu Phi Epsilon, but is still invited to all the fun parts. Safety concerns at night make her hesitant to attend a meeting, especially with reports of strange men in cars near campus. Joyce muses about upcoming graduate and written exams, possible post office holiday work, and her modest savings. There’s humor in her private code for “Junior” and her plans to make a puppet named “Earl William” from a potato and a sock.

The letter moves between daily details and deep yearning — the ache of weekends apart, the sting of being teased by Earl, and the warmth of imagining a life without having to part at all. She signs off planning to knit a few rows, her love as constant as her stitches.

Topics Include:

• Intense longing for Earl
• Practicing McDowell’s Sonata from memory
• Winnie’s secret March wedding plans
• Dorm gossip involving Anita
• Mu Phi Epsilon membership decision
• Safety concerns walking at night
• Preparing for graduate and written exams
• Possible holiday post office job
• Modest savings and budgeting for essentials
• Private humor about “Junior” (period)
• Johnny’s minor accident
• Making a puppet named “Earl William” from a potato and sock
• The constant ache of long-distance love

Transcript

Okay, on the letter it says November and then it says it's ripped and it says the rest of the date tore off. On the envelope it says November 11th, 1952 at 7 p.m. on a three cent NATO stamp.


Dear sweetheart, another Monday and the way I feel now, if I could get close to Boulder, I'd be in your bed. Being alone all week makes me feel like walking the turnpike. I want to hug you and kiss your neck and go to sleep in your arms. Can I, huh? Today I've been busy as a bee and I got lots done. I ate a donut and milk before classes.

I got Tuesday biology and next Monday's play read all at work and I practiced till 8.45 and I think I can play two pages of Machiavelli's Sonata by memory.

think that says Max could be Mackadwell's I don't know some McDonald's McDowell's McDowell's Sonata by memory some composer of some sort and my bed changed and my personal laundry done Winnie has about decided to get married in March neither families know it yet she also just found out that a boy Anita likes Anita was the girl in the knit suit is in love with her Winnie or at least thinks he is.
The apartment is getting lively. I'm going to write on both sides of the sheet, because I use so much stationary. This is hardly deserving of the name. Better I say paper, and this way it lasts longer. Wednesday night is the APIN meeting of Mu Phi Epsilon. Luang called me last night. National said I could not be an associate member.

but she invited me to attend all open meetings and musicals and parties. As far as I know, that's all an associate member does anyway. So basically the president of FIU went to nationals that they said mom couldn't interact. And then the president was like, you can come anyway. like that. Musicals and parties. As far as I know, that's all an associate member does anyway, but I need to do my whole laundry first.

chance I get so I may not go to the meeting. Especially since I have to walk a mile and several of the kids have been bothered by fellows in cars tonight. I'm not anxious to get killed or raped either one. All I'm anxious to do right now is hug you. I just kissed your picture and think I'll take it to bed with me. I won't be up with George this week but my thoughts and love are with you even...

if I don't make it. Next week maybe I can get off work at 630 or 645 and will be up there. Someone said Mother Raper is in the hospital again. I don't know when she went or what for the same thing is as this past summer, I suspect. Poor woman. She's really struck it bad this year.

Today it first dawned on me how complicated things really are. It's practically the end of first quarter and I haven't even picked my pieces, let alone learn them for a graduate exam. And I have to find out what will be on the written exam and bone up. In the case of music history, I'll just have to learn it because most of it I haven't had.


I have to see Ms. Cutter, the registrar, about the comp examples, sure, and go cry on Pierno's shoulder again and write for an application blank to Boulder. I'd almost rather talk to them first. Mom is getting an application blank for post office work.


over Christmas for me, but the more I think of it, the more I wish we didn't have to start on or near the 15th. If I ride back all the way in a car, I'll be completely beat and I'll probably have to go to work at eight or nine the following morning. If I'm lucky, they may not call me, excuse please, me till near Christmas and I can still earn some money. Speaking of money,

I've got $20 saved again, but I'm going to keep $5 of it for soap, Kleenex, and all of the odds and ends that always hit at once. Okay, this is funny because my dad once sent me a card with a sticky in it that said the extra $5 was for soap.

But maybe, no, in fact I'll keep it here till I get 15 or 20 dollars more, so the one 50 cents will take care of it all. I got the bank book today, but I'm not going to start getting it transferred till next week, and I think I want to figure things first. My writing is just horrid tonight. I hope you can read everything alright. Junior's been kicking today.

I'm going to get mad and kick him in the teeth about Friday. I wish he'd come the 16th instead. Then my first day wouldn't be at work or when we wanted to go out. Junior is 100 % code word for period.

The more I think about it, because we couldn't possibly write about such terrible things in such a pristine time, the more I think about it, the lonesomer I get, but it would be worse. And I've got a feeling if I were at your house without you, I notice it when you're not in the house or in the room even now on weekends. What would it be like if I were there all the time without you?

my darling, I love you so much and can't stand it. I saw Barb today, she's still laughing. It was funny, but I still think you're a beast. I never got my ward just cause you're bigger, you naughty boy. I never get my way just cause you're bigger, you naughty boy. But how I love you. Now I've got ink all over me after taking my bath. Every time I swear I get a new pen.

Every time I swear to get a new pen, still the same pen, I should have done it Saturday while I was in town. Johnny had a minor accident Saturday night, but I don't know how much the damage was or what happened. He wasn't hurt though, drunk probably. I have to make a puppet for next week. I think I'll make it from a potato and an old sock. I'm going to name it Earl William.

Is that okay, my pet? Connie is a cold air fiend and just came in and opened all the windows wide. It gets awfully cold by morning. We may give our project the week of Thanksgiving. I'd like to get it over with. Sweetheart, I will say bye-bye. Much as I hate to leave you, I miss you so much. And if I could only be with you, I'd hug and kiss you lots.

and never let you go. How could I have found a love like yours to make life worthwhile and resolve the dissonance of being so alone? If I keep on, I'll fill up another page with my love for you, but I think I'll quit and knit a few rows of one sock. All my love always, Joyce.