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 21 11/24/1952 Thanksgiving Week and A+ Dreams
Show Notes:
November 24th, 1952 — Joyce beams with pride over an A+ on her genetics exam and looks ahead to Thanksgiving week as a welcome break from the grind. She compares spring vacation dates with Boulder, notes Easter falling on April 5th, and jokes about nearly freezing despite scarves and mittens.
She’s juggling the values project, piano lessons, work shifts, and a roll of film that’s been sitting undeveloped for almost a year. There’s talk of a Thanksgiving night dance at the Union and of returning Pop and Sutt’s books, plus yet another dorm caper — Winnie “getting even” with Peg by holding onto the ringing phone while Peg screamed for Dan.
Joyce debates whether to move to a third-floor room next quarter, knowing it might cause hard feelings. She closes the letter with warm anticipation for the weekend with Earl, describing how she loves to rub his back and kiss him as he naps, and promising to “make up” the letter’s length with kisses.
Topics Include:
- Earning an A+ on the genetics exam
- Comparing spring vacation dates (Denver vs. Boulder)
- Thanksgiving week plans and a Union dance
- Scheduling the values project
- Returning Pop and Sutt’s books
- Finishing a year-old roll of film
- Winnie’s prank on Peg and the phone
- Debating a third-floor move next quarter
- Balancing piano lessons, work, and rest
- Daydreaming about Earl and the weekend
November 24th, 1952. My darling. Sweetheart, I got an A plus in that genetics exam from the last week. Boy, am I proud of me. Today, I got a catalog of University of Denver and our spring vacation is the week before yours. Easter is April 5th, by the way. Our spring vacation is from March 20th to March 30th.
There's something in parentheses I cannot read. Boulders is from March 27th to April 6th. Boy has it been cold today. I haven't heard the temperature, but even with a head scarf, mittens, et cetera, I nearly froze, especially my nose. The kids want to go over the values project till about 9.30 or 10 Wednesday night.
They may change it to Tuesday, but if someone can't be there Wednesday, it'll have to be Wednesday. It'll have to be. I'll talk to Laura tomorrow after I see if it's Wednesday PM for sure and whether I have to work Thanksgiving or not. And if both are so when she thinks it would be best for you to come and get me. If you come at 10 a.m. on Wednesday night, 10 on Wednesday night.
you'll have to leave George and Ron before you've hardly seen them and get back late.
Could you see them any other time over the weekend if they didn't come over Wednesday? But I'll see everybody tomorrow and talk to Laura. Laura is who I'm named after, that's his mother. There's a dance Thanksgiving night at the Union at 9 p.m. It's $2 a couple, but we don't have to go. It would be hard if I work until 7.30 to get ready for it.
unless I went over to the apartment after work and got ready there and you picked me up at the dorm. But if we don't have to go, if you'd rather not. When can I give you Pop and Sutt's books to be returned? There's no hurry, but I would like to get them back as soon as possible. This week I simply have to finish my roll of film so that it can be developed. It's a year old Christmas unless it was old then.
How long do films last? Winnie got even with Peg. Every time the phone rang in 710, Peg dashes to the phone in hopes it's Dan. So one night, Winnie was there, sitting by the phone. When it rang, Winnie held her hand on it until it rang three times while Peg screamed. Then Winnie answered it and laughed and held the phone before she'd give it to Peg.
I guess I need a new sheet of paper. It's two, it's 20 of four. I'll have to leave you in a minute or two. Since my piano lesson is Wednesday, I have to practice like the Dickens tonight and tomorrow. I'm glad I don't work till four all this weekend, but I'll miss the extra 75 cents each day. I guess she got that raise.
I dreamed about you all last night and the only thing that's keeping me from feeling awful low today is knowing that the week is short. At first I was going to cry this morning when I woke up and it was Monday, but then I remembered it was Thanksgiving week. These kids want to move to third floor next quarter. cuss.
I don't get enough exercise running around the restaurant. have to climb stairs five or six times a day. But who am I to complain? Maybe I could stay and live here with the ones who'd move in here, but that would cause hard feelings. So what can I do? It's about time for work, my darling. So I'll run along now. I wish you were here to kiss me, but I guess I'm lucky enough to the way it is.
I just love to rub your back and kiss you and and kiss you while you're taking a nap. As I was saying, it's time to go to work. So bye for now, sweetheart. And if I love you so much and look forward to when this week of school is over, all my love, always Joyce P.S. Please forgive the length of this letter, but I'll make it up with kisses over the weekend.
I love you so very much. All my love, Joyce.
