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 23 12/1/1952 Happy Birthday, Lost Notes, and Big Dreams
Show Notes:
December 1st, 1952 — On Earl’s birthday, Joyce opens with “I love you very much” and a cheery wish, but the letter soon turns into a portrait of an exhausted young woman juggling school, work, and life’s uncertainties. The apartment is hungover and cranky from the weekend, she’s lost her composition notes and manuscript paper, and she faces redoing her final project from scratch.
Dr. Hulk gives the class an easy morning; the first day of Ed Soche reports goes smoothly; but Joyce must start off tomorrow’s session discussing democratic values. She recounts a missed opportunity at Wells (they want a boy for the stockroom), a fruitless visit to Piernau’s office, and information about DU’s accounting program and CPA credit that sparks thoughts about CU’s setup.
Joyce also looks ahead — a concert Friday night at 8, possible rides home for Christmas, the $45 she’s saved for the bank, and a transfer of $300 (her “crowning glory” of savings). She worries about scholarships, Winnie’s engagement turmoil, Connie’s illness, and mumps rumors. Despite it all, she sends two birthday cards to Earl and ends the night tearfully, confessing how much she longs to sleep next to him and how she didn’t think it possible to love someone so much.
Topics Include:
- Earl’s birthday wishes
- Lost composition notes and manuscript paper
- Easy morning with Dr. Hulk
- Starting Ed Soche report on democratic values
- Wells job disappointment (wanted a boy)
- DU accounting/CPA program credit info
- Friday night concert plans
- Saving $45 and transferring $300
- Scholarship worries and graduation doubts
- Winnie’s engagement trouble and vodka episode
- Connie’s mysterious illness and mumps rumors
- Daydreaming of visiting Earl and taking his picture to bed
December 1st, 1952. Happy birthday, sweetheart. I love you so very much. My dearest Earl, as usual, this is Monday, true to form. Boy, I never saw such a hangover-ish apartment in all my born days. Every lady was tired, cranky, and a couple were sick.
Tonight I went to the field house with full intentions to knock myself out practicing, but I didn't practice at all. And after a chat with one of the kids, I came home. I should be ashamed of all the work I should get done and all I make myself do is come home and go to bed. To make matters worse,
I've lost my composition notes and my manuscript paper with my final project about two thirds done and I'm just sick about it. Dorm darn it anyway. So the rest of the week I shall do the work over again and finish it. There are there there. Go my dramatics of then do my dramatics project so they'll all be done by Friday.
Neither of them should be hard. Dr. Hulk was exceptionally easy on us all this morning. We all looked like last year's dishrag.
Our first day of Ed Soche reports went surprisingly well. Tomorrow will be much harder and I have to start it off with a discussion of democratic values. The job at Wells turned out to be a mislead. It seems as if they want a boy for the stockroom. well. I went to Piernau's office but I was gone and won't be back till Monday. but he was gone.
and won't be back till Monday. I'll see him then by golly, I never should have waited so long. Friday one of the men at the field relations was counseling an accounting major prospect. And he said that while the kids are here at DU's accounting school, excuse the mistake please, they can work at the CPA's offices here or some other place and get
seven and a half hours credit for it. That might be a two, but it looks like a seven. Seven and a half hours credit for it and get their two years or whatever it was that was necessary for a full fledged CPA. And that they make around $250 per month while doing it.
and that more kids from DU passed all four parts of the CPA exam than from any other school. Does CU have a setup where you can work with a CPA? Then after sitting and waiting for 20 minutes, I discovered some lady, somebody else was taking Pernod's place and he didn't know anything about my little problem. So I got up and went home.
I guess we'll go to the concert Friday night. It should be fair. Pick me up at 7.45 if the concert's at 8. I'll check though. I have to call Don tonight and see what he has to say about going home. I may just get a ticket home and then turn it in if I get a ride. I'd about as soon stay here for a few days and look for another setup so I could move out of the dorm next quarter.
and look for a more promising job than I might get for full-time third quarter. I have $45 to put in the bank Wednesday, and I'll see about getting the $300 transferred. That's the crowning glory.
The last penny of savings we own. I don't know if mom has anything now or not. She's gotten our silver, even with coupons, it's a small sum of money invested.
I think she's used most of what she's made for Cleon and to help out at home. For Cleon Plus to help out at home. Now she only gets about, well, I've forgotten to figure, but it's not over $5 a week. Unless she's working every afternoon again, if I get a scholarship, I'll finish school. Otherwise, I'm not so sure.
I wish I could promise you I'd finish regardless because I know you'd be happier if I would, but I can't. Bob wrote Winnie, he, he that they should wait, she must have left a word out. Bob wrote Winnie that he thinks that they should wait till July to marry. She says she can't see it that way and so thinks maybe they won't be married. What a.
set up. She got quite drunk on vodka and grape juice over the weekend. I hope you got the other letter of last week along with the other card. I wanted you to get a card on your birthday honey so I got you two cards. Connie is ill and she can't figure out what's wrong. Someone just told us mumps were going around school.
nay... Ex... Back?
I don't know what that's supposed to mean. Something about her back. It's almost nine o'clock dear. So I think I'll go to bed tomorrow. I'm really going to use, make use of my time. I'm getting disgusted with myself. I think Tuesday of next week, if my work is caught up and my professors will excuse me, I'll hike up to see you for a spit. can't even write anymore.
chat, she just crossed something out, with Mary Ellen and whoever is head of the music school. It would be my easiest day and early enough in the exam wink to get off. My exams won't be hard at all and I'll most likely only have two. Darling, it's about time for me to leave you. I'm going to take your picture to bed with me. I'm sorry I cried after I got in the dorm, but I couldn't help it.
I guess I'm just a big baby about you. I think I'm being mistreated if I can't hug and kiss you all the time. I didn't think it was possible to love you anymore, to love anyone as much as I love you, my sweetheart. I'd give anything if I could sleep next to you tonight and every night. darling, I love you so very much. Good night, my love. All my love always, Joyce.
