Letter 32 01/12/1953 Too Good to Be True

Show Notes:
January 12th, 1953 — Joyce writes from Denver with a head full of possibilities and a heart full of longing. Her letter to Earl begins with cautious excitement — two potential organist positions, one at the university chapel and one at a Lutheran church. Either could change everything: steady income, time to teach piano, and maybe a little freedom from waitressing. “If they did,” she writes, “I could take on more piano pupils and wouldn’t need to work at anything else.”

But beneath her optimism is fatigue — the slow grind of small rooms, crowded dorms, and endless searching. She combs through newspaper ads for apartments she can’t afford, sighs over shared kitchens where “no one will clean up,” and decides she’s too selfish to eat spinach and eggs at 9:15 p.m. Her humor keeps her grounded, even as she dreams of something better.

Joyce also chronicles dorm gossip (a girl caught sitting on a boy’s lap!), flu outbreaks, and the constant worry over schoolwork — 1,500 to 2,000 pages of history reading and still more credits to manage. Yet as always, she ends with love — looking forward to hearing Earl’s voice and hoping “George stays home this Friday night.” The letter captures Joyce at her most human: hopeful, tired, witty, and deeply in love.

Topics Include:

• Searching for church organist jobs
• Financial independence and limited opportunities for women
• Apartment hunting in 1950s Denver
• Dorm life and behavior rules
• Managing coursework and credit hours
• 1950s student health and flu season
• Humor in domestic chaos and shared living
• Long-distance love and everyday yearning

Transcript

January 12th, it says 52 But I think I looked on the outside of this one and the postmark says 53. So it's actually 1953 Dear sweetheart, what a day. What a day. I got a line on two organ jobs one is University organist over at the chapel for weekday chapels and Sunday a.m. Service paying $60 or better a month

Same lady has it, but she will, some lady has it, but if she will give it up, I can have it. The other is a Lutheran church. I don't know where or how big or how much, or even if it's still open, but I'm going to wait and see if either of them materialize for me. If they did, I could take on more piano pupils and wouldn't need to work at anything else.

I've been calling all the help wanted ads, but they all got filled before I get there.

I called a lady about one room or two room apartment. All her units are filled at present. They are a couple more apartment ads. One for $22 a month on Elote, wherever that is, and one on South Josephine across from campus, but they probably want quite a bit for it.

There were a couple apartments, one three room, one two room for $35 a month.

but that's a bit steep for me. And the phone number was grand, so they're most likely in North Denver and not out here. And I'll probably end up staying here for two more quarters, much as I don't want to. One thing, it's close and comfortable and convenient with everything like lights, gas, et cetera, paid. We had a dorm meeting last night and mother, I can never tell if it's a raper or roper, so we'll just go with.

roper reprimanded us for behavior in the lounge she saw a girl sitting on a boy's lap with two exclamation points excuse me for a while my love it's time to eat i'm all done now i haven't practiced yet today and i don't think i will i have just a little studying to do and then i'm going to iron wash work on my scrapbook and just piddle around

All the kids out here are enduring colds and touches of flu. I've never seen so many droopy people in one group. I bought some groceries today. If I don't take a restaurant job, I may eat with the kids, but they are so irresponsible. No one will clean up and the times they decide to eat never a meal at a normal time. One night they had a

spinach and eggs at 9 15 p.m. That was their dinner.

not this kid. I love to eat too much and I'm just selfish enough to want what I want when I want it. Quincy finally got her purse back. The return on the package was tasty pastry or some such thing. Maybe I'll call Barb tonight or tomorrow, but I'm going to bed early tonight if I don't get another thing done. I'm anxious to hear from mother to see when the


There's a crossed out word and then it says spit, excuse please, announcements will be in. Someday I'm going to quit being so cheap and buy decent stationery and to write on. A pen doesn't go very smoothly over this type of paper. I saw George today, but just to say hello. Ah yes, I have to do 1500 to 2000 pages of outside history reading.

You know, the organ job over here is too good to be true and most likely won't be true. But if I did get it, I'd have time for practicing and everything else. If I get it, I'll almost wish I'd taken 17 hours, but my scholarship would have only been 50 with 17 hours. I have to go over to the registrars again to have my credits rechecked and find out if I can take more music third quarter.

If so, can get by with 12 hours next quarter. Otherwise 15 hours, I'm afraid. Tomorrow's Tuesday and I'll hear from, I'll hear your voice again. I hope you make up on Monday and Wednesday through Wednesday for sleep. The rest of the time. And I hope George stays home this Friday night. Will darling, I'll leave you now.

All my love and thoughts are with you. All my love, always, Joyce.