Every Friday I send out a real love letter that I’ve transcribed from a stack I bought at the flea market. Missed one? Check the chronological list.
If love letters aren’t your thing, don’t fret. More View-Master and related content is coming soon!
And just like that, it’s a whole new year — 1961.
January 5, 1961
Darling Kay,
I came back here with every intention of writing Tuesday night. Here it is Thursday already. However, I wasn’t counting on work up to my neck. The last two days have passed so quickly that I had a hard time realizing that today was Thursday, not Wednesday — and that is no exaggeration.
He’s just not that into her anymore?
I have seen enough of the four walls of this room to satisfy me for the rest of this year. I hope the year turns out a tenth as well as the first three days of it (especially 1 and 3).
OMG! They totally did it (TWICE) over Christmas break! That explains why he’s slow rolling her on letters. College boys, amirite?
This semester is going to be close. Right now, it looks bad to say the least. But, then again, so does everything else.
Right now,I’m looking at life from the wrong perspective. — underneath I was thinking about other schools — even that was not particularly attractive. Not even doing positively nothing or having anything I pleased at no inconvenience, etc, etc. sounded unattractive.I came to the rather obvious conclusion (but I don’t have time for any other kind) that I’m looking at the black side of everything. Profound! So now what. Well things could be worse. And they’re rapidly getting there, too.
I truly hope Russ got antidepressants in the 1990s. But also: He’s been back to school for just TWO DAYS. WTF could have made the situation that dire already? I also can’t get a read on how seriously to take his school problems because he’s such a miserable asshole that it’s hard to figure out what’s legit and what’s dramatic. Is he failing? Or does he just feel like he’s failing? Relatable. (Oof, that’s one for me to work out in therapy, probably?)
But, enough. The worst that can happen is that I’ll flunk out, and since I don’t like this school, that isn’t the worst thing that could conceivably happen. Trouble is, there’s nowhere else I can go. Gives me sort of a trapped feeling. The prospect of continuing an education at a school you don’t like is more than a little unpleasant.
I can’t even look forward to going somewhere else. Great shape! Stuck and nowhere to go.
As background: Russ skipped a grade as a kid. He’s very school-smart, at least, so I have a hard time buying that he can’t handle the work. But it sure seems that he can’t emotionally manage at school.
Anyway, maybe a miracle will happen, and I’ll begin to like it here.
I wonder if he liked high school? How can college be longer or worse than high school? How can anything be worse than high school? High school lasts roughly 47 years and college lasted nearly eight (but I grew up poor and not as smart as Russ).
I’m not really looking at this school with an objective mind. More like a tired one.
Well, I’ll to sign off now. Good luck, Sweetheart. Also, good night and sweet dreams. Take good care of yourself and Jan. 26 will be here in no time. Miss you and love you.
More love and kisses,
Sambo
Again, signing off with the possible racial slur joke? Blech.
I’m extremely confused about the tone of this letter. It’s grumpy and overwhelmed. Maybe he’s a year younger than his classmates and can’t handle it because he’s a kid still. I’m not sure. But he just spent a holiday at home he was greatly looking forward to and came back without any sort of fervent notes of love for his girl but with a general misery related to classes within two days. It’s curious given the flurry of letters he sent after Homecoming!
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I feel like I have maybe become far too invested in this relationship. I wish I could hear her side of the story. I'm just waiting for her to get fed up with all his crap.