Are your friends inspirational enough?
Friendship through the lens of a mid-century misanthrope.
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!
January 13, 1961
This is my good luck day. I always have bad luck on the rest of the days of the year. Therefore, it is not only logical but factual that I have good luck today. Today I also see my dean. Good luck I need — in copious amounts. Today I will also mail this letter.
While this may be my day for good luck, I was not so fortunate as to have lacked my morning stomach ache. It almost seems like a lament for the night past. My disturbed digestion complaining about the garbage it was forced to consume for the evening meal the previous night. However, complaining about it won’t help. Therefore, I will quit and go on to pleasant subjects.
Like you, for instance, can’t think of anything nicer. Actually, I like morning—or that is, everything about morning that does not find origin in me. They are also playing enjoyable music on the radio. Morning is also just about the only time we get any sunlight in the room. Also, there is a whole day ahead of me. This just might turn out as a good day after all.
Don’t go getting optimistic on me now, Russ.
Don’t expect too much right now. I am more or less content and am simply making various and sundry observations about various and sundry topics.
One thing I have determined is that while Nelson and I get along, we are far from ideal roommates. Our interests are virtually diametrically opposed and at the least lie in areas different enough to keep us from sharing in very much. In others we don’t think the same way at all. Nelson is somewhat soured on life and people and has a rather “kill or be killed” attitude toward competition—although he is not ambitious.
Jesus, it’s NELSON who is soured on life? Is he joking?
Neither am I endowed with a lion’s share of this virtue, but at least I do consider it a virtue rather than as an inconvenient occasional necessity. In words of simple understanding, Nelson “would rather not, but occasionally does if there’s money in it.”
In order to mitigate, I will that Nelson’s not a bad guy, but he is certainly no “paragon of virtue.” While he’s carefree, uncaring attitude is novel, it eventually becomes somewhat discouraging and definitely not inspiring. Most annoying is that he gives no credit to accomplishment and is not seeking it, and this is not the sort of roommate that I wish to “cultivate.” His influence is negative.
Nelson is gonna love the hippies in just a couple of years.
To put it in a few words, which I could have done in the first place, we are not advantageous to one another. He does nothing for me, and I do nothing for him. We cannot become the really close friends that two roommates should be.
It’s hard to be friends with someone who mostly wants to judge and assess you to see if you’re an inspiration to them.
Enough about Nelson.
I mentioned talking about you back aways, and then became distracted by several other subjects. Which is what I warned you about. I am not in a one-track mood right now. As a matter of fact, I am finding myself constantly diverted. I had better go and see my dean right now. Consequently, I will close and get this letter off. Good luck, Sweetheart, and don’t work too hard. Good morning, good afternoon, good night and everything else that’s good. Take real good care of yourself, and I’ll see you in less than 2 weeks. (13 days to be exact, but less than 2 weeks sounds better). Miss you, miss you, miss you.
Love and Kisses,
Russ
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