Every Friday I send out a real love letter that I’ve transcribed from a stack I bought at the flea market (until they run out — and we’re getting closer all the time). Missed one? Check the chronological list.
This letter is part 2 of 2. You can read the first half of this week’s letter here.
October 30, 1961
Don’t feel too bad about father. He’s just a somewhat irascible old man who doesn’t mean half of what he says and never the way he says it. I know it’s hard but try not to let it interfere with your work. Thanksgiving is coming, slowly but surely, and you can be sure that I still love you and want you near.
Good lord, what did her asshole father say to her?
This past week has seemed like an eternity. Last weekend is in the distant past, so much has been crowded into the last 7 days. But more likely it seems so long because I haven’t seen you since then and because you’re 125 miles away. I’ll have to go over and visit your mother one of these days. I imagine she’s in need of someone to talk to. Maybe I can score a couple of points with your father also, which will help over Thanksgiving. The freer we are over Thanksgiving the better.
Ugh, imagine how Karen’s dad treats his wife if his daughter is dealing with endless verbal abuse as has been heavily implied every time it’s come up in these letters.
I have a feeling this is going to be the best one yet, which is to be expected because I’ve got the best girl a guy would ask for. I wish you were here so I could show you just how much I appreciate you. I’d better get a different perspective before I get intolerable, repetitive and depressed. You shouldn’t be viewed in such a was as to inspire depression. The day was kind of depressing tho. In a way, however, I liked it. Not the depressing part. But it reminded me of Christmas because it was cold and dark outside and people were bustling around and the thought of Christmas made me feel good inside, and I thought of walking through The Loop with you as we had often done in the past, which also made me feel good in a quiet, peaceful way. That more or less describes my mood. Happy, but not exuberantly so. Just happy. More life and absence of unhappiness and unpleasant. I’d better continue later. Moving buses don’t do many good when writing. ….
I will say he does say very nice things to/about her whenever he gets the sense she’s struggling with her family or school. For all his (many) faults, Russ is a pretty good cheerleader where Karen is concerned.
Darling, I love you. All I can do is say that with the deepest and most sincere feeling I have within me. Over and over again, as the supreme expression of an otherwise unutterable longing for the object of that love. A longing impossible to satisfy at present — turning days into months of inpatient waiting.
The things I want the most — so unattainable — so often fleeting and ephemeral. And yet the truly soul satisfying contentment a peaceful world into which I may slip at any time, any place — is created and given infinite permanence by the thing which need never end nor bend to the will of circumstance — your love and the opportunity to love you — in all its glorious inspiration and mysterious union — in indefinite eternal existence. A bond and union which can and will last throughout time, growing larger at its source each day until someday it shall become an inexhuastble and universally significant source of power and peace. A union which will exist in more than the transitory minds of men, but rather in the endless bounds of space and time — filling and permeating them as an eternal fiber of creation — giving it meaning and existence.
I have no idea what he’s saying but I’m kinda into it.
For this there can be no substitute and for this mortals may well wait.
And now, darling, I’d better say goodnight, sweet dreams, sleep tight, take extra good care of yourself and that includes getting enough sleep. Try to arrange your schedule so that you can keep yourself healthy. I think I’ll come on down and tuck you in with plenty of
Love, Love, Love and kisses ad infinitum,
Tiger
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