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, 1960
Dearest Kay,
Question of great importance to ask you. What school are you going to next semester? Namely, there is more than a good chance that I will go to Navy Pier next semester. In any case, I am quite seriously considering not coming back next semester whether I make my grade-point or not. I have some decisions to make and they must be made soon, and three weeks is not enough time to make them. IIT is another alternative if I make my grade-point. Many, many little problems.
Friendly reminder that Russ skipped a grade and is likely just 18 at University of Illinois down in Champaign. I read years ago that it’s better to start late than to skip ahead because many younger students don’t have the emotional maturity to hang at school. I’m not clear how old Russ is compared to his classmates but he’s probably young for a sophomore.
I’m confused about both there being a college at Navy Pier in Chicago and the timing of “next semester” — it’s January in this letter.
So, I looked up the Navy Pier bit.
“Following World War II, the University of Illinois increased its presence in Chicago by creating a temporary, two-year branch campus on Navy Pier. The Chicago Undergraduate Division primarily accommodated student veterans on the G.I. Bill. The program allowed all students to complete their first two years of study in Chicago before going downstate to finish their undergraduate degrees at Urbana-Champaign.
The lakeside location earned the Navy Pier campus the name “Harvard on the rocks.” The university shared the 3,000-foot pier with other tenants that included the Chicago Police Department Traffic Division and several military detachments. At that time Navy Pier was not the bright, attractive venue it is today as Chicago’s leading tourist attraction. The pier was a dreary, functioning port facility. But because the pier had only a single corridor along its half-mile length, students were able to see their peers each day.”
But I want to know what you will be doing for obvious reasons. Whatever you do must figure in my decision. I want a frank, realistic answer. Also, I would appreciate it as soon as possible, so if you write nothing else, let me know relevant to next semester, please.
We have an interesting situation. I have several things to discuss with you, but a separate of 125-some odd miles is an effective black [sp?] to that. About all I can say is that I miss you terribly and worry about you. But please answer as soon as possible with your plans for next semester.
I’m entirely unclear if this is about his grades, his homesickness, or his general depression? This also seems like a conversation, not a letter.
Something you should also seriously consider is Navy Pier. Keep it in mind. Orientation period is Jan. 27-Feb. 1, and registration is the second and third of February. Classes begin Feb. 6.
He literally means to start at Navy Pier in a month! Wild. Also, this doesn’t make any sense if the Navy Pier campus is just a two-year program. If that’s true, Russ is already a sophomore so he’d just go there for all of one semester? And Karen is a freshman at St. Xavier’s. He wants her to commute all the way to downtown Chicago for classes?
Mainly, it would be eternally frustrating should you come down here next semester, and I’m going to school elsewhere, like in Chicago. Are you thinking of coming here next semester?
Life was much less planned out back in the 1960s.
Unfortunately, we are going to have to carry on our discussion through the mails, so far as is possible.
Works for me.
First of all, if we are both going to school next semester, we might as well make it the same one, if possible, or at least in the same city. As far as I can see, the same city would be either Champaign or Chicago.
Furthermore, and this concerns yourself more than me, if you’re going to live at home next semester, then you are far better off at Navy Pier. For several reasons. While farther away, your time loss would be smaller because you would not have to fool around with a car. As a matter of fact, we would spend only about an hour in commuting one way, of course, but in the final analysis, the time you spend running to the station and the disturbance this creates in any kind of study schedule eliminates more study time than commuting to Navy Pier would.
Why does this seem like a hair-brained scheme? It’s like when I contemplated joining Noom last week: We all know this is just a waste of time and money.
There is also the consideration, and an equally important one, that you would be going to a school which would better prepare you for Wisconsin, both academically and “atmosphere-wise.”
Wait, what? Where did Wisconsin come from? Who needs to prepare for Wisconsin?
Your courses would be similar, if not the same, and would be taught in the same manner. Furthermore, you would not have the ridiculous high school “busy-work” you now must put up with. Possibility of transfer is also better. That decision, however, is up to yourself, naturally.
What is also important is you and I. This is a touchy part because what I am thinking of can be considered somewhat unrealistic.
This has gotta be about sex, right?
When I mentioned before, that if we are both going to school next semester, we might as well do so in the same city is essentially the crux of the matter.
While writing this letter, I have decided to “give out” with more and more of what I have in mind. Here the whole thing is.
It’s almost like Russ knows someone other than Karen will read this one day and he’s nervous about it! Heh. I’m a terrible person.
A lot depends on how you feel. Going to the same school has many advantages over the present situation. Principally, we are able to see one another more often. No, this does not mean we spend every second of every hour out of class with one another. That is what is definitely unrealistic.
Anybody else get the feeling Russ thinks Karen’s not as into him as he is into her?
However, we do have the opportunity to make use of time otherwise wasted, without negative effect on study time. Frankly, I really don’t know what your opinion is on this. Because we are going to the same school does not also mean that our educations will be interfered with.
In my case, I would be happier. We can see one another more often and participate in many more things together, thereby obtaining all of what a long-distance romance may lack.
I told you this was about sex! Everything in the 1950s was!
Being happier is definitely desirable in my case.
This must also be made clear. My decision not to return to Champaign is also based upon other facts.
Grades?
My colitis is giving me problems.
Welp, that wasn’t the turn I was expecting.
At home, with better food and rest, and a living condition under which I would be satisfied would contribute greatly to my well-being.
He literally wants to go home so mom will cook for him and his girlfriend will be there for him. He’s soft as a freshly baked cake.
I am caught in a situation where I don’t know what the next step is. Lacking enough time to decide, I’ve got to take the best arrangement possible in so short a time. By next fall, the major decisions will have been made.
Getting back to going to Navy Pier (for me), naturally being able to see you is going to contribute considerably to my satisfaction with life.
What I’m trying to say is that you are additional stimulus for literally “keeping me calm.”
This is so dreary to me, in 2023, but I bet in 1960 it’s read as rather romantic?
Now I don’t want you to get the idea that you are interfering with my education. That is why all the beating around the bush. You are aiding it, if anything. Whatever you do is helping. What I would want most is to derive greater benefit from our relationship by keeping us closer together, physically as well as mentally. I’m afraid that staying down here is not going to help my already pretty well shot nervous system.
There are other relevant facts, but I needn’t go into them.
Russ is losing his shit.
What I need is a situation in which I can get out from under the pressure and have living conditions which I find nearly ideal in order to clear up my digestive troubles. Along with that I must also accomplish as much as possible in order to fulfill my own standards.
Part of me was like: You know, I’m really hard on myself. I get it. But I don’t think that’s what this is, is it? It’s that Russ is intolerant of discomfort, and he will do anything to just put an end to it.
Most important, I would like to know if you are planning to attend the U of I at Champaign-Urbana next semester. And, if so, why. And also, what your chances are of succeeding in coming down here are, what mountains would have to be moved to do it.
Outside of the above mish-mash there is nothing new. Only 13 more days to go for me, and then heaven, for sure. Good night, Sweetheart. Sweet dreams and take real good care of yourself. Good luck, and don’t forget that I’m in your cheering section and that, most important to me, is that I love you.
Love and kisses,
Russ
Where will these crazy love birds end up? Stay tuned!
If you made it this far be sure to ❤️ this post!