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.
October 30, 1961
Darling,
I have had a busy, busy weekend. It started when John came over Friday night to give me his poor, downtrodden-sounding story. I gave him conditional acceptance since I knew Ellen and Karen J. were in on the deal, and blind dates courtesy of Ellen are generally losers.
Haha, the return of Mean Girl Ellen! We haven’t heard about her in ages! You may (or may not) recall that she is the leader of the Mean Girls who make Karen feel bad about herself.
Based on this letter, it seems that Russ was supposed to go with John on his blind date. Is this insane? It sounds insane. But perhaps it was just a set-up? John needed a wing man and Russ obliged, which is almost shocking to me based on his grumpy letter writing!
The condition was that, after meeting her, I was still in favor. So we went over to Xav’s where they were decorating the gym. In keeping with John’s plans of going out for pizza we went back at 10 p.m. and picked up Helen and Karen. Helen turned out to be a good talker but not very impressive, though tolerable so far as looks.
I spent Saturday afternoon with John, running to the florist, Star Electronics (twice), and a variety of other places, as well as replacing the control panel on my Rube Goldberg Control Center (which I finished Sunday evening finally). I even managed to get ready on time, more or less, — John was 20 min. late, however, but since we were planning on arriving 1 hour early because Karen was chairman of the dance committee, it didn’t make any difference.
Incidentally, Helen’s late name is K___, which I just thought of and I still don’t know if it’s spelled right. It confuses me (the name) (in general, but you don’t know her because this is her first semester at Xav’s and she spent the previous two years in a convent. She went to Visitation High School and lives in Evergreen Park. Now, if I can keep her name straight I’ll be in business.
Anyway, it’s truly amazing what a hairdo, some makeup and a little help from Playtex will do for a girl.
When she came to the door Sat. night, I would have sworn it was somebody else. A decided improvement. (But I still think you’re better looking.)
What a charmer.
A whole group of us went to the Martinique afterwards. A group of 9, incidentally. That’s like asking Ruth Ann (in charge of the Coke concession) for 3 Cokes.
I don’t get it.
Ellen came to the dance with Helen’s brother, Stan, who is an oddball, but there the association begins to dwindle. Stan danced with Ellen twice all night and at least that many times with each free girl he could find.
For the record, catty Russ is my favorite.
The rest of the time he managed to be where Ellen wasn’t. He followed us to the Martinique and, when John parked the car, he drove right on through the lot and out the other exit — with Ellen. After we were seated Ellen showed — alone! Her mother drove her back — hence — 9. Ellen took it all very gallantly — on Sat. night.
Oof, brutal.
Sunday, however, when John and I went over to pick up the 6-foot moon they used for a decoration (which he decided against, finally), Ellen was running around Xav’s like a headless horseman, and, lacking anything nastier to do, decided that Karen J. should be helping with clean-up. Karen came earlier but we sent her home because she had had only a few hours sleep since Thursday night. She worked Sat. morn for three hours (on the job), and 8 hours Sunday morning after 3 hours sleep besides decorating all day Sat., and looked like she’d been run over by a truck.
Ellen called Karen, got her out of bed and complained of no help while two girls and John and I (who offered to lend a hand!) were right there waiting. Ellen just told us we weren’t doing anything. This did not set well with me at all since I had no real reason to be there (and we had done as much as we could and were waiting for orders from Ellen). So I told her rather bluntly that had done herself out of two helpers and John and I left.
John and I stopped at Karen’s house to tell Mrs. J___ to keep Karen at home and also the true situation, and a frustrated Ellen got stuck all by her little lonesome. It really did my heart good. She has received her just reward. She will be after my neck, I’m sure, now, but I still have one up on her and that’s what annoys her.
At the dance, downstairs in the cafeteria, while requesting a number, the leader of the musical trio asked me for a rubber mat for the drummer because his drums were sliding around on the tile floor. Right then and there it appeared quite rational. But on repetition at other places it took on a rather humorous quality, especially when told to Sister Silvania (or however it’s spelled) who was not familiar with the musician’s problems. Asking for a rubber mat for the drummer is bad enough, but to give the reason “because he is sliding around on the floor” was downright funny.
And carrying a 5’ x 10’ mat from the convent entrance, through the halls and through the cafeteria makes people wonder. The drummer appreciated my help however. He looked very happy perched on his red rubber mat.
Sunday, I cleaned up the basement. I also put an extension speaker in my sister’s room after running a wire up through the floor. The speaker isn’t installed quite yet as I have to build a small enclosure for it. She’s quite happy with it, however. The next step is the living room where half the battle is won since a wire is already through the floor in the front hall closet. The living rooms will have stereo yet, eventually.
Heavy 3-conductor cable is expensive. And cable it must be for the long distance involved.
I love modern technology and wireless everything.
Which just about covers the weekend. My only regret is that it wasn’t you. St. Xav’s and the Martinique recalled pleasant memories and made me wish you were here. Your call Sunday night came as a surprise, but I love you for doing it. I miss you so much and it was great to hear your voice and your Happy Anniversary in person.
— Cont. next week as this one is a long one and it gets pretty schmaltzy from here!
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Wow, our depressed hypochondriac became really animated after going on a date with another girl! Not sure his girlfriend would appreciate his reporting back how her Platex bra enhanced her figure.