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 close). Missed one? Check the chronological list.
December 2, 1961
Darling,
This time I’m the one who is delinquent in correspondence. It is truly said that us mortals often hurt most those that shouldn’t be hurt at all. But I ask forgiveness and hope to mitigate my thoughtlessness some by saying that it was not due to a lack of thought of you that I did not write.
This is what happens when you sleep with your boyfriend, Karen! (Kidding!)
You certainly share in all that I do, which has been much since last Sunday and possibly that is why I haven’t written.
Thanksgiving break felt really long to me, too. I get it. What’s even happened beyond turkey and cocktails in the last couple of weeks?
First of all, I sold part of my train layout for some much-needed cash.
What in the world is he talking about.
That involved much fooling around dragging it out of the garage and getting in shape for sale and taking a whole box of stuff to work.
I would LOVE to see whatever that miniature set-up was.
Monday evening, with the best of intentions, I went to The Commons at IIT to spend the time before my class sleeping, as I inevitably do, and slept right through till 7:05, which would have made me 20 min. late for class before I even started to walk over to it, so I went home and caught up on the reading in the text which I hadn’t done.
Thursday I found that we only had a 25-minute class on Monday anyway, so I missed nothing. Thursday also I got back the test I took two weeks previously and for which I had read only three of the six assigned chapters and figured for a total loss. But, thank the Lord, I have a B, which gives me almost an A for the course with two more exams to go. I do not intend to fall behind again.
Oh, yes, me neither, which is why I’m transcribing this just hours before it’s supposed to go out to our email list, Russ.
Wednesday night I got my Philosophy exam back with another B, and since that is the only exam we took, that is my grade. We have a final to go and there’s hope.
We have a Trappist monk working in the office as a drafts-man. Or at least he was one, although I don’t know where he fit it in. He’s been in the Army and gone to IIT also, which all take up time. Anyway, he’s a fairly sharp boy and although rather unassuming is by no means vegetating.
Russ has a friend-crush!
I didn’t know a thing about Trappists so I googled it up and discovered: ”The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a Catholic religious order of cloistered monastics that branched off from the Cistercians. They follow the Rule of Saint Benedict and have communities of both monks and nuns that are known as Trappists and Trappistines, respectively. They are named after La Trappe Abbey, the monastery from which the movement and religious order originated.
He has at least a cursory knowledge of at least two languages (French and German) and has a pretty alut [spelling?] outlook on society in general. Mainly, though, he thinks and where there is thought there is hope.
I have NO clue what “alut” means, and I must assume it’s a misspelling or I’m simply not understanding the combination of handwritten letters. Let’s go with “astute” for clarity’s sake!
He gives me someone to talk to who is willing to discuss things on a somewhat philosophical level. I am looking forward to our enjoyable friendship. The rest of the staff is useless so far as I’m concerned. Sheep who spend all their idle moments currying their fleece for everyone to see while underneath they are the same mold with no mind but to follow.
Russ isn’t like the other girls!
The single men have sex on their mind, nothing else, because they are frustrated, the married men aren’t frustrated.
Shows what Russ knows about marriage.
I didn’t miss much when I cut my Phil. class two weeks ago either so I am satisfied.
And speaking of Phil., I have been assigned a term paper the subject of which shall be a comparison of Aristotle and Plato with specific reference to their conception of beauty, justice, and something else, nature, I think.
There is no minimum or maximum length. Volumes could be written. I have till the end of the semester. It will no doubt be THE deciding factor between an A or a B in the course and I am lost. We just started Aristotle and won’t finish till the end of the semester. I know beans about Aristotle.
Just Google it?
I’ve never read anything on him before. A little (very little) Plato, but that’s all. Oh well, cie la College vie.
Your Mother did call and gave me the hoped-for word. Why didn’t you get some help in carrying your luggage upstairs? I keep telling you to take care of yourself and my sweetheart deserves much less strenuous assignments.
This week has gone by quickly but it seems like months since last Sunday. I will be down Friday (the 15th) with bells on and do not mind my inconvenience if it is for an opportunity for an evening of dancing with an angel.
Your card was sweet as the one who sent it and your letter even more so. You may, however, consider yourself spanked for procrastinating studying for that exam until such a late date. Your spanking was not serious, however, and you did not really suffer.
It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the patriarchal daddy/daughter vibe of so many relationships pre-sexual revolution days. Why would he spank her for not doing her homework? Unless that’s their thing that we don’t need to know about.
I will add more to this letter tomorrow. Meanwhile, Darling, goodnight, sleep tight, and take extra good care of yourself. See you real soon.
Love ad infinitum,
Tiger
And he’s got a final addendum, which gives us some insight into why the letters are nearing their end:
P.S. Darling, I must ask a favor of you. I’ve got to talk to one of the deans down there at the education mill and since the LAS office is open only on weekdays, I’ll have to take a day off. Friday would be most convenient since I wouldn’t have to come down and return the same day. Therefore, I’d like you to make an appointment for me for Dec. 15 with Dean Butler. That way I’ll come down Thursday night on a late train. That way I probably won’t see you Thursday night. Catching an earlier train would necessitate my leaving early from work and that would not be good in view of my taking Friday off. That will work out conveniently in case the dance is Friday night. In any case, I’ve got to attend to several things in Champaign on a weekday. Try to get Dean Butler. He’s the only one there that’s halfway reasonable and he generally gives a student a fair shake. Try hard to make it Friday also, no matter who you can get. Otherwise start work on Monday, the 18th, then backwards from the 15th. Let me know as soon as possible how things work out.
The problem of next February has been the wrench in the gears for some time and it keeps me in an almost constant bad mood. Getting things straightened out will be a big load off my mind; it will give me some direction.
Mr. Stahl (Personnel Director) told me that I could return here next summer if I went to school in February so that is one roadblock out of the way.
Id’ better close thise and send it off. You’ll hear from my again real soon. Meanwhile, Sweetheart, take care of yourself and don’t study too hard.
Love and kisses,
Ad infinitum,
Tiger
So, spoiler alert: Seems like he will join her in Champaign soon enough!
If you made it this far, tap that ❤️ button!