Letters

My father died September 29, 1982 – the day after my youngest sister, Joanne, turned 12. My mother has commented that I never talk about him. She’s right. It’s still too soon.

So, I’ll let him do the talking here.

During my first two years at college, he wrote me some letters. Here are some excerpts from those letters.

I don’t like writing, but if you’re like me I always liked receiving letters when I was away from home (I boarded during my high school years) and Mom would send me a letter every day.

We had a softball game recently against the cats in marketing. The only way I was able to participate was by being manager. Talk about getting old. We really had a lot of fun. Marketing would not let their girls play, but you would have been proud of Finance. We had five girls on our team playing an equal amount of time, and we won by one run. Must have been the manager. Look out Zim, here I come.

Really looked like you enjoyed Connie’s baby the other day. I was glad to see that. I’m not positive if I ever told you this but if you become married after you graduate I won’t feel as though the cost of your education was a waste. In my opinion anything you choose to do after you graduate, the education you are presently receiving will make you a better person.

By the way I think your jokes are not any better than mine – so don’t get a big head. From now on, whenever I tell what I consider to be a joke, I’ll write the word after the sentence. (Joke)

I took yesterday off – had to cover the pool. (As soon as I did it started snowing). I had to hop in the pool for a few minutes. The water was so coooold. You must be saying to yourself “Why did you wait till the last minute?”  I guess I’ll always be the same, you’re correct I’m not perfect after all.

I’ve got Joanne writing you a letter right now! I called in sick today so all of a sudden she is sick too. … Joanne read my letter and she didn’t appreciate the paragraph about my telling you of her missing school.  She also told me about you being very fussy about misspelled words. (Ugh!)

My father again talked about how much fun he had at your graduation, how angry with him my mother became, and the laugh that both of the grandfathers got thinking back on them getting into the dog house.

Joanne would like to see you on Sunday if you’re not busy. I also want to help you out in calculus. (Joke)

I wasn’t too disappointed that you did not get the scholarship. Like I told you before I was proud that you were one of the three finalists. In reading your letter I got the feeling that you were thinking of me more than yourself in being turned down and the first thing that came to my mind was how it affected you.

Wasn’t this letter funny – all of five hilarus hilarious jokes.

I’ve been meaning to do the work around the house on weekends but something always seems to spoil my plans – like a ball game.

I saw my shrink last week. Nothing much to report but things are looking up for me – finally admitted I needed help. Because I’m not respected at work and because seizures can occur at any time I’ve lost all self-confidence. I began to doubt the existence of a tumor and started to think my seizures were brought on only by thoughts but he assured me I did have a tumor and what I needed most was to learn to live with it.

Well don’t have anything else to say. That’s because you told me my jokes were not very funny.

I have been hesitating in going to see you – thinking that I would be in the way with whatever you were planning on that day. Glad you straightened that out for me and I will be up every chance I get.