October 9, 1966
1313 Nancy Street
Bloomington, Indiana
Chicago Airport leaves (I have your 3 pictures out where I can look at them frequently as I think of you.)
Dearest Patricia:
My first day – my long day is just about over. I call it my long day because it includes yesterday. When I go right to the Airport after one day of activity & take off on a flight – even thought the flight’s at night – I still feel as if it’s just a continuation of the day I’ve already put in. So yesterday and today were just one long day. I read a while in a paperback on “Flying Saucers” I got at S.F. then slept about three hours, then awoke, when I sensed that the plane was slowing and flying lower & therefore approaching Chicago. About that time also the sky, that had been clear before became clouded – for a while I couldn’t see the lights of houses below – then beneath the clouds the plane came to the Chicago Airport in a threat of rain. I had a long wait for the Lake Central plane that brought me on to Bloomington which already had had a brisk rain so everything was wet and clean. The whole Alyca family greeted me & brought me “home.” Tonight there was more rain for a half hour with thunder & lightning, but the radio said it was the end of the storm & tomorrow would be clear. We had a Chinese dinner, I’ve established diplomatic relations with Peter – which I didn’t have to do, of course, with Carrie. The animals (dog & cats) act as if they’ve known me all their lives so they remember me or recognize my odor – as good as remembrance, I guess. Had a long nap in the afternoon. Play with Carrie & talk with Dave & Sandra filled the rest of the day.
Sandra seems to be the only one with any cold left, but then she works at family managements almost continuously, so I guess it is natural that her cold should persist longer. She has less physical margin to go on than Dave, who keeps busy all the time but is freer of the tensions. Tomorrow, Dave will be back at the University & I’ll be able to ease things a bit for Sandra so she should improve.
I’m established in the basement “spare bedroom” that looks out on the patio & lawn area of the backyard – really a pleasant location. It isn’t walled off from the rest of the basement that serves as a shop (Dave’s trying to regain their kitchen sink “Disposall” that went haywire day before yesterday). Also serves as a greenhouse for a few plants not quite hardy enough for an Indiana winter; a washing room (laundry) storehouse, etc. These areas are pretty separated so each seems distinct, esp. the “bedroom.”
Fall color is just getting underway. A few things are brilliant red, others gold or orange or yellow, & many still completely green so I’ll see quite a varied show.
I’ll show you tomorrow, darling. I thought today – being Sunday when you might be out could be left undisturbed. And I’ll think of you & check off the days, even tho I have a good time.
With all my love – Carl.
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
