My dearest darling Patricia:
Right now, I’m high - without benefit of anything to drink - and there’s nothing I want more than to write to you and share my joy! I finished my state income tax just a little while ago and got it into the San Jose P.O. with the narrowest margin of time I’ve had on any income tax report yet. The multitude of paper sent by the state together with the small salary I got last year as a half time am in definitely retired person gave me a lot of trouble knowing how to make my report out but I finally figured something out that I think will be acceptable, along with my check for $72.43 but it’s in and a big load is lifted from me.
Add in the fact that I met your Jacobian friends at the Tri-Beta potluck this evening at Jo Crane’s (who knows you and I think whom you’d recognize if you saw her.). I found the Jacobians delightful. Both they and Mrs. Ellis and two or three others who know you - and I, of course, were in complete agreement that you are a very charming and loveable girl. The Jacobians were amusing as they described the way you prepared for the night when they camped with you - describing all the clothes you put on to keep warm and how you crawled into your sleeping bag and had it covered with a blanket or something as further protection. But it was an affectionate description and all most friendly. They and the Ellises (Dorothy at least - as all may have stayed by then - noticed my ring and commented on its beauty and how did I get it, for until then they hadn’t known that we went to Palm Springs. Earlier in the day - at lunch time - when I went to lunch with 4 of the women and girls from the [?] area on the 3rd floor and Dr. Akigama as well. You probably [page 2] remember him from Death Valley a couple of years ago. And this year too. He was with McCallums special group of repeaters this year. Two of the women - Betty Walker and Judy Williamson noticed the ring, admired it and were curious as to its origin. I’m as proud of it as I can be and I feel so good having it on my finger now and knowing that it will never come off again unless I have special reason to take it off briefly.
You were so delightful and joyous and gay this afternoon when I picked you up by the clinic and brought you home. Your face was simply radiant, you seemed as beautiful as you ever are - but you are always so to me; and your voice is pure music. I could listen to it endlessly!
Well that’s my “story” and my feeling for tonight. The pansy is symbolic - you’re a lovely flower! (pansy comes from French penser, “to think”) as you probably now, and there’s no one I’d rather think about - and none that I do think of more after, or think more of. I picked this one from a pansy bed in St. James Park across from the post office. It not only will not be missed but if the whole crop of them could be picked now, the plants would just “pour out” more bloom. So take it, darling. It will last for several days if you want to keep it.
And now to come down a bit, I will have to drink a can of beer or a little vodka and eat something so I can go to sleep - but I’ll go to sleep happy - and wake up that way tomorrow A.M. when I’ll tackle the job of beginning to get my apartment ready for your beneficent influence to give it that Polynesian touch!
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
