May 17, 1966
5:30 P.M.
Dearest Patricia:
It was awfully good to see you today, even for the short time it took to drive you to the Clinic. You always are a welcome sight to my eyes.
I made a bargain with Sam Rossitano, the shop foreman at the Ford Shop. Since my car misbehaves for only a few minutes each time it is cold, he has not yet seen it the way it is when I start out. So, after dinner tonight, I’m to drive it in to the Ford area put it in an empty stall and lock it. Then tomorrow morning I’ll go down early – say at 8:00 o’clock and let him see how it misbehaves. He thinks the carburetor is at fault but in any case he’ll have it at its worst. Then he will correct what he thinks is wrong & have it ready for me by noon. If it still doesn’t behave, we’ll take it from there. He’s quite sympathetic – in face he’s been a good friend to me for many years but I told him that if the car can’t be permanently fixed this time, I would carry my complaint all the way to Henry Ford II at Detroit if necessary. But he seems to think that if he can handle the car himself when it is first started, he can make a correct diagnosis & fix it. I hope so.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow evening when I wear my new blue coat and black slacks. The two new coats – or [pg. 2] jackets, as I think you called them look mighty good in my closet. Did you notice especially the lining in the checked one? It’s a rich red with an overall decoration design that’s almost a paisley – and really handsome! I’ll have to continue to wear it sometime soon.
Our day in San Francisco was such fun. I enjoyed looking through the Cost Plus store almost as much as the show – though not quite. That was a really sophisticated play written especially for persons with a college background – in other words – just for us. It had some pretty sharp lines in it!
Later in the week I’ll get my door and its table legs and set about the first steps in transforming my apartment. I’m pleased as can be that you are going to going to help with – or better – supervise it. You have such good ideas and good taste.
Well, that’s all for now but I did want to say a little to you before the day is out and let you know what happened about the car.
Tonight – somewhat latish, one of the girls from the College who has a term paper to write & wants to do it as a brief history of the Field School spring session in Death Valley, is coming in for a few ideas from me. It will be fun to run over the history of the Death Valley trip. I think she wants to emphasize the spirit of the companionship that develops. After all, that’s what makes the Field School!
Love – Carl.
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
