May 31, 1966
As there are several things I need to do tomorrow, though mostly at my convenience, phone me as early as you can and let me know if and when I can be of help to you tomorrow. I go to Dr. Clarks in the P.M.
I take my book preface & Rave dinner tomorrow with the Crittendens(?).
Dearest Patricia:
I planned to write you a succinct but informative letter tonight but several unplanned things happened so I’ll have to leave much unsaid or implied until later. I went to the ranch at Cupertino for dinner with Dorothy, Dale, & the two kids, expecting to come home early but Claudia was emotionally disturbed over some of her impending problems so I stayed late to help “reason” them out & midnight arrived & passed before things could be brought to a termination. But of that more anon.
I have a number of interesting happenings to report also, but they too will have to wait – which leaves me with two divisions of my communication to cover (briefly for now – more fully later).
First – A report on developments at my apartment. See Second development on next page.
1. I got my second bookcase pretty well along toward completion. I had miscounted on the concrete blocks I needed so I will have to get one more. Then the top shelf has to wait till I can exchange the board for another. I found a (over) serious defect in it which invalidates its use for a shelf.
2. I put the door & other parts together and have my “desk” or work table in place. It still needs sanding & staining.
3. My amount of stain proved inadequate. The boards I have soaked up a lot more of it than I anticipated, so I’ll have to get another can.
Second: I thought over the arrangements for the place on Los Padres where your Mom and the kids are living & came to a important conclusion. I can’t tell from the papers I have here how fast the payments I make monthly ($131.00) are reducing the principal owed and how much is being “dissipated” into insurance, taxes, interest on the mortgage loan etc. So I decided I must (before I go to Lassen) visit the Wells Fargo bank on Winchester Road in the Emporium shopping center & find out. I’ve got to learn how many payments will have to be made over how long a time to clear the place so I’ll know what will be the extent of a financial problem would be left on your shoulders [p. 2] if I should abruptly pass out of the picture.
I’m not so naïve as not to know that – though I may as I hope, - live quite a few years yet, my life could be snuffed out abruptly by any of a number of causes. And our good friend, John Rumsfeld has expressed a concern that makes me wonder what’s in his mind. Next time I’ll see him, I’ll ask him point blank. My step seems fairly brisk and I’m not short of breath when I start to take a walk, but any real exertion (sanding boards, putting the “desk” together, assembling the bookcase, etc.) tires me more than it seems should be the case and I have to rest more than ought to be necessary. John seems to think this is due only to my having accumulated a little more digitalis than I should have and that I’ll return closer to normality when this is corrected. He says it sometimes takes two or three weeks for one’s system to eliminate the excess (over) digitalis, so I’ve got a couple of weeks to wait & watch, but I don’t want to risk imposing any unnecessary burden on you and your Mom & the kids are so happy in Los Padres that I want them to be faced with no unnecessary threat.
I want to plan all steps that might be necessary to ensure that you’ll be able to handle all the real estate problems with as little inconvenience as possible. Then if all turns out for the better – we all can breathe easier. I’ll write out a detailed explanation of each potentially necessary move for you. The Menlo Place is completely clear so nothing should ever be done to encumber it. Then you’ll be secure with it in any case. However a termite correction job must done this summer & that will cost several hundred dollars. Then I can (I think) change my savings surplus so it can apply (be applied by you) on the Los Padres place, if necessary. Then, at the worst, though you’d like to retain the entire Menlo place (and this is my wish too) if necessary you could sell the vacant lot there & clear or nearly clear the Los Padres place & remove the possible threat to Doris & the kids. What would then remain, if anything, you would be able to meet. We’ll talk about it Wednesday. Much love, as always - Carl
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
