Letter from Carl D. Duncan to Patricia Whiting, November 11, 1965

              I thought one sheet would do but it took two!
My dearest Patricia:
While you are typing away at Los Gatos I am working on what I shall say tomorrow at 10:30 to the Ent 51 class while Dr. Edwards is somewhere in Yucatan. I’ve been partly day dreaming and so have concluded I should tell you something of my “random thoughts”.
Tuesday evening when I called on you briefly just to say “hello” before going out to Woodrow and Barbara Williams for dinner - I did so because I just had a sudden lonesomeness to see you just briefly. I was overjoyed at finding you home and completely “cured” of my lonesomeness just by the sight of you. no one gives me such a “lift” as you. That is why I tell you - more than I do any other of my “friends” that I look to you for the inspiration and lightness in life that will keep me in touch with youth and will keep me alive for years and years. This is why you’re my “little climatologist”, providing the climate for my personal advancement. So don’t forget the little trips, errands, etc., services that I can do for you and with you - saving you time and energy and providing a few miutes each time of conversation and the exchange of ideas. Also in this “department” belong the occasional days when you’ll need to study a type where you can escape interruption by your friends - get lots done and have in consequence, more time for your friends later - at your convenience. And don’t forget that some time before long - to get you going again we’ll need to make a shopping trip to GEM to replenish your supplies. Then hopefully - you’ll postpone trips to the Laundromat to do your wash until late at night when I’ll be glad to take you - etc, etc. all of these build “climate” for me, believe me.
I’m loking forward to dinner tomorrow - call me soon as you get in from school - or call and let me bring you from school - if you’re without your bike I’ll want to know whether you want to go casual or dress up a bit.
I’ve thought a number of times since last Thursday when you made the remark as you were typing, essentially that “you and I are lucky - because we can express ourselves on anything we wish and understand each other or explain and discuss till we reach understanding.” It is so true and we really are lucky - no few persons ever reach this state of understanding and confidence. We’ve had only a couple of minor misunderstandings and those were cleared up quickly by explanation and understanding - I should say by confidence in each other and mutual trust. Complete agreement isn’t necessary, neighter is it necessary that one person’s views prevail over another’s. [page 2] I think that you and I have no jealousies or rivalries of that sort between us. all our discussions and explanations - because of the mutual trust between us seem only to strengthen the security of our relationship. It is my feeling that this feeling of trust and security between us will endure and will grow stronger with the passage of time. Whenever either of us has a problem, and idea to express or to explore to help our own thinking, each of us can and will help the other in ways most people do not even have open to them. In the troubled and changing world we live in and facing a future that seems dark and disturbing it is good to have a relationship with someone that seems so secure that it can be depended on in any contingency whatsoever.
This seems to me especially desirable for one like you - so beautiful and attractive that you must always have your guard up - because you look so much younger than you are. You need a maturity to match your maturity, which often isn’t understood by your “contemporaries” who want to make decisions for you. You need to hang on to (and of course you will) the Shilkins, the Whitings, and I feel I can say also - me. And in return, then, your best friends do need also - you! don’t ever underestimate your importance in such relationships.
Yesterday at Palo Alto I took the papers relating to lots 16 and 17 at Menlo Park and left them with the Theobald’s. “Sprig” Theobald , the daughter-partner in the firm will make out a deed, deeding the two lots, as one place, to you “for $10,000 and other considerations” - an expression - though the amount mentioned could be anything that the law requires. The Theobalds, father and daughter, repeated the statement that Mr. Bunchill and Marie Dunn of Bunchill Realty made here, and that you said you thought was right that I should not relinquish the deed to you now but should keep it in my safety deposit box until such time as it would be clear that I might not have to return to the place to live for a while. I have no misgivings myself and after my retirement pay is finally figured out, I can doubtless figure out a final arrangement that will be better for you.  however, as soon as I receive the deed, I’ll show it to you. I want you to know that it is real!
I was pleased no end last week when your mom quoted you as saying “Mama, I’m looking forward to living in that little house” (your name for it). Nothing has made me happier in recent months than to learn through your own reactions that you liked the “little house” and had a certain reverence for it. I look forward to the time when after your graduation - I can drop in at the “little house” and find you at home in it! This is as much a dream to me as it is to you and I want to see it come to pass.
Well - my time and my paper are about up, if your “climate” for me has a place tomorrow for me to perform a service or two for you - please let me know, and anyway - I’ll be seeing you - Fondly and affectionately yours - love - Carl.