October 27 (Tues. eve.)
11:20 P.M.
Dear Patricia:
You’ve gone and done it again! You nearly broke me up by the sheer beauty & thoughtfulness of the personality that you revealed when we were talking about Amadou Bandé during the noon hour – the beauty & thoughtfulness of the personality that is you and that makes you so priceless in my eyes! Who but you would have shown the insight, the understanding, the sympathy for Amadou? Who but you would have shown so much concern that Amadou (& the boys from Guinea) receive the consideration that, as human beings, they deserve while they are our guests in this country. On whose but your sensitive face could I have seen & read this concern so plainly as you expressed your appreciation for what I am trying to do in talking with him & striving to make him feel at ease when we meet on Tuesday mornings. And who but you would have thought of including him when have dinner together – or so readily seen the wisdom of waiting until we can be a little more leisurely than will be possible this week? Your soul is touched with greatness, Patricia, no matter what you may think of yourself in ordinary settings. Of all the students – & particularly – all of the girls with whom I have talked about our foreign students these last few years – you are the only one who has revealed such understanding & compassion. And thinking about these fine qualities as I drive away from 220 Margaret nearly chokes me up. And so, my dear – and for excellent reasons, you are still at the pinnacle of my admiration and affections. Secretly – if you wish – just between you and me, you are still precious and priceless.
And thanks for telling me about the movies at the Esquire Theater. I could have done without “The Shot in the Dark” though it was a captivating comedy – but “The Seventh Dawn” I shall remember a long long time. Every time “Dahna” was portrayed in terms of her deep sincerity and her unfailing loyalties in support of the principles [page 2] in which she believed and for which she lived and died, I could not help thinking of you, of you unwavering strength in the realities of life as you see them and of your steadfastness in living up to them. I would not want you, of course, to have to risk your very existence for your ideals & finally lose as “Dahna” did, but I have the feeling that were it necessary, you would not hesitate to do so.
Now about the dinner date this week, let me know tomorrow which day it will be. There is an important meeting at the La Entrada School in my home district in Menlo Park tomorrow afternoon at 4:30. It concerns the memorial that is being established for Neva and I must be present. It should not last long but it will be between 6:00 and 6:30 probably before I can get back to San Jose. If time is no object to you we can eat a little later than usual – as soon as I get back – but you’d rather we have dinner on Thursday or even Friday, it will be O.K. with me. Having dinner with you always makes me very happy – and I always feel honored – no matter how casual we may be, so the day and the time are minor considerations with me. So you set the occasion at the time that will be most convenient for you – and I’ll be pleased!
Also, I might remark that who but you would have suggested that I send my efforts at haiku to you? Who else would have combined the confidence in me that let you make the suggestion and the thoughtfulness for Jon, knowing as you do and as I do how genuine he is and how pleased and interested he will be to receive my efforts? I’ll write him right away and send him copies of all three.
Your mom was as pleased to get the fresh wild mustard greens as you knew she would be. I stayed but a few minutes – had a cup of coffee and a tuna sandwich for refreshment.
Do not think, incidentally, because I have not included Doris in any of my poetic efforts directed at you, that I have failed to appreciate how much she has given of love & philosophy of life in helping you through the difficult past that you have experienced. I’ve been waiting till I could pay her a special tribute & perhaps the time is now near. In some ways she is as unique as you are. This letter carries an aura of love and affection. Can you sense them?
Carl. .
Dr. Carl Duncan and Patricia Whiting Collection (SJSU)
