Letter 15, the last letter from Joan aka "Dusty"

As I post this last letter from Joan "Dusty" Marin, I want to make an appeal to anyone in the Waltham area. Help me find Dusty! All that's known about her aside from her name comes from these letters: She lived in Waltham and graduated in 1949 from Waltham High School, which means she was born in about 1931 or so, making her about 80 years old today. Google searches have not produced any results, but given the fact that she likely got married and changed her surname, that's not surprising. But I'd love to find Dusty! So all you Waltham-ites, ask around!

June 9, 1949

Thursday Nite

Hi Sal:

Well, I'd just about given you up for lost when I got your letter. It was good to hear from you again.

I guess I expected to see you more than I did too, but, you know how the saying goes, every man to his own taste. (that goes for sailors too)

Last Thursday was a big day “Graduation.” It was really nice to see. Too bad

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you couldn't have been here. Yesterday was another big day (yep I'm now 18) quiet, I am not getting old. Here I am the inefficient office secretary (I mean efficient).

Say Sal, we never did get to take our walk did we? It's been kinda cold here the last coupla days. I don't think it will ever warm up enough so I can go swimming. Ya know what? Sometimes I get so disgusted.

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I got lotsa nice stuffs for graduation. Beautiful pearls, a pendant and bracelet set, money and other things.

Woolworth's is coming along pretty good. They have most of the skeleton put up. They say it won't be done till around November though.

By the way it wasn't Mr. Huff I shook hands with it was The Mayor.

Before I fergi, have fun at the dance. Now, now, don't give me that. You

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can dance a little can't you?

Too bad I won't be there to see Louis Prima. I've never seen him. Oh well he don't interest me much anyhoo. Well Sal, guess that's all for now.

As Ever

Joany

alias

Dusty

It's no surprise that this is the last letter from Dusty. The spark just seems to have gone out! It looks like Sal got leave for a bit to visit home, but the flirtatious tone in their letters just didn't translate to real life. And it appears that they don't have a whole lot in common, what with Sal's interest in "hillbilly" music like Louis Prima, which I can tell my readers he held for the rest of his life (with good reason). To the question, "You can dance a little, can't you?" In the 70s, he took Disco dancing lessons with his wife. They practiced in the living room to 45s like "Beethoven's 5th Symphony" and "If you want my body and you think I'm sexy" and let me tell you the practice paid off. But then disco, as we all know, had its demise. Sal later said in his dry tone, "The only dance I ever learned how to do, and it went out of style."

As a side note, the Mayor of Waltham in 1949 was John F. Devane. 

Letter 14, from Joan aka "Dusty"

Hi Sal~

Sorry about that Sally business but I just couldn't resist the temptation.

So, you finally got the table did you? Well that's good because I was just about ready to come over there and fix that guy.

It's beautiful out today. The sun is shining and the sky is nice -n- blue.

Have you seen “Take Me Out to the Ballgame?” It was swell. We saw it Friday nite. Honestly it was the best picture I've seen in a long

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time. We laughed and laughed.

By the way, just when are you coming home? The only place I can think of to go is to the movies (seeing that I love the movies so much)

I'll have you know, Mr. Coraccio that my mother is not 6'4”, and she is not a wrestler. She is 4'11” and a very pretty girl. So there.

Why should I tell my boss we graduate the 2nd? I'm not getting any vacation as it it is.

I'm afraid you'll just

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have to get used to popular music as I don't like that hill billy style.

Now, Sal you don't better make yr ms wait so long for an answer from you. Thas not nice.

Have you heard “You're so Understanding” by Billy Eggstein? (I don't know how his last name goes) It's nice.

I was going to answer your letter yesterday, but I had to go to the doctors. Somebody slammed my hand in the car door and he thought it was broken. It isn't though, just badly bruised thank goodness.

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Hope you can read this letter.

My mom is using the table, and I'm in the parlor writing on a book.

Well, see ya soon.

As Ever

Joany


It's funny how you think of popular culture like songs and movies as being so important and epitomizing of a moment in time, but in reality it may not carry over in history the way you expect. Joan really likes Billy Eckstine's version of "You're So Understanding," and clearly it was a radio hit, but trying to find that version of the song, or any other version, was a challenge! Below you can listen to Dean Martin's version and try to imagine what it would have sounded like in Billy Eckstine's voice:

 You're So Understanding by changela
Most of us know the song "Take me out to the ball game," but it's funny to imagine the time when the movie from whence the song comes was a new release. Here, you can view a number from the film:



On a personal note, having had an aversion for popular music myself, I was amused to discover that Sal clearly had a disdain for the hits of his day, and preferred a style that Joan refers to as "hill billy". I do wonder what she meant by that! This letter reflects Sal's dry sense of humor -- clearly he wasn't afraid to make jokes about his sweetheart's mother!

Letter 12, from Joan aka "Dusty"

Thursday Nite

Hi Sal:

How you all?

I got yr letter yestiday and I'm out here sitting on the porch answering it. If you find the penmanship difficult to read, you'll know why.

So you all went to that dance hey? Glad you had a good time. Keep it up and – Arthur Murray will have to take lessons from you.

My Mom is listening to the radio, and the enchanting melody of “Some Enchanted Evening” is sailing out the door right over to me sitting here on the porch. I just love that song don't you?

Did you see “Mr. Beldevere Goes to College”? We saw it last week and honestly, Sal we laughed and laughed. All that guy has to do is stand there and you can't help laughing.

You don't have to address me as Miss Morin. Shaking hands with the mayor didn't go to my head.

Before I forget, Jack Dadonna

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was picked president of the Senior Class.

Never mind mentioning my beauty. Eighteen is the starting of my career as a woman. So they tell me, but I never believe everything I hear. I certainly don't feel any older.

My, my, Sal, you certainly seem to be mixed up, if you don't know what your taste is. Well anyhow, maybe we'd better drop the subject altogether, hey?

Too bad you're not out of the service now. My

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boss was looking for a fellow for the office.

It's nice out right now. It's kind of hot, but there is a little breeze.

I haven't been swimming yet, and, by the looks of things, I don't think I'll ever go.

Bea went to the hospital today. She is going to have an operation on her back tomorrow. That poor kid. Well guess that's all for now.

As Ever

Dusty

Letter 11, from Joan aka "Dusty"

[2 of 6]

Wednesday morn

Hi Sal:

It's only me Dusty Marin. We have all this week off from school and seeing that I don't have to go to work till two, I thought I'd answer your letter right away. I'll mail it on my way to work. (See how good I am to you?)

It's beautiful out today. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and it's not too cold. Beautiful day for a nice drive in the country, and I had to go and let

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the chauffeur take my convertible.

I have the radio on right now and they're singin “Tulsa” have you heard it? It's cute.

Pretty soon I'll be a grad of W.H.S. My how time flies. I'm getting old. I'll be 18 pretty soon. It's pretty tough.

You tell your bunkmate I said to let you use the table, after all we can't have you all knotted up ya kno.

Did I tell ya that Moran's Market burned down? Well

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anyhow, there building a new one right around the corner from my house. In fact it's all built. It will open around the 28^th. Real sharp.

Right now they're playing “The Mood I'm In.” And I am too. I think I have spring fever or somethin.

Went to the tote last nite to the Newton Fireman's Ball. It was pretty good. They had some nice entertainment. I was going to sing for them but I didn't feel like it. They had one gal there that

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played music on some cocktail glasses. She was really wonderful. “Just Reminicin” (I don't know how to spell it.) That's what they're playin now.

So you're bashful huh? Well, well, so am I so don't feel too bad.

When I take some more snaps I'll send you another one so you can get rid of that one you have. We couldn't take any Sunday because the sun wasn't out.

Guess that's all for

now.

As Ever

Dusty

I'm going to post this one with no commentary. This time, I'm going to let other people comment. What do you think of this letter from Dusty?

Letter 10, from Joan aka "Dusty"

[no envelope. Group of letters written in May 1949]

[1 of 6]

Tuesday Nite

Hi ya Sal:

How's you? I guess I was wonderin wha happin to ya. I kind of figured you did somethin like that though. Of all things.

The weather here hasn't been too bad. We had a couple of real hot days then it sort of cooled off.

I heard “Gee but It's Cold Outside” I think it's really cute.

Looks like I'll have to come down and take care of that bunkmate of yours. You tell him he'd better

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watch out or I'll come down there and take care of him.

TIF.S.R.LH.H. Means this is for Sal, rush like holy heck.

Can't say that I like that there hillbilly music. Give me popular or light classics any day.

I didn't take any pics last Sunday. I just keep putting it off.

Aha. So you might get home next month. I don't know about sendin me folks out. Besides my mother is only a little girl 4 feet 11. Nothin to worry about.

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I think the prom is around the twentieth or the 24^th. I'm not sure.

We graduate the third. Class day is the second. Just 14 more days of school. Gee Sal all the homework we get. It's awful honestly. I have practically no time to myself at all, but, as you would say, what are ya gonna drew?

My boss asked me today when we get out of school. I said around the sixth. So he said good you can start work full time on the

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seventh. Isn't that awful?

Well Sally I guess that's all for now.

As Ever

       Joany

        --- alias

               Duss

p.s. What happened between you and Joyce?

What does G.W.T.S.G.L. mean?

What happened, indeed! There seems to be a lull in their correspondence (March to May), but we may never know what happened to cause it! Was it problems with the bunk mate? Was it being moved from boot camp? Was it being on the ship? I love Joan's feisty spirit, and I bet she was (and probably is!) a lot of fun. It sounds like she knows just how to get around pushy teenage boys who want to get her alone!

This is a short letter, but it sure does bring up a lot of questions. I mean, what does GWTSGL mean, after all?

Letter 9, from Joan aka "Dusty"

[5 of 5. Written on March 19]

Saturday

Howdle de do,

Guess what!!! We had another snow storm. How do you like that? Here is the first day of spring (so called) around the corner, Monday to be exact, and we have another snowstorm. It makes me so mad.~

Went to the show last night ~ “The Wake of the Red Witch” was playing. It was okey but nothing to really brag about ~ Naturally I got scared stiff when they showed the octopus ~ In fact I was practically underneath the

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seat ~

Just +5 more days till we graduate ~ My how time flies~ It seems it was only yesterday we started school, then it was Christmas, and, after Christmas, the time certainly flew by~

Seeing that we haven't met officially, I shouldn't even be writing to you now should I? ~ I thought Jack introduced us, but I guess he must have overlooked that little article~

Woody was home again last Sunday, and naturally Vivian was in her glory ~ He must be stationed right around here huh ~

Before I forget, I'm sorry for calling you Mr. But gee whiz snooky you never put S.N. on your letters. How's I supposed to know?~ I put Mr. cause I didn't want to be impolite. I'm sorry, sorry, sorry ~ Forgive me?

Now about your rubbers, I'm still looking~ are you positive you left 'em here? ~ Maybe it was over to Gloria's house you left em huh? ~

You know what you can do for me? ~ You can send me some snapshots of you, if you have any handy.~

Too bad you can't be home for Easter, but if you're taking a leave a little later on maybe it would be silly. ~ Are you by any chance coming home in May to take a certain person to the prom?

Well Sally oops scuse me Sal Guess that's olly for now ~

[shorthand writing]

As Ever

Joany

  alias

  Dusty

    alias

    “The Girl with the Green Hair.”

Well, I finally decided to look up when "rubber" started to be used as a slang term, and wouldn't you know, it began in the 1930s. In this letter we realize that neither one of them could have left their rubber boots at the other's house (seeing as we learn here that Sal and Joan haven't officially met in person), so therefore this back and forth about the rubbers, well I'm sure you can agree that it's good old teenage humor at work! We think of kids from the 40s as so wholesome, but I think we can safely say that kids throughout history are up to mischief. But I do wonder what leaving one's rubbers or losing one's rubbers is supposed to be a euphemism for...

Wake of the Red Witch came out in 1948, and featured John Wayne and Gail Russell:  "Captain Ralls fights Dutch shipping magnate Mayrant Didneye for the woman he loves, Angelique Desaix, and for a fortune in gold aboard the Red Witch."

  Click here to see a clip of the movie (spoiler alert!).

I was interested to read that WHS seniors in 1949 would be graduating in late March. That's awfully early, isn't it? I assume that the rest of the school went on until summer, wouldn't they?

Is it me or does our friend Joan seem a little more interested in this letter? After all, she does ask for a photo of Sal. And is that a hint there for him to take her to the prom? 

The end of this letter features short hand. Since I transcribed the letters and don't have scans, I am not able to get the short hand symbols translated. Perhaps in a later post!

Letter 8, from Joan aka "Dusty"

[4 of 5. Written March 19, 1949]

Saturday Morning

Hello honey bunny,

How you all? Got yr letter (as you can see) and thought I'd write this morning before I do my shopping.

My Mom is sitting here racking her brain trying to do a puzzle. She says it's the craziest thing. Scuse me while I look up a word in the Webster.

Okay, here I am again. There was a dance last night at the High School sponsored by the Commercial Club. It was pretty good. We had loads of fun. Joyce was there too. Next time I see Woody I'll say

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“hi” to him for you.

Now about those rubbers, honestly sugar foot I can't find neither hide nor hair of em. You won't be needing them anyhoo now that Spring has sprung, the grass has riz I wonder where the flowers is. (I had to put that in. corny huh)

If yr havin troubles with yr face, Woodbury won't help. In fact it will make it worst. I can't use anythin but Ivory on my face. Those Woodbury Cocktails taste like anicette. It makes you sick. Bea gave me some once. I'll never drink it again. Oh! Horrors. Anyhow,

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Sal don't worry too much about the pimples. They'll go away in due time. The only thing you can do (here's some nursely advice) is to drink lots of milk and water, cut down on sweets, and get plenty of fresh air and especially sunshine. The sun dries them up. (I'll send you a bill for services.) Try it though, I'm sure it will work. (I think)

It's really beautiful out today. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and everything looks grand. It's really nice and warm. These are the kind of days I could just walk and walk and walk especially in the country.

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Know what bamby, I think me is getting spring fever. Nothin to worry about though. I gets it every year.

Now Sal, don't go saying things like that after all you hardly know me. How can you all be interestin in me?

The girl I had in mind as a “certain girl to the prom” was Joyce of course. I thought you were going to take her if you got home. I don't know if she's been asked yet or if she's accepted.

Bye for now honey-bunny. I could read the shorthand perfectly. Youse is pretty good at it ya know.

As Ever

Dusty

Attempts to discover what the "Commercial Club" was have failed, so if anyone reading this knows what they were or what it was about, please comment! I also tried to find any sort of image from a Waltham school dance in 1949, to no avail!

Woodbury was a brand of soap, founded in 1870. Their wikipedia entry states that, "In 1936, Woodbury soap was the first product to use a picture of a nude woman in its advertisements." They had a product called Woodbury facial soap that was very popular, and though I couldn't find anything online about a tonic or medicine that one might drink, they were indeed "brought to court for practicing medicine without a license" so maybe that's the anisette-tasting cocktail she refers to.

But all that is not to be confused with Woody. Woody's given name was George, and he hung around with Sal's "gang" (as he called it).

Again with the rubbers talk! I think he may have actually forgotten his boots. But still, I suppose it could be an inside joke. What do you think?

As I suspected, it appears that Sal might have been a little more sweet on Joan (aka Dusty) than she was on him. And notice that she doesn't ask him if he would like to take her to the prom! But yet, she is sure laying on the affectionate terms. But she broke her promise not to mention Joyce again.

One thing I learned is that (at least at one time) Sal could read and write shorthand!

Letter 7, from Joan aka "Dusty"

[3 of 5. Written March 18, 1949]

Friday Night

Evenin:

How you all? I'm fine now thank you. You can't keep a good man (I mean girl) down.

You should see Moody Street now. It looks sooo funny. They tore down Woolworth's completely and Parke Snowe's and Bell's look lost now. They're supposed to rebuild and from what I hear, it's really supposed to be somethin.

We haven't started graduation songs yet, but we are going to start next Tuesday.

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We graduate June 2. We're supposed to have outdoor graduation. Mr Huff says he really wants to make it a big affair. We'll be the hundredth class to comgradulate ya know!

Guess what? We had April showers here today. It really poured and then the sun came out.

Excuse me bunny but I have to get up awful early tomorry so I'll finish this letter in the morning after I get home okey?

Good night now.

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Good morning. It's nice out today. The sun is (oops it just hid behind a cloud) out. It's kind of chilly out but we can't complain.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, and we'll all go to church and get our palms. I hope it's nice out. Then next week is Easter. My, my “how the time goes by.”

Now, the little matter of the picture. I'm in an awful fix. You see it seems I promised more pictures than I had. I had fifty made and I have two left. The trouble is though I've promised about seven more people. Honestly, Sal,

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I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't afford to have any more made. How does a snapshot appeal to you? Let's put it this way, if I give you a big picture, it will take up more room, but, if I give you a snapshot, you can just file it away someplace. Now, if it so happens that certain other people forget I owe them a picture then you'll be first in line. Okay?

I can't remember what I wrote in shorthand last time so I can't explain it. As for Joyce, I'm sorry. I won't say another word about it.

As Ever,

Joany alias Dusty

Tel. Wal. 5-6917-M

I almost forgot to give it to you

Telephone numbers sure looked a lot different in 1949! This letter is a little bit of a downer, though I can't quite put my finger on why. Is it the fact that Joan (aka Joany aka Dusty) tells Sal that he didn't make the cut for a photograph? Or is it the mention of Joyce, and ensuing apology? Or perhaps it's the baby talk and the diminutive term "bunny"? What do you think?

Information on Mr. Huff or the 100th graduating class of Waltham High School is eluding me. I would have liked to include some sort of image with this post, but all I have found is this old postcard of WHS:

I also tried to find a photograph of the old Woolworth's, Bell's, or Parke Snow's, but could only find images of what they look like now as a Dollar Store and a Mattress Giant. So if anyone has photos or information on any of the above, I would be thrilled if they shared it. So for now, I 'll end with the song "My How the Time Goes By." I have to admit that I was shocked to see blackface in this video. But it's an interesting (if not disturbing) relic of the time, and actually a good song. The set and costumes (minus the blackface, of course) are also delightful. 

Letter 6, from Joan

[letter 2 of 5. written March 16, 1949]

Wednesday Nite

Howdy do Sugarfoot:

Here we are down here and we just had a nice big snowstorm, about six inches. The most we've had this year ain't it?

I'm glad you see that my beauty exceeds that of Ava Gardner (ahem, who you trying to kid? Certainly not me, I hope.)

Gee, that was a swell walk we took, weren't it? I never realized Washington was soooo beautiful. I guess we'll never find such lovely places in Waltham, so a walk wouldn't be quite

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as nice here. Still, our little city has some interesting places hey what? Anyhow I guess I just love to walk.

How do you know what kind of eyes I have? You've never been that close, and don't tell me you saw me in your dreams.

You know what? I tried wheaties but it don't work. My hair is still just as dull and drab as ever. Oh well, who cares (me) (I mean I)

Saw your brother couple of times as I was shopping.

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In fact, I saw him just Saturday.

The mardi Gras was last night, and they crowned the Queen; namely Anna Mula. I understand she is very lovely, but, of course you already know that. I didn't go to that one because I went to the French Mardi Gras (shux I din't win the television)

Before I forget, I left my rubbers up there? Will you bring them to me when you come home? Gee, tanks

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I saw Joyce today, and she said that she wrote to you I imagine you have the letter by now. So you can see she's not mad at ya (now you can sleep nights again)

Still haven't heard “Gloria” but “I'll See You in My Dreams”

Joany

p.s. Thanks for the tip but I use Revlon.

This letter reveals young Sal's obvious attempts at flattery and flirtation. But I fear that he may have been so over the top that he missed his mark. Joan doesn't want to accept that she might look so nice as Ava Gardner (pictured right)!  And flattering the beauty of her eyes didn't seem to work, either! She really was a tough sell, it seems. 

Still, Joan seems to have made a visit from Waltham, Massachusetts to Washington DC, and they seem to have had a lovely walk. But are you wondering what I'm wondering? Is it possible that leaving their "rubbers" is an inside joke of some kind? Or could both of them actually have left their galoshes at the other's place?

And we get a bit of a glimpse of Joyce again. Clearly, there was some sort of misunderstanding between her and Sal. We may never know what it was, but it may have had something to do with her unceremonious treatment of Vic.

The "p.s." in this letter is also quite funny. I guess Revlon was a popular brand even back then! Now, for the songs. First, here's the sad song, "Gloria," recommended by Sal, followed by "I'll see you in my dreams."

Letter 5, from Joan

[post marked Boston, Mass. Mar 19, 1949 9:30pm to Sal Coraccio S.M., M.S. Naval Barracks, West Potomac Park, Washington D. C. Group of letters in envelopes with days of the week inside. Also inside: one small leaf.]

[1 of 5. Written March 13, 1949]

Sunday Nite

Hi You all,

This is sort of a bad news letter. Waltham lost the finals of the Tech Tourney last night. They won they're first two games, East Boston and Quincy, and then dubbed out to Sommerville. They felt pretty bad about it.

Enough of the crying over spilled milk. I just went to the movies tonight. I saw “Enchantment.” It was wonderful. Have you seen it? Of course, practically any movie is good to me. Going to the shows is one of my favorite pastimes (next to walking

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of course.)

Aha! Woke up with strawberry lipstick did you? It must have been someone else you dreamed about because I don't wear strawberry. (double sirup)

It's really beautiful out tonight. The stars are shining in their full glory. (quite poetic eh. What?)

Glad my letter pepped you up, bet you say that to all your pen pals.

Gee, Sal, I'm awfully sorry I lost your rubbers, but I'll look real hard for them. They must be around here someplace.

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By the way, my hair is in its full glory now (100 stroked every night.) It shines like a light. So does my nose. As long as you're sitting there doing simply nothing wanna brush it for me? (my hair that is). If me falls asleep just slap me and me will wake up soon nuff.

Don't worry bunnykins I haven't forgotten your picture. I'll send it out soon. I've been so busy, why do you know I had a big colored one made for my Dad and I haven't even sent it to him? My Dad is in California you know in case you're

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wondering why on earth I'm sending him a picture.

Easter will soon be here. Got myself a new zoot suit with a reet pleat. It's really sharp. (Even though it has no pleat and is'nt zooty.)

Me is getting tired now and when me gets tired me gets silly so I better say so long for now? Besides gotta get up and go to Mass early tomorry.

Always

Joany

This is one of the letters my sister Tina and I read aloud to Sal. However, as you can imagine, we had not had much sleep and were, let's say, not ourselves. So, when I got to the word "rubbers," I stopped, and considered it to mean quite a different thing than Joan meant in her letter. Mortified, I handed the letter to my sister, and said, "You read it!" But she, too, stopped, and awkwardly avoided the word, replacing it with "prophylactic." I don't think she finished reading the entire letter, and moved on to another one. Now, if we had just read the word "rubber," we could have all had a good laugh at the fact that Joan of course meant "rubber rain boots" (aka galoshes), and not a form of birth control. 

Our temporary amnesia as to the alternate meaning of the word "rubber" only occurred to me weeks later, after Sal had passed away, but I had a good chuckle nonetheless, knowing that it's just the sort of comedy of errors he would have appreciated.

Now, onto the letter! We still are not sure who Joan is. Perhaps someone reading this knows a Joan Marin from Waltham who would be nearly 78 years old now. Hopefully she still has the same playful sense of humor as she did then. What else do we know about her? Let's see, her father lived in California, so perhaps her parents were divorced. She must have had long hair, and she went to church on Sundays.

I had to look up the Tech Tournament, and could only find out that it was the high school basketball tournament. 

Enchantment was released in 1948, starring David Niven (later from Pink Panther), Teresa Wright, and Evelyn Keyes. It's about an old guy who retires to his childhood home and reevaluates his life. But it sounds like it's more about a love triangle and jealousy between the old guy's nephews and two women.  

Mostly, I'm sure anyone reading this loves the tone of the letter as much as I do. And one can only imagine the flirtatious letter from Sal about a dream and lipstick -- how suave! It was at least suave enough to earn the term "bunnykins," which is about as rich as it gets. 

What is your favorite line from Letter #5?

Letter 2, from Joyce

[no envelope]

Jan 31, 1949

Dear Sal, (ahem)

I received your letter and this time was glad to hear from you. I would of answered your letter sooner but I was busy doing things for the school (no I am not trying for an “A”) Vic was home for a few days probably you'll get a letter from him soon. I said “Hi” to Joan for you she really is a nice kid.

If you can come home, why don't you? Joe S. would be glad to see you I just hope you can come home for the Prom. But if you can't that's alright. I really wouldn't mind (like hell)

I just have to ask you this, its really bothering me, Have you heard from Chris? I just want to know thats all. There now I feel better.

I shouldn't of told you about the fire, I am sorry I scared you!! (ha ha)

Its snowing like heck out today I wish I didn't have to go to work, I hate going out in the snow. I just like to put a housecoat on and cuddle up in a chair and read a “funny book.”

-2-

I bet you make out like a bandit with all the girls down there. Come to think of it Sal, you really never told me “How madly in love you were with me” You couldn't tell a girl you loved her and mean it, so I wouldn't believe you anyway.

Lorraine got a letter from Phil (as usual) and he said he has to stay in Africa for 12 more months, Cripes! That poor kid you + Vic I think got the best deal.

The other night Vic brought his buddy over the house, What a creeper, first of all he has only kissed a girl 2 and has never taken anyone out. He does'nt indulge in “jokes” either. And you know how crazy I act, but for once I acted like a lady and he told Vic he fell in love with me. I wouldn't mind if he was huba [? illegible?]. The kids I try to make out with run, but I guess thats the way things go. About that picture you'll have to wait till I get a chance to take some (no I have'nt any on call I am not that much of a hater just letting you know so you won't insult me.) Oh! By the way that valuable “info” you have shove it. Yes I know thats not nice to

-3-

say, but I said it and I am glad.

While Vic was home we didn't have any fights is'nt that wonderful. He just said I don't act like 16 and I should act a little older because he says things to me that I don't understand but I told him I'd learn gradually ← (is that how its spelled) I wonder how the heck old he wants me to act. Do you like the way I act? Truthfully now do you.

Boy! This letter is certainly longer than usual, I guess its the weather. I better shut up and let you say a few words, so until I hear from you

Your Ever Loving

“Joyce”

This letter hints at a few things. First: Joan. We'll hear from her later. Secondly, Joyce's curiosity about Chris shows that her claim in Letter #1 to have "forgotten about him" was not entirely true. Thirdly, there is trouble in paradise with Vic. 

What I love about this letter is how age appropriate it is. She is 16 years old, flirty, boy crazy, and silly, like 16-year-old girls tend to be. 

I think we tend to think of "hater" as a recent word, but there it is, in 1949. Searches for the word "huba" came up empty, so I wonder if the handwriting is simply illegible, but if anyone knows what a huba is, or what that word could be, given the context, please comment.

Sal was well liked by family and acquaintances, but as an adult he wasn't exactly the type to have buddies. He wasn't the type of man to "hang with the guys," and he tended to spend most of his spare time with family. However in his late 60s he began to spend more time with his brother Guy, and they became best friends. Once or twice a week, he went to visit Guy and they often went out to eat with Guy's wife Jaye and her brother Joe. It was the first time I'd ever heard Sal refer to someone as simply "my friend," and he said it with a lightness of belonging and joy. "My friend Joe," he would begin a sentence. I believe that friend is the "Joe S" mentioned in this letter, though in truth it should have been "Joe Z." At least I would like to believe it is.

Finally, Lorraine and Phil. Wouldn't you like to know what happened to Phil in Africa? Did he make it out? And did Lorraine wait for him? 

What questions does this letter raise for you, in your imagination? And maybe what are your imagined answers for those questions?