This weeks' blog prompt, Newest, immediately brought to mind the newest project I have to get started on - more letters to sort, organize, and transcribe. And what I'm reminded of is that while my dad had the packrat gene, my mom, apparently, did not. As evidenced by the stack of letters I'm starting on.
My dad, Gordon Levy, graduated from Fresno High School on June 9, 1944 - just three days after D-Day. I can imagine the school and town was buzzing with news from Europe but I hope people were able to pause for a minute to recognize those graduating or with other special events going on in their lives.
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Gordon Levy, c. 1944
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Dad must have left to start his college life sometime before July 8, 1944. I'm not sure why he moved to college so early - did he take summer school classes or just want to arrive early so he could settle in before classes started?
This is where the letters come in - just like his parents, he saved everything - letters, letters and more letters!
Of course those closest to my heart (and probably his) were letters from his future wife and my mother, Geraldine Martin. Mom graduated in 1946 so I know she must have been devastated when he went away to college. But she filled her time by writing letters.
I've got the letters sorted by sender or receiver and all put into date order. Now the task is to transcribe them all. Just like with the letters between my grandparents, I feel a little bit like I'm "spying" but in my heart I know they held on to these letters so that one day someone would find them and enjoy them. If only Mom had saved the letters that Dad wrote. Don't worry, she got the packrat gene later in life but didn't seem to have it in 1944.
Here's the first letter she wrote to him.
Mr. Gordon Levy
Box 1431
Stanford University
California
Saturday, July 8, 1944
Dearest Gordon –
Boy was I glad to know where I
could write to you. I wasn’t expecting
to know before Monday but am sure glad I can write before that. I hope you’re as glad to get my letter as I
am to write it. I don’t write very
interesting or exciting letters but I’ll try my best. I wish I could write things the way you
can. For instance, I could never have
written anything as nice as what you’d written in my owl. If I’d known what you’d written maybe I wouldn’t
have written the dumb stuff I did. I
wish I hadn’t but it can’t be helped.
Yesterday I got the car and Marty,
Kathy, Jackie, Norma, Gwen, her cousin and I went out to the El Rancho
swimming. I got all nice and brown – but
still hope to get browner!! We had a lot
of fun – at least I did!
Last night we went out to dinner
with a friend of Shel’s. I nearly hit
the roof when I heard about it ‘cause I was dead tired but that’s all the good
it did me! Anyway we had a good dinner
and no dishes to wash!!!
Tonight Susanne Atinger is having
a party. We’re all going to have dinner
over there and should really have fun.
After the party all the gals are going to Norma’s to stay all
night. Norma got three watermelons for
us to have a midnight snak [sic] around two-thirty!!!! Tomorrow we want to go swimming – hope we
can.
All kinds of awful things are
happening to my friends – at least I think they’re awful. First of all Phil and Bob broke up again, which doesn’t really worry anyone,
then Norma and Bob are sort of made at each other. And to top it all off with Marty simply hates
Bud. As if that isn’t enough to worry
about I have to miss you so darn much I don’t even care what happens to
them. Darling I miss you so darn much
the only person who could possibly interest me would be the postman but today
even he couldn’t.
Well from the way I look at it
Norma and I should really have fun at Santa Cruz. Marty, Ann, Phil and maybe Kathy will be
there at the same time. Then too Norma
and I are going to have a room all to ourselves. I can hardly wait til August!! Long time away though!!!
I wish I knew what and how to
write to you. I guess there isn’t much
anyone can say when they feel the way I do.
I can’t write very sweet letters – I’ve never had anyone to write them
to before. About the only thing I can
write is what I have – and to tell you (whether you like it or not I don’t
know) that even though I act awfully silly at times I really do love you. For some reason I don’t think you’re going to
appreciate that! You think I’m too young
I know but I wonder if when you were as old as I am you felt you were too
young? I’m sorry but that is the way I
feel. I hope you don’t mind me saying so
too much.
Well guess I’d better start
getting cleaned up. It’s almost six now
and I’ll have to dash if I expect to be at her house at six-thirty. Please try and write fairly often.
All my love –
Gerry
P.S. Could you please send me John’s address? I’d love to write to him if it’s alright with
you.
Not too much news, especially since I'm not sure who any of those friends she mentioned are. This is the second time I've heard her mention him thinking she was "too young".
And then there's a box of letters from his parents and brother, Rob.
Here's the first letter from his mother.
July 9, 1944
My dear Gord,
We were so happy to hear from you
that you had arrived in Palo Alto O.K. I
phoned Mr. Combs to tell him. Am anxious
to receive a letter from you telling all details. If you do sleep on a porch hope you have
adequate covers; if not use your overcoat.
Am wondering just what your room is like and if it is satisfactory for
your requirements.
Shall send your shirts and coat
hangers tomorrow. I found a new
undershirt in your drawer. I’ll enclose
it in package as you might want it. Am
enclosing two $5 bills in this letter.
It certainly is lonesome without
you and now the phone never rings. The
weather was hot Friday but today it is very cool.
I just wrote a letter to Rob. Don’t forget to write to him occasionally.
Grandma says to tell you she
misses you “awful”. She leaves for S.F.
Wed – then we will be alone.
Last night the Pollack's and
Bruckner's were here for a game and it seemed so funny for you not to come in at
1 or 1:30. Tonight we are going out to
Uncle Leon’s for a little while so Grandma can tell them good-bye. Dad worked most of the day today out in the
yard. Bet you are glad you don’t have to
set the table, wipe the dishes or work in the yard.
Hope you passed the English A test
satisfactorily.
Let us hear from you real soon.
Bushels of love from Daddy and
your Loving Mother.
Sunday aft.
Remember you can phone us whenever
you feel like it. If we don’t answer a
little after six remember we may be out to dinner and will be home a little
later.
I remember when my first daughter started college and she joined a sorority. She talked about the "sleeping porch" and I was confused as to how or why girls would sleep on a "porch". Apparently, my grandmother was confused, as well, and I laugh that she reminded him to use his overcoat.
My grandfather worked in the yard? In all the years we visited their home I never, ever saw him work in the yard. And, apparently, my dad also spent some time working in the yard which was something he didn't do much of as we were growing up. He liked to plant flowers but other than that, we always had a gardener (Tom and his son, Kyoshi) to maintain the yard.
And then Sig sent a very business-like letter. In fact, it was typed on Levy Bros. stationery and had the familiar notes at the bottom showing Sig dictated the letter, someone else typed it.
July 10, 1944
Dear Gordon:
Enclosed herewith please find
signature cards for your bank deposits.
You can sign your name above mine
on both cards and take them to your bank unless you have signed them properly
up there.
You understand if you get your
account below $100.00, I believe, you pay a service charge and also if you draw
too many checks you will have to pay a service charge.
Sorry you did not receive your
bike, but it was sent out O.K. and you should have it by now.
No doubt you are getting well
settled and I hope you are enjoying it.
Love from all
Dad
SL:mm
Enc. 2
Dad was a good son and wrote letters to his parents. The first letter I found from him was August 12, 1944 sent to them at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. My hunch is that for the first month he was away he phoned and then wrote letters while they were on vacation.
August 12th, 1944
Dear Folks:
The mail service is still
good. I received the letter you wrote
Thursday night yesterday (Saturday) morning.
It sure brought back the memories…The Grove…eating at Lindy’s….taking in
a show at Hollywood…waiting on pins and needles for Rob who was supposed to
come at 8 but never got there until 10:30 (that’s Rob)….sitting all afternoon
watching the clock, waiting for a room….breakfasting in the Coffee Shop…trudging
down to Magnin’s, Mom to look, Dad to smell the perfume…making the next stop at
Bullock’s so Pop can say “hello” to the floor-walker…trying to get a free peek
at the pretty girls in the swimming pool…getting write-ups in the LA Times…going
down to see the Civilian Defense chief.
Yes, there all a part of the vacations of the past, and they’ll be a
part of the vacations of the future.
Spent a quiet week-end…taking in a
show and resting with the boys. Found
out that somehow I got a B on the Western Civilization exam and I know that I
got 73% on the Poly Sci test.
Considering that the highest grade was 88% out of a class of 110, it
might be worth a B…I really don’t know.
Got a letter from Sheldon Lewis…he’ll
have a commission in about three months.
That lucky guy!! Oh yes – I bought
a sweater at Roos Bros. and charged it…just so you’ll know who’s corrupting the
account in Palo Alto.
I suppose you and the younger set
had quite a nice time…and how was the blonde??
You’re getting me all excited…tell me all. If you see Rob again…tell him that I’ve given
up all hope of ever hearing from him…also tell him that “We’ve got the axe.”
Here’s hoping your vacation
continues to keep in the traditional form… Pop, don’t play too much golf on the
pee-wee course!! It’s too bad Louie
Slater isn’t there to show you the town.
I wish I could have a Lindy’s steak…but
the Stanford Bowl in Paly is the best I can do…
Love, Gord
POP: I got a notice from the President’s office
about the college program for air corps men like me. I talked to the professor in charge here who
sent me to the Colonel in command of the troops here. The colonel said that the only benefit would
be to become orientated with the army and men with the same goal as
myself. The courses are just the average
freshman course….and I wouldn’t stay at Stanford. I think I’d just as soon stay here and enjoy
myself while I can. There’s no reason to
go before I have to. Agree?
POP? He called him POP? I had to laugh that even back then, Rob was late. It seemed like we experienced that a lot as we were growing up.
And then there is a box of letters from various people, most of the names of which I don't recognize. Those will be last in line for transcribing.
I'm excited to spend some time with these letters - I'm glad winter is approaching so I can type away during the long, dark days.
I have so many projects to complete but this is the newest and I'm excited to get started.
