A Letter Written on May 12, 1957

The Mount Holyoke News
South Hadley Massachusetts

Editorial Board

Sunday

Dear Mom & Dad,

Many things so will organize:

1. About the bill for my bum knee - gave both bills to Mrs. Woodward several weeks ago & she said they would be taken care of. I'm sure there's simply been some delay along the line.

2. Jobs - Can Dad possibly make a few subtle inquiries about summer employment, etc. From what I hear, the emp. situation is generally tight so they may not take on anyone at Carrier. If not, do you think Marble Farms might have anything? Not very glamorous but at least cool! There's always Engel's. I could call Martin when I get home. The only trouble with the Red Cross is I don't know how much money I could actually save of the meager $350 or whatever it is. Also - would necessitate Aquatic School which costs money! I'll write Sylvania but places don't seem to pay much attention to letters.

3 - Climbing trip - Ira, my R.P.I. climbing friend was here this weekend. No, in typical Bailey fashion, I'm not seriously interested but he's fun, plays guitar & wants to make a rock-climber of me - which is great in my estimation. Dave Noyes, of Oneida, now working in North Adams, was here today & proposed a Memorial-Day weekend trip to W. Virginia to go spelunking, exploring caves. Seems there are beautiful ones there & he has friends where the three of us, & anyone else who goes along, can stay. Plans would run like this - leave for W.Va Memorial Day, the 30th of May, spelunk & climb there, drive back up north that Sunday [as Dave has a job] the two of us & probably a couple more people from R.P.I. spend a couple of more days climbing rock, either at the "Gunks" [Poughkeepsie] or Lake George.

This is all assuming that I can find a job between the 27th & 30th of May which, granted, will take some hustling, but I should be able to do it. [Do you think Daddy could inquire about a job for me at Carrier or isn't that cricket?] It would be a really great trip - combining climbing, singing [both Dave & Ira play guitars & are folk-song bugs] & just generally relaxing & letting off steam after exams, et al.

I sent many things home with the Burnses - was thinking then of storing winter clothes at cleaners but discovered that this is quite expensive. If you don't mind the trip up here, a ride home would sure simplify things. My exams end at 4:30 Tuesday Monday, the 27th & I could be ready to leave then. I don't mind driving a long stretch & the Mass. turnpike is now open, I'm almost sure, so we could get home that night.

It's great to finish things up finally. Wrote my last Shakes. paper today. Am in the middle of my last Chaucer assignment, handed in my big philosophy paper & my last short story [which was, by far, my best] Friday, & should be ready to do nothing but study for exams by Wednesday, at the latest. Cheers!

John Russell was here Saturday. He has a car at school & so stopped in for a few minutes.

Finally got a B on a history blue book. Other than that, no marks.

Dinner time - must be off. Good luck to Tom on the College Boards. Tell him to just keep cool & think. That's brain work, not memory.

Love,
Liz