May 2, 1958
Dear Mom and Dad,
Guess you haven't gotten a real letter from me in some time. Well, here goes!
First off - Heard from my friend, Mrs. Livengood, principal of the Helen Bush-Parkside School in Seattle. Result - no go. Unfortunately, they've shifted their department around some way and so don't have a spot for an inexperienced English teacher. Really too bad as that spot would have been ideal, what with the University of Washington there, and all. But such is life and there certainly must be other ideal places to teach. I'm waiting with baited [sic] breath to hear from Denver and they seem to be rather reticent about writing. I surely should have a letter from them when I get back to school. At any rate, I can't keep Mr. Dunn up in Maine waiting too much longer. Also got a tardy reply from a school in Walla Walla, Wash. (love that name!) expressing interest in my original letter which I'm following up. Could have an interview in Northampton so it would involve no time at all. We'll see.
Have had thoughts of coming to Syracuse this Wed. for a day or two. As I did promise to talk with you before I decided definitely on a job and that decision will have to be made sometime in the very near future, this seems like a good time. Classes end Wednesday for seniors and I could come in that afternoon, coming back Saturday or Sunday, planning, of course, to spend most of the time home studying. This is not definite yet so I'll let you know for sure next week.
As you might have noticed from the postmark, I'm in Boston this weekend. Charlie originally wanted me to go to Lake George or the Gunks but I couldn't seem to find a ride to either place. When a ride to Boston, free, with the chance to drive a car back to school for one of the kids who wants it but couldn't take the time to come over and get it, came up, I couldn't resist. There's a folk-singing (a minor one) gathering and perhaps some climbing Sunday morning and otherwise studying. Costs almost nothing and gets me away from school for the weekend, which was Father's Weekend and so crowded and hard studying, to a place where I can relax and study in leisurely fashion (I'm staying at Old Joe's - the co-operative spot I told you about, remember?) I talked with Charlie on the phone last night and he was quite disappointed but heck, I don't have to do everything with him! Also two of the fellows I know here are leaving for the army in a couple of weeks and heavens knows when I'll see them again.
Tom, bless his heart, called me at the beginning of the week to see if I wanted a date for their spring weekend. Some senior he likes a lot was dateless. Sure sounded like fun but Northfield is a long way from here and to get in on the really good event, a production of Pygmalion, I would have had to cut my last lit crit seminar. Plus no chance to study from Thursday to Sunday. Too much, I'm afraid. I hear he returned one of his birthday gifts ... the "bikini" bathing suit, as he called it. He's developing discriminating tastes, that boy!
Well, guess that does it for now. I'll let you know about coming home.
Love,
Liz