August 28, 1943.Marion, dear,
Well, didn't you think the world had just about come to an end when you got the letter from the Dean's office and found out we're in, dear, we're in - South Mandelle?!!? Can't you just see us in that temp double falling all over each other, with happiness maybe! No meals in another dorm, on the same floor as Jerry and Barbara, no curtain problem, no flagpole, no dingy halls - we can use my spreads and curtains if you'd like - my two spreads are both pink and will blend O.K. - my one pair of curtains matches the one spread. Just think we will be able to enjoy all the beauties of Mandelle - living room, dining room - we won't be ashamed to heave visitors and our families come see us. It's so wonderful - I don't know just what angle of it to look at first. The funny part is, I got your letter at the same time, and it seemed absolutely hilarious - that is, all your worry over curtains and such - we just don't even have to think about all that. Two weeks from now we will be living in South Mandelle - oh, when I think of it!!
I hope we don't have more than one window - well, I wouldn't mind more, of course, but I have only one pair of curtains. I don't suppose our room is anything terrific for looks - but at least, we are in South Mandelle, and we can get a bigger room or singles second semester if we want. Aren't we lucky? - I found a penny in our attic Thursday afternoon - that's suppose to bring luck you know - and it certainly did! Marion, this has been one of my luckiest and most terrific weeks - then today everything went blooie!! in a big way - darn it! I'm saving it all to tell you about when I see you in S.M. - our "home" now - won't it make you feel swell to give your friends that South Mandelle address? From 13-14 M.V. to 314 S.M. - not bad! Well, we'll have to have our big bull session when we get back - and tell all. We must bull with Mary Lou and Evie regularly. I wonder what happened to Junie and Selma!! I hope they made out.
Right now I am at Swarthmore College visiting my girl friend here - came out here yesterday afternoon and will stay until tomorrow. I'm getting back into the college spirit! My girl friend has gone out on a date with a V-12 - hundreds of which are training here - sailors all over the place. She left about 2 P.M. - will be back before 10 P.M. - since her date must be in by then - that's why they left so early. I had real big plans for tonight - but they were all shot to pieces this morning. But I'm leaving all that to tell you about soon.
I can really get quite a kick out of your attempt to fool me into thinking you were in So. Mandelle. I thought maybe you were kidding me - I know you couldn't be serious, since you would have told me in the letter, first thing, if you had gotten in - and you would have made more of an issue of it than you did. How could you have found out anyhow - and if you got in, so would I, since my number is lower than yours! So there!
I'm anxious to see your new hair-do - if your plans for it all pan out. The world "new" brings up what new things I'm getting for college. My raincoat is the biggest item - I need a few little things such as pajamas, slips, socks - but not much. I may get new black shoes - need them for a choir, y'know. I'd also like to buy a black dress, but I don't know. The other day when Peggy and I were in Philly we looked at evening dresses - I tried on a $40 number in black which was a dream - that I had absolutely no intention of buying - neither did Peg. But it was gorgeous - what use have we for evening clothes up at M.H. these days though? I have my black velvet and taffeta one that I have never even worn. So I'm not in the market for new evening clothes - nor much of anything else this year.
I was just about to close this letter, but then I thought of more to tell you. Now, just what is this about a Maine saying "Te quiero mucho"? Or are you trying once more to arrouse [sic] my curiosity? Please do enlighten me!
We went to the shore last Wednesday - my girl friend, Charlotte, went along. We saw Fred Astaire & Joan Leslie in "Sky's the Limit" - cute, but not exceptional. "Shining Hour" is a neat song from the picture. We went swimming - I got a little browner - that's about all. So much happened this past week - things that were outstanding - that day at the shore seemed just lazy and quiet - it was pleasant and went by quickly.
I don't know how I'm going to make out tonight, or what I'm going to do until "Arbie" comes back. When I think of the wonderful time that I was going to have tonight - ah, life is cruel in many instances! - even if we did get into South Mandelle! I'll help [?] it all out to you when we have our first big talk together - you and I! I have piles of letters to write, since I haven't written any since I got back from New Hope - and I not only had seven letters waiting for me when I got home, but I've gotten mail every day this past week - and I was so busy I had no time to answer - and you know when I can't find time to write letters I'm busy - really. Besides other things, Mother was doing some canning, I had to go to the dentist, we are having the inside of our house painted and everything gets topsy-turvy. So I run out for the weekend - and then find time to write letters. I owe Mary Lou (I wonder what she'll think of our transfer), Junie, Jerry, and various others including Tom. Listen to this - he was home last weekend when I was still up in New Hope - he called me Sunday, had to go back that night, so I never did see him. But - he's out of Officer's Training, because of something concerned with Physical Ed. - his coordination was poor he said. Now he expects to ship out soon. Some fun!
That's about all I can think of, to say now. Write back soon - and tell me all about how you feel now that we have a real place with a "Mountain View" to live in!
It's wonderful!!!
Love & kisses & love
Betty
(ex-"suitemate" - now "roomate")P.S. Shall I bring my radio you can leave yours home if you want.
[A small sheet of paper was added to the envelope:]
Sunday
Just had to add this little note!
Remember I said that my plans for last evening were all shot to pieces. Well, my girl friend fixed things up and I went to a perfectly neat dance over at the men's gym. Informal - like a "stude" - it was so nice to get to a college dance again. My date was real nice - in fact, he is sitting here now with me - in the "libe" of all places. He is studying and I am going to do some more letter writing. Great life, isn't it? I'll tell you all about it in that bull session!!!
Wow!