Oct. 8, 1955
2:30 PM.
Hi Pat!
Well this is the letter that was to follow that love-sick post card of last week. Truth is - things happen very quickly in this life. And just as I'm sure the card surprised you - this will probably even give you more of a jolt! - - - - I'm again a single gal. In fact very single. As even more of a fact, I just might decide to live the rest of my [life] as a spinster!! As a m
It wasn't even 24 hours after I wrote you the post card that I realized that Joanie was being blinded by rose covered glasses, moon light, soft music, & all that sort of ridiculous nonsense. I still don't know what being in love is really like. But I sure know what being in love with love is - - I had a real super case of it.
Yep! It was Jamie. Oh Pat, he's a wonderful man - sweet, kind, considerate - but golly, there's that certain little spark that has to go on inside you before you walk down the [a]isle. And my spark just didn't fuze. I think he's grand - but I'm not in love with him. Guess I'm just not mature enough, or ready enough for any emotion as adult & important as love. Its [sic] a pretty complex type of thing - & I need some growing up before I'm able to comprehend it.
So now the whole drama department is on its ear about "fickle feldman" who returned the ring just 3 days after she accepted it. Well I take full blame for it. It was a very unfortunate mistake. I should never have accepted it in the first place. I hurt Jamie terribly, & that was very wrong of me. But I can't help but feel it would have hurt him a lot more if I had waited 3 weeks or 3 months before I told him how things really stood.
So all in all Pat - your friend Joanie's goofed! - - But good!!
So you have a Turkish twin eh? Well thats [sic] one way to bring goodwill to our European neighbors ... just look like them!!
We'v[e] been studying "Death of a Salesman" also. For Methods of Directing and Modern Drama Lit. And what I wouldn't give to play "Linda." Boy, that's a role & a half.
Tell me, will you have the opportunity of auditioning for any of the shows this year. If not, are you going to spend your free hours painting canvas, mailing flats & collecting props??
How lucky you are to have a man on your staff as distinguished 'n talented as Dennis Johnston.
Not to seem like I'm keeping up with the Jone's [sic] or anything (cough!) - - but have you heard of Glady's [sic] Schmitt - authoress of "Alexandria" "David the King" & more recently "The Uninvited Guest." Well she's on our staff - - - - so there you are!! (Don't mind me - I'm in a terribly obnoxious mood!) Only foolin [sic] - Actually I really mean it when I say it sure must be facisnating [sic] having contact with a man like that. [Still referring to Dennis Johnston] Seems to me that I read somewhere that "Nine River's [sic] Over Jordan." was to be made into a movie.
As far as I know I'll be home for Thanksgiving. So why don't we see if we can get the gang together ... for a hoopla!! And definitely - we'r[e] gonna hafta go see Margretta - - - Wonder if she's ever forgiven us for not going to see her last summer.
The one-act I was in "The Youngest Shall Ask" went over quite well - - which really surprised me because its [sic] the finest role I believe I've ever done that I didn't enjoy doing. The play itself was very badly constructed - very repetitive. And the author would begin to build a character & then ignore it completely - leaving one quite out on a limb. We all had to work like the dickens to make up for these defision deficiencies - & just by some son of a miracle it all worked out okay.
I'm having a "ball" now in "Ivanov" which was Checov's [sic] first play (incidentally, I understand he did la Michael Checov [sic] died last week. [actually he died in 1936]) I have a comedy part & we'r[e] all just having a wonderful time!
Guess I'll have to close now as I haven't even begun my work this week-end as yet. And I have just stacks to do!
It was wonderful hearing from you Pat - please write again real soon. I know you'r[e] probably so darn busy - but if you get a chance minute - even just a line would be so appreciated.
Till then - I promise to keep my distance from "romances" or anything even resembling such a thing - - -
As always,
Me
This is to signify that I'm throwing my heart over a fence.
[The mention of Gladys Schmitt helps us to place Joanie as a student at Carnegie-Mellon University.]