Dear Rae,
I have just discovered that it is a good plan to plug in an electric typewriter before using. It really makes a lot of difference.
Thanks for the newsy letter. It all sounds like a damned soap opera with a cast straight out of a laughing academy. Of course I don't include you in such a gathering.
I wrote to your mother months ago about that Steve creep being nothing but a parasite. If he has a key to the house, and it sounds as if he has, it should be taken away from him. Perhaps even change the locks. Your mother should absolutely refuse to have him on the property. A court order if necessary. Let Jody make the adjustment if any is needed. The whole mess is strictly a no-win situation.
Wouldn't Jody be a hell of a lot better off if she left that area and made use of her proficiency in languages?
There must be quite a need for interpreters somewhere else. She could go to college part time. By the way, what is she studying? The sooner she dumps her freeloading friend, the better off several people will be.
La Traviata happens to be my favorite opera. There are others which are a close second. I have gone to many opening nights in Chicago and in the Twin Cities. Almost all were formal affairs and with original casts from Broadway. Tuxedo required. Migod, I was handsome! The finest thing I have ever seen on the stage was The Green Pastures with the all black original cast. One name you may be familiar with is Eddie "Rochester" Anderson who was Jack Bennie's side-kick. He played the part of Moses. Years ago I learned an aria from Carmen which I would sing to my horse while riding early in the morning. Just the two of us. I'm certain a third party would not have enjoyed my vocalizing. Come to think of it, maybe my horse didn't. I used to go to Northrop Auditorium at the U of Minn to hear the Minneapolis Symphony. While in school I would often sneak in to their practice sessions. I have gone to The Chicago Civic Opera and knew the lead soprano. The first album we bought when we got our stereo was excerpts from La Traviata sung by Anna Moffo, Richard Tucker and Robert Merrill. You can't hardly ever get them any better than that there group! Once, years ago, I had a conversation which lasted several hours with the world's foremost cellist, Gregor Piatagorsky. He has appeared with such notables as Artur Rubenstein, Toscanini and the like. I even sat down at the piano with Fats Waller and discussed things which, I am sure, must have been earth-shaking in their import. Just once, though. The Minneapolis Symphony, under Eugene Ormandy, was acknowledged as being the very best in the country when playing anything by Strauss. They used to turn the Minneapolis Auditorium into a huge beer garden and play his wonderful compositions. I don't remember ever having missed those once-a-year concerts. All in all, I love many of the classics, jazz and good contemporary music. But deliver me from country-western (usually sung through the nose) and other shit-kicking "music" performed by no-talent groups. So you see, no one would ever have to drag me kicking, screaming, whining and throwing up to see and hear someting good.
I'm glad to hear that you are thinking of accepting a permanent position. So what if your potential boss is senior grade horse's ass. People like that usually don't last very long. Some humanitarian could gut-shoot him. Hope you get it. Sounds great.
Congratulations on your marks. Don't they give an A plus anymore? What courses might you be taking later?
How are chances that you might come and see us? Think it over. You're always welcome.
Love,
