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Sat 4-7-56
Dear Mother,
Thank you very much for sending the check so promptly. I am duly registered + my books are purchased. I realize that things are no doubt tight financially, so don't worry about sending me money. I do quite well.
Your flu bug has receeded I hope. I'm sorry you felt so badly + that the quip in my letters bothered you much, but the way I feel is that no matter how badly you're hurt, one way or another, or how badly you feel, you're still living if you can find something in yourself to laugh about. It's just another slip on my part, not being as considerate as I should of the terrific difference between us. I hope you feel much better now.
Your Easter sounded like you had a wonderful time. I'm glad you all went to church together especially Daddy. I hope that it will contribute to a great deal more happiness + less tension for all of you. I had a terrific Easter, too. I went to mass at St. Thomas and then to a big old fashioned family dinner.
I had thought that I might be able to graduate this June, but in the process of
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registration, I found that I will still have to take exactly 8 units this summer to make it. During summer quarter only are undergraduates allowed to take 8 units for $140. If you wish, I will also hash, but with only two morning classes a day, I think I could probably get a better job if I didn't have to run home and hash. I know that you would rather use the money to paint the house this summer. It's very important academically, and more convenient financially, if I graduate this summer. If you could scrape up the $140 for tuition and the $75 for board, you would be all through with the financial burden of my education. If I am admitted to graduate school, I can put off starting it for as long as I wish, that is until I get the money, so don't worry about that. I have an unusual (for a Stanford student) number of local acquaintances and connections in this area and it will not be very difficult for me to find a moderately well-paying job as soon as I graduate. I like the Bay area very much and intend to stay here after I graduate. I mentioned to you the war savings bonds in my name that I assume are in the safety deposit box, because they are in my name, and since it' s required by law that I sign them to cash them in, I assume that they are still there, also that they are all mature. Since they are only gathering dust, & this is an opportune time,
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also since the cause is to me, a worthy one, I would appreciate your sending them to me. I am not sure how much they are worth, but I'm sure they could do a lot to lessen the financial squeeze that you implied my going summer quarter would cause. After that, with only Kevin's schooling to pay for, you could probably paint the house, couldn't you? You asked me to give you a run-down on the financial set-up for summer quarter, and I hope that this fills the bill! If there is something I haven't included, just ask me.
About clothes. I'm loaded on cotton blouses. As for shirts, I bought some material to go with the blouses and have almost finished the first skirt. I didn't even need a pattern, since so many of the other girls are doing the same thing, that if I do anything less simple, there are plenty of patterns available to mix up and modify. There is also a good sewing machine for our use right above me in the upstairs kitchenette. When you get time could you please send me any of the cotton stuff in my closet that you are not wearing. I will send you the things that I have & don't wear as soon as I get an opportunity. I'm sure that I have a lot of things that you could use better than I. Whenever you want the beaver jacket, just let me know. Above all, don't go to any expense buying me any cottons, because I am really well supplied. I charged a pair of yellow bernardo
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sandals, which with the flats I already have, will be enough shoes for the summer. Please don't buy me any more of those $8.85 flats like the black ones, when I can get almost the same quality at Gallen-Kamp's for $1.99. For that type of shoe, the price difference is more important than the difference in quality. Sandals are different when it comes to fit and a good pair of $8.95 Bernardos will last for years. Anyway, I have done all the charging I intend to do.
Please don't judge my letters too critically. I hear that there is usually something in them that you find offensive. From what I gather, the meaning you take from them is not always the thought I meant to convey.
About this last vacation. It is something that I should have done a long time ago. I'm sure that you enjoyed your Easter as much as I did mine. I know you missed me, but with each vacation at home I have been increasingly aware that the daughter you miss so much is not quite the same one that comes home. That makes things kind of messy, but they won't turn out that way always. These are the worst years but they are pretty near an end, I think.
Baby-sitting is booming. That's one thing I like and can do well, anyway. I'll tell you more about it in the next letter.
Love, Marcia
