The LETTERS
1951
Editor's Note: It is 1951. In postwar San Francisco, California, Marjorie Duane Reed, 24-year-old eldest daughter to John and Louise Reed, has recently moved to San Francisco and has just begun work at Pan American Airways Inc., the largest international air carrier of the United States since 1927, the year Marjorie was born . . . we pick up this story through letters that Marjorie, an inveterate letter writer, would send to her parents, who at that time were living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where John Reed was employed by industrial construction titan Morrison-Knudsen.
These are the portions of the letters that Russell selected and then painstakingly transcribed over several years onto an old IBM word processing machine, which were then printed out onto 8.5 x 11" pages, which were then put into three-ring binders.
Nick then had the pages scanned and run through optical-character-recognition software and edited the transcripts for reproduction to this blog.
The typewritten pages, all single spaced, come to roughly 300 pages, which will be put up in the usual blog format, which is to say, reverse-ordered, as time and energy permits.
Thus we begin on March the 1st, 1951, on which date Marjorie seems to have newly arrived in San Francisco, presumably from living with her parents in Brazil . . .
March 1
San Francisco
Marjorie to her parents, Louise & John Reed—Brazil
My ticket got its last little coupon torn off this morning and tonight finds me in the "pink" room of the Montgomery house. The trip here was completely without event. So I came to S.F. Came out here via bus and taxi to find no one was home. They had gone out to meet me, and had missed me completely!
March 8
I was up bright and early yesterday morning. Rode down town with Dr. Montgomery when he went about 8:10. That got me down town earlier than I needed to be, so I had a short cup of coffee before going to calI on Pan American.
Mr. Peterson was simply wonderful to me, and quite encouraging. I filled out the proper number of blanks and took an aptitude or something test—and the other gentleman whom I am supposed to see was not in the office, so I shall return tomorrow or so and finish up what I have begun. It pays $192 to start (minimum, where I would begin), $14 raise in 6 mo.—however, another position rather than the first one would pay more—another classification. From the picture Mr. Peterson painted, if I get the job, what I want is in the offing!
March 9
I saw the "other" man with Pan American, and he'll let me know Monday whether or not I get the job. It will be a job for a while, strictly filing, I guess—if I get it. Now all I have to do is wait & hope. There are a couple of other people in or up for the job & they've had previous airline experience. I suppose they are more desirable than I, but maybe Mr. Peterson will put in a good word for me. He seemed to think Pan American could use someone with my background—and the name Morrison-Knudsen brings gay smiles allover the place. Aha! big account, etc.! At any rate, I'm hopeful.
If Daddy says there are many young men as good and fine as Sherm, I'm sure there must be (maybe even better!), but where are they? You locate one & I'll go to work. I told Fannie and Dick to look around. I guess I should have married Elbert and made sure he stayed in the sea-based Navy! Believe me, I'm going to be choosey! So far as the fellows I already know are concerned, I would have made up my mind long ago, had I been interested. No thanks for any of them!
March 12
Tomorrow I go to work for Pan American World Airways—5 days a week—8 hours a day—for $192 a month ($1.20/hr. in 1951 dollars - ed)—for 6 months & then $208. Maybe sometime in between I'll get a counter job—I hope! They seem to think I will—at least they keep telling me that.
8 to 5. Sure means I'll have to get up early in the mornings that's for sure—but all day Saturday & Sunday—almost like teaching school. I'm really tickled to death. Evidently I made some kind of impression on somebody!
March 13
My first day with Pan American is over, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it will be very interesting, as I learn more and more about it. So far I'm just managing to hold my head above it all, and try to look intelligent. Spent most of the morning filling out forms and listening to things being explained to me. Noticed on my card that showed the results of the test I took that it said: Agressiveness, Stability, Mental Ability Arithmetic. Imagine Arithmetic being one of my strong points!!
March 20
Working is such fun. Everyone keeps asking me how I like it, now I've been there a week, and I tell them that I like it very much just as I expected to !! It's so much fun, and so very interesting and different. I learn a little bit more each day which is quite exciting in itself. I work hard at my little job too, and love every minute of it. Everyone is so nice to me. The family type of office you know—lots of chitchat—very informal. The boss comes over and visits with me every day. Old Idaho graduates, don't you know! I'm very happy.
March 22
I was working along very peacefully about 4:30 when the buzzer sounded & and some male voice said "Miss Reed"—yessir—it was Mr. Peterson & he wished to see me. I went over to his office at five and after a few minutes of idle chatter—he asked how I liked my job—how I missed Brasil—bucked me up on promotions and then said he was going to have dinner somewhere tonite, and thinking he might get away from that early—he'd like to drop by here—the house—and have a visit.
I nearly dropped dead. I told him we'd love to have him, and that Mrs. Mate was coming. In that case since I had other plans perhaps Sunday we could arrange something—and I told him it would be fine unless I had unexpected company from up north (thinking of Charlie).
He took my phone number and said he'd get in touch with me. I don't know what the deal is—maybe he does want to visit. When I told him I lived on Twin Peaks, he said he hoped I'd invite him up sometime so he could enjoy the view. I guess it won't hurt to find out. After all he is the boss! But this is the kick: he would like to come visit me—Phil is coming—and Mr. Puckett said he'd be along between the 23rd and the 26th. This is my weekend for "older" men!!!
Wouldn't that frost you? Heavens, I don't know anything about Mr. Peterson!
March 23
Feel so good, but I'm sort of sleepy. I've been up since six and it's eleven. Worked hard (?) all day, but it's so nice that it doesn't really even seem like work. The learning every really a treat. Maybe sometime I'll soak up a lot of knowledge about the airlines!! It's wonderful, and I love it.
March 31 (1)
The week has run just as one might expect it to run. I loved every minute of it, and have hardly known where the time went. The Control Room at Pan American is so much fun and so constantly interesting and fascinating. I manage to keep so very busy—it's wonderful—and of course the weather makes the days even more lovely. I'm in love with San Francisco.
March 31 (2)
Yesterday I had such a nice day. Had my little duties all cleaned up so often that I even asked my boss to let me help someone else. So I was able to help transfer names from the old charts to the new ones. No fooling, I get such a kick out of it all. Mr. Robb, who is Reservations Manager, walked down to the corner with me last night from the office and he said he had received nothing but good reports on my starting off with a bang—how quickly I'd caught on, etc. etc. He said he was very pleased that I liked it so well with Pan American. I do, too. It's such fun, and so fascinating. Don't really see how it could ever become commonplace or dull.
April 5
I wore my green hand woven dress to work today, and you should have heard all the comment. Nearly everyone in the office had some remark that was flattering to make.I felt really nice in it, too. Worked right along all day long, and loved every minute of it.
Who would ever think I could get such a large charge and so much enjoyment out of working! It's wonderful, and, believe me, I'm trying. Haven't heard anything more from Mr. Peterson. His intentions must have been a little smothered by the "well will love having you. Maybe he's out of town. I really don't know. At any rate I haven't seen him for some time.
April 6
Got paid today. After all deductions were taken out it amounted to $75.69 or so. Two weeks worth of work—$150 net per month. I won't be buying too many exciting things on that salary.
April 5
There is an opening in Telephone Sales. It's a Sales Agent II rating & I'm only a lowly III now. My seniority is positively nil, but I bid on it anyway, at the suggestion of a couple of my superiors—the two Traffic Supervisors, that is. There's so little chance of my getting it that I'd be extremely surprised! Another bid has been made and by someone who has more seniority but I just wanted the management to know that I'm in there pitching for sales. The hours would be 10:30 to 7:30 with Sunday and Monday off.
April 26
I've felt so good all day I could hardly stand myself—all bubbly allover & I've been running off at the mouth all day—saying not too much—but thoroughly enjoying myself every minute. I had such a good time all day today!! It must be the thing—clear out the blood that's been running around in me for 24 years and get new blood! I feel so good & so healthy and full of doeverythingness.
There was a new girl corne to work today for Pan American, so they started her out on the files and moved me over into Control proper—message writing—so in spite of all the razzing I took all day I worked with the message writers and learned a little more. Everyone was very nice and helpful to me, and very patient. I loved it, and the people seemed to be glad to have me, even if I hardly knew what I was about and had to ask thousands of questions. The whole day was just very satisfactory and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 27
I worked hard all day and played a little at night, and tomorrow I work some more. They asked me if I would corne in tomorrow—for overtime yet—and I said sure. They're really letting me work now that they know I want to work. Today Nick put me into message writing for all the time, and later they'll move me up to a vacancy in Sell & Report, which is largely a matter of keeping records of flights operating and whether or not they are booked and full.
So, you see, I learn while I earn, learn more every and they're really pushing me to it, or it to me. Today one of the fellows said to Nick that they needed 3 people over in message writing, but if he'd have me over they'd need only one.
Big help I am—and they're still razzing me about the sandwiches I made away with at the Red Cross Thursday. One of the fellows carne back today complaining because they still hadn't recovered from the shortage I'd caused at the blood bank and he didn't get any sandwiches. I certainly do corne in for my share of hysterics, and a lot of teasing. I've enjoyed the last two days so much! Something new all the time, and I feel almost efficient now that there is someone newer than I!!
So—tomorrow I work the first overtime of my life—time and a half yet!! . . . .If I start writing code to you, you'll understand, won't you? I'll say "wreyr aprae foinf that pty noop date", which says "with reference yours of April 15th for information that party didn't operate that day". All numbers are in letters. It's extremely fun to code words. It's mostly a matter of leaving out vowels. Sure looks funny at first.
May 8
Tomorrow begins new hours as well as another new job—8:30 to 5:30, on Sell & Report. It doesn't mean any more money, but it does give me more experience and a shove up from filing. Sell & Report will be bookkeeping as well as the business of domestic flying for our passengers corning in from the Pacific and traveling to the Pacific. It should prove interesting. Nick is going to break me in (he's my boss).
May 12
I haven't seen Doug since he brought me horne from Biggs. It disturbs him because he doesn't get to first base with me, and he doesn't want to be disturbed. It's nice to have him here—but I don't want to have him on my hands. Better like I am, with nothing to upset me, though sometimes I do miss that old upset feeling. I suppose some day I'll have it again—just how I'll arrange to get it is another question. I'm sure there must be many nice lonesome men in this city, but I haven't figured out how exactly to latch onto one as yet.
The fellows in the office definitely don't interest me—any of them. You find one for me. You thought of one before, if I remember correctly, but it was too late. Try once more, but leave the dynamite out this time.
May 19
Well, hold onto your hats—here we go! I answered the phone at the office yesterday and who was it but Mr. Peterson. He was calling to ask me to attend a formal dinner with him in Oakland next week. Wednesday nite Pan American is having some sort of a promotional sales dinner—formal you see—and his wife is unable to attend, so he asked if I'd care to go. He thought since I was the only one of the staff (beside himself of course) who had lived in South America and since I would eventually be down behind the counter, I could be of help to the sales promotion department, as well as my connections in S.A.
We're invited for cocktails at 6, at someone's home in Piedmont, so he will pick me up at 4:45 in front of the office—and I will be able to change my clothes at these people's home. The man evidently is an outside salesman for PAA.
I asked Nick about it—if he would OK my going—and he said "Mr. Peterson is my boss, course I will"—and I also asked him what the deal might be and he said I could be sure it was a sales angle. Then to top it all off—last night as I was walking down Stockton to Geary to catch my street car I ran smack into Mr. Peterson and he was coming out this way—so he brought me home.
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| Pan American Building at Stockton & Geary, early 1950s (see next) |
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| Pan American and TWA were neighbours; See the red sign to the left of Pan American's blue in the adjacent building. |
Another thing about my job with PAA: a week or so ago a job behind the counter came up for bid—so old eager beaver that I am—I bid on it.
Mr. Robb & Nick took me aside yesterday and told me that four people altogether had bid on it. Now it seems they are unable to offer the job with the same hours and days (8 to 5, Mon thru Fri). Mr. Robb didn't mention the hours, but he said the days had been changed so that the days off would be during the week with Saturday and Sunday working days—he wondered if that would make any difference to me—and I told him of course not.
That's the way to feel, says he—take anything you can get along the lines you want and you'll get to where you want to get. Evidently they're under the impression that I want to work, and they're so right . . . so you see, your little daughter is really trying hard to get where she wants to go—wherever that may be. With all the bosses behind me, how can I lose?
May 24
Mr. Peterson picked me up at the appointed hour and we were off for Oakland. The people to whose house we went for cocktails and where I changed my clothes live high in the Oakland hills. Their name is Grounds, and they were the nicest people, young people with a really lovely home. They had Manhattans and/or Martinis and she had fixed some really good hors d'oeuvres.
The dinner was at the Claremont in Berkeley, given by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, and all the consuls from all the various countries were thereThey were fascinating people and I had the time of my life. It was an extremely pleasant evening. I liked the Grounds very much, and Mr. Peterson was very nice to me.
He could be too nice I think, tho. Anyway, I had a wonderful time. We went back to the Grounds for coffee before coming home, so it was late when I arrived at my front door—almost 1:30.
May 25
Nick told me completely on the QT today that I'm to have the Counter job, in preference to some others who have seniority, and as soon as it's all smoothed over, I'll be satisfied. So far as I know, no one but he knows I bid on it—in our immediate office, that is. I'm quite pleased although it does mean Wednesdays and Thursdays off rather than Sundays. It will be eight to five hours again, of which I'll be glad . . .
There aren't any single men in the office with whom I'd have anything to do, really. They aren't my type, or I'm not theirs, or something. In fact the nicest, of course, are married. Most of the rest of them are pretty unstable.
May 27
Betty (Gleason) lives out on Geary Blvd., way out, that is. She had such a nice group there for breakfast—I liked them all. One was a fellow from the office, the only one I really wouldn't mind having at least one date. He's the training of new personnel (trainer, I should say) in reservations sales—a Boston boy, Harvard. He's rather interesting.
Then she had a lovely girl. One of the other fellows is a resident engineer for the City. He has a nice new Buick ('scuse my mercenary instincts). Betty had briefed me pretty well on the others and of course I already knew Russ—he's the one who will be working with me before I move down behind the counter.
He informed me of it today, so he knows too, probably through Nick or Mr. Robb. He told Betty, so I suppose it won't be too long before the word is around.
I forgot to tell you that this change in job will mean a raise too—3 months ahead of schedule—and I'll have a different rating. Instead of being a Sales Agent III I'll be a II—at least that's supposed to be the way it is. My three month probationary period isn't over yet. Nick said the paper to report on me was on his desk. Should he just fill it out lexcellent"?. . . AII of those there except Russ & me belong to the Catholic Young People's Center, which is quite an active organization.
May 29
I've been working for nearly 3 months—I'll have been here for 3 months the day after tomorrow—and the 13th it will be 3 months I've worked for Pan Am. I'll get a pair of wings then. Won't that be fun? They'll be just silver, but I've always wanted a pair that I'd won by myself!!! Your little bird has learned to fly by herself, pretty nearly has a pair of silver wings!!!
May 31
'Nother day, 'nother few dollars—and it was another of those days of working hard. Bet I bore you with all the tales of how hard I work, but I have been hard at work the last few days! I worked a whole pile of domestic onto space today. I had United on the phone for two solid hours feeding reservations to them just as fast as they could take them. It was really something, and fun too.
It was so much fun and so interesting that I almost am sorry to go down to the counter. I could have moved into the Domestic Connection desk had I wanted to do that. Now I'm kind of sorry I didn't, though it is somewhat of a headache, especially when we have delayed flights and have to change all the space at the last minute, and all the other airlines are booked solid for days in advance. They have a large number of noshows, however, so generally our passenger gets on at the last minute. I still am not sure when I'll go down to the Counter. . .
June 2
I was supposed to go down and start working on the Counter yesterday or today, but the union is having some sort of complaint to raise about the days the job operates, so until that's settled I'll be in Reservations Control.
Nick keeps telling me that if I don't like the Counter they'll make a place for me again in R.C. and he took me out yesterday and bought me a couple of old-fashioneds. Seems to hate to see me go, and I've been having so much fun lately with the Domestic lines that I sort of hate to go! If they don't straighten out my job with the union, they may have to change the hours and put it up for bid again. Mr. Robb notified me officially yesterday that as things stand the job is mine. However, if the position changes to more likeable days off, someone who definitely would have much more right to it might get it. We'll see. I have the idea that they definitely want me to have it, however.
June 5
I must be sharp as a tack tomorrow because today was my last day in Reservations Control. Tomorrow I begin on the Counter, learning the ropes, training, etc. So far it's all been sort of by guess and by golly and part of what I've learned I've learned by myself. Of course I'll remember it more that way. I do sort of hate to leave RCSFO 'cause it has been wonderful work.
Nick keeps telling me that if I don't like it I should put in to come back—that they'd miss me very much, big hole you know when I leave. So it goes. He certainly has been a grand boss to have, the best ever, really. Now we'll see what the Counter is like.
Mr. Robb seems to think I'm competent and I'll be even handling it alone on Sundays even tho the office won't be open. I'll be there doing odds and ends, catching up for Monday. I may get plenty lonesome, too, but I doubt it. Maybe I can locate a little radio to keep me company. Of course he thinks it's commendable that I'm willing to work odd days in order to get at and to what I want, Fine thing, you know. I told you, I think, that it means a raise: $213 I think, or something like that. Of course I've practically been getting that with the overtime I've been working.
Today I got a little training for work at the ticket counter. What I got I hope will stick with me. Parts of it were disorganized because of interruptions, but most of it was instructive, and I found my teacher very interesting. He's a nice fellow, from Boston and Harvard.
Not quite my type—but more so than most in the office. Not that whether or not he's my type has anything at all to do with my training, but it's a matter of adding a little spice to the day.
June 7
Must be sharp tomorrow. Russ is always tossing little posers at me and sitting back to see what I'll come out with.
June 8
Tomorrow I go down to the Counter, and I'm scared to death. I haven't really had the amount of training I should have. Russ said it should be 10 days. I've had two and a half, just enough to get a lot of things in my head that are in no way correlated.
I'm scared really, but maybe I'll be all right after the first few days of horrors. I may have to work clear thru until next Wednesday, which will certainly be "tres gay". But in that way I won't be losing any time really. The pay week begins on Friday and goes through Thursday nite. We'll see.
In case I do work Sunday it will be to help out in Control, where most of the time lately I wish I'd stayed, where things were nice and getting more and more simple for me, and I was taking over more and more. Oh, well, I guess I'm feeling that way because I'm scared—really.
June 10
Yesterday was not nearly so bad as I had anticipated, though it started out all wrong. First of all I wakened at 5:30 thinking it was 6:30 and was almost up before I discovered my error. I got to work at 8:00 A.M., went down to the Counter, and there was not one blessed soul there. I waited, and no one came (except the janitors). It got to be 8:30, still no one . . . At nine, when I was about to absolutely blow my stack, I was so furious at being still alone, one of the fellows came in (he wasn't even one of the people who was supposed to be on the Counter).
All this time a passenger had been there waiting, and I, not knowing one end of the counter from the other, couldn't help him, especially since he wanted a refund. Bob (the fellow who came in at 9) took care of him and called Russ, who showed up a few minutes later from the office.
I was so teed off by that time that he took me back up to the other office and talked to me in soothing tones for an hour and a half, and then took me out for coffee.
He was quite amused because I had been so upset, and I told him I'd been brought up to have a sense of responsibility whether I wanted to have it or not, and whether I cared two cents for Pan American or the public school system I still felt responsible if I was supposed to feel that way, and had no use for people who didn't have that feeling or sense of responsibility.
We had a very entertaining coffee time, and then had a little more training before the Counter Sales supervisor (who has been quite ill) came in to work and I went down and worked with him for a couple of hours. AII in all the day was a little upsetting to me, but I got over it . . . I had coffee with Nick yesterday p.m., and told him all about it.
He said not to think twice about it, and said again any time I wanted to come back to Control he'd make a place for me. At least Control is well organized, and I guess I don't care for organized confusion such as seems to reign in the Sales office. We'll see . . . lf it hadn't been for Russ yesterday morning I probably would have gone back to Control!
He's such a fascinating person, and so amusing. He reminds me of Kenny for some reason though they're as different as can be—not at all to look at who would attract because he's not very tall, and definitely isn't good looking, but somehow he intrigues me.
An example: in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, which is a projection into the distant future when everyone is born from test tubes, etc., they have a movie system which imposes upon the audience sensation of touch and taste and smell. If the heroine is wearing perfume the audience smells it; if she cuts her finger the audience has the same sensation. The movies are entitled "The Feelies.”
Russ has a cat (old maid bachelor, you know) he calls "Feely", or "Feelie", after those movies. It is also short for Felicia or Ophelia when she's displeased him. Now you might know that would amuse me!! And that's the way he is. Very entertaining, and quite intelligent. He should have been a lawyer.
I'm just throwing all this in because I have been spending most of the last week with him, and it's been highly entertaining as well as instructive. He requested a straight face on my part because he said his threshhold of distraction was very low . . . I'm very happy and satisfied with the world.
I now have the key to my own personal happiness and it's a pleasure!! The key being happy and pleased with me, I guess. We'll see how much longer I can maintain such a feeling and attitude. I have been led to understand that my new supervisor, Til Lethco, can be very hard to get along with at times. Russ said he doubted that I would have any trouble "in charming Til to get along with me under any circumstances.”
June 11
Your daughter has just completed her first full day behind the ticket counter of Pan American World Airways, and it was a humdinger!! We were busier than you can imagine—or maybe you could imagine, having traveled during the war.
Lotsa people, and I tried hard not to alienate too many passengers in my utter and complete non-knowledge. Somehow I managed to get through the day, and looking back on it, it certainly wasn't a slow day. It was 3 o'clock before I knew it, and I hadn't yet been out from behind the counter. So that made seven hours straight I had been there, and then I worked two more hours after I got back from lunch, 'til almost six o'clock.
The two fellows who were on the counter with me today were so busy they could hardly answer my questions. But they tried, and I guess I didn't do too badly. At any rate, I got several kicks out of the day, and I think I can safely say I'll enjoy myself. So many nice people, and so many difrficult ones. I didn't get any difficult ones today, but I heard the fellows handling some . . . We have no uniforms, so I wear my own clothes, and will try to look presentable.
After 3 days of training last week, Russ wanted to know if I were trying for the title of best dressed woman with Pan American. I explained that I just don't like to wear the same thing two days in a row. I'll wear out some old clothes that are still good looking, but not too new or good any more.
I only show from the waist up, and so I can take off my shoes and stand in my stocking feet . . . .Til (my supervisor now) is a nice guy, but he isn't going to be quite as nice with whom to work as Nick has been. The other fellow's name is Dick, and the girl's name is Alice. I'm not sure I'll like her from what I've seen of her, but I may—who knows, time will tell. At any rate I'm happy, and I did send some satisfied passengers away today, loving every minute of it!!
June 12
Now I've had two long days at the Counter. It was nearly 6:30 by the time I left tonite, and it was four before I ever stopped for coffee. It was my own fault, of course, and I wouldn't have needed to have let either happen, but I didn't mind, and I'm not very tired as a result. Russ spent most of the day with me ticketing, which is the real bugaboo on this counter job. Fortunately, I don't have too much of it to do, because as soon as another girl is trained to do it she will do most of it for all of us, except on Sundays—then I'll have to do it alone, or struggle through for a while, anyway. Russ and I had coffee a couple of times today, and he's such a fascinating character, quite entertaining, so that when he's working with me, it really isn't too much work, sort of enjoyable.
June 13
Today marked three months of work with Pan American. I've loved every minute of it, too—for sure—and now that I'm getting more or less squared around I'm going to be crazy about the Counter. I just find I'm easy to please or something. Who can tell—it's for sure I'm easily amused, and for another for sure I'm finding out what it is to really be wild about a working proposition, and just people in general. Fact is, I'm happy as I can be!!
But in spite of the fact that I told everybody that I'd been working 3 months today—cough up my silver wings—nobody coughed, and I guess they have to come from New York. Perhaps it won't be for a day or so—busy season, don't you know. Today was a busy one. I did get out for coffee twice, but I skipped my hour for lunch, and worked until 8:30 tonite. Checked in this morning at 7:52 and out tonite at 8:33, and the day went so fast, I hardly knew when it was six o'clock.
Russ worked with me as much as possible, making out three tours complete with tickets, tour coupons, and breakdown of fares. If people knew how much trouble to us it is for them to travel, they wouldn't go!! But it's fun, and after I get “around” the people in this new office, everything will be hunkydory. Sure is a key to people to ask for help, opinions, and defer to their judgment even if they're wrong—and generally they aren't. Til and I will get along fine, and I'll manage the rest. After we closed up tonite to go to work on the backlog tickets Alice furnished beer all around, and when we finally turned out the lights Til bought a round of martinis. So—not a bad day at all.
Til and I had coffee this morning, and Russ & I this afternoon.
June 15
Back to work today, and I was so glad. I so thoroughly enjoy myself—I can hardly believe it's I who is Marjorie.
Every day is wonderful, and I feel so good!!
Got my wings today. Nick found them for me and took me out and bought me a Manhattan and presented them to me. They're quite pretty, really. I was, of course, quite pleased. I fussed long enough, and Nick was the one to get them for me. Guess he went to the guy who gets the word from New York.
Should have had a letter, but it was much better this way. Bless his heart, he sure is a swell guy. Had regular coffee with Russ. Guess it's regular, seems to be, and we stopped after work for a drink. He is so entertaining. I do thoroughly enjoy him. He's different. He has a little sister eight years younger than he. She's 21. I told him about Kay, and he thinks he'll wait for her. Showed him the picture of the three of us in Lewiston, the one out at the airport taken when I arrived from Boise that Christmas.
You know how I am about men, and he presents a definite challenge. 'Spose that's what fascinates me about him. He said the day was very long yesterday without me. I don't seem to have priority on Russ's time any more.
He said it was because everyone figures I've fitted into the deal without enough trouble to need him. He wanted me to understand that it was only on his raining time that I no longer had priority.
June 17
I'm not working today because I had orders not to work. I'm reported, for the record, "sick", and I'm going to the company picnic. If I weren't going to the picnic I'd have to stay home. Anyway. Besides I don't know quite enough yet to be at work today.
Anyhoo—I've caught on too fast, though. I truly believe I should have been much slower, and then I'd get more help. They leave me alone to handle the passengers now . . . and it's fun.
Yesterday I was talking to a Colonel about his going to Balboa. He didn't want to go through Mexico because of the tourist card, etc., so he didn't make up his mind to go. When he left I smiled at him and said "Do come back!”
Russ and Til were standing there. Russ looked at me with a question on his face, and Til poked me & said "Cut it out, he's old enough to be your father!”
So you see even tho they think they know me, they don't know me very well . . . fact is, sometimes I think I'm a pretty good source of amusement for a number of people. I amuse Russ because I'm so happy. He thinks it's admirable, but unusual. I don't see much sense in giving him all the details as to why I'm so pleased with everything and am so amiable, so he can just go on thinking I'm happy because I don't have any better sense!! He called me up the other night, just to chat for a little bit. He does have such a nice voice. We had our regular coffee times yesterday. It's a standing date from now on, until we decide differently, and I thoroughly enjoy it.
June 18
It was a wonderful picnic we had yesterday, only I would have enjoyed it much more had there not been so darned many people there. It was too crowded to suit my taste. The picnic was delicious. Til was the chef, and he baked hams that would melt in your mouth.
Pat and John picked me up about 1:30 and we were quite late in getting there. We stayed until about 8:30. Russ was there, but he had a date, and they left early or relatively so. He led me to believe he hadn't known I would be able to come, and of course I hadn't offered the info to anyone.
June 19
This day began inauspiciously at 6:10 with breakfast, paper, radio news, dressing and going to work. Little did I know as I walked toward the office what awaited me. Didn't take long to find out there were people waiting outside!!
United's pilots went out on strike this morning, thereby cancelling all flights to the Islands. The steamship lines went out on strike yesterday so all the people who had planned to take the Lurline to Honolulu are without a transport!!
So—PAA has the business. All hell broke loose at 7:50 this morning & it didn't let up until nearly five this afternoon.
Everybody wants to go to the Islands, on top of all the tourists. The college kids are just out of school and want to get home. It was wonderful! I loved every minute of the whole day.
Russ and I had coffee after work tonite & I told him how much I had enjoyed the day.
"Only you," says he, " could put in a day as I know you've done, and enjoy it, or even say that you enjoyed it" . . .
Now for Russ, 'cause there could be a chapter for him.
Russ Robinson—and I can't imagine my saying he wasn't my type. I think he is.
Vital statistics: about 5'9" or so, brown eyes, brown (straight) hair, nice mouth, nose, etc. Very nice features, tingly voice, deep and very pleasant to hear, refined don't you know because he's from Boston.
I like the way he says "Marjorie.”
We're in the last scene of Act I now where he has told me that I have a nice nose, very fine cheekbone structure, a heart-shaped Claudette Colbert face, nice eyes and in fact he thinks I'm very nice to look at, and if I didn't know that I'm his type by now I'm definitely deluded.
He enjoys my company, and we have a standing date of two daily coffee times, the nicest times of the day really, cause he's so different and really quite intriguing. I thoroughly enjoy him. He has the nicest smile, and since it doesn't happen too often it's definitely a pleasure when it does and above all he is most intelligent and is not only well read but also enjoys good music, and probably knows much more about it than I.
He was in England most of the time during the war—is 29 years old and has been in S.F. 3 years.
He has an apartment close down town and a cat, as I told you before, named "Feelie".
The fact is, I like him. I have teased him so much about which girls (the new ones coming in to the office) might be his type, that today when I asked him again "exactly what is your type?' he said "you're my type, and if you don't know it by now you've been deluded."
His way of expressing himself is always so really different and clever that I just sit enraptured, but of course I get my share of chatter in, too, and I evidently amuse him as he amuses me.
We enjoy each other's company, have faced the fact and shall continue thusly until other things arise. So—that's my thumbnail sketch, and perhaps it will become more than that, and perhaps not. At any rate I'm enjoying what is now.
June 20
Such a day as yesterday was also today, only more so, and I loved it. I hit a couple of irate passengers today and it was most entertaining to have them leave me apologizing to me because they had taken up so much of my time, smiling and tipping their hats. I loved it, and I guess they didn't mind being "handled.”
I guess it is really disgusting to be as well satisfied with myself as am, but I can't help it—I love to “handle" people!!!—and it takes so little effort!!! . . . . Read in Time about well-adjusted, well-adapted people. The man said it was because they had no original ideas or drive—don't know what they're missing. And here I am so happy and well-adjusted.
I worried about it to Russ this evening and he said—it's just like an oyster—one oyster just a plain oyster isn't good for much—it's a cipher—even one isn't enough to eat (though it would be more than enough for me) but—irritate it a little and what have you—a pearl—a gem.
Same way with a person—push a little, dissatisfy him and you have an outstanding person (one way or another). I was highly entertained!!! Who knows, there may be a pearl inside me just waiting to be irritated into being!!
That man fascinates me . . . would you ever think of such a metaphor? He's always coming out with something like that, much to my delight.
We had our coffee this morning, and then after work tonite we spent an hour over a couple of drinks. Made the day even nicer than it would have been ordinarily—and then he called me a little while ago. We had quite a visit in those couple of hours this evening.
He was telling me how high I rate in estimation of the entire male population of the office. He says he has pitcher ears when my name is mentioned, so he picks up all sorts of flattering information about me (naturally he would say that to me) and that Nick says he'd be after me himself if he weren't married!!! Very nice to hear those things. Of course I like all those people so I guess they like me in return.
Anyway even if I am an oyster with a dormant pearl, I'm so happy, and I am getting such a kick out of life . . .
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