The Letters—Part II: San Francisco, June 20 - Jul 18, 1951

Marjorie seems to be settling in at her job at Pan American, apparently working the phones and arranging tickets for wealthy folks plying the popular San Francisco - Honolulu route in the days in which Pan American only flew international routes (including Hawaii) and leaving domestic (USA - Canada) routes to "the peasants" such as Delta, United and TWA. 

Pan American's tagline in those days was "The World's Most Experienced Airline," but the smooth operators behind the scenes weren't necessarily the salt 'n' pepper captains up in the pointy end of the  dashing new Boeing 707s . . .

June 20

San Francisco

Marjorie to her sister, Kay Reed—Stephens College, Missouri

Have managed to work a little male interest into my young life. Mother has the thumbnail sketch in the letter I wrote to her last night.

He's extremely nice, and I do so enjoy him. Russ Robinson, which is a nice name to begin with, and he's extremely entertaining.

Also very smooth in a very pleasant way. We have a standing coffee date twice a day and generally the afternoon one runs into a cocktail hour, or at least sometimes it does.

At any rate, I like him, and evidently he likes me. He shows every indication of it at least. You'd like him, I know, and I'm sure Mother and Daddy would.

Of course I've told him all about you. He has a sister 8 years younger than he—she's 21—which of course makes him 29. A Boston boy, and he went to Harvard. He has a cat. He is well read and knows so much about music and has such a different approach to the English language that I sit simply enthralled every time he opens his mouth—and incidentally he has an extremely nice voice.

June 22 (and all subsequent) 

Marjorie to her parents, Louise & John Reed—Brazil

Today, Friday was my Monday, but it really seemed like Friday. Most any day I thoroughly enjoy. We've begun working six days for everyone—mandatory—so we'll have full force every day except Sunday. Wonder what it will be like to work all day alone. I'm going to take my knitting and I'm going to buy a little radio. I couldn't stand it all day alone without a radio. If I get a baby one, maybe Kay can have it at school when she comes in case I'm not always working on Sundays.

She'll need a radio at Stephens, that's for sure . . . the Lurline sailed tonite and we had hordes in for refunds and change of tickets and all sorts of things. I managed to pull a couple of bloopers today. I completely forgot to put a name on one of the tickets I issued, and one of the refunds I made out was completely hopeless.

Ed (the cashier) said everyone had one bad refund in his system and he guessed that one was mine! He fixed it up for me. I transposed figures, left them out completely, really fouled it up. I won't do it again!! Fortunately he was amused rather than irate, and I straightened out the "no-name" ticket. We're going to have to put a sign up in front of me: "Please check your tickets before leaving the counter—this girl isn't hep all the time"

Had my coffee with Russ—the usual twice a day, and went with Til while he ate lunch. He likes to have someone with whom he can talk, doesn't like to eat alone, so I go and drink a cup of coffee while he eats . . . I'm going to be saturated with "La Boheme" and Tchaikowsky shortly. Russ says he'll loan me his recording of "Madame Butterfly" and another one, which I don't remember what "ist." So pretty soon I'll be saturated with Puccini. . . .

My hair is a joy really though it is sort of short. People haven't quite decided whether to like it or not, but they will come around, they think. Mr. Robinson said it makes me look like Mary Martin, though my hair isn't so short as hers.

June 24

This is my first Sunday of working actually, though I guess I've had this job for nearly three weeks. It's actually been very pleasant, if I could feel that I'd accomplished more.

I'm not too well checked out on refunds yet, and that's what was for me to do. However, I called Til about noon and told him my troubles. He said not to worry about it, do as much as I could or get it ready to do, and forget about the rest. Said he hadn't expected me to be able to do it really. Simple refunds I can do, but these darned complicated things—people wind up owing us money.

Course that's the way with most of them. When you break a round trip fare you ose your discount. Anyway, I've tried, and I know for sure I've been through every tariff manual we have in the office, dating back to 1949. I have enjoyed the day really. Yesterday I tore over to the White House and bought a little radio. It's a peach. I paid $38 for it, and I figure by the time Kay is ready for it at school I won't be working Sundays any more.

Til said yesterday that someone new was moving to the counter soon, and I would change my hours maybe—at that time—or perhaps after the rush season is over they'll dispose of the Sunday business down here anyway. But today has been nice. Have had my radio on since eight this morning. It's such a cute little thing, and for being so little it has a lovely tone. It can run either on battery or plugged in—a Motorola. . . .yesterday things cooled down a bit, and we weren't as busy as usual.

The Lurline finally sailed, so that got a lot of passengers off our necks. They did nothing but cancel and rebook all last week. Fouled up our records something terrific. I found out something yesterday tho—anyone who can't get space would do well to come to me for it.

Some man called me to see if I could get him four berths to Honolulu. I went up to see Nick and he gave them to me. (We're sold out until after July 9th). So—the longer I live, the better I find out that it pays to be nice to people, whoever they are.

June 25

Today has been my "off" day. I have done some of the, if you'll pardon the expression, damndest things. Fortunately I was able to catch them before the damage was irreparable. In fact one of them turned out even better! I got them reservations out of here when they wanted them while they were bringing in the ticket I had fouled up. What I had done was to copy the right information on the wrong ticket. Oh, well. Ed (the cashier) says the only way I'll learn is by making mistakes and repairing them myself, and since I generally have to learn things the hard way anyway, this seems to be the way I'll learn the best and for the longest time.

We hope. Ed just informed me that my new name was to be Miss Refund of 1951, and I have no doubt but what he meant—misrefund as all one word. So-he Joy 'n all that.

June 26

According to schedule I met Russ about six, and we sat for three and a half hours over a couple of drinks listening and panning the organist and talking. He really is a fine person, and I do so enjoy being with him. He's so darned intelligent and his forms of expressing himself keep me constantly amused or touched. I do believe he thinks I'm pretty nice, and I'm very pleased that he does.

This morning when we had our coffee I showed him the picture you sent, and the cartoon he got a large blast out of as did I. I do find the time I spend with him escaping all too rapidly. Always hate to say goodbye, and always look forward to the next time. He seems to have a feeling for people, picks out things from the clear blue and seems to understand them so quickly. Nobody's fool is that boy.

June 29

I was so pleased to call home this p.m. and have Henrietta say there was a letter from you. Then Russ asked me if I'd heard from you lately. I was glad to tell him that there was a letter from you at home. He asked me how much I write to you when I write, and when I said four or so pages he wanted to know what I said~"Just what I do from the time I get up 'til I go to bed". He replied in a way that always makes me want to hug him for knowing: "Isn't it nice to tell someone something that you know will always be interesting to them no matter what it is—to know that it's looked forward to and appreciated". That was the gist of what he said anyway. He seems to be so sensitive to my feelings always.

It's very nice to be with him. We had our half hour this evening and then he had to go back to work, and I came home. He had a telegram today saying his Grandfather had died—said it made him eel sort of peculiar—it's the first death in his family & he said he'd always thought the Robinsons were indestructible.

July 1

There was not much to do today. Got to the office at 8 and by 11:30 or so I had finished everything I had to do down at the counter, so I went up to the other office and picked up all the stray wires to be worked. Took them down and did them, and even then it wasn't time to go home. So—I started a letter to you. I was well launched when I heard a rap at the locked door (I lock myself in to protect myself from stray Sunday passengers). I up and looked, and it was Russ.

I had had the feeling he would come and he did. So—we spent the evening together, and it was such a nice evening. I liked it very much. Really I guess it's the first time we've ever spent that much time together at once. It's midnite now & I've been home just long enough to bathe and get ready for bed.

We had dinner—rather I wasn't hungry nor was he so we planned to have dinner but settled for pretzels and hors d'oeuvres in a nice little place with a Christmas tree and a fireplace. Can you imagine—Christmas in July!

Then we went to a show, had some coffee, and I made him let me come home in a taxi. Another time he can come with me, but it was too late for it tonite so I got in the first available while he was still arguing. In this affair it's a handicap to live out so far, but perhaps that too will iron itself out—everything else seems to have done so.

I did have such a good time. He's such a treat. Here we go again.

July 5

Guess I wasn't really supposed to work today, but I didn't seem to annoy anyone with my presence. Had early morning coffee with Til, later morning coffee with Russ and lunch with Pat. . . . Met Russ at six, and we had such fun. Remember when you wrote about the pizza you had in Sao Paolo? I had no idea where he was taking me. Since he holds 51% of the stock in our company and we very seldom put things to a vote, he asked if I had a plan & when I had nothing special he said he did and then refused to tell me more.

We had dinner at an Italian pizzeria, and such a good dinner, complete with lots of coffee and wine. It was delish, and I'd never had pizza before.

It certainly was a lot, but good, and we must have spent a couple hours eating and talking and talking and talking. Sometimes I forget to hear what he's saying I'm so fascinated by just the sound of his voice.

I do hope you'll like him. He's utterly charming, but he is different from anyone I've ever known before, or you have ever seen bring me home.

Doesn't look like my type, but he seems to be. After we'd had dinner we went to another Italian place to hear the music & I had a fascinating coffee and cream & brandy drink.

Just let the man order for me and it's so nice. We stayed & stayed, then walked back down town & I came home. Here 'tis, later than you think, and I'm very pleased. . . .

The passengers are beginning to come in and wait for me to help them. I love it. So little goes such a long way, and it's such fun. Honestly, I could never have believed I could get such a blast out of getting up every day.and going to work. It's simply wonderful!! and I love it.

July 7

Happy day, and such a beautiful day in San Francisco. It was foggy this morning, and cool all day, windy. These romantic trade winds can really blow hard! I stood at the window tonight and watched the fog being blown in from the sea, covering up my beautiful city. But I know it's there, and it's such fun to watch the fog roll in. I truly love San Francisco, fog and all. It never seems dreary. . . .

Today was extremely calm, not many passengers. Til had left me some things to do so I didn't get too bored, but I like it when we're so busy we don't have time to breathe. It was 2:30 before I got out for lunch, but it was my own fault. I kind of like to go then anyway. I went up to the other office and got Pat out for coffee. Then of course I met Russ (get that of course) at 5:15 and spent an hour with him.

He said he had received a commendation today because of me. Charlie Robb, who is Reservations Superintendent, told him that "they" were extremely pleased with the way I had taken over at the Counter (not over, but the way I had caught on) and thought Russ had done a good job of training me.

He did help me an awful lot. Then he added "Now if we had an office full of Marjorie Reeds our problems would be over.”

I have a feeling he thinks I'm a pearl instead of an oyster, as well as you. I do enjoy being with him so much. I'm not playing with fire, though. He likes the same things I do, and gets as big a kick out of things as I do.

We had such fun walking through Chinatown the other night, window shopping. I look forward to all the time I spend with him, because it never fails to be thoroughly interesting and different. . . .

Tomorrow Russ will be down after me about 5, if the Red Sox win. Thought maybe the gloom that would settle over him when & if they lose would be too much to inflict upon me. They won today, beat the Yankees 10-6. They're almost in first place. Of course I brought my full 49% of vote to bear and since his was a split vote, he'll come. Someone has to have control, he says.

July 8

There certainly hasn't been much for me to do today. I made out one ticket, and then I went up to the other office to see what Peter had for me to do. I cleaned up all the domestic space for July, calling airlines and confirming the space by message to the stations requesting.

Had lots of fun conversing with the other airlines. I enjoy calling them. If only it took me a little longer to do things I could work all day, but I cleared that up before noon. . . .

That darned Russ Robinson has gotten me intrigued with this baseball game today, and of all things I find myself tuning over every once in a while to see what's happening. The Red Sox are 3 runs ahead of the Yankees in the top half of the ninth. When I listened a while ago the Yankees were ahead 3-2. Now the Yankees have two down & one to go before the Red Sox win. Can you imagine such intrigue of me? (Red Sox won! They're in 2nd place now).

July 9

After I wrote to you yesterday I sat and knitted for a little bit, to look up all of a sudden and see Mr. Robinson standing there. I hadn't heard him come in to the office, nearly scared the living daylights out of me. And the old fraud—I told him who won the Yankee-Red Sox game! He hadn't even listened to it. Said he couldn't bear to hear them being beaten and he was sure their luck would run out. 21 years he says he's been rooting for that team and they have never come through. We had such fun, such a special cause we manufactured it —out of reciprocal enjoyment of each other, I guess. We wandered. about the city, had a drink here, a hamburger there, walked up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower to see the "Faery City", and truly it was a thrill. We had planned to make it by sunset but didn't make it quite.

Instead we saw the lovely city by night and lights and it was beautiful. Things I've always wanted to do he'll do with me.

We walked down Market Street, and through Little Italy, had a cup of coffee and then poked around some more. Tonite we attended the meeting of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, and then we went into one of the department stores and listened to a record.

It was a modern opera Russ had seen in New York so I got the story with gestures. It was so thoroughly enjoyable. So very true I've never met anyone like him in any way at all. He's an individual.

After we heard the opera we had a cup of coffee and I came home early.

July 12

Met Russ down town for dinner and the show. We had such fun. He is so wonderful, truly fun.

San Francisco seems almost like a different city when I'm with him, more exciting, sinister, and far more interesting. He asked that I extend an invitation to you to have dinner with him when you come. Perhaps I can go too. I wish I could tell you, but I seem to lose the words.

He asked me tonite if I were his girl & when I said yes, but said he should understand that I was your girl too, he said "No, you're my girl, you're their daughter. They've had you for 23 years and eleven months longer than I have and when I've had you that long then we'll discuss whose girl you are"—and after all, he has 51% of the stock—what could I say? If you could just listen to him, or talk to him, or hear him laugh, you'd know what I mean.

He is positively delightful, and we have only 783 million things to do together while we think of other things to do. You'll like him, I know you will. Don't be too alarmed by this sudden turn of events, but it's so, and it's not because I was fair game either!! or ever am. Russ can carry a tune, and he can spell, and he knows about Oliver Twist and he's smart and charming and has an extremely level head. I'll be glad for you to meet him.

July 14

Am sitting up in the Reservations Control office, drinking my coffee and resting. Couldn't do it at the other office. Everybody always talks to me.

Right now, Mr. Robinson walked in—and out and said to tell you a nice, bright new-minted "hello", not the kind where you say: he said to tell you "hello", but a fresh new one—right now—"hello".

Tomorrow is Sunday again. We're going to see "Strangers on a Train.” The third time we've tried. We're determined to see it from the beginning and even though we checked the papers and arrived at the published time it was wrong. So we will stand in wait tomorrow. It's an Alfred Hitchcock movie, full of suspense 'n drama.

I'm beginning to enjoy movies again. Wasn't interested much for a long time, and certainly wouldn't go see anything even now that I didn't care to see. Surely am getting independent & set in my ways now that I'm in myoId age.

July 15 (one year to the day before Christopher is born)

Surely must have had a premonition about the Lurline when I wrote yesterday noon. Russ called me about 3 and said he was going down at 4, would I like to come down at 5 when I got though here. I would like—so I jaunted down after work, and he was swamped. We stood there for two hours taking passengers' names for the first available to Honolulu. It was nearly eight o'clock when we finally got back to the office from the pier. Those poor people—all aboard, and unpacked—and they didn't sail.

Matson swore out an injunction against the strikers and the police took away the picketers, but still the ship didn't sail. It was all quite interesting and entertaining, but it was so cold down there I nearly froze.

After we had dropped our lists off at the office we had a good warm drink and a good dinner, lots of coffee, and then I went home and fell into bed. Guess Russ read all night, his plans anyway. . . .

Must go to the other ofice now and take what I've done on Domestic reservations and fares. Mr. Robinson doesn't know it yet, but he's going to have to help me figure some fares this afternoon. They're way out of my little orb of experience.

July 16

What a day—and I mean really! For eight solid hours & I mean eight hours because I took off only half an hour for lunch & quit at 5:30, I stood behind that counter and dealt with the public. I loved it, but it nearly wore me out truly.

That's almost too long to stand especially today because today was the kind of day when aspirin & a hot water bottle were really in order. It was a full day to say the least, and in spite of the lack of morning coffee, the couple hours after work were more than an adequate make up for not seeing or being seen all day. . . .I had worried over those fares I was trying to figure out yesterday so much, that I was so relieved to see Russ walk in last night & I knew I had help I almost dissolved into tears. He helped me and we finished them up in hardly any time.

Then we decided we didn't really want to see “Strangers on a Train,” so we evolved a plan: we came out here and spent the evening. Listened to the Sunday night music and looked at all my odds and assorted pictures.

Had something to eat and so thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Have the feeling there'll be many more, for a long time to come—you see he asked me to marry him next April, if that doesn't turn out to be too long away. Don't be scared, he's the most wonderful person in the world, and you'll love him too.

Are you surprised? Now Daddy don't go home and scare Mother to death by saying “Marjorie is going to marry “that boy.” He's not “that boy,” he's Russ.

If you've ever hoped I'd find someone who loved me more than anything else in the world, you may be assured that I have. And it's the most wonderful feeling I've ever had in my life. No sad songs for me ever again. This isn't just midsummer madness. Please be happy about me, 'cause I couldn't be more so, and when you've met Russ you'll be happy too.

July 18

We had a very pleasant time last evening. Had a couple drinks on the Company, and then went to a cafeteria for dinner (nine or ten of us) and then saw the PAA movies.

Wings to Hawaii, Ireland, France & Vikingland. I was bored stiff & completely paralyzed by the time it was allover.

Russ couldn't stay awake so he waited outside for me through the last movie. Guess travel pictures bore us both. We then spent a couple hours in the little bar there at the Marine Memorial (where they showed the pictures). Very wonderful hours and the day was a complete success after all.

We talked about you last night. Russ said that the thing that first telescoped his attention on me was the fact that when he asked me to whom I wrote every day, I said you.

Then he began to wonder what kind of a girl I was to have such a wonderful feeling about my family. He always is so interested when I tell him about you, what you've said and so forth. Says it scares him a little because I'm so close to you, but he thinks it's the only way to be. He evidently has had a wonderful family, or has I should say, because the way he speaks of them is just the way he should in my opinion.

He showed me a letter from Mr. Peterson yesterday asking him to represent the Company at a McKesson-Robbins sales convention in a week or so. Russ is so smooth with people, it constantly fascinates me, and yet he doesn't ever seem to be being smooth, if you know what I mean.

I just love being in San Francisco and with Russ. No complications, no unhappiness, no past, no worries, no lying awake at night, no pain—just sun, and happiness and—it's hard to explain. . . .

I suppose the reason I said Russ doesn't look my type is the fact that he isn't so tall as all the fellows I've dated in the past few years, and I've never gone with anyone who had brown eyes and hair before—and, oh, I don't know why I said it. He truly is my type. I don't know how I've gotten along all these years without him. He is near sighted, and does wear his glasses when he's working. He has the most wonderful smile, and since he uses it sparingly it's even more wonderful when you see it. You'll love him, you won't be able to help yourself, and he's completely sold on you, which pleases me of course.

to be continued . . . 

N.B. Please leave comments below! (must have a Google account)

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