1958. From Jack to Carolyn
Jack writes through the fog, literal and metaphorical, to announce to Carolyn, in Chattanooga, TN, that he’s finally ready to stop goofing off, though his spelling suggests there’s still work to be done.
Dear Carolyn,
I guess you are right as usual about me coming to Chatt. It would only mess things up for everyone and I have decided that I won’t come.
I have been doing a lot of serious thinking since I have been home. I have come to realize that in a short time I will be graduating, if I quit goofing, and everyone tells me that you get out what you put into the game.
And you and I know I have been vegetating in that department, along with some others. I have been a failure for 2½ years in college, and if I don’t wake up I probably will finish a failure. I have made up my mind that I am going to try to live up to the standards that I think I am capable of attaining. Since you won’t date me I think that I will let it simmer a while and see what cooks. I am so far behind now that I probably will never catch up. I don’t know about basketball. That is a dark side at the moment. I think I will have my back x-rayed this week.
My father and I took Jerry to the hospital in Somerset, Ky., today and it was foggy all the way there & back. Billie’s girlfriend is coming up this weekend. I think they are going to get married the first chance that comes along.
From all I can find out I think that Judy & I are like you and Gary.
Of course I don’t know but I think we both would have liked to date them before we broke up. I like Judy and I am sure you like Gary but there is just something there that always puts you first and until I can get that out I still will like you very much. Everything I said Wed. night was the truth but I don’t think I will cut my throat because you don’t feel the same.
I just wonder if people ever know what they really want. I don’t know what I want to do or what I want to do with the rest of my life. I do think I am going to get a little more out of my college life from now on and stop being an athlete masquerading (I can’t spell). If you know what I mean.
Better close. In closing I would like to say EXPERIENCE is the BEST TEACHER.
Love, Jack