- Date: Tuesday, 28 December 1937, 5:30
- Written at: Dodie’s home, Washington, D.C.
- Stationery: Ruled notebook paper
- From: Joseph “Joe” Sharmer
- To: Miss Ruby E. Wilson, Planada, Calif.
- Condition: Complete — 2 pages and envelope
Each page of the original is shown beside its transcription. Click a page to enlarge it.
ENVELOPE
Via Air Mail
Miss Ruby E. Wilson
Planada, Calif
Merced, County
Postmarked Washington, D.C., 10 P.M., December 28, 1937.
PAGE 1
M.L. Tuesday — 530
Ruby Dear—
Well I am very happy for you that the Xmas Rush is over and I hope you didnt have to work to hard Dear. I have neglected you shamefully since I came here but I know you will understand.
There has not been a single day pass that we haven’t mentioned you and just now Dode said to tell you quote “She is sorry you are not here because she liked you very much because I love you so and you are so good & kind to me.” When I tell her the things you do for me she crys because you know I am still a baby in their eyes.
You are my Sweetheart and I do love you so much Dear — I am lonesome & am counting the days until I get back I dreamed of you again last night & God Honey I awoke and had the nicest visit with you for about an hour before I went back to sleep — How I am going to love you when I get back. It is going to be to bad for you Lover —
PAGE 2
I am going to Baltimore tomorrow & then back here and I’ll be at the Taft Hotel New York City Monday — Please write me there Dear as I’ll be looking forward to a letter from you.
We are spending a quiet evening at home tonight and it is almost time for Clair to arrive — I’ll write more when I get on the road again — Hope you had a nice Xmas but didn’t have to work to hard — Some friends of Dodes just came in — More later —
All my Love to you Dear
Joe
Notes & context
Dating. Joe headed the letter “Tuesday — 5:30.” The envelope is postmarked Washington, D.C., at 10 P.M. on 28 December 1937, which was a Tuesday.
“I have neglected you shamefully.” Christmas week at Dodie’s left little time for writing. A few days later, from the Taft, he apologised that Ruby “had to wait a week for news” (Your Special, Mailed New Year’s Eve).
Dode. His name here for his sister Dodie, who sends Ruby a message in her own words. “I am still a baby in their eyes”: Joe was the youngest, the only boy after three sisters (Dodie and Her Little Brother).
Clair is Dodie’s husband, Clair Van Slyke, coming home for the evening.
“The Xmas Rush.” Ruby was the postmaster at Planada, so the weeks before Christmas were her busiest of the year (The Postmaster of Planada).
The plan. Baltimore on Wednesday, where his niece Gretchen had just married Jim Welsh, then back to Washington and on to the Taft in New York by Monday, 3 January. He got there sooner: his Hotel Taft envelope, Room 1446, is postmarked New York on 30 December, and by Sunday, 2 January, he was writing from there (Burn Them Up).
“M.L.” Written at the top of the page, as on his envelopes, most likely for My Lover.
