Wednesday, May 2, 1951

May 2, 1951

411 Bonnie Dr.

El Cerrito, Calif.

Dear Brothers & Sisters —

I should learn to keep my big mouth shut I guess. Last round robin I related the beautiful weather we were enjoying here, far from the cold & snow. Since that time we have been plagued here by cool cloudy damp weather. It hasn’t rained much to speak of altho the last week or so it has started in, so out climatological discomfort has not done the farmers much good. I’m hoping we get a good rainy spell — then it may clear up for a change.

Life at Shell Development continues its usual pace. Every morning — every week-day morning that is — I rise with alacrity at 6 am and am off in my shiny satin-green automobile at 7:30 ± 5 or 10 minutes. At the corner I stop to get a morning paper and a couple of blocks further on I pick up my rider. Then on to San Pablo where fenders clash, bumpers scrape, brakes squeal & all & sundry have a merry old time jockeying the other fellow out of position. After 15 minutes of this the relative quiet of 45th St is reached & then it’s only a minute or so to the parking lot. This strip of road is resourceful tho as a trouble breeder despite its innocuous appearance. Full of chuck holes, double-parked cars and barely wide enough for 2 lanes of traffic (both sides are lined with parked cars) it calls for iron nerve, a quick eye — and keep your hand on that horn!

Having reached 3039 in the office building at 8:05 approximately I spread out the paper on the desk & do my morning reading of the SF Chronicle. Naturally I start at the back, feeling that the comics etc are more important than national affairs. First to be perused however is the want ad section on country real estate. This done (& my agricultural ambitions satisfied for the day), a turn of the page brings the sports page& tales of the SF Seals, firmly ensconced in the PCL cellar (they started out the season with 13 stee-raight losses). Then a quick glance at the financial & editorial pages and on to the comics where I read “Dick Tracy,” “Terry & the Pirates,” “Gordo,” “King Aroo” and Joe Palooka” if he isn’t engaged in a periodic fight like he is now. Right now the center of attraction is Dick Tracy who is shooting it out with “Empty” whilst his wife is being hurried to the hospital for you-guess-what.

This finishes the back section of the paper so remaining is the bridge column, the movie section, “Grin & Bear It” and if any time remains, the front page. However this is old stuff since I’ve heard it on the news already before leaving home. So with a sigh, I fold the paper, carefully survey the scene outside for items of interest calling for my attention and at last tearing myself away from the congestion in front of the Calif package making company (I will discuss this in detail next time) begin my daily labor. This too I will cover in future letters.

Right now I am patting myself on the back (figuratively) since it is only a couple of hours since I got the r.r. [round robin letter] & here I am answering it. The reason for this is that I am very high-,inded about letter writing & I realize it takes a long time for a letter to travel betwene here & Iowa (which reminds me of a story that I must tell you also). All for now.

With love

C.P.