Tuesday, July 13, 1954

Tuesday evening July 13

PGS 132 The Hague

Dear Father & Mother —

When next I write to you I shall be at least in New York and perhaps in California again. Everything appears to be all set for my departure and its more just a matter of waiting for the time to pass than anything else. Today I got my ticket back from the Hague where it had been sent to have the reservations made. I will be leaving here Thursday evening — the plane leave Schiphol airfield at 9:45 pm and I will be in NY the next morning at 10:45 — the elapsed will be 17 hours tho because of the time changes. I have about a 12 hour layover in NY so I will get to Calif Saturday morning (almost in time for a late breakfast). I do certainly look forward to getting back, but don’t particularly relish the traveling connected with it.

Today started out as a cloudy, misty and really chilly day, much like yesterday; however late in the afternoon it cleared off and this evening it is quite clear & still so it may be that my last couple of days in Holland will be nice ones. Yesterday and today I have spent summarizing the work accomplished the past two months, partly to leave after me here when I leave and to show at Emeryville when I get back so that I will appear to have accomplished something here.

Yesterday evening I had dinner with Broeze, Hinge and Yap. Broeze is the head of the Delft lab whom I had met but had spent little time talking to. Hinge & Yap of course I know quite well by this time. Before dinner we had a discussion of the work done here which was a little trying since I still had fears that something would come up at the last moment to delay my departure. However nothing did and I see only clear sailing ahead now. I even received a book on Holland from the Delft lab, signed by B, H & Y thanking me for my valuable assistance. This actually was a kindly gesture I thought & it leaves me with a more charitable attitude toward Holland than I have had for sometime.

Today was a poor day for mail (nothing came) but that could be expected since yesterday was a banner day with 4 letters. About a week or so ago Jean sent me the enclosed clipping which Verner had forgotten when they visited in El Cerrito. I’ll send it back to you since I guess it belongs either to Verner or to you.

This evening so far I had had supper — not too good tonite and after I’ve finished this I’ll start in on the packing & not leave all of it for tomorrow nite. However I think I shall go to bed fairly early tonite. Last nite it was late & I didn’t sleep too well after the big, late meal ending with black Dutch coffee; today I really worked hard so I’m rather tired tonite.

This will be all for now. USA here I come,

With love

C.P.