The View From Providence

[Editor's note: Jim's envelope for this letter has the stamp turned upside down.]

March 1, 1954

Providence, R.I.

View aft across the flight deck of the U.S. Navy anti-submarine carrier USS Valley Forge
(CVS-45), during exercise "Tarmac" in 1954. 

Hello Sweetheart,

Nothing new here. What's new with you?

I hope your thumb is O.K. by now, but you have got to learn to keep it out of strange places. HA  Seriously, I hope it isn't mashed up very bad.

I was over in town today. It's like all the other seaport towns and I I don't care too much for what I've seen. Although it is better than Norfolk, Va., but what isn't.

Honey, each month I get two copies of "Daily Meditations For Busy People" from the church. One is addressed to "Jim Parker" and the other to "James Parker." The only thing I can figure is that two different people must be sending them and neither knows what the other is doing. So, how about you squaring them away on the subject, O.K.? I would appreciate it.

So, Polly and Jack when to Tennessee, eh? I didn't know anything about it. Also, I'm very glad to hear Danny doesn't have rheumatic fever, but just what has the kid got?

We get underway tomorrow for Norfolk, but we have 28 planes aboard, so we will have something to do besides "dilly dally" around. Then, we go to Cuba. I'll be glad when that run is over. (Cuba, I mean.)

Doll, I may as well sign off. I can't think of anything else to write. Say hello to everybody for me and answer soon.

All my love, 

Jim

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Five Months Later

[Editor's note: After months of consistently placing the stamp for each letter upside down, signaling "I love you," the stamp on the envelope for this letter is right side up.  In all of the previous letters, Jim's handwriting has been consistently difficult to decipher. However, in this letter it is clear with well defined margins and precise lines on unruled stationery.]

February 14, 1954

Norfolk, Va.

Jim's family photographed by Norma in Patton Park, Detroit, September, '53
while Jim was home on leave. Front row, from left John Wyly Parker, Bertha
Sterling Parker, Larry Ray Parker. Second row from left: John Moses Parker,
Walter Wayne Parker, Polly Ann Parker Sparks, James Connie Parker, JoAnn Parker Oxford

Hi Norma,

This may come as a surprise to you, then maybe it won't be a surprise at all. I don't know how to say what I want to. It's like you said, if we could only see each other for just a little while, but that's pretty near impossible, I guess.

It wouldn't have been last week. I was home for 4 days but I didn't have the time or money to come to Detroit. I thought of calling and asking you if you could come down here for the weekend but I decided against it. I guess I was a little too ashamed to do a thing like that.

You were right, "honey," I guess we still love each other. At least I can speak for myself. I can't apologize for the last letter I wrote*. I wouldn't know how. I'll just say I'm sorry if it hurt you, but I doubt if it hurt you as much as it has me. 

Norma, if you think I deserve an answer, please write right away. If you don't, I have no one to blame but myself.

All my love,

Jim

*Norma may not have saved the letter that Jim refers to as "the last." The last letter in the collection is #136 and is hardly controversial. 

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How Much Is That Doggie In The Window

June 27, 1953

San Diego

Sheet music cover for Patti Page's big hit
ca. 1952

Hi Doll,

Boy, has this been a long day. I have liberty, but I don't care to go ashore. This town seems to be worse each time we pull in.

I was over for a little while yesterday, but I came back early. The place was too dead even for an old "dead beat" like me. HA 

By now you are home from "Cinci" and I hope your uncle is better. 

I tried to call you this afternoon. I wanted to surprise you, but it didn't work out so well. It was my fault. I should have told you I was calling. I'll call again if you will send your phone number. I had a hard time getting through without it.

I was listening to a couple of married "swabs" talking about their troubles the first few months they were married. It doesn't make very good copy, but it is good listening. HA 

One of them said he was married four days before his wife would go to bed with him. I think if that happened to me, I would be beating my head against the wall.

I sure am sweating out the time until I go on leave. I wish we were at sea, time seems to go faster out there. 

Just think, when my leave is up, I'll only have 14 months to pull. I'll sure be glad when it's over. I called my sister in Detroit yesterday. It sure was good to hear her again. She talks with more of a southern drawl than your mother. But you better not tell your mom I said that. HA 

If I'm not mistaken, today is supposed to be Norton L___'s wedding day. Did it come off alright? The wedding, I mean.

Jim's stationery for this letter

I'm just like that sailor at the top of the page. I can't think of anything, either. And speaking of page, I heard Patti Page sing "Doggie In The Window" and is it pretty. I can't get enough of it.

[Editor's Note: That's a fact. I heard "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" sung by Jim from the time time I was a child until the day I went to college.] 

At first, I thought you took a train to Cinci, but I was re-reading a letter and it seems that you were trying to park on a hill, so I guess you drove down.

I may as well sign off. I can't seem to think of anything more.

Answer soon.

I love you,

Jim

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