Even Tijuana Is Dead Boring

July 3, 1953

San Diego

Postcard for Tijuana, unknown date

Hi Sweet Thing,

What's cooking at home? You have probably guessed by now that I'm no mood to write. I just can't seem to do anything today.

A couple of us went to Tijuana last night but things were dead there. We were back aboard by midnight. 

We have been working on the ship taking platforms and overhangs off the side of it to be able to get her through the locks of the Panama Canal. 

I heard today that it (the ship) is going into dry dock for a complete re-conversion. If so, it won't be out for two years. I suppose all of us will go to other carriers.

So, Pinnegar is out and driving a new car already, eh? By the time I get home, all of the guys will be out.  Oh, yes, tell Pinnegar "hello." 

Darling, the picture is wonderful. I'm so really proud of it. But, I hadn't forgotten what you look like. I know you'll be the same cute little doll you were when I saw you last. 

Yes, baby!! If you were on the beach, they couldn't keep me aboard. In fact, I might quit playing ball to be with you more. And, honey, for me that would be a sacrifice. HA 

Look, gal, don't have that hair cut too short or I'll get you a wig. And I'm not fooling.

Well, I may as well shut up.

So, answer soon.

All my love,

Jim 

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Are You Teasing Me

Michigan Bell Lobby, Detroit

November 2, 1952

San Diego, Calif.

Hi Norma,

I've had two letters from you since I've written to you, but when we hit port for just two days, I usually hit the beach.

It's late now. I've just returned from town. I quit drinking long enough to see "Ivanhoe." It's a good movie. If you get the chance, be sure to see it.

[Editor's note: "Ivanhoe," the novel by Sir Walter Scott, was one of Jim's favorites. Click on this link to access the ebook free from Project Gutenberg.]

Of course you are included in the "dearest girls." In fact, as far as I'm concerned, you are one of the better girls.

"Yes," I remember "are you teasing me" and it brings back the most pleasant memories.

I wish I were with you tonight. I would whisper in your ear and tell you how cute you are.

You had better stay out of those prisons. You might get raped. HA Which reminds me of a joke. Quote: "A girl stack of wheat went to bed with a boy stack of wheat. When she awoke, she found she was 'bread' and shouted, 'Ye Gods! I've been reaped!'" 

Do I consider you a woman?!! Gal! You're all woman from your shapely little toes to your cute blonde head. If you were any more woman, I don't think any man could keep you happy.

I'm like you, I hate to see winter coming. I know how cold it gets overseas.

Congratulations on your promotion. If you keep going, pretty soon you may be president of of M.B.T. [Michigan Bell Telephone]. 

"No," I fooled you. I haven't been to T. town [Tijuna] lately. I don't think I'll go anymore after we leave the States. And another thing, "honey," if I were home I would be having much more fun taking you out. There are no girls on the west coast who can take your place with me.

From now on, don't mention my middle name. I don't like it. I don't know why they had to hang it on me anyway.

[Editor's note: This is news to me. Norma used both their middle names to configure my name and I always hated it, too.]

I heard Cy A____ was out. I'm glad he has done his part. Now I suppose it's time for us to do ours. I don't know anything about their plans, if they have any.

[Editor's note: It seems that Dorothy, Jim's old girlfriend from the beginning of his correspondence with Norma, was seeing Cy. They eventually married.]

Hasn't Dot D_____ gotten married yet? "Damn," that gal has been chasing men since I can remember.

We leave for "Gook" Country the 20th of November, which is only 18 days away and I'll be glad to get away from this place when we go. In fact, I want to get over there and get this "damn" thing over with. 

Well, honey, I've got to sign off. 

Answer real soon.

Love, 

Jim 

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Midnight

October 19, 1952

San Diego, Calif.

"Midnight" sheet music, ca. 1951

Hi Norm,

Here I am again. I didn't have any stamps and couldn't get any until yesterday.

"Nuttin'" new here, I went to Tijuana yesterday. But I didn't even have a beer. I went down with a buddy of mine who went to buy his wife a birthday present.

He just got married two or three weeks ago. 

He is the one I used to pull my wild liberties with, but the guy really has reformed since he married. If that's what married life does to a guy, I'm more afraid of it than ever. HA  An old, hard drinking guy like him suddenly stops drinking and chasing around with bad women. HA 

But I don't blame him. If I were married I would stay off the stuff myself.

You know, after being home and seeing decent girls, the things out here sure are disgusting, but they looked pretty good after an 8 month stay in Japan.

"No," we never get any mail when we're at sea except when we're overseas.

Honey, if I were there I would get you "warm," also myself. We might even go to bed?

So, them "damn" Red Wings started off bad already, "huh." "Oh, well," they will do better.

I've been hearing about the record "Back Street Affair." I've never heard it yet. 

"No," I haven't the one by Red Foley, either. [Editor's Note: It seems that Red Foley's hit, "Midnight," is the most likely song since it was released at about the same time as "Back Street Affair" and replaced it on the Top Ten Chart.]

"Yes," I'm gonna vote. My absentee ballot should be here any day now. Don't worry about not being able to vote. You're probably better off.

[Editor's note: For years, Jim and Norma had a running joke that their votes cancelled each other out and it was important that they both vote to maintain the balance. He was a loyal member of the Democratic Party; she never voted anything but Republican.]

My bowling average used to be 160. I don't know what it is now. I went last night and shot a 168 and a 194. 

Well, Norm, it's chow time, so I've gotta close.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Kiss, Cuddle Up, Then Kiss Some More

September 28, 1952

San Diego, Calif.

Dancer in Nightclub, Tijuna, Mexico, ca. 1962,
photographed by Robert Doisneau

Hi Norma,

How's my elbow-bending baby? I'm O.K. We just got in from a week of very hectic training operations. We were qualifying some "green" jet pilots and, believe me, those guys are dangerous.

They were piling them up one after the other all week. Another week like this and I'll be beating my head against the wall. 

Speaking of cool weather, it has gotten quite a bit cooler here. I never thought I would see anything but heat in San Diego. 

"Gal," let me tell you, I was "looped" that night my buddy got discharged. "I ain't never been so drunk."

I like to drink some, but it will be a long time before I get that "high" again.

You would like Tijuana. You know something about Monroe Street in Chicago, I guess. Well, T-town is like that all over, all night spots.

Their burlesque shows aren't very artistic, but they don't leave much to imagination. They get old after awhile and the girls you find there are the same way. Well, to be truthful about it, I like a little more peaceful atmosphere. I'm a little tired of dodging beer bottles. 

But it's the only place to go around here except "Dogo" and there you've got to have quite a bit of money to have any fun. And no sailor is very well "heeled." 

That wedding sounds like it was a pretty gay affair. I would have liked to have gone to that with you. We cold have gotten "silly" together. If I'm right, you will be twenty-one the next time I'm home, so we'll work things out. 

[Editor's note: In 1952, the age of majority in Michigan was 21.  I'll leave the rest to your imagination.]

That "Singapore Sling" sounds like a pretty potent drink. I think I could use one right now. 

Tell me, Norm, how do you get in those places under age? Out here, they check everybody (girls, especially) when they enter the door. And they used to check me most of the time I was in Detroit. 

You had better be careful with that Ford or you might get hurt and we wouldn't want that to happen. 

The card you sent was real nice, honey, and it expresses my feelings right now. I would like to be there with you. We would kiss, cuddle up, then kiss some more. 

Well, gal, I've got to sign off. So, over and out.

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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Don't Wait Up, Mama

September 16, 1952

San Diego, Calif.

Michigan Central Station, in Detroit,
where Jim would have caught a train heading West

Hi Norma,

How's the kid?

I intended to write sooner, but as soon as I got back, we went out to sea for a week and as soon as we came back in, I transferred me to an atomic defense school. It only lasts one week, so I'll be back on the ship next Saturday.

It is real interesting. I would like to attend it for a couple of months. 

The next time I come home, I'll tell you all about the atom bomb. HA 

I was really tired from the train ride back, but I've almost recuperated now. And almost recuperated from those "heatings" you gave me, too.

Did your father come through his operation, O.K? I hope so.

[Editor's note: Norma's father, Clyde Cornett, had been diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent a successful colostomy, something that was rare when he had the surgery in 1952.] 

Last Thursday, we had a plane "pile up" and a real bad fire. One guy in my division was burned pretty bad getting the pilot out. They say he will be in the hospital from six to eight months. The pilot wasn't hurt very bad, just second degree burns on his face, but our boy had third degree burns from the waist down. The flesh was burned away and hanging loose from him body.

One of my buddies gets discharged tomorrow and we are going out to celebrate. So, "don't wait up, mama. I may be kinda late coming home." HA

Last Sunday, I went to my buddy's house for dinner. Afterwards, we wanted to go to Tijuana to see the bullfights, but his "old lady" wouldn't let us, so we wound up taking her bowling. 

That's married life for you. Not for me, I'm too young and inexperienced. 

Well, I've got to close. 

Answer soon.

Love, 

Jim

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