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Ring Circus |
75 Francis st
Brookline 45 Mass
Bernadette,
Thank you for your wishes. Receive ours for 1960. We hope that the New Year will bring health and work, as well as a bit of peace in your life.
It is true that I have not written in a while, but in one of your letters of November, you said that Catherine would write me a few lines. I therefore decided to wait before writing, and then time flew by. I had three installations during December. Twice I went alone and on the third, on December 29, 30 and 31, 1959, I went with Dorothy. Thus, on New Year's Eve we were in Times Square with the screaming crowd, just like you see on TV. Apparently, it is something you must do once in your lifetime, but no more. My third installation was in Brooklyn, right across from New York, which explains why we were there. Dorothy has resigned and is not working anymore; she simply wants to spend more time at home, that's all.
Now for the accounts. I will send 100$ in one mailing, which is simpler for everyone. Nov 19 and Dec 3 (100$) were sent together and you certainly have cashed that one. Dec 14 and 31 were sent together (on Jan 4 1960, as I was not there on Dec 31 - installation) and I have since received notification from Irving Trust (Jan 7) that 100 $ were deposited in Lu's account. Today, Jan 14, I have 50 which I will keep until Jan 28 when I will send 100$ to Lu's account.
I would like you to tell me whether I should go on sending the funds to Lu's account. Because I really do not know what your plans are. I recently read that a 'new' Franc was issued, worth 100 times the previous one. I hope this does not complicate our accounting.
I am not surprised that the small keyboard is off key. I recall one year that I went into Boston to try them out. None was well tuned. In addition, with only one octave, a child cannot learn much.
I am pleased to learn that Catherine is doing better at school. I assume she does not yet know how to write, as I have not received anything from her. Maybe she has forgotten me by now, and that may be a good thing for the time being. Dorothy noted that Catherine was a magpie, then again, many children do talk a lot. Why do you tell me that she spends her breaks running around in circles in the yard? Does she not play?
According to your letter, you are thinking of coming back in September, or even earlier. Is your visa still valid? Moreover, what would become of Catherine if you left before the end of the school year? Would you rely on someone, or leave her in boarding school?
I received, at about the same time as your letter, a letter from my mother. By coincidence (?), she raised the same topic. I just ask that you not mention anything about this to her if ever you should talk to her.
She asked me if I ever thought of having Cathy stay with her so that she could finish her upbringing. I asked myself whether this was what you were thinking of when you said that Catherine would finish her school year in France [a note in margin in my mother's handwriting: No].
As far as I am concerned, I do not think that it is a good idea (unless it is really what you wish). Cath is much better off with you, her mother, than with her grand-mother; being American, she can easily come to the US one day. One must admit life is easier in America [a note in margin in my mother's handwriting: No], notwithstanding the different lifestyles. I would like to know what you think. It is useless talking about any of this to my mother; keep those thoughts for me. I will write to her saying I believe it is better if she stays with you, or even comes to the US.
I do not think we will come to France next summer. Thank you anyway for your offer of keeping the apartment for us, but it will not be necessary.
Tell Catherine that I congratulate her for her good work.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Armand