Transcription of Document FFDoc-1012.pdf

The last couple of weeks have been rather of the merry-go-round type, but the most fretful part is over.  What with exams and my 130 papers to correct in a hurry, besides those from the Seminary, I was straight out for a few days. Since last Tuesday, I haven't had any actual school work, but little odds and ends have kept me from settling down.

One of these was an invitation fromthe Pastor at Saint Jean's to speak at the graduation. That meant quite a few hours of preparation.  Monsignor limits me to10-12 minutes, for both French and English, and that is hard for a professor - to be cut off before he can warm up. I've had to write the talks, and prune and prune. I have not yet finished, but I'm taking a break to write to you. I'm leaving by plane tonight to go home and expect to remain there for some time. At any rate, I will have to be here for the 3rd week of June for my retreat.

Another interruption which came my way was in the form of an announcement that I would have to clear out my room before leaving; and that meant packing everything and moving to another building on the campus. This took me all morning and I am now in my new place, but hardly settled.

As for my job this summer, it looks so far as though I shall be free as a breeze, in the sense that I will have no classes. But I have to be around for Sunday work, and I will have to do some writing in preparing a text for my theology course. We have no book suitable for the purpose of teaching in a college course, and we've been struggling along on a makeshift setup. But I do hope to get some time off to see you.

I understand some about feeling that Ma is nearer. When I go by her picture on my dresser, I catch myself saying hello, Ma. I feel too that we can have no doubts about praying to her; she certainly was a martyr of patience, and a genuine saint.

As far as Pa is concerned, I suppose you, as a woman, will never be able to understand men. I myself have sometimes admired how some people readily indulge in small talk, a very important and helpful social grace, but which I and many others lack. Between Ma and Pa there was something of that situation, and I think it was partly responsible for the Situation you describe. In any case, it cannot be remedied now, and nothing will be gained by stewing. Now that you too are away from home, it will be a tremendous change for me. And matters will be further complicated by the fact that I cannot eat at Edna's because of the set-up there. I spoke to Edna about it before I left: I thought it best not to wait until this trip; she was quite put out at first, though she kept it well under control, but she will have had time to get over it before I get home. I would like to do some traveling this time, but I don't know what to do for transportation. I wonder if Bob couldn't do something for me.

I see by the weather that we've been having that you can have no complaints about the heat in Schenec. It made it easier for me in class also.

As far as Masses for Ma, I still have quite a few. I'll see you about it later. Regards to Frank & Joe

Leo