[Letterhead:]

Faculty Club

university of california

Tuesday, 10 AM

My darling little wife (and child):

Well, have you decided when you'll come up here? Why not come Friday night, or at any rate Saturday? We could have a good time over the week-end. I'll look for you then. The weather has been nice here, and I think you'll enjoy yourself. I'll try to make you glad you've come. I'm afraid little Linda will think someone is poking her with iron bar, however, unless you feel you have to protect her by doing what you did in San Diego.

I am not getting any work done at all. I waste all of my time, for I don't feel settled enough without you to put my mind on my work. Last night I tried to work, and found after two hours that I had written one page, and thought about

[page 2:]

you for 1 hour 53 minutes. I have a perpetual feeling of disquiet and unrest, a feeling that something is lacking, which prevents my concentrating on anything. Already I know less than in Pasadena, having made no progress and forgotten some things.

I prepared my lecture yesterday, taking most of the day to do about an hour's work, as usual now. Then I delivered the lecture, and then took Rich and Portia to dinner. They then had to go to the blind school to read, so I came home, and tried to work, as described above.

Please come as soon as you can, darling sweetheart. I love you with all my heart.

Your own

Linus

[Letterhead:]

Faculty Club

university of california

Tuesday, 5 ³⁰ PM

Dearest Ava Helen:

Your letter has just come. I am lonesome for you, and I don't like getting in my hard bed, with no one to snuggle up to, and so I stay up late every night. I'd like to see Linus and Peter too, but most I want you. It will be nice when you come at the end of next week (or perhaps sooner?). Wasn't it unfortunate that I didn't have my pictures of you? Please bring them when you come. There is nothing in my room to enliven it.

Last night after dinner at the club I went to Lawrence's room with him to listen to some Bach and Saint-Saëns records on his phonograph, which is just like ours. He paid $108 for it at Macy's, with freight bringing the cost to $140. He showed me

[page 2:]

pictures of his girl, who looks like a stick, about 30. I had a hard time saying anything about them. Then we went to physics research conference and then to his laboratory, with his 85 ton magnet in it. He has a big old building just for his work, and is getting along wonderfully. Then I worked a little and went to bed. This morning I went to town + bought for $12½ a sterling silver dish for Rich, bargaining a little with the jeweler. At 11 AM I went to Simon's demonstration lecture. He prepared solid hydrogen, at 14° above the absolute zero. It looked like sugar crystals in the clear watery liquid hydrogen.

[page 3:]

This afternoon the students had a holiday, holding a circus parade, and a circus in a big tent. I went to the lab. + talked with Spedding about his work, and then to the Chem. seminar, which is just now ended. Tonight I expect to go to the circus, although I really should visit Rich + his frau.

With loads of love from your own

Linus.