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Letter from Anne Eesley to Terrie, 18 March 1971 — teaching, dating, and plans for Spain
A typed two-page letter from Anne Eesley — Charlie's sister — to Terrie Lee Wildermuth, dated 18 March 1971, while Charlie was in the rear-area stretch of his Vietnam tour. Anne thanks Terrie for a birthday book and card; notes the family has had a few letters from Charlie lately and she is glad he's 'in a safe (or comparatively safe) place,' his last letter typewritten and 'not bad either.' She describes her teaching year (St. Patrick's Day parties, her students doing better on tests), that she is dating Chris Cortez, a Marietta College senior doing his Spanish student-teaching, and that she drives sixty miles a day in Charlie's car. She reports that 'Margie' has left for DePauw University, that she hopes to reclaim her old job in Madison, and that after her Master's from Wisconsin she plans to spend 1972 in Spain — a country she loved during seven weeks there in 1966. One of the family-to-Terrie letters (with Peggy's 10 February 1971 letter) showing how thoroughly the Eesleys had folded Terrie in while Charlie was away.
What the letter is
18 March 1971. A warm, newsy letter from Anne Eesley — Charlie’s sister — to Terrie, written from Ohio while Charlie was in the rear-area stretch of his Vietnam tour. It is not about the war; it is about the ordinary life going on at home around it — a teaching year, a new boyfriend, graduate-school plans — with Charlie’s safety noted once, gratefully, in the second paragraph and then set aside.
Transcription
March 18, 1971
Dear Terrie,
It was so good to hear from you the other day. Thank you so much for the cute little book and card. I really appreciate them. I had a wonderful birthday.
We’ve received a few letters from Charlie lately, and I certainly am glad he’s in a safe (or comparatively safe) place. His typing must be becoming fairly proficient nowadays; his last letter was typewritten and it wasn’t bad either! We miss him, as I’m sure you do too.
Teaching is going along just as usual. Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day and we had several parties. Everyone was pretty good about bringing stuff. First we went through the lesson, then we had the parties. They seem to understand my tests a little better now. There aren’t so many low grades, which makes me feel a whole lot better.
About the only exciting thing that’s happening to me right now is that I’m dating. His name is Chris Cortez and he’s very good-looking. He’s a senior at Marietta College and is doing his student teaching at a nearby school in Spanish. He has the same critic teacher I had when I did my student teaching. We both have the same opinion of her—not good.
The weather here has been just great. Except for the fact that it has been a little cool these past few days, it’s been sunny and delightful. We were able to wash Charlie’s car out in the driveway last week-end. It’s really a good car—I don’t know what I’d do without it. I drive 60 miles a day (counting
[page 2:] both ways), which is quite a haul.
Margie left for De Paw University last week and seems to be enjoying herself immensely. She’s visiting a friend from high school and will stay until Friday. She had originally planned to stay only until Tuesday, but obviously is having such a good time that she decided to stay on the extra time.
Occasionally I hear from Madison. About a month ago I wrote to one of my former bosses and asked for my old job back. He couldn’t give me any definite word, but I know that my position hasn’t been filled yet and even though there is a “freeze” on, I still have hope that I can reclaim it. It will be such fun to be back in Madison again. I really miss it.
After I receive my Master’s Degree from Wisconsin I plan to go to Spain to spend the year. (1972) I’ve already written to my future hostess and she wrote back (in Spanish) that she would be happy to have me live with her. Recently I’ve applied to be a counselor with a youth group in Spain for this coming summer. I don’t know whether or not I’ll be accepted yet. I enjoyed Spain the 7 weeks I was there in 1966 that I can hardly wait to return.
Well, it’s getting late and I must bring this letter to a close. Write and let me know what’s happening to you.
Love, Anne
What the letter records
Charlie, from the family’s side. Most of the Vietnam correspondence is Charlie’s own voice; this is one of the few windows onto how the news landed at home. The relief is measured — “a safe (or comparatively safe) place” — and the proof is small and domestic: his letters are typed now, and they’re getting better at it.
Anne herself. The letter is the fullest first-person portrait of Anne in the archive: a young teacher driving sixty miles a day in her brother’s car, dating a Marietta College senior, finishing a Master’s at Wisconsin, and already planning a year in Spain for 1972 on the strength of seven weeks there in 1966. It records her as she was in the spring of 1971, in her own words.
“Margie” at DePauw. Anne mentions a Margie leaving for DePauw University. If this is her younger sister Margaret — Maggie Eesley, then college-age — it would place her at DePauw in the spring of 1971; the identification is likely but not certain and is worth confirming with the family.
Scans
