California

11 January 1980

Dearest Pasha and Ribs,

Mon dieu: I've been waiting for what seems like years now for word from you. You promised to send me your new address … eh? Anyhow, I called Charles Larson the other day, and he said to try this address, so here goes. I do hope that you receive this. If not, it has been an exercise in typing: You have been on my mind ever since you bade farewell to these western shores, and if winds can speak, you have heard my thoughts. So much news. I don't know where to start. First off, I am still at Chico State teaching more and more Freshman composition, as is everyone. Are we really raising a generation of illiterates? Anyhow, don't ask me how I like it, ‘cuz I don't particularly. Once in a while, I get to teach a graduate course in Comp. Lit., or in African lit, and that suits me just fine. Palmer and I had a little boy in September of 1978 … adorable, I might add. His name is John Edward, and he's literally ‘all over the place’. Imagine me chasing a little one around the house: I shall send a picture if I hear from you so I know that this is the right address. I saw Anne Fuller last summer; she is still ‘deaning’ at Scripps, but has resigned effective June 1980. We spent an evening reminiscing, and, of course, you shared most of our conversation. She sends her love. I haven't talked with anyone else from Denver recently. I think Boklund is chairman now; and Chambers is editing the Denver Quarterly and, from my point of view, is doing a fine job of it. I know that Jerry had a Guggenheim fellowship and spent some time in England researching materials for a biography on Burke, but that's about it. Oh, unless, that is, you remember Mike Holland. I also saw him last summer at a meeting, and he is still teaching at Fullerton. Looks o.k., but was drinking a bit too much at the time. Anyhow, he, too, sends love.