October 27th, 1952 — Joyce writes to Earl from Denver on a Monday afternoon that started slow and academic. She skips class, contemplates the mountain of assignments ahead — from evolution tests to children’s play evaluations — and trades bathroom facilities after a silverfish invasion. Between coffee dates with friends and light dorm gossip, Joyce’s mind drifts constantly to Earl in Boulder.
She shares a rediscovered list of 18 heartfelt reasons she loves him, reflecting on how she once believed such love wasn’t possible until she met him. The letter blends the practical (studying, dorm life, friends’ engagements) with the deeply romantic, as Joyce affirms that no one she’s ever known could match what she’s found with Earl. The tone is affectionate, candid, and sprinkled with humor, from teasing nicknames to taffy-chewing clarifications.
It’s a glimpse into young love in the early 1950s — handwritten in between exams, social obligations, and the ever-present hum of campus life.
