Luke Walcher October 31, 2016

Luke Walcher

Thomas,

It has been an absolute pleasure working along side of you (quite literally) these past few months.  Even though I'm sure there was an internal scoff or eye-roll when you discovered they would be placing an intern next to you, I'm glad that's how it turned out.  I'm definitely going to miss our (not so early for you) morning chats and discussions about food, travel, office politics, and the culture.  I still have quite the to-do list thanks to you.

I really appreciate all your support and advice.  You've been a truly inspiring person to meet, and you definitely made it seem as if I didn't have to stay at arm's length around the office.  Now even though I'm off galavanting to Apple, I want to keep in touch.

So this isn't a goodbye, it's just a Happy Halloween and see you soon.

All the Best,

-Luke

Nice young man brought into DOT by Joel Clark.  Since then I have learned he is very fastidious and a thorough note take, which prompted me to talk to Rob about having Luke house sit while we are away.  Having Luke meet our other friends last night has made us feel like we made a good decision. Hopefully, all will go well at the end of the month when I'm in Seattle for a conference and Rob is at the cabin. If so, then we'll ask him to do it again when we're off to Disney World in October.

From Gale Berndt, July 31, 2017

Forget Me Not, by American Greetings

Inside caption:  For right now and all the days ahead - wishing you strength and peace.

Tom,

So very sorry for the loss of your mother Mary. I've lots of fond memories of your mom and dad as they traveled a few times up to Golden B.C., and the splendid hospitality when I visited in Sequim and Palo Alto.  Hope this finds you: Only have your mother[']s address.

All the best.  Hope you are well. Still [a] landscape architect?  Did you then work for the city[?] (Sorry the memory is lame).

Love, your cousin Gale
phone and email

Olga is well, but her eyesight is gone.  Luckily, she's never had any major health problems.  She''ll be 99 this November 2017.  Dianne and I take turns caring for her in her home.

She likes to sing.  She's a little forgetful at times, but often shares old memories.

Change from black to blue ink:

Thanks for X-mas card as now I have your address.

Dianne is with mom now.  I'm making a trip to B.C. and back for winter.

Home phone is ###

Home you are well
Have a happy day

Side margin notes: Where is Cynthia?  Tracy?  Hello to her.
Our father Alfred passed June 2016, I feel for your sorrows.  Time often stands still.

I might have met Gale, but I certainly am not remembering.  I have heard Mom's phone calls with Olga, and they are often riotous, with Olga exciting Mom with tales of shooting crows and squirrels in the yard.  Very boisterous!

Gale paints beautiful landscapes usually themed around snow capped mountains.  I have a couple she gave to Mom: a rock and a panel.

Unknown Month, 2006

H. Armstrong Roberts, Stock Market

Caption: I believe in you.

I wish be of more comfort for you two.  Bijou had a wonderful, loving home.  Her life was a very happy one before her illness.

She is in my thoughts, and I know she found lots of friends - maybe even Dad where she is now.

Love to you,

Mom/Mary

Inside card: The Bad News: I can't go around grunting and groaning all the time.

May 15, 1982 Saturday

Now Tom,

What would people think if I limited my vocabulary so greatly[?]  It would be depriving the whole world of my great speaking ability.  Anyway, enough about me, haha.  I would like to remind you once again what a great guy you are.  I'm really glad that we're such good friends and I hope it stays that way even after graduation.  But mainly, I just want to wish you a Happy Birthday!

Love,

Lea

Lea has recently moved to far northern California.  We only caught up with each other on Facebook, and that's where I found out that she is a lesbian, involved with a much older woman, and still didn't tell her parents.  She's had a hard life including life-threatening illness.  I think the move followed her dad's passing; her mother passed away fairly young.  She's been highly involved with horses and training, but I have once again lost touch with her.  She was also quite eccentric.

Inside card: "The Bad News: That's not what I want tickled."

April 3, 1982

Tom,

I've grown tired of waiting until Monday to talk to you, and I've been completely frustrated at the way our relationship has gone for the past week.  I want to tell you at least a few things here, and we can talk more on Monday.

First, Tome, everything I've told you has been true.  I'm not "on the rebound," and I do not have any other lovers or gay friends who are affecting anything between us.

I could sense your insecurity about things from the start, and I could really sympathize with you.  I believe that I understand your worries and feelings - I've had them myself.

Tom, I like you very, very much.  I've tremendously enjoyed the time that we've spent together.  But unfortunately, you met me on a very untypical week in my life: a week during which I had much more free time than I usually have.  Basically, Tom, I've been really badly torn between wanting you in my life, and knowing and fearing that I simply didn't have time for you.  I guess at this point - my last quarter at Stanford - I am unwilling to give up the friendships from school that would be necessary for us to have any kind of serious relationship.  It's simple - I just don't have the time.

But Tom, I also don't want to lose you.  You've very much a person that I've been wanting to meet for a long time.  I like you very, very much.  I guess what I'm saying is that I want to work something out so that we can remain friends - and grow in our friendship - and continue what we've had, sexually, that is, without it becoming too much for me at this point in time.

Come the middle of June, everything changes for me.  I'll have lots more time, and things can be different.  Tome: I haven't been dodging you or running away.  I have been freaked by not knowing how to fit you into my life of today.  But I want to tell you that I want to work out a way for things between us to continue.  And this we can talk about soon.

Phil

I forgot that he was a senior!  I guess I did have that classic crush on an older student.

April 24, 1982

Tom -

It looks like your illness has kind of dampened plans for our one-month anniversary, but I want to write this to tell you how I feel about things.  I have enjoyed the time that we've spent together very, very much.  You're just so fun to be with, to play around with, to run around with, to tickle, to kiss.  You name it...

Your last card really meant a lot to me.  It told me that you were looking for a relationship like I've been wanting for a very long time: a friend and a lover, who I can do things with, or just relax with.

Tom, I'm looking forward to this summer so much, when we can let our friendship grow more and more, when we can do more things together, and be with each other.

It's weird how this last month has gone.  I liked you from the start, but for a while I was "freaked" because I didn't know where to find the time for you.  As my feelings grew, I realized I just had to make the time.

And now, I find myself feeling insecure about our relationship.  Not seeing you since Monday has gotten me wondering, even though I understand completely about your strep throat.  But I'm hanging in there, looking forward to better times.  I'll try to keep my insecurity under control.

It may be a little silly to make not of only a one-month anniversary like this, but I was thinking about it last Monday when you mentioned it, and the month has been so important to me that it was worth the sillyness [sic].  I'm so glad that I met you, and I hope that this has just been the first of many, many months of friendship and love between us.

Take care, Tom, and get well soon.  I hope that you're feeling better real soon, and I'm pulling for you!

I love you,

Phil

I'm trying to remember his last name.  I think it was Jimenez, but I could be wrong.  Phil was a Stanford student driving a red Mazda sports car...I thought he was quite a catch.  Our relationship was brief; I seem to believe his insecurities grew.  Fast forward to finding him online not too long ago, I was glad to see that he was doing well and had a partner.  I think he was once again "freaked" that I contacted him, so I didn't hear from him again.  Always strange.

January 5, 1987

January 5, 1987

Dear Mom & Dad,

Well, I hope everything is going okay.  Everyone is back for yet another quarter of CalPoly.  None of us here received more than 9 units of classes.  That's nothing new!

Ok Dad, I'm sorry to say that books ere the most expensive - ever.  Total on books cost $300.00. Actually, $285.00, but there is one more book I must get when the bookstore has it.  I know it's crazy - believe me I do.  I do have an idea if it will help buffer the expense.

Right now it's pretty tight (budget wise) so I'll need some reimbursement soon if possible.  My idea is to divide that total into a monthly total.  Will that help you?  Whatever you want to do or can afford is fine with me.  I'm sorry it's so much.  I'll be taking 15 units.

I promised M.A. [Michal-Anne] that i would say hello to you for her.

The Fine Arts Committee is judging the National Art for Peace exhibit.  I'm excited about having that responsibility.

I better stop now.  I'm sorry to have laid such a heavy egg on you - we'll work it out.

Always love you,

Tom

This was a challenging time for all three of us.  I was taking full units, working a part-time minimum wage job, and I still couldn't support myself through college.  That said, Mom & Dad made the commitment to supporting my education; I just don't think they ever realized how expensive it was at the time.  Even with their support, I still had to get student loans for my last year (something I never told them).

January 17, 1987

"Congratulations on your retirement...

The best is yet to come"

Jan 17, 1987

Dear Dad,

I hope you are doing okay.  I am here.  I received your check a few days ago.  Thank you very much.  As to your question; all the books I purchased were for all the units I'm taking, so I don't need anymore books.  However, supplies are going to be needed, but I'm feeling prepared.  The supplies are for projects.

It's time for work!  Take care Dad.

Love always,

Tom

February 16, 1987

Feb 16, 1987

Dear Mom,

Thank you for the card!  I've got it by my clock.  I just sent off a thank you note to Nana.  I think she'll like it.

Nana, my matriarchal grandmother, didn't become a pleasant woman until her senility (more on that some other time).  We never called her "Nahnah" as most would pronounce the name, but instead we always called her "Nanny."  I believe my sister started this when she was little.

Since I probably won't be up there until after March, I thought I'd send this book to you now.  I hope it got to you in one piece.

Not intended to add more confusion, but Mom's birthday was celebrated in March 25 even though her birth certificate states the day before.  I believe the book I sent here was A Gift from the Sea, which she fondly referenced often.

I don't know if I told you, but two of my projects are going to be exhibited in a campus gallery.  That will be in a couple of weeks.  I didn't think I had it in me.

Time to bury myself in books.  Say "hi" to Dad & Kitty.

Love,
Tom

Sad to think in less than a year Kitty would die from asphyxiation in the house fire. In fact, this letter has smoke damage on the back.  Since Mom saved everything, it was part of what survived.

November 2, 1986

Nov. 2, 1986

Dear Mom & Dad -

It's late at night, and I'm having difficulty with my survey homework, so I thought I'd take a break and say "Hello."  I got your letter Mom (were you sitting at your desk?)  Thank you for letting me know of Cynthia's goings on; I ope it's running smoothly for everyone.

Not sure what was going on with Cynthia at the time.

Dad- something's been on my mind lately (surprise!) - This quarter we've been intensively working artistically rather than technically.  I was thinking of how long ago it's been since you've painted.  I don't know how you fell about it, but I would like to see you get back into it.  Eventually, I think I may give it a try.

Next weekend is my first convention in San Jose.  We'll be staying at the Red Lion Inn of all places - oooh ahhh!  So this week I'll be trying to do things head of schedule.

Earlier, sometime around 1983, I worked for an interior landscape company owned by Alrie Middlebrook.  One of my accounts was the Red Lion Inn, so I guess I was amused by my return.

By the way, I don't remember if I told you that I can see Dr. Mar Nov. 26th.  If an appointment can be made that'll be great!

Work is going great, although I still haven't seen a raise, nor do I expect one.  I heard one employee had to argue his way through getting a raise after being employed here for 2 YEARS!  Whatever.

I worked for the Gabby Bookstore in downtown SLO.  I shouldn't have been surprised about the low income, since it was a brother/sister establishment.  Mary, I remember....I think his name was Paul.  The store was their folks and was in town for over 40 years.  Best memory was that old-timers would come in asking for things they'd find at a pharmacy (hairspray, rollers, medicine) and didn't seem to realize how long ago it wasn't a 5&10.

I'm still looking into maybe working at the Castle.  One thing that's neat about the bookstore is that it keeps me up on the latest literature and good quality, up & coming movies.  For example, I've finally read Shogun and now Tai-Pan (both by James Clavell).  Tai-Pan is going to be a movie soon.  I also read Out on a Limb by Shirley MacLaine.  That's going to be a mini series on T.V..

The reason why I brought up James Clavell novels is because he just finished writing a new noval called Whirlwind.  Dad might be interested in it because it takes place in Iran in 1979 - about the time of the Iranian Hostage Crisis.  It might be worth looking into.

Working for Lockheed, Dad was offered an opportunity to relocate the family to Iran.  He thought seriously about it be decided against it.  We would have been there during the hostage crisis.

Okay, I'm starting to rattle, so I better get back to my homework.  Take care!

Love lots,
Tom

PS I hear Vicki has a boyfriend!!!  Look out for Vicki!!!!

October 4, 1986

October 4, 1986

Dear Mom & Dad,

Thank you once again for saving the day!  I got the boots on Tuesday, so I had some time to fix them up.  I had forgotten how comfortable they are!  Michal-Anne kept eyeing my Milano cookies, so I finally gave in.  You know her appetite!  And thank you for the check.  Thank you very much!

Up to the minute news: Upon my fist meeting with the program board I was given these business cards.  Not bad, hugh!  In fact, the pone number at the bottom is the office I'm in, so if you need to get a hold of me because of an emergency, you can leave a message their.

My first performance that I scheduled was Jim Chappell (pianist).  His record label issued the enclosed flyer to the audience; they were really impressed with my work.

Now for even bigger news: The ASI Program Board is going to send a group of us to the convention in San Jose.  It's up to me if I want to go, and its paid for!  That's November 8-11th.  I'll miss a couple of days of school & work, but if I plan now I can make it.  I don't know if I'll be able to visit, since most of the time I'll be swamped with meetings.  I'll let you know.

November 22-25th I have to go to the National Landscape Architecture Convention in San Francisco.  This is my chance to get my name out to the professionals.  In fact, they are closing down my school department because everyone needs to go.  It's the first time it's been this close to home.  International L. Architects will be there like Roberta Burle Marx from Brazil!  It does cost $75.00, which I already submitted.  Not bad considering professionals have to pay over $300.00 (not including hotel).  I'll either stay with some student friends I know in S.F., or I'll stay with you and commute.  It's crazy because they'll be one day (Wed) of school.  If I start planning now, I'll not bother going to school, and just stay there for Thanksgiving since it's the next day.  If I can work that schedule out, I would like to make a dental appt. for that Wednesday or Friday.  I'll let you know soon.

As you can see the next two months are going to be HARD!  Winter quarter I'm going to ease up a little.  I'll keep you posted on all these dates!

Gotta go!

Love Always,
Tom

PS. How's Cynthia

Residing at 355 Jaycee St.
San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401

Jim Chappell today