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).