ANOTHER SUITCASE, ANOTHER HALL? - (play on words, if you don't know) ANOTHER COUNTRY - OCTOBER 1987

OCTOBER 5, 1987

Monday

(A Letter I wrote Kevin Knight) -we all know that’s John’s brother, right?

Dear Kevin:

Sorry I haven’t written until now. Truly! We have been SO busy at work, I haven’t had any time for ANYTHING frivolous.

Last week my boss retired. We had a retirement party for her on Wednesday the 30th. (No spiked punch, but fun nonetheless.) It was strange, one day old boss, next day new boss. But things are going quite well. (2022 comment - New boss was Vicki Valderas - who I reconnected with Karen (sharp) Carney last summer.)

Friday before last (the 25th of Sept.) I saw Man of LaMancha at the Dallas Repertory Theatre. A friend of mine, Mark Hall was in it. (Remember him? He played Tony in our Broadway show… the good one. TEE HEE!) Afterwards, Sherri, Kevin Q., Elaine (who I went to Acapulco with) and Mark and I went to the Filling Station and filled up on Tune Ups. It was fun. That’s kinda like an old-time joint for us Richland folks. We used to go there every weekend. There was something between Mark and I that night, that I couldn’t figure out. The looks kept catching each other. You know what I mean? Some electricity that in seven years of knowing him I’ve never really felt. We used to date a bit but there was never any electricity, so I always ended up dating someone else. The first cruise I went on.. The S. S. Britanis, Mark and I were romancing. (I tell you what, I seem to be romantic with someone on each and every trip.) What a boring life! TEE HEE! Anyway, he stayed a little while later than the others, but we kept a bit apart. (I don’t want to make the same mistake of going for it then letting him go, so I was careful.) So.. I was careful…

Mark came over Sunday night. We watched My Fair Lady. Well, at intermission (on cable) I went to the bathroom. Mark was singing “On the Street where You Live.” He’d sing one verse and I’d sing the next from the bathroom. It was fun. By the time I came out of the bathroom, it was the part which sings “Oh this towering feeling…” Mark stood up and sang it to me with his arms outstretched, i sang back “Just to know somehow you are near.” (Him - This overpowering feeling that any second you may suddenly appear.) It was fun. We were dancing around the room and at the end of the song, we laughed and he leaned me down and kissed me. It was pretty neat. There went my “carefully laid plans of mice and men.” Oh well!

He works downtown and we go to lunch a couple times a week.

By this past Friday, I felt we were pretty attached. Kevin, Sherri, Mark and I went to the Granada Theatre and saw LaBamba.. It was my second time seeing it. They have revamped The Granada into a dinner theatre. It was a blast! When you come home, you ought to go. It’s $3, no one under 21 is allowed, serves food, beer and wine, even waiters and waitresses while you watch a movie. Really a lot of fun!

We came back and Sherri and I sang to Little Shop of Horrors soundtrack. We were having a great time. AT one time I said “Being friends with us is like being friends with a Broadway show. It was fun.

I guess what I’m telling you is.. It looks like Mark and I are going to be seeing a lot of each other. He’s coming over tonight and we’re going dancing this Thursday. We’ll see how it goes after seven years. We have both changed so much since we were 18 and 20. (I’m about a year and a half older than he is.) We’re having fun and he’s a very sweet, sincere and sensitive person.. Not to mention talented and - Nice looking.

Well enough on that. Guess where I’m going this Friday? You guessed it, England. It’s still hard to believe I’m going. It’s hard to believe I’m going on vacation this Friday, much less England. I checked out A Room with a View last night (have you seen that? It’s wonderful) to absorb Europe with pure romance.. One of the most romantic movies I’ve ever seen. I’ll be sure and write you when I get back and tell you everything.

So, write me and tell me everything. What school is like.. What makes it different than last time? Are you in the Corp yet? What made you decide to get back? Are your parents and brother pressuring you to get in?) Oh well! Do what you want first. You’re a neat guy. Have you met any girls worthwhile yet? How are you going to keep up a relationship with Jennifer (or are you?)

Gotta go! Write soon! I’ll be back about the 17th or 18th.

Love ya

Janie Boren

OCTOBER 8, 1987

Thursday

Well I’m at work today only in body. My mind is on vacation. I can’t get much work done and am ready to be off.

Mark and I are going out to eat tonight. He’ll probably help me pack.

This morning I sent DeeAnn and Mark Noack each a card. I feel a lack of communication with both of them and am ready to clear it all up. (Sometimes I get this way before a trip.) Everything should be okay by the time I get home.

I'm SURE Mark and I can pick up where we left off when I come back from England. I think it is absolutely worth looking into a real relationship with him... (that is if I don't fall in love in London)