Advertisement
Not a member of Pastebin yet?
Sign Up,
it unlocks many cool features!
- John Steinbeck to Thom Steinbeck
- Dear Thom:
- We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
- First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.
- Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance.
- This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you --
- of kindness and consideration and respect not only the social respect of manners but the greater
- respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable.
- The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength,
- and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.
- You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.
- But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone.
- What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.
- Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
- The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
- If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so only you must remember
- that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
- Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
- It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another
- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
- Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.
- We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome.
- But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to.
- She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
- And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens.
- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
- Love,
- Fa
Advertisement
Add Comment
Please, Sign In to add comment
Advertisement