The letters · 1957 to 1965

Eight years in the mail.

Four hundred and thirty-five letters from Bob and Fran, kept by Fran and scanned from the originals.

435

letters

years

400

miles apart

A “From the book” line marks the letters included in Sealed with a Kiss.

Fran's letter box

1957

Aug 20, 1957

Bob to Fran

I hope you can read this "handwriting."

From the book

Aug 22, 1957

Fran to Bob

Think of me in your spare time if its not too boring a thought!

From the book

Aug 27, 1957

Bob to Fran

Right now they're playing "Honeycomb." It's a good song.

From the book

Sep 12, 1957

Fran to Bob

I just love school and kids, not the terrible assignments they give you!

Sep 24, 1957

Bob to Fran

Yesterday afternoon I was spent playing football and the night at the dance. Today I’m stiff as a board!

Oct 1, 1957

Fran to Bob

It’s fair and square to date someone else if your favorite friend is not handy.

Oct 4, 1957

Bob to Fran

I agree that if your "favorite friend isn't handy, its fair and square to date someone else"!

Oct 14, 1957

Fran to Bob

If you want to see a "Great Movie" see "An Affair to Remember". You might not like it but your girl most likely would.

From the book

Nov 4, 1957

Bob to Fran

Somebody gave my name to the school paper for hearing "Sputnik" on my shortwave.

From the book

1958

Jan 7, 1958

Fran to Bob

Gee, so far away. I sure hope I get to see you again sometime.

Jan 13, 1958

Bob to Fran

I would requote "don't do anything I wouldn't do" but that leaves the field pretty wide open.

Jan 18, 1958

Bill Zech to Fran

Bob was telling me about you a couple of months ago and I was simply enchanted with your description.

Jan 25, 1958

Fran to Bob

so will you please tell me what "73 and 88" mean?

Feb 10, 1958

Bob to Fran

When my Civics teach found your letter it was a riot.

From the book

Feb 22, 1958

Fran to Bob

Thanks again for the valentine. It was the cutest & nicest one I have received for a long time.

Feb 27, 1958

Bob to Fran

I am just naturally windy.

Mar 14, 1958

Fran to Bob

Never do today what you can do tomorrow, just about describes me.

1959

Jan 5, 1959

Fran to Bob

Here's hoping you have recovered from Christmas and your strenuous vacation.

From the book

Jan 8, 1959

Bob to Fran

How's that for a beginning. I plan to hear from you.

From the book

Jan 24, 1959

Fran to Bob

Thanks tremendous for your big picture! I love it; it's stuck in the rim of my mirror where I can see it all the time!

Feb 16, 1959

Bob to Fran

I am really sorry that I haven't written you in so long.

Mar 23, 1959

Bob to Fran

Next to me is a beautiful letter that I scratched out on school parchment in study hall intending to send to you.

Apr 2, 1959

Fran to Bob

How do you like my crazy stationery? I saw it in a wild mood last Saturday and just couldn't resist it.

Apr 6, 1959

Bob to Fran

I got your letter today and thought I would write while I have a chance.

Apr 18, 1959

Fran to Bob

Finally it's here. We're on vacation, and I love it.

1960

Jan 8, 1960

Fran to Bob

Sure sounds as though you had a fabulous Christmas!

From the book

Jan 14, 1960

Bob to Fran

Hope you had fun with Wally over Christmas.

From the book

Feb 3, 1960

Fran to Bob

How are you? I'm sorry I didn't answer your letters right away, but things around here have been terrible.

Feb 14, 1960

Fran to Bob

Expecting something from me on Valentine's Day?

Feb 17, 1960

Bob to Fran

Thanks for the Valentine. I got a good laugh out of that.

Mar 11, 1960

Fran to Bob

Pardon me for not answering your letters sooner, but I have really been busy doing all sorts of crazy things.

Mar 18, 1960

Bob to Fran

Well this is the first of three study halls today. Looks like a real dud.

Apr 6, 1960

Fran to Bob

I guess I had at least 45 more minutes to wait for dinner, so I thought I'd write while I had the chance.

From the book

1961

Jan 3, 1961

Fran to Bob

Here's pesky again! Hope you or your family aren't annoyed with my frequent epistles.

Jan 9, 1961

Bob to Fran

This is going to be short again because I have two big tests tomorrow.

Jan 13, 1961

Fran to Bob

How are you today? Oh, they're playing my favorite song on the radio.

Jan 13, 1961

Bob to Fran

I guess it is about time I write to you, huh?

Jan 22, 1961

Bob to Fran

Fran, I really miss you and hope we can be together again soon.

Jan 30, 1961

Bob to Fran

I hope your mind is still operational after semi's.

1962

Jan 3, 1962

Bob to Fran

Sounds like you had a real nice vacation.

Jan 4, 1962

Fran to Bob

What a nice surprise to wake up this morning and have Margie hand me your letter.

Jan 6, 1962

Bob to Fran

My girl, congratulations on your excellence in English.

Jan 9, 1962

Fran to Bob

It has been snowing here continuously for two days, but unbelievable as it may seem, there are less than two inches of snow on the ground.

Jan 11, 1962

Bob to Fran

I'm getting to like ND better now.

Jan 14, 1962

Fran to Bob

Finally finished my homework for tomorrow, so decided to write to you before going to bed.

Jan 16, 1962

Bob to Fran

I hope that you don't mind me typing this, but I just felt like typing something so I thought I'd type your letter.

Jan 20, 1962

Fran to Bob

Buenos dias! How's that for an opening?

Jan 23, 1962

Bob to Fran

So far I am doing pretty well in everything but accounting.

Jan 31, 1962

Fran to Bob

First and foremost I feel that it is only fair to warn you that it is now around 3 AM.

Feb 3, 1962

Bob to Fran

Well, semester break was a ball.

Feb 6, 1962

Fran to Bob

Hi! What are you all doing? Hope your classes are all straightened out now.

Feb 7, 1962

Fran to Bob

Good morning! Can I believe that for the fourth time this term I got up for breakfast?

Feb 8, 1962

Bob to Fran

I just hung up from talking to you and realized that I almost had forgotten the sound of your voice.

Feb 12, 1962

Fran to Bob

Be good and study hard, your exams must be coming up pretty soon.

1963

Jan 10, 1963

Fran to Bob

Be good and study hard, your exams must be coming up pretty soon.

Jan 11, 1963

Bob to Fran

I only have time for a note before I go to class.

Jan 13, 1963

Bob to Fran

I first got your card and thought I'd better write, since my January budget doesn't allow for a collect telephone call.

From the book

Jan 16, 1963

Fran to Bob

Must say your first one mentioning the weekend came as quite a surprise.

Jan 18, 1963

Bob to Fran

I'll just answer your questions right away to allay all your curiosities at once.

Jan 21, 1963

Fran to Bob

Are you getting nervous now that your exams are getting so close?

From the book

Jan 27, 1963

Bob to Fran

Exams have been going pretty well so far.

Feb 3, 1963

Fran to Bob

Think it's about nine o'clock now, can't quite get my watch into focus.

Feb 11, 1963

Bob to Fran

Well, I finally have time to write.

Feb 13, 1963

Fran to Bob

But I surely think about you through the days that come and go.

Feb 14, 1963

Fran to Bob

I don't really know where to begin this evening since there are so many little unrelated things to comment on.

Feb 17, 1963

Bob to Fran

I hope that you are duly impressed with this early reply to your letter.

Feb 22, 1963

Fran to Bob

Must admit that you definitely can be extremely nasty when you so desire; your last letters proved that beyond a doubt.

Feb 26, 1963

Bob to Fran

I am writing this on the eve of a great day!

Feb 28, 1963

Fran to Bob

I was thinking of you the other morning and I got hot and dizzy and short of breath.

From the book

1964

Jan 1, 1964

Fran to Bob

I EAT CRACKERS IN BED!!

Jan 3, 1964

Fran to Bob

I love you - its been six hours since the SS France left N.Y.

Jan 4, 1964

Fran to Bob

We've been on our way about thirty hours now and my stomach is only beginning to settle.

Jan 4, 1964

Bob to Fran

I love you, I love you, I love you, and God! how I miss you already!

Jan 7, 1964

Fran to Bob

it was frightfully beautiful and after a while I wasn't even scared.

Jan 7, 1964

Bob to Fran

Most of the time I just sit around and miss you which isn't much fun but it is true.

Jan 9, 1964

Fran to Bob

Finally made it to Paris and for three days we'll be surrounded by French and Frenchmen.

Jan 10, 1964

Fran to Bob

Je t'aime. I miss you and I want to be with you right this minute.

Jan 15, 1964

Fran to Bob

Just finished la comida. That's the biggest meal of the day, eaten at 2 PM.

Jan 16, 1964

Fran to Bob

I love you very much. Every day it's more difficult to realize that I won't be able to see you until April.

From the book

1965

Jan 5, 1965

Fran to Bob

Will it ever be Friday? The days just seem to go so slowly.

Jan 5, 1965

Bob to Fran

I have to get up early in the morning and do some last-minute studying for my commercial.

Jan 11, 1965

Bob to Fran

I said I'd write tonight but I'm tired and I'm not sure what I can say.

Jan 12, 1965

Fran to Bob

Friday, an exciting night for you.

Jan 12, 1965

Bob to Fran

These last two days have passed so very slowly. I can hardly wait to be with you Friday.

Jan 13, 1965

Fran to Bob

About to go to bed. Wish you were here.

Jan 19, 1965

Bob to Fran

Exactly five months from today you'll be my wife.

Jan 21, 1965

Fran to Bob

Just a little card to keep in touch.

Jan 25, 1965

Fran to Bob

Stayed up all night to read a novel for English and now I'm only one book behind.

Feb 3, 1965

Bob to Fran

Not too much has happened in the half-hour since I've talked to you.

From the book