Letter #29

30 April 1945

Decorations Day

In Bed

Dearest darling –

I’m feeling pretty wonderful tonight, for today I got your letter of 21 and 22 May – in which you described your first day of liberty. Oh darling, I’m so glad to know you finally made the beach - and got to buy some clothes – and best of all, got to have a little relaxation in the form of booze, for I can imagine too well what a welcome relief it was – and I hope you’ve had more.

Another thing that’s nice is that your letter was dated only 8 and 9 days ago – and it’s the first one I’ve had singly - so it is kinda like having you near, for I can answer it as I would on a ordinary letter. As you say, getting letters in bunches takes away the enthusiasm of answering each one separately – but I really don’t mind getting batches –in fact, I love ’em - need I explain why!

However, despite feeling good about getting your letter and its welcome news, I think you’re a stinker, first class- for you made me promise I wouldn’t get nine-to-five looped ’til you were around (and I haven’t – and won’t!) and what do you do on your first liberty, nine-to-five looped!! Tch, tch. Seriously, though, darling, I was glad to hear it – for a good looping, of the type we acquire, is good for the soul – and God knows you probably needed it. I’ve been trying to figure a way to send you a bottle – and think I have one – but I’m holding off ’til your packages arrive, so I can learn what shape they were in and how to pack future boxes. So please hurry up and get some this time in. Of course, you realize, don’t you, that now that you’ve been able to buy hats, you’ll get the ones I sent!

And speaking of hats, I was most relieved to find you’d been able to buy some Khaki pants – for all these months I’ve been picturing you sewing up you old ones so as to keep decent – and it worried me no end. Lately, I’ll bet it was wonderful to get ashore and buy even ordinary things, like pants and hats and shoes.

Your bar sounded all right and I’ll bet it looked almost as good to you as the Cork and Bottle would. I’m surprised at your drinking rum, though, after all we had in Okie land. And don’t forget to tell me all about going to the N[aval] A[ir] S[tation] O[fficers] Club with your Cal Tech W.O. friends - I want to know all about everything. There isn’t much you can tell me when you’re at sea – so you can make up for it now – you know, that’s the thing that hits me the hardest, and makes you seem so far away – the idea of my not knowing every little thing about you and your adventures. That’s why, of late, I’ve been telling you what I do every day, for I realized you must have the same feeling. Darling, you do still push your hat on the back of your head, don’t you? Oh damn, Wray, I’ll never be anything but miserable apart from you – you know that, don’t you?

Yes, it was nice to see Fruger again - he should do it more often, I keep telling him. I did tell you, didn’t I, that Marge Cunningham had a baby this spring?

What have I been doing since I wrote last. Well, as you can imagine, I worked rather hard yesterday, getting weekend ads in early to take care of Today’s last time. And I had lunch with Doc (from 12:30 to 2:15 – they almost threw us out of McCain’s). Of course, our main topic of conversation was you – and we shared each others’ letter – in his case, it was one, for he got one last Wed., the day I got my first batch. He was in a very fine mood and I never teased him, which he seemed to like. By the way, give me more details on his gal friend – for, of course, he never mentions that subject – and I’m curious.

Last night, I went along with Mother to Doc Cleeland’s – Mother had knocked her hip and tailbone out of whack, but he put her back in shape again, so all goes well on that scare. I had him look at my back and he said it looked very good, that he wouldn’t touch it, which made me feel good, for despite your snorting, he does know his stuff.

Today I slept til 10:00 – and Ruth Rutherford and her sisters (3) came out to spend the day. Ruth came out there a.m. – and her sisters came there aft[er]. We peddled around the rest of the a.m.- I washed Pretty Penny and baked a chocolate cake – and the latter just to keep in practice. And then aft[er], when the gals came, we made a fire out back and had a picnic supper -- even had hot dogs. And after we ate, we headed down to Chambers Dam - went down via the railroad tracks and the road and camp back through the fields, so as I wrote about being around with poison oak/ivy in summer, don’t be alarmed. I’m not worried, though, for I’ve always been immune to such things – in fact, I once took a nap in a plot of poison ivy! – with no bad results.

We didn’t get back til dark and then we were exhausted, so the gals went home and I took a nice hot bath – and here I be, talking to you (how I wish I really were!!-)

The day was very clear, and nice, except that it was a trifle cold. You know, of late we’ve been having Okie weather- rain, thunderstorms and a surprising amount of wind – almost makes me homesick!!

Penny is all curled up on the rug I made – I’m using [it] to see if I want to make more – she looks very pretty against the white background. By the way, I had her out walking a little this a.m. and she has learned that she must trot along behind me. She learned very easily too – just took one day (Today) to teach her.

I’m getting woozy with sleep – for all the walking and the bath have made me deliriously sleepy.

Forgot to tell you – Ruth’s sisters are most interesting – all pretty – the youngest, Ellen, is still in high school – Sal was graduated from Wash[ington] High last night as valedictorian and the first gal to win the school award (she wants to be a doctor) and Doris, who is 19, is teaching high school math in Uniontown. Ruth is the oldest. Sal is the best looking – and they’re all interesting kids.

Well darling, for now I’ll say “goodnight – sleep tight” - our prayers will be answered, dear one – so I know I shall see you “tomorrow”.

Your letters are wonderful, Wray, don’t try to change or improve, for I love the ways in which you say “I love you, Emel”.

Your very loving wife, who misses you so very much,

P.S. Enclosed, find some negatives to play around with – and “play” is just what you’ll have to do with the ones in which the spot appears – said spot was caused by a piece of black paper as I told you. If you can finagle some nice prints, please send me some copies for our album.