Sunday AM

Dear Martha,

            Your letter arrived yesterday and will answer pronto to give you a little good news.

            They started furloughs yesterday and all of us are to get them pretty soon. I signed up to leave on the 15th, but don’t know on what date I will get to leave, tho’ it will probably be close around there (I hope) – my intentions are to be there which Ester is, but it’s possible I may not get that choice shot - it depends on how many have already applied for it. The Personel section distributes them out, gets us Reservations and routes us home, so as not to bunch up too much. I think we will only get 14 now, and if we were to wait until after the 11th of Jan. we could get 16 days, but if I can get off near the 15th I’ll sacrifice the two days just to be at home Christmas. If I cant make it then I may wait until Jan. and get the “16 days” – Anyway we are sure of getting them sometime soon and it will very probably be our last “over here”! –

            I’m going to church in a few minutes. Had a nice shower this AM, the first since we arrived here and still looks sorta gloomy – We still haven’t done but very little work. In fact, I doubt if we worked over 6 hrs. all the past week – (I mean company duty) – Of course us SWB Apiralars had our regular duty to perform which [is] to [from] 4 to 6 hrs. per day and I go to the show 3 or 4 times a wk. and I play a little Ping-pong now and then.

            Glad you got to see Mother Thanks. and hope you can come for Christmas

 and we can all be together over more. I plan to stop at Memphis and pick up the car, so try to save me all the gas you can, as I can only get 5 galls. at home. Maybe Ester will bring some stamps with him and we can get by with them! Anyway, Ill try to stop by and see you as I come by –

            Jimmie Joe and several of us Tennesseans plan to come together, but it may not work out that way. Ill have to get a check cashed before I leave, so I hope I can get do it OK-

            Had a long letter from Ester yesterday. Got a present from Warren and L. –

            Well, Ill let you know more when I hear it. Write again soon –

                                                            Love Russ