Apr. 17, 1945

Dear Al,

I didn’t expect to get a letter from you so quick. It only took 13 days for your letter to get here. I’ll say it’s good.

I was down in Philadelphia about two weeks ago and the strangest thing happened. My sister and her girlfriend and I were shopping all day and we got thirsty, so we went to the nearest hotel to get a drink. We were sitting there and some sailor comes up to us and shows us a picture and says, “ Do you want to see a good-looking fellow?” We, of course, say yes and this guy shows it to us and he said his name was Albert F. Miller! I told him I know an Al Miller. He asked me what his middle name was and I said Francis. The sailor says “why that’s my middle name, too.” So we got to talking, and he told me he often gets the wrong mail. He said some of the mail he gets belongs to an Al Miller; he says he has a lot of fun reading this other guy’s mail. Then he asked me if I had a picture of you and I showed him the one you sent me and do you know what he said? He said, “Why that sailor is actually handsome.” Wasn’t that a coincidence? I’ll always remember that. I thought for a minute that I was going to see you in person. No such luck.

Yes, I guess the parks will be open when you get home. They were open last Sunday. We did have a lot of fun at those parks.

So you didn’t dream about me. Well! Well! Now I know you’re two-timing me. That’s the Navy for you.

You must be coming home or something. You’re telling me how many days you’re going to spend in Bethlehem and how many you’re going to spend in Philadelphia. Maybe it won’t be long before we’ll have that date.

Poor Eddie was transferred out to the West Coast. No more secret service work.

When you come home, see that you bring a couple of extra packs of cigarettes along. I’m smoking the damn _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ cigarettes I never heard of before. Sunshine cigarettes. Did you ever hear of them? Oh Well! Brighter days are coming (especially for you and me.)

Well, Al, I’m in the doghouse now. I was out on Saturday and didn’t get in until two AM and now I’m not allowed to go out for three days. T.S. The doghouse isn’t so bad. You ought to try it out someday--does you good sometimes.

Wasn’t that a shock how President Roosevelt has died? I couldn’t believe it when I heard it.

Do you ever hear from Arlene? I bet you miss her. I haven’t seen her or Dot lately. They are growing up.

Well, Al, I’m going to close for now because it’s time for the lights to go out in the doghouse.

Write soon.

Love

Marian