July 8, 1943

My dearest Hal,

I was so sorry to hear you are sick. I hope you are right and that you will soon be all right again. I have an idea that your diet is not all it should be and I wish so much you could have a change at some of our grand meals. We have splendid meat, you not quite so much of it as usual. Our garden has done so well. Daddy says it is the best garden he has ever raised so really are living like lords while the garden lasts.

Tuesday I had a most delightful surprise. My Flory had to go to Richmond on business and took me with him. Mrs. Flory, Mrs. Hackerman and Ruth Rader made up the party and we had a lovely time. I went to see Dr. Blanton and took some skin test to see how I was progressing. He thinks I’m doing very well. We changed my medicine a little but left Sam’s as it was.

Do you remember the hives Sam used to have? Dr. Blanton is having me fill in a chart of each meal Sam eats so he can tell what causes them. They are nothing like as bad as they used to be but I would like him to get entirely over them if possible.

After I saw Dr. Blanton I called up Elizabeth and she wasn’t home so I gave up all hope of seeing her and then met her crossing the street. Some people have all the luck but this time I had some for a change.

Eliz. Seemed real glad to see me and we had about an hour to visit before I had to leave. She begged me to go home with her but I couldn’t do it this time. Sam and I hope to go down in the fall and pay her a visit. I have to go down there we have such a good time and Eliz and Wilbur are both so nice to us. I surely do look forward to having our own home so we can have them visit us. I have insisted that they come up here to see us but I guess visiting will be sorta limited until this war is over.

Eliz. Seems right worried over Billy and his encounter with the bomb or should I say escape. I think she is afraid that Bit’s and Polly are trying to work up an affair between Billy and Glen. I would hate that. Please don’t say anything to anyone about this or she won’t ever trust me again. I think Billy has his mind on the war anyway so I wouldn’t worry. Eliz bases her conclusions on the fact that Polly wanted Billy’s address so Bit could write him. It can’t be very serious if she didn’t even know where he was.

Today, the garden club met with me and everyone admired all the things you have sent me. Everyone raved over the run. I wished you could have been here to tell us all the interesting things you have done and seen.

It seems you are considered quite a hunter to have shot a gazelle and there was much exclaiming over those. Nellie Irvine wants to know if you are going to kill a tiger. I would just as soon you didn’t try. You are plenty famous as a hunter to suit me without a tiger skin to prove your prowess.

So much excitement has made me tired or maybe it was getting ready for this anyway I have to hit the hay ‘cause I am a very sleepy little girl.

Darling, I do hope you are all right by the time you get this. Please do take a rest if you possibly can. Nothing is so important to me as to have you safely home again.

All my love,

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