August, 30, 1943

Dearest Hal,

I have just talked to Eliz. She said they were taking Nana to Charlottesville to the University Hospital tomorrow. I do not know how long she will stay there. If she can get back into Blue Ridge she may go there when she is better. I think she will go in the ambulance to Charlottesville. She isn’t able to make the trip in the car. I told Eliz that we would pay for the ambulance. I knew you would want to do what you could. I am very much in favor of taking her to the hospital. I feel she will be where she can be treated. Eliz says there is a danger of choking when she has a coughing spell. She would have to have a bronscopic treatment which she could not get in Staunton and Eliz has worried over keeping her over here this long. I don’t know anything about the treatment she should have, but I am anxious that everything that can be done should be. I know you feel just as I do about it.

We all feel that if it were possible for you or Billy to come home it would be a wonderful comfort to her to have you. Eliz said she is going to the Red Cross to see what they could do about having you sent home. I have no idea that anything like that will be possible. I wish very much for the sake of your health that you could come home for awhile but I don’t even hope that such a thing could really happen.

We have not had so very much fun this summer. I have felt that I simply couldn’t make the effort when you are away. I will make a bigger effort for Sam’s sake because he proved to me that I really have been selfish in thinking about my own loneliness and not caring enough to try to plan fun for him.

Last Friday they held the Sunday School picnic out at the lake and because of the gas shortage they had a hay ride to get the picnickers to and from the lake. Sam was wildly excited and he really did have the most beautiful time playing in the water and eating dinner to say nothing of riding on the wagon. I had never been on a hay ride either and I thought it was quite a lot of fun. Sam said I remember when Daddy took us to a place to go swimming when we went to see him down in North Carolina. I bet Daddy will go on picnics with me when he comes home. I’m living for the day when we can have fun going on picnics together but of course in the mean time I have to try to plan some pleasures for him too.

We are very much thrilled over having the house painted. I have always wanted to have it done ever since I can remember, so it seems like a dream come true. She had to have an awful lot of work done before we could start painting. It took over a week to clean it and nail down all the loose boards and get ready for the paint.

I haven’t heard a word from you since you went to the Rest Camp but I am hoping it did you worlds of good.

Mother and I have been making bags for the boys at the W.N.G.H. They wanted some to keep things in that they could tie on the end of the bed and so everyone has been trying to make some for them. They wanted a thousand.

Darling, please write to me. It seems so long since I have had a letter from you. We miss you so much.

All my love,

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