Feb. 3, 1944,

Dearest Hal,

I have not written to you for four days. I hardly ever let that happen but today I shall try to write a nice long one to make up for my lapse. Tuesday night Sara and Elizabeth had their party and it was a great success. Everyone asked about you and you were very much complimented on your promotion.

I have no idea who was responsible but your picture appeared in the paper again this week, this time with a more elaborate write up. None of us knows anything about it and we all wondered who could have done it.

To get back to the party, I was afraid to come home by myself so I got Mr. H., who teaches in the high school here to go with me. His girl teaches Home Economics at Lee High School and as he doesn’t have a car he is always glad of a chance to ride to town. He had his date while I was at the party so it worked out very well.

The party consisted of Eliz, Jessie W., Frances C., Margaret C., Katherine T., Margaret S., Linda W., Elizabeth W., Florine C., Augusta P., Mrs. Georgie R.. (filled in for Punks because Mrs. D. was sick and Punks couldn’t come)

We had supper first and then played bridge after that. I had bad hands but I didn’t expect anything else. I have too much luck in other things, such as my husband’s coming home, to care if I do hold poor cards. Anyway I got the low score prize which turned out to be some pot holders. I hope we shall soon have some pots and also a place to hold them in. (Wonderful grammar for a school teacher, isn’t it?)

We all had a real good time and parties are certainly a rarity, as far as I’m concerned. I have played bridge about three times in the two years you have been gone. I missed it a lot at first but now I’m wondering if I’ll ever catch on again. I’m so rusty. You’d better hurry up and come home so you can take your wife in hand.

Yesterday was very cloudy all day long and as the groundhog had no chance to see his shadow all day I hope we will get by without our usual six weeks of bad weather.

I am beginning to wonder and even to hope a little that maybe you will be home sooner than you have told me. I have asked Ms. T. to get another teacher. She is graduating from Madison College in March and I think she might like to come to S.D. especially because she is a friend of Miss C., the first grade teacher. I would like to have a little while to do some things here and I want to help Daddy make a garden and raise some chickens, until you come home.

Sam is still going to school. He likes it very much. He told Mother that he liked school because he had so many little girls to chase! I wonder who he gets that from. He seems to be getting along fairly well. He doesn’t get too much done in the way of work but he seems to be much more interested in playing than he is in working. He is getting more independent each day and it does my heart good to see it because he was getting very much spoiled about not wanting to do any thing for him.

I have a P.T.A. meeting tonight so I guess I really should go. I’ll have to let this be all for this time. I am so thrilled to have the wonderful news about your homecoming. Please, darling, make it soon. I don’t see how I can wait much longer.

All my love,