May 18, 1944

My dearest Hal,

I am so very sorry to hear from your letter that you have not been getting my letters. I write them and mail them at least twice a week and frequently oftener than that. Someday I guess you will be getting several at one time.

We enjoyed your account of the wedding. I often read part of your letters aloud. Sam always wants to hear what Daddy says. Mother and Daddy enjoy them too. I can’t begin to tell you what it means to me to hear from you. I feel like shouting just to think that you are coming home. I don’t see how I’ll ever manage to wait. Just to know you’re coming makes me so happy I guess all I can do about it is try to keep busy so the time will pass more quickly.

Today the Garden Club met with Billy Bussey as hostess. He had a very nice meeting. I did not exhibit any flowers this time because I had to take Mother and Daddy up to Dr. Thomas. I didn’t have time to arrange any flowers but I didn’t have any I specially wanted to take anyway. I wore my lovely new ring and everyone thought it was beautiful, as of course it is. I can’t tell you how lovely I think they are. I know I ought to be ashamed to even mention wanting anything else. However I can dream, can’t I? You don’t need to give this a second thought if it sounds impossible. Once I saw a pair of earrings that I admired very much but I couldn’t get them because they were on another woman. I have never seen any like them and maybe they can’t be had. They were bunches of grapes. The leaves were gold and the grapes were tiny seed pearls and I thought they were lovely. Since I wear my hair combed up off my ears I should have to have some pretty ear rings just in case you ever run across any. I wondered if you could have some made like the bunches of grapes I’ve always wanted. Darling, you had such a grand job on the ring and pin. I wonder if it was terribly expensive. They are certainly handsome and I shall love wearing them mostly because you gave them to me.

Daddy has had two of the worst days I have ever seen him have. I was afraid he would not make it up to see the Dr. and back. He is so weak and terribly painful. Dr. Thomas is trying a different medicine and I do hope that will give him some relief. He has never been well enough to have the last five teeth out and I do wish he could get them all out. Mother has been having a bad time with her back. We were afraid it was sciatica but now we hope it isn’t and she seems to be getting a little refief relief. She isn’t able to do very much yet. A great many things go undone but we do the best we can.

Sam and I planted seventy-five tomato plants tonight after supper. Sam is quite a help when he wants to be, usually he is more interested in playing. I have to get him out of the bathtub now so I guess I’ll have to stop writing for this time.

Peggy has been in town all this week. Irene went to New York for a week’s vacation. I thought people who didn’t have to travel were supposed to stay at home so there would be room for those who simply had to go. I guess I haven’t much patience with people who act as thought they didn’t know a war was going on. I’m crass because I’m sleepy and tired. I will get some sleep now so I can face another day. I want to make them pass quickly so you will get to come home.

All my love,

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