June 19,1944

Hal, dearest,

Today we set another record. I got a letter from you in 6 days. I get them some times that come in just seven days but I don’t believe I’ve ever had one before that come in six days. This letter was the one you wrote describing your trip to New Delhi. I am so glad you could go. I feel a trip would help you very much. I wish I might have been with you and seen some of those wonderful old ruins. I am not sure I could stand the heat you tell me about so maybe I won’t try to join you just now.

My darling, I can hardly believe the wonderful news that you may be coming home next month. Do you really think there is a chance you will start home in July? It seems too good to be true. How long will it take you to come, do you think? I don’t see how I’ll ever be able to wait for that day. I am going to ask you not to try to surprise me. As soon as you land in this country won’t you please call me up? I think I have given you this number before but I’ll send it along again. 93 F 21 through Staunton of course. One hears too many tales of wives who faint and husbands who come home to find their family gone away for the day etc. I want to know you are coming and Mother and Daddy are not in any shape for any kind of shocks. I am sure you will understand how I feel.

Peggy and I had a lovely treat tonight. Nellie and Frank T. had us over to supper tonight. I love to go to Nellie’s. She is a grand cook and she’s such a pleasant hostess. I think we have a dinner invitation there when you come home.

Honey, did you really buy me a ruby? I can hardly believe it. I have so many lovely things happening to me. When you have this one set please have it made a little smaller than my opal. That is a trifle large. I think 5 ½ will be big enough. Isn’t the opal ring 6 ½? I have forgotten what I told you. I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am just at the prospect of such a thing. I am finishing this before breakfast Tues. morn. I wore my opals last night and everyone admired them so much. Meredith P., the boy who made his home with Frank and Nellie, is now in the Army and stationed at Fort Bragg. He is home on his first furlough. He and I had a good time comparing our impressions of the Fort.

While we were out at Nellie’s a terrific storm come up. It came very quickly and the wind was a perfect gale. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it blow harder. Two locusts tree here split off and one of the maples broke up pretty badly. Our beloved linden came through all right. I think that tree gets prettier every year.

We had some hail with the rain but the garden didn’t fare as badly as I feared it would. Of course things are all blown over but I hope they will straighten up again.

A stick off of one of the locust trees blew through my bedroom window and scattered dirt, trash and bits of glass all over the room. I guess we’re lucky it wasn’t any worse because the electricity was so bad. I feared all kinds of damage but we will soon recover.

I must run now as I have many, many things to do this morning.

Darling, the news of your homecoming is almost too wonderful to be true.

All my love,

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