Letter #5
September 9, 1942.
Wednesday Evening.
My darling,
When I wrote last night, I didn’t think I would write again tonight too, but here I am again. But I can’t write tomorrow night, as Betty Constine called this evening and asked me over there tomorrow for dinner, and Friday night I have an appointment at the beauty shop. So here goes once more.
I received today letter #11 for August, the last one for the month, written the 31st. It was very interesting, and it was grand to hear from you, dear. I also received a copy of the Stars and Stripes---the Aug. 1st issue, and I think the postmark on the envelope is Aug. 11, but it is sort of blurred and hard to make out. You see, it takes the free mail quite a long time to get here. I was glad to get it, and have looked it over hurriedly. I am going to read it more thoroughly when I get to bed.
Tonight when Betty called and asked me if I had saved tomorrow night, she said that she had not yet had a chance to see Dolores, but thought she too was saving tomorrow night. She said, “But even if Dolores can’t come, we will have you, anyway.” Then she went on to say that she had been sort of behind in her work this week, and so I mustn’t be too critical tomorrow night if the house were a little bit upset. I told her that I intended to look in every corner to see that everything was spic and span. She told me if I did that, there was no telling what I might find.
Grandma
Cook is coming over for dinner next Tuesday night. She is planning on leaving
for
In your letter you mentioned an air graph letter you received from John Hofsass. We call it “V mail” here. It is faster than regular mail, but not as speedy as airmail; at least the letter you sent me took two weeks to get here. I suppose it takes time to photograph it and then send it out.
I’m glad you had such a nice week-end at McDowells. I presume you won’t be going there quite so often now that you have been transferred. However, I hope that you will be able to see them occasionally and keep up your friendship with them. By the way, did Mrs. McDowell ever receive the note I wrote to her thanking her for the handkerchief?
I was interested to hear about the rationing. Most people don’t realize how fortunate we are over here.
Yes dear, my cold is practically a thing of the past, although I sneeze occasionally. I think I’ll go to Dr. Woodburn next week and get some cold inoculations. They have helped me two or three times in the past when I’ve taken them. I wish they would start a fire in the building where our offices are. It is so damp and cold there. I wore the jacket to my suit all day today at the office. Nearly everyone has at least a small fire in their furnace now, and the majority of stores and business blocks have started up the fires, too. How is your room heated, dearest? Is it nice and warm? Don’t take cold, and if you feel one coming on, please go to the doctor and take something for it right away. Don’t wait until it gets real bad before you get it taken care of.
I called up your mother early this afternoon to ask her the exact date of Grandpa Flock’s birthday. (It was July 23.) She said that she received a letter from you today, also. She has a cold. I asked her why she didn’t get some inoculations, and she said that she was going to take some sort of pills that your father takes. I don’t know why she didn’t take them before, as she knows that she will always get a cold as soon as the weather starts to get a trifle chilly. I believe she must lack vitamins, or something. She certainly looks healthy enough, though.
I got a very nice belated birthday card from Grandma Klock, and wrote a note on the back of it. I will mail it tomorrow. I bought a nice pipe, and I will wrap it probably tonight, and mail it tomorrow of Friday.
To go back to Mother Cook. Don’t worry, as she is not seriously sick. She is up and around the house all right. She just has a cold, like nearly everyone has, or else if just getting over.
I wrote you a letter last night asking you a lot of questions, and telling you that I received letter #10 yesterday. I now have all of your letters for August.
I heard some scandal about Alice Northrup this afternoon, but I won’t repeat it until I find out whether or not it is true. I heard it from a good source, however. You know who she is---Dr. Andrews’s girl who cleans your teeth and looks them over. I imagine she is nearly 40, don’t you? She looks it, and the person to whom I was talking seemed to think so. She has been in his office for a long time, hasn’t she?
I don’t
think I’ll have cards printed for Christmas. I’ll just buy a nice assortment,
and sign our names. On some I will want to put “Major and Mrs. Carlton J.
Cook,” and on some I will want to put just “
I tried to get in touch with Mrs. Crane this afternoon, but no one answered the phone. I guess she must be away, as I have tried several times recently to get her. I want to talk to her about having the bedroom fixed. I hope she is willing to have it done, as it needs it, and I would like to have it repaired before it gets any worse, and while we can get the materials.
I don’t know when I’ll have a chance to get a 10% button for you, but I will find out where the Chamber of Commerce office is, and try to find time some noon hour to go there and get you one, it they are open at noon time. No on wears them, and I guess they are little tin ones or celluloid ones, like the Red Cross buttons for the lapel of your coat.
I’m awfully tired, and sort of grouchy and out of sorts this evening. Guess I’ll take a nice bath and get to bed. I’ve been staying up rather late for the past few evenings, for no reason at all. I get to thinking after I get to bed, and often have a hard time getting to sleep; and then when I finally do get to sleep, I hate to get up in the morning. Yes darling---I know that you know that I always hate to get up in the morning.
Goodnight, my sweet. I adore you, dearest. Yes I agree that it is lonesome without you, too; I miss you so, honey. The knowledge that each day brings us nearer to the time we will be reunited is a big help to me, and my prayer is that the day will not be far off. And I also pray that you will be protected from all dangers and perils.
All my love and kisses to the most wonderful and the sweetest husband in the world.
Very affectionately,
Your most devoted wife,
Jeanette.