Letter #12.

Friday Evening.

Sept. 25, 1942.

Dearest:

I haven’t had any letters since the two I received last Monday. But I am sure I will get one either tomorrow or next Monday. And anyway, yesterday at noon I received your lovely cable, and of course was delighted to get it. I sent an answer yesterday afternoon after work. I’m glad that you are well, and hope that you remain that way, dear.

I got in touch with Harry Cole; or rather he called me up as he agreed to do. I told you that there was a lot of work to be done. And he says that the kitchen will be the hardest, as it will be necessary to take off all the knobs and handles so as not to get paint on them. He called, as I said, and told me it would be about $125.00 or maybe less. So I told him to go ahead. I called up Cranes and told them he was going to do the job, and Mr. Cole is going to call up Mrs. Crane in two or three days and make a definite date as to when he should do the work so that it will be most convenient for both of them. I know that is an awful price, but the cost of labor and materials are going up all the time. He said that he has a hard time getting men to help him. I know that he will do a good job, and we want the house to keep on looking as nice as when it was new.

Nothing much has happened since I last wrote. Last night, I went after wok and sent you a cable, and then went across the street to the Olympia, and got a salad and a cup of coffee. Then I went to Ann’s at a quarter of 6, and had a shampoo, wave, and manicure. So now I am beautiful for another week.

We have been rather busy at the office for the past couple of days. We had a peculiar looking woman come into our office yesterday. Some of her teeth were gone, and her hair was straight and I guess she had cut it herself. She looked almost 50. Mrs. McLaughlin asked her how old she was, and she said 25! She had been married at 17, and now has four children. Her husband is in the service. She was applying for an allotment---one of these Class A allotments---as her husband had not made one out to her, and we were helping her make out the forms. There are lots of questions to be answered. Mrs. McLaughlin asked the date of the marriage, and the woman told her. Then Mrs. McLaughlin asked her if it was her first marriage, and the woman answered, “Yes.” Then Mrs. McL. said, “And your husband’s first also?” The woman looked sort of blank and dumb, so Mrs. McL. repeated, “Was it the first time your husband had ever been married, also?” The woman replied, “Well, I don’t really know. He never told me.”

It is getting a little cooler every day, it seems. I guess autumn is really here to stay, now. Today was lovely, a little snappy outside, especially this morning, and bright, bright sunshine. Real early this morning, there was a frost, I understand.

Some New York Company has bought the old Bennett Hotel, or I should say the Bingham Hotel. It told about it in the morning paper, but I didn’t notice anything about it in the evening paper, but I didn’t look it over too carefully tonight, as I was anxious to come upstairs and get his letter off to you. Well, anyhow, to continue---this concern that bought the Bingham are going to fix it up, so they say. The cocktail bar is going to be moved, and the lobby and the rooms are to be redecorated and modernized. And they are going to make a specialty of family dinners. I hope they make a success of it. About the only places around here that are good to eat at are the Olympia, the Steak Shop in Johnson City, and the Hillcrest Tavern. Everyone is talking about how poor the Community is lately.

Tomorrow afternoon, I think I’ll go to the movies in the afternoon with Grandma and Auntie and maybe Sylvia, and when we get out I’ll walk home and buy myself a hat on the way. I haven’t bought a hat since the one I got in the spring for Sylvia’s wedding, I guess. Oh yes, I bought a white hat his summer. But I want a black hat for this fall and winter. I have been going without a hat all summer and so far this fall, except when I’ve gone to church or something special that seemed to require a hat, such as eating out or going out in the rain.

Ginger is well as ever. He and Rover are very good friends, except that when Ginger feels frisky and wants to play, Rover just ignores him.

I told Grandma and Auntie that you received their letters, and they were glad that they arrived safely. Grandma said to tell you that she knew you were busy and didn’t have much time to write, so she didn’t expect an answer very soon. But I know she would be thrilled to hear from you, and Aunt Sadie would be pleased, too. Don’t think that you must write them long letters. They would be just as pleased with a short note and a couple of post cards, because they realize that you are very busy, and have important work to do.

Florence just came out in the hall to look at herself in the mirror, and I heard the noise, and went to see what was going on. She is going out tonight. She may be lazy during the day, but believe me, when the sun goes down and her work is done, she always becomes amazingly lively and full of pep. She may be old, but it doesn’t cramp her style when it comes to going to a party or dance or social gathering of any kind.

Sweetheart, it is nearly 5 months now that we have been parted. I am hoping that we will be together again before many more months pass. I miss you in so many different ways, darling. And as soon as the war is over, I hope that you can come home soon, and don’t have to wait there for a long time. I’ll be so very happy when we are together again. Won’t it be wonderful? I just dream of it.

I pray that you keep safe and well, my sweet. I love you more than anything or anyone else in the world, dearest. You are the most wonderful and grandest husband in the world, honey, and I’m awfully proud of you. But I’ll be the happiest person in the world when you return, and I hope it will be soon.

All my love and kisses to you, my sweetheart.

Most affectionately,

Your loving and devoted wife,

Jeanette