Hello Dot

Well honey, I’m still alive and kicking. Just received your letters for the 18^th and 20^th of January. Ha ha. I have got some for February but I got them first. So you see my mail runs kind of backwards. Ha ha.

Well you wanted to know first where the hell I am. Ha ha. You must know that one by now. I’m still somewhere in North Africa. Ha ha. That covers a lot of ground but that’s it. Ha ha.

So old Vince is taking it OK now? Well, the first year is the hardest. After that you kind of get numb. Ha ha. When he gets to where he can lay on the ground, pull a raincoat over him and go to sleep. Well that’s when he becomes a good soldier. Of course it has to be raining, too. Ha ha. You’ve got to get tough to stand this life. Ha ha.

Does he still call Mary and choke up? Ha ha. The trouble with him is that he was at home too much. He is learning to take the bumps now.

I will be glad to hear from him. I haven’t had a chance to write him as yet.

I’m glad to hear that Ma is keeping my health up. I hope she doesn’t drink too much beer before I get home. We will have to get a truck and a derrick to get her out of the house. Ha ha. Give her my best. I hope the leg is much better. Boy she sure gets around.

Sorry to hear that Mary is not so well. She kind of worries me with that trouble of hers. She may go quickly like Ma did. So I kind of prepare myself for her and also Hazel. Then again, they may outlive us all like Aunt Kate. Ha ha.

I hope Kate is up and around now. Give her my best and tell her I said to keep that big nose clean. I used to write to Bernice but only when I was home. Well I got too disgusted with her. She really turned out to be a mess.

It won’t be long before you have your hands full, I mean with Shirley and Sis. They’re out every night with lots of boyfriends. I wouldn’t want your job. Ha ha.

I am glad my letter of the 20^th of January made you glad all over. Ha. But about crossing a lake. If I remember right it was the damn ocean. Ha ha.

About the lions, snakes and stuff. We are not in that part of Africa. That’s the hot part, I guess. It’s cool up where we are but it’s their winter here. The biggest thing I have now was a coyote. There may be lots of snakes here in the hot season.

Tell Gordan that there will be a hot time for quite a few nights when we get home. Hope old Vin doesn’t lose his nerve and go over the hill, I mean if they go to ship him. Hell, I think he can take it though.

Mike sure will have his troubles in here. He will have a good path woven to the guardhouse. Ha ha.

Well honey, say hello to the kids for me. Loads of best wishes.

Jim