October, 19, 1944

Dear Joe,

I don’t remember whether I answered your last letter or not but I can’t answer it now because I don’t have it with me. I’ll look it up when I get home to see if there is anything I should answer.

I still haven’t figured out what excuse to use when Ray calls on Friday niche because I still am not going out with him. Right now I’d have a good one. I feel so awful today… I really should have stayed home. I have one of those awful colds, plus a headache. So blame anything you don’t like in this letter on the way I feel.

I told Jane, before we even got your letter asking me to tell her that I thought since you were nearing the end of your training they were probably loading you with work so that you didn’t have a chance to write otherwise I said I was sure you would have. So, after we received your letter I told her what you had said. She felt real sorry for you and said she would have to write you.

Did Jane tell you about Al playing football? He wrote home and said he thought he might get home after football season. So, Jane says when he gets home I must come for dinner and meet him. I guess she feels she should because I did. But she shouldn’t feel that way because I don’t really care. Besides I’m self-conscious?? By the way what is Al like from your view point if I am to meet him I’d like to know what he is like – of course , Jane thinks he is pretty swell. Do you think I’d like him? And of course, do you think he’d like me? I always feel in a case like that, that I’m being forced on people and that’s one thing that I hat and that makes me very self-conscious. Especially in the case of a boy. Of course, I know Jane likes me, most of the girls do. I have slews (plenty) of friends here at the office. But it takes me a long time to grow on the boys. Eventually, I do. I have lots of men friends, here at the office now (casual of course) but it has taken me a good part of these 5 years to cultivate [to] them. No with Ray it’s different. He fell “hook, line, and sinker” the same as Jim Divine. But who cares.

You know Jim was even nicer than Ray. I did like him a little but he was too serious. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about him but on a whole he was nice.

However, getting back to all –

10/23/44

Sorry – here I am again, and I still don’t have your letter to answer I will though.

There’s a lot more news since I stopped off.

Mom saw “Since You Went Away” on Thursday morning, I think with Mad at the Mastbaum. She said it was sad but she liked it a lot.

I saw it last night (Sunday) at the Mastbaum with Anne P. I also think it was sad but the funny parts compensated for the sad ones. I think it was beautiful, not at all depressing at the end. Everybody in it was swell. Didn’t Joseph Cotton (Tony) remind you of Bell Thompson, Lt. J.D.? Mom and I both agree that he did. I thought he was a little bit of all right and then some.

By the way, I was expecting you home on Sat. afternoon. That was the excuse I gave Ray when he called on Friday night to see if I would go out with him on Saturday night. I’, sorry but I just couldn’t of anything else. He was quite disappointed but couldn’t very well argue on an excuse like that. So, unless he decides to call in the meantime, I won’t see him till I appear at Chez Vous again. He mentioned that he hoped to see me there next Saturday but not if I can help it.

Hell our long lost friend George showed up yesterday afternoon I gave him your address again and told him you said he should have lots to write about by this time. So, he said he would write. He looks pretty swell, he lost some 20 odd pounds. He stayed for a couple hours, I guess and talked. His deferment was up the end of September. He hasn’t heard anything since. He’s been seeing a couple girls but he says “It can’t happen there.”

I was looking for a coat for work on Sunday up on Fourth Street with Louise P. I saw a nice one the only one I like - $40- some joke. I’ll have to get one this week though because I don’t have anything to wear and it’s getting cold for my tweed Fall coat. Anne P. was home for a couple of days with [a] touch of La Grippe. I didn’t go anywhere on Saturday night so I went over and sat and chatted with her for a couple of hours.

By the way Mary is to arrive home on Wednesday coming. Johnny wrote home to say so and that he was ready to ship overseas but not to tell Mary.

Vincentine Lapreziosa had a baby boy on Thursday or Friday. Don’t know any more about it than that.

Domenic Rotella, eve hear, has brought Chickie home to stay. He, to our surprise is also ready to ship overseas. Isn’t that a scheme! Pat is still home, so they can see each other anyway. Pat came home again for Dally’s father’s funeral, you know.

Girl’s here at the office (club) are having Club Meeting on Halloween’s night and we’re making it a party. You’d never guess what I’m going as – an authentic, fully dressed U.S. Navy Man – in other words a Sailor. One of the fellows here gave me the idea and another boy here at the office is lending me his brother’s complete outfit. How do you like that!?

BIG NEWS!!! After a year, I finally had a winner or one of my 50-50 Club tickets. But it was one of the smallest prizes given out, $5.00 for which I received a $1.00 for selling it. One of the boys here at the office won it – Earl Drake. He’s a nice person. He’s been taking a ticket every week since I started to see them.

Well, I’m running low on information. So, I guess I’ll sign off. Write and let us know how things are.

So long for now.

Love,

Sis

P.S. enclosed is a laugh that George gave me. I made copies of it, pretty good. Here are a few copies for your crew.

P.S. Have a roll of 6, 6 film which I will send soon.