Sept-2nd-42
Dearest Hal-
I was greatly surprised to get a letter from you today that was pro worked American Forces Aug 23rd and also very delighted. I have been worried about your having that rash as was afraid it was one of those loathsome tropical diseases and I surely was glad to hear that you had gotten it cured up. It was very strange the way it affected you and most fortunate that you could cure it by going to a high altitude.
I’ve heard of prickly heat all my life but never knew it was like that.
It sounds like you had not gotten much mail since the 30 letters.
Don’t think we are not writing to you if you fail to hear from us, for we are. Page said she has been using the V mail blanks and would send me some. They can be obtained at all the post offices now (the papers say) and the page is photographed on microfilms and sent in a very compact p’f’g on tube- which conserves space and are supposed to go through more promptly. Page has been very nice to send you letters around for us to see in back we all pass them around.
I think you should write and have your letters ready when the opportunity presents itself to mail them. Billy says he has written to you four times. He has taken an exam before the board for his officer training but is waiting to see if he is to be accepted. He is getting right dissatisfied there lately. I am glad he is, for this is no time for playing around. He now wants to go over seas.
I have not heard from Bits for such a long time. It surely hurts me the way he does. I wrote him yesterday, but he probably will not answer. Friday will be his birthday.
You did not say how many letters you have gotten from me. I have mailed you quite a few.
While I’m writing I am listening to Nelson E. and Nadine C. on the old gold program. He is singing “When I grow too old to dream”.
Eliz. came up to see me Sunday. She had not been here for some time. Sara would have come today but she had no one to keep the boy. She had Auntie down last week and brought her over. Then Auntie came over with Mrs. M. another day. I was so glad to see her. You might send her a card sometime. She is so interested in you and what you are doing. She asked to send love to you and enjoys seeing your letters.
Roscoe is still in this country.
He asked to be transferred from
Mrs. J D S B. has just sent me a list of the service boys from
[edited for privacy]
Sara was suppose to come over today with Mrs. M. but couldn’t because she couldn’t find anyone to keep his highness.
If I can only see my children now and then it makes such a difference.
Sara said not long ago that Dr. S. did not think I would get well after I came here. Well, I didn’t either and I was not very interested in getting well. All last summer I rarely ever heard from any of you or saw any of you. No one seemed to bother about me and I was constantly worried about how to get my board paid. Under such conditions one can’t improve much. I see it all around me every day. I’ve felt like if I could have the power to give back health to some of these young people and young mothers who have left small children at home. Many of them will never get away from here. It is heart breaking to be in the midst of so much sickness and trouble. How we should prize health and treasure it above everything. Without it nothing else matters it seems. I am feeling really well now. I’m the only PRU on their porch and I go around and do errands for various people, distribute the mail etc. I don’t feel sick at all and I know I could get along just as well some where else, but no one wants me to leave here and Sara doesn’t want me to come back to her house as she is afraid I’ll infect them with TB, which I need not do at all. The dangerous thing about that is that people who don’t know they have it are everywhere spreading it while the ones who know and take precautions are not endangering others.
So when Abbott pays me I’ll be most obliged to get a house or apartment for some where to live. Sara thinks I should sell off my things which I hate to do. She says when I get well I’d better board some where instead of keeping house, as it is less work etc. But no boarding house would feel like taking a TB patient whose own children are afraid of them. So you see the problem I am up against.
I used to think I’d
like more than any thing at all to live in the city. Now I find that as I have
been a country lady for all these 60 years. I’d as soon or sooner finish up
there. I find myself wishing, we could have kept the old place and feeling like
we could if we had managed a little more wisely. But with the war conditions
are bad. With the big Army Hospital going up
near Fishersville property should be on the up in that section- also
Churchville is a nice little place to live- Id like nothing better than a
little home or apt in a place like that- but I’d likely put most of my money in
war bonds now & call them in as needed, if
I had it. I guess I can live as cheaply here as anywhere, but when patients are
up and as well as I am they are not expected to stay on base indefinitely but to continue
their rest at home and leave the bed for someone else. There are five patients
on this porch from
I’m sorry you are out of writing paper and tobacco. Page said she had sent you cigars several times.
I may try to send you a package but have a feeling it would be a long time going.
The package Eliz. sent you took 3 months. Some one probably stole your tobacco.
Please don’t feel that we are not writing if you fail to hear- We are all thinking of you and I feel very proud that you are making this sacrifice for your country and I love you dearly and am constantly praying that you will be kept safely and returned to us in time. Write as often as you can. A heartfull of love to you.
Devotedly mother-
I think the rugs Eliz has cost about $2.00 for 8 x 10 and a longer one was of course. If I were 4 00 I’d not bother about rugs on account of the transportation problem unless you know a safe place they can be left to be sent when the conflict is over, of course they are very nice but require other like furnishings or they are out of place.