February 12, 1943

Dearest Hal,

Sam and I went to town today with Trace F. and took our photo. We were not there very long and Sam insisted on spending most of our time buying Valentines. He has already sent one to everyone he knows but he would like to start in all over again. He can be very sweet and extremely plausible and quite determined to have his way. I wonder where he gets it, don’t you?

I am giving Sam something for a Valentine that he wants very much indeed. He is crazy for a playroom so I am fixing up the little room off the living room for him. I really haven’t done much to the room. I had such a job in cleaning out the junk that seems to accumulate around this house, I haven’t recovered yet. It was a dusty job so you can imagine what that has done to me. Mother had some ivory paint so I painted the woodwork. We want to do something to the walls and put a linoleum rug on the floor. Sam is very thrilled though as yet there is nothing to be thrilled with. He needs a place for his toys. He has not unpacked his electric train since he has been up here because he lacks space and his Daddy to help him run it. Do you remember the night we sat on the bedroom floor and tried it out the night I brought it home? It’s moments like that, that I’ve shared with you, that help me get through the lonely times like this.

Sam talks and talks about my Daddy and all the wonderful things his daddy can do. Today he was telling Dr. F. “My Daddy is killing Japs, I guess he has killed several hundred Japs and some Germans too.” You had better get busy.

Hal, we were distressed to hear of the death of Dr. P. He has been sick about a week – his heart. He got his car stalled and I understood attempted to push it himself. He strained his heart and was in the hospital for several days. Yesterday morning, he was to be taken to the University Hospital to see a specialist there. He died as they were getting him ready to go. This is what we hear, I do not know if it is true. I will send you a newspaper account of his death.

Sam is modeling with some modeling clay and I have to stop every few minutes to assist. I am not writing a very connected letter, as a consequence. Everyone says Sam is looking so well now. I wish you could see him, I think the pictures Miss B. took of him show this especially well. You will have to send a release so I can mail the pictures to you. I guess you can sign your own. Just some thing to give the postmaster here so he will accept the package. We hope you will like the pictures.

We love you very dearly. I hope we won’t have to spend another year as we have spent the past one. May God keep you safe and well and send you home when the time comes, until then -

All my love,

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