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#261 (Again I have run out of envelopes, and thereby lost the number. But I think this is about where I left off.) Navy #3247 (Mil. Govt) FPO San Francisco Wed. June 27 1945 7 pm My dearest darling, No mail from you today - and I hardly know what to do, with all your letters answered for what seems to be the first time. That's an exaggeration, of course, about not knowing what to do; there's plenty to write about always. Tonight, though, I want to glance through some books I'm returning to you or sending you to read and keep for us. a) Emily Hahn. I haven't marked in this because as in the case of most books, there wasn't occasion to. But I did enjoy it and will probably want to read it again. Do you have any preference in the matter of keeping wrappers? They preserve the cover from fading, of course, but to me they’re a nuisance; I like to leave the wrapper [pg 2] on a book that's unread, no matter for how long, and discard it after I've read it. If it makes no difference to you I'll continue to do as I do now. b) “The Honorable Picnic” with Slicer's compliments Arthur has read it and recognized many of the places in it. c) “The Three Bamboos” d The Barnaby Quarterly. I’d like to keep any of these that we do not have in book form. I am very fond of Barnaby. e) “Cannery Row,” which, as I think I mentioned, I enjoyed a good deal more than I expected to. I have another read book here: “Nippon - The Crime and Punishment of Japan”; but it has a good index and bibliography and I think I'll keep it around awhile. I've also a pamphlet called “Japanese Foods Commonly Used in Hawaii,” [pg 3] with detailed descriptions and recipes (I think, John Kooser gave it to me) but I want to glance thru it again or perhaps read it before sending it on - if the school suiji can make use of it (tho I doubt that they need it) I may even leave it here. 8:30 pm Just discovered about 50 unread pages of Cannery Row - several chapters just before Chapt. 30. Don't know how I happened to miss them before. Yes, this is a good little book. I marked a few passages in it. Have begun to read a good deal recently - more at least, than in some time. Most of my reading is done after lunch as I sit naked in my canvas chair inside the shower, tilted back in the most comfortable and relaxing position I have ever discovered [pg 4] My body is practically a straight line, the chair in such delicate balance that my head against the wall puts no strain on my neck. I suppose I must look rather curious reclining there clad only in an Army fatigue cap (for shade), glasses and a pair of geta. But the thought does not occur to me while I'm reading; the position and lack of clothing feel natural and pleasant. In addition to the package of books I shall be mailing you soon, I expect to get off another containing among other things, two more sets of those seed beads. That may seem a little of a muchness, but I wanted you to have me in particular because all of its components were made [pg 5] by 4th grade students in the Korean school and presented to me by their teacher; each piece has the name of its maker written on an attached slip of paper. I should like you to keep this set regardless of what you do with the one you already heave, which I bought, and the other one I'm sending, which was presented by a former Korean teacher who's gone into the business of making them. These are in a package untitled “Ben Johnston - In Memory.” Can Wendy wear any of it? I suppose it wouldn't be very safe, but you can use your own judgment as to that. They have all been sprayed with a potent mosquito spray because without that they attract ants. I'm hoping that you can give a set to [pg 6] Ramona, but am sort of doubtful as to whether they’re fit (if you want to, I'll get extras in a larger size of the ones that don't) Or Bev. Whenever you get a package with a lot of crumpled newspaper in it, be sure to go through all the newspaper (I [?] just feel it) before throwing it away. I won't send anything really tiny that way, of course. I think I'll do some wrapping right now. Am waiting anxiously for your next letter to tell me that you and Wendy are both all right, and for a letter before long which says that you've received mine about the unlikelihood of my leaving soon. It's hell to be in suspense that way, and I don't like to think of you so. I love you, darling Warren
