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#47 Monday Nov. 13 6:15 pm Dearly Beloved, The latest pictures of Wendy (received 2 or 3 days ago) are delightful. I wish I had bought a small snapshot album in Hawaii where they were easy to get. From now on will you put the approximate date on the back of all pictures? On looking back thru them I can't always remember the sequence. You were right - you do take better pictures with your camera than I do. But you must admit I was improving a little (again I'm looking at my snapshot folder) - or was it the subject? Your letters have all caught up with me (thru 53) and seem to take seven days. The trouble at first was simply in the incomplete address; Navy #3247 brings it to this island but not to our post office (Military Govt) Now for the luxury of rereading letters #38-53, with occasional interruptions for comment or answers - Can't seem to find out the cable # of this place. If I do I'll make a note of it) I'll let you know. The photograph of Wendy and you is just wonderful, darling. I love it. That was a good idea about a letter to Doug. I'll start one in a few days for you to finish. I'm also going [pg 2] to send him a lighter airmail. So glad you’re sending me “Pat the Bunny” - I'll return it right away before its cover gets eaten. And darling - you shouldn't have got me more Christmas presents. Somehow I feel as tho you’re the one who should have the big Christmas. All I need is a few little tokens, just rain checks on Christmases to come. But I won't scold you. “Darling - I am feeling less desperate - but nothing will ever really be whole till you are me again” (Oct 24) - you've probably felt more so again since you wrote that, but you will also feel less so again after that, sweetie - just hang on. [?] what you’re going thru and even I don't write about it, remember that I understand little how tough it is as well as how necessary it is to control that feeling .I find that I miss Henry and his companionship here; he was a good partial substitute for being with you. As time goes on, tho, I'll find sufficient social and intellectual stimulus here - there are many whom I like and just haven't had time to hand around with before now. I will always tell you as well as I am able, how much danger I am in. There is almost none now, darling, and altho a few in other places have been slightly wounded in actual operations, perhaps one or two seriously, I know of no Navy M.G. officers anywhere in the Pacific who has been killed. You mustn't think about it, tho. When I finally get around to giving you some news of our daily round here you will [pg 3] find it less easy to imagine all sorts of dangers. You speak of “Town Meeting of the Air” - how I miss the news out here! The latest papers are from July - Time and the New Yorker do get here and not very late, but I seldom see them. The civilians are much impressed - I mean the literate, educated ones - with the number of pages in our newspapers. Has Wendy done any more creeping? Your story of the fig leaf reminded me of something I overheard one of the office yeomen say, not prettily but expressively - “If somebody were to give the world an enema, this place we’re in now is where they’d insert the tube.” As a matter of truth, however he reneged and agreed there were far worse places. Miscellaneous expressions, designed to improve or establish your genteel young-lady's education - “fuck-off,” - a jerk, dope, bungler (I resent this use of a good word); “to be pissed off” = steamed up, mad, I am proud of you, balancing the bank statement! (I won't say that it proves anything…) What happened to the magazine article? Write me more. Isn't it curious - I was thinking of sending you a pair of my pajamas, when along you come and suggest it! Would [pg 4] have done so before now except that I haven't discovered any wrapping paper here yet. But I'm sure I can get some. I've been smoking my pipe - the one with the silver band especially - quite a lot lately since I discovered some tobacco that's dry enough. The problem here is not to keep it moist but to keep it from getting so. I wonder if by any chance Doug is in [?eyte] now? It's entirely an Army show. “My letters beside yours seem so pitifully inadequate…” They never are, darling, - they are a source of constant pleasure and satisfaction to me. Mine have been inadequate lately - it'll come and go like that a little depending on what I'm doing and how time I have, so pay no attention to it. And I think that's the last time I'll make an excuse for it. Let's not apologize to each other, darling, ever. You are everything I want and need, both as you are now and as you are growing to be. I'm so sorry that both Mrs. Price and Marge and Jeff are leaving for the winter. But there will be others - keep writing me about them all. Forgot to give Charley your message for Helen but will tomorrow. Do you expect a visit from John May's wife (can't think of her name at the moment) around Christmas time? Eight o'clock, and so to bed early for a chance. I love you! Warren
