Description
228 April 13 - 8:30 P.M. Friday This is poorly written, but I think I’ve remembered just about everything I wanted to write about. My Dearest Darling, Lots to write about tonight so again I will start with when we got up and run through the day for you. When Wendy woke up she started to cough, and coughed for a solid hour. I put her in bed, propped her up with two pillows, and gave her a comb for one hand and the pen for the other. I wish you could have seen her sitting there under the satin quilt waving both arms around. I curled up at the foot of the bed, and was liberally sprayed with cold gums. We got downtown about eleven and found the package waiting at the Post Office - that really was a very special surprize. I tried Wendy out on “Pat the Bunny” this afternoon - she reacted to the bunny, daddy’s whiskers made [pg 2] her laugh, and she seemed to understand bye-bye. She does wave bye-bye now, tho I swore I’d never teach her how- While we were walking to the cleaners, ran into Dana and Mike. They stayed with us while we shopped, and persuaded us to make a quick trip over to Monterey this afternoon. On our way home, we stopped by to see Bev, and found Jack there again. I swear he must drive over as soon as he gets up in the morning - At any rate tis none of my business, and I did pick up some information as well as scuttlebutt. The Boulder men, and there seem to be about ten altogether, are writing up the lessons for the Japanese classes. Emphasis is being put on language, and the course as is now consists [pg 3] of forty eight one hour lessons. I saw a copy of the lessons, and they seem to cover the very beginning stuff you had in Boulder. I heard too, that a number of men have been sent from Caca to Stanford for a Japanese course lasting several months. The scuttlebutt is that all the men not called by MacArthur by Fall will be free to choose their own billets. The men now remaining seem to feel that they will be [?] at least until August. Jack has been given two weeks leave, as have a number of other men, and is leaving tomorrow to pick up his wife and two baby daughters - one 2 years and the other 7 months. He and Bev have been providing the younger element in town with some good gossip which has come back to me. It is, as you say, amusing [pg 4] but I do feel a bit sorry for Bud - who tho he is a kid, has very real love for Bev, and reasonably sure would never pull anything like this on her. When we got home, Wendy had her lunch went to sleep, and I sunbathed out on the patio. At 2:30 I had just gone in to put her on the toidey when the Special man arrived. I don’t think I left her more than two minutes, but when I went back into the bathroom she was on her knees on the floor under the wash basin. The toidey and strap were still in place, so I have yet to figure out how she managed it. I was rereading your letter when Dana arrived, and we started right out. She just had a letter from Steve written on [pg 5] Monday - after having had no mail for a week and a half. Steve is off Okinawa - guess Henry is probably there too. Steve doesn’t seem to be doing language work, but likes what he is doing very well. We went over to Del Monte first - the Ships Store wasn’t open yet, so I stood Wendy up near a chair outside so that she could hold on til it opened. She did very well, and didn’t fall down. Our next stop was the PX at the Presidio, and finally we stopped in Monterey so that I could get the snapshot album for your pictures - You would like the one I picked out sweety. Its square 7”x8” and has a heavy forest green leather like cover. Its small and chunky - just right. I don’t think you’ll particularly like the libious green colored corners I picked out, [pg 6] but they taste peppermint like so I enjoy them. We got back to Carmel about five, and I went over to see Helen for a minute. Bobbie got so upset when he heard of Roosevelt’s death yesterday afternoon that he ran a temperature of 102° and she had to stay home all day. Today I wheeled Wendy over in her carriage so that Helen could keep an eye on her, and I made a quick trip down to the Post Office. There was no mail for Helen but I received the letter I was missing - April 3rd and the enclosed pictures of the jeep and Etter and Ewing. Helen had found the group picture that was taken just before you left Columbia. You stand out very well on the end of the last row. Speaking of pictures - sent Muz and M and F duplicates of two of [pg 7] the snapshots - you alone and with Super, Kim and Andy. M and F think you look very well, and ask that I send you their love. After putting Wendy to bed - I get the IPR magazine, and the first section of today’s Chronicle ready to mail you. Then I started arranging the pictures in the album, and before I knew it they were all in place. Haven’t put the captions in yet tho, perhaps I’ll be able to do that tomorrow. Pictures are surely wonderful, hope you will be able to send some more before long. The regular broadcasts are still off the air - there has been lots of good music, tributes from here and abroad, and of course news broadcasts. I don’t think people have yet fully realized what has happened - they still seem stunned. [pg 8] It’s getting late so I’ll get on to answering your two letters now- #192 Dr. Kooser’s pictures are excellent, and such a welcome addition to our growing collection. Charlie looks well and very happy - I think all the things you said about him are very true. My favorite picture of course, is the one showing the smiling group of youngsters- I am excited about the birthday package - anything at all from you is special darling. And speaking of Specials, I love getting them. Sweety I do understand about your wanting a change - if I was out there I know I would feel the same way, but I’m not, and it’s a big help to me to know here that you are in a safe and relatively comfortable place, even if there isn’t much excitement. Of course I’d like it fine if you stayed [pg 9] right where you are until its time to come home, but I know you wouldn’t be happy, and that after all is my prime concern. There is just one thing I would like to ask of you, and that is that you make sure of chances for getting back to casa before you request a transfer even if it means waiting where you are longer than you would like. You know lots more about it of course than I do - all I can do is cross my fingers and hope real hard that something will bring you back soon. A propos of my visit to the doctor - I’ve had no more trouble and am feeling quite well most of the time - part of it is my own fault because I’m not eating enough, but I will try to do better. Its hard when you are alone - eating becomes a [pg 10] necessity rather than a pleasure. Darling, you know that all I really want is you, and all the other things are incidental. Its just that I don’t want us to live in the future always, and then do what M and F have done and end up with so little. “Wher’ere it be” we will always have a home - but there are homes and homes, and I want to get down as soon as we’re able to having something we can call our own - and that’s especially important if we are going to have more children - its even important just for Wendy. #188 Fun hearing more about the wedding - If you can, when you come home try to bring a bottle of sake - I’d like to taste the real stuff. Glad the stationery arrived - will send another box soon. So sleepy now, can hardly keep my eyes open - My beloved - sweet dreams - I love you- Bobby
