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368 Friday 9 Nov. 7:40 am Darling, Last night was a staying-away-from quarters evening, with a couple of Romeos at work in the adjoining two compartments (I don't think they really get anywhere with their Navy nurses-who are pretty respectable girls - except to have their own quiet little parties) and for the first time I found myself a little inconvenienced: I was in the mood to wrap packages and write letters, but didn't feel like picking up everything and moving somewhere else with it. Our package wrapped before dinner (to be opened on arrival) merely contains the 3 pair of plain clogs I've postponed sending for some time; the doll for Bev's sister, if you know where to forward it; a bottle of green paint; a jacket I've picked up amongst surveyed clothes - dirty but almost new - and which I’d appreciate your having dry-cleaned and holding for me. Incidentally, I suppose it goes without saying that no more packages, [pg 2] are in order. Also a piece of wood-carving from Saipan which should make you laugh - a Chamarro god. Yesterday I also took several things to the paint and carpenter shops to be fixed up: a Japanese school desk and two chairs which I've been saving for Wendy, crated, they'll be shipped to Bowne St. for use later on; a heavily-constructed Jap. Army communications instrument chest, also to be crated because otherwise it might be swiped en route, which without packing anything in it I'll send to the same address. Found out that even traveling by ship one is limited to the amount one can carry; so my truck will have to be shipped, and unless we’re coming back out here (I await your reaction and also that interview with Schwartz, who should be on the island soon now), that will go to Bowne St. also. Takes about 3 or 4 months. Incidentally, I've got [pg 3] to check up on my book box, which as far as I can figure is still in the San Francisco freight terminal. Cuddy - our yeoman, leaves this morning; we have lost 2 Nisei and will lose the rest between now and 1 Jan. - perhaps soon. Barrett is not to be made Private Enterprise and Labor Officer: the captain kept insisting on a promise to stay so many months, and because Barrett wouldn't promise definitely and was finally asked to decide when he wanted to get out, he asked to be out of the service by 15 Jan.; therefore, he won't be here much longer than I. My relief, I suppose, will relieve both of us. The school will make out all right except that no English program of any consequence will be possible, and a minimum of supervision will be exercised. My relief should be here in about 3 weeks, but I've no way of telling whether [pg 4] the captain will keep me - as the only language officer on the island - longer than that. You may be sure that I'll do what I can to promote the opposite course. As the thought of actually going home becomes real, I begin to return to life in a surprising number of little ways in which I didn't realize I was [?] into half-consciousness. Darling, I never want to do anything again which involves our being apart for long. I love you very much Warren
