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Monday Nov. 6 6:30 pm My darling - Three letters from you this morning! - it makes such a difference…To get your reactions to some of the letters I wrote (so long ago, it seems) from Hawaii makes me a little ashamed of the scant and prosy notes I've been writing lately. Try not to mind them, and never for a moment think that I feel any less keenly about things I say in my longer and more thoughtful letters, just because there are gaps between such ones. Two other things you may be sure of now and always: when I gripe about anything, it's only of momentary irritation recognized as such, and not discouragement -; and that I love you, sweetie, more and more deeply all the time - not just out of an excess of sentimentality due to separation but because you've become part of me to an extent I never realized before - I think of that often, sometimes with a feeling of wonder and always accepting it gratefully. [It has started all of a sudden to pour, and I mean pour - the rain has a way of coming up quickly here, and just as quickly subsiding 15 or 20 minutes later. It's a rather refreshing characteristic of the place, I think, and gives me a pleasant, cozy feeling here in the office where I am standing, all informal watch until somebody else gets back from the movies. This despite the fact that the shower is accompanied by a strong breeze which blows a fine mist thru the building, open as it is on all sides - It is fitted with shoji - Japanese sliding walls - but I couldn't find all of them. - Now, by the time I've written this and answered a couple of phone calls the rain has stopped again. Over at the movie men will be taking off their ponchos or filing back to their seats with no interruption in the show.] [pg 3] Since about the day before yesterday I've been able to take a little time at odd moments during the day to take stock of the many little things that go on in this office and in direct proportion to that time I cease to be so annoyed at having to do such routine work where it prevents me from learning the very things I'm here to learn. Soon it will be done with and I'll enjoy my work thoroly. I hate being so immersed in routine details that I had no part in planning. Having seen and enjoyed “Mr. Skeffington” last night, I'm now on a one-man strike to get things done for the next few evenings. I feel like it now. Do you know how good it is and how close it brings you to get pictures of the house and of you and Wendy, your little swatches of cloth, your descriptions of daily doings? I love it all and wish I could write you in such detail. (Some day soon perhaps I can recapitulate most of a day's doings for you) And I'm so sorry I haven't a camera just to be able to send you a few personal snapshots, but they’re especially scarce here. I'm crazy about that lovely little snapshot of you holding Wendy up, under the balcony in back of the house. There's something so characteristic and precious about your expression - I almost like it best of any of your pictures. It is already mounted in the lower half of the center panel of my triptych - Wendy in her basket occupying the top half and of course you on the Jones’ stone wall the other two panels. [pg 4] I was amused at the projected use of “ben” and “jo”. Later on when Wendy can say two syllables, why not use the Japanese words - “daiben” or big convenience, and “shōben” or little convenience? I should think, if to discriminate between functions in speaking seems desirable, that they would come in handy, especially in company. Or perhaps the single word “banjo” (convenient place =bathroom - yes, I know you remember it but I was just breaking down its literal meaning) will cover everything. I do hope you've received #s 18 and 23 by now. I have all of yours thru #36 (including 2 #34s, one written Fri. Oct. 20th and received Nov. 1, the other written Thurs. Oct 19th and received along with those of Oct. 21 and 22nd, today). - very glad you got the radio! - Forget about a watch band honey - have a couple of cloth ones for now and given time can make or have made an aluminum one from shot down Jap plane fuselage metal. About half the men with wrist watches - most of the enlisted men - have done so. Something I would like you to look for is one of those ordinary fiber and celluloid snapshot case with 6 or 8 celluloid pages each holding 2 snapshots facing opposite - that's just for my overflow and to carry around in my pocket. This little leather one would spoil. One of the officers moved out of this office today and I have moved into his desk, at least temporarily- of course I setup my two photo folders and all the civilians stopped to admire your pictures at some time [pg 5] or other during the day. I'll be very glad to get “The [Te?ing] of Russia”. I brought only one book with me (apart from half a suitcase full of small dictionaries, various [?] aids, etc., all of which I'm glad to have) - it is Lamott’s “[N?], the Crime and Punishment of Japan,” an excellent little book which Jean May sent Henry, which I asked if I could borrow and which after leaving I discovered to be inscribed to me as a gift. I'll send it to you later on when I've finished it and 2 or 3 others who asked to read it have done so. (Incidentally, any books which come here will bear a few battle scars - some kind of bug eats the finish off the covers, in spots! It doesn't hurt the binding or the pages, however.) So you’re growing some white hairs! Insubordination. Yes, I did vote- by mail ballot from Hawaii. Well, darling, with a handful of “popping sounds” for Wendy and one lush and 2 tender kisses to you I retire to my tent, hoping not to fall into a mud puddle on the way (got myself nicely bruised and stiff playing volleyball this afternoon, tripping on a peg - but it's worth it to get just a little exercise now and then.) The second brief rain has stopped - my relief came cursing back from a long movie - a baby is crying, and somebody in the gook camp is playing a harmonica- Goodnight, darling Warren
