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255 Wednesday - 4:30 P.M. May 9 My Dearly Beloved Darling: Wendy is in her glory - I’ve given her the freedom of the room for this hour before her bath. She’s scooting all over the place, and walking all around holding on of course. I’m trying to get her used to coming to me when I call, and she’s quite good about it. I think if she gets used to it now, I won’t have to go chasing after her later. Sunshine today, for the first time in over a week, and it feels so good. I spent a good bit of time raking around the house, and pruning some of the bushes by hand. Started the day out right with a good breakfast, and a swell letter from you which Helen brought me, and which I’ll answer later. We got downtown to the Post Office about eleven to find Dana waiting for us, why I don’t know. Her greeting as usual was, [pg 2] “W’dya hear from Warren” - “Is she still in the same place?” Accompanied by much eyebrow raising and gum chewing. No one could do her justice but Walt Disney. It’s gotten to the point where I have to hold on to myself real tight, for fear that I won’t be civil to her. Probably the best way to get around her would be to talk back even faster and more vehemently - but damn it all I don’t have anything to say to her- Wendy has just knocked over the waste basket - I wish you could see what the room and Wendy look like after this first half hour - no wonder landlords say “No children!” Now she’s crouched down rolling the basket back and forth. Among various other errands in town I ordered a copy of “This is My Beloved” for us. I won’t send it to you, unless you think you would like to read it alone, before we read it together - rather before [pg 3] you read it to me some long evening. I stopped by at the “Silver Thimble” to see what they had in the way of a nightie - more especially a yellow one. I fell in love with the idea of a yellow sheer, trimmed with black lace, but it would cost something like $35, and no nightie is worth that much. I’m sure to find something almost as interesting if I just keep on looking- Watch out! Here comes Wendy bright eyed and dirty, all set to pull the books out of the bookcase…No she’s changed her mind and decided to pull everything out of the waste basket - Guess it’s bath time- 6:00 Well, that’s done, and here I am again with the bottle of beer I decided on for tonight. Wendy created quite a stir in town this afternoon. I had her top knot done up with a pink azalea cluster, and she was wearing her little [pg 4] pink coat. Lots of people stopped to speak to her - the most frequent comments being “What a beautiful baby.” “Just look at her top knot” and “Doesn’t she have a bright little face.” Oh Wendy’s daddy I wish you were here to share all this with me. But then, Wendy is going to be at an awfully cute stage when you get back, and old enough for you to take out walking. #213- Wendy isn’t as hard for me to lift out of the tub now, as she was a month or two ago. Now, she is able to stand before I lift her - that’s easier than picking her up from a sitting position. Now that I’ve sent the 51, do you still want the Quink? Norman had a captain for a co-pilot, because this wasn’t a regular run - at least I think that is the reason. He expects to get [pg 5] out of the Army soon for two reasons: being an escapeé and serving four years. I’d rather be your -up girl - well, you started it - As for sitting in a cab with you sometime - I’d love it as I always do - in a cab or anyplace else with you. Yes, sweety your pajamas do smell like you. When they first arrive they smell a bit musty, but after I’ve worn them about half an hour they lose it and become you. Darling, that’s why I haven’t had your tropical cleaned yet. When I get to feeling very low, I always go to your coat, to feel it, and because even now, it still smells like you - its your own typical small a mixture of all sorts of things, and I love having it in both your coat and pyjamas - more especially the latter, because they’ve been with you so recently. Wendy’s hair is about the color [pg 6] of Sally Moore’s. I imagine it will bleach in the sun, if we don’t have fog all summer. The pink flower I sent before is “Martha Washington” geranium - which grows along the right side of the house. Bev’s collection is still growing - increasing by leaps and bounds now that the club has reopened. It really isn’t such a flimsy excuse when ‘the children’ in question are Wendy - she is at the breaking up and tearing down stage right now. I meant Stanford - I always get the spelling mixed up. The hottest scuttle now is that the men will be leaving earlier even than I mentioned before. The corners aren’t too bad are they? Sweety, I don’t really think the Columbia group picture would be [pg 7] worth having - Helen even being there full time, only knows the names of men in Walter’s immediate crowd. “Do you remember certain wonderful breakfasts? I should ask…” you should indeed! Right now I’m concentrating on the breakfasts and the P.S.’s ahead of us. Take you darling? How I wish I could this very minute. Even reading your words made me react, and feel just a little weepy, because I want you to come to me so much- Darling that kind, is my most favorite from you - it not only answers and comments on my letters, but gives me lots to write back about. 8:30 P.M. Received the long brown envelope this afternoon. Funny, the [pg 8] March 31st “New Yorker” was the one I had from the library last week. I read “Don’t Fence Me In” at the time, and thought that if I had been reading my own magazine I would have sent it to you. Was amused by Sticer’s memorandum and your comments on him and his baby daughter. He sounds like a funny sort of a guy. I hope Wendy isn’t going to become too common a name - not that it really matters. I’m so glad it fits little sweetie so well- Hope we don’t have a repeat on the bat tonight - I hate them as much as I do mice and snakes - both the latter, I’m sure I couldn’t chase away. Love you so much darling- Hold me tight- Bobby This is a piece of paper little sweetie got hold of. [azalea]
