Description
286 June 4 - 6:00 P.M. Monday Dearly Beloved: Am feeling ever so much better this evening. Don't quite know what hit me last week - this morning I woke up with a splitting headache and mammouth nerve hives - when both Gerry and Helen got mail, and I didn't, I didn't know what to think - But then Helen read Walter's letter telling of your visit, and I realized what had happened. This afternoon I got your letters of the 28th marked on the 29th and 30th in which you speak of the trip. From Walter's letter, I gather you both had a good visit, and got well potted. Now, I'm eager [pg 2] for your letter, which should reach me tomorrow or the next day. M.J. Kempner sounds like pretty much of a washout. Its too bad, because some of the women's magazines do have farsighted and capable writers working for them. I'm almost afraid to think of anything as wonderful as our being together for Wendy's next birthday. As for me, I secretly think of Christmas, but with more wistfulness than hopefulness. Was delighted to hear that you had received the pictures. I thought of the toga too! Wendy's hair is long in back, and hangs over the collars of her dresses. The Mother's Day flowers - I sort of wish you hadn't told me, tho I was touched by Sammy's thoughtfulness. We do have an [pg 3] awful lot of anniversaries all together, but getting flowers on Mother's Day was sort of like two kinds of icing on a cake. And, it thrilled me no little to think of myself as a mother - that's still hard for me to believe. I'm awfully glad you sent the cigarette case to Sammy - he gets a kick out of us I know, and is awfully nice to me, giving me extra little bonuses whenever I go in to buy my 35-50 cents worth of flowers. If I could get such a house as you describe I wouldn't hesitate a minute, but if I did our rent would go up at least $30 a month. Probably I will stay in this little house, and when you come home we can move Wendy's crib to the little room upstairs. With two of us around, it won't be [pg 4] too much of a drain carrying her up and down the stairs. Then, too, she will be old enough to call out if she needs anything during the night. 7:15 This morning we went to town early. I stopped by at the Mel-o-dee, and left the cake - 2 big pieces - with many thanks. Ramona said that you had ordered a Whitman's Sampler, but they weren't able to find one either in Monterey or Carmel - what they got was delicious, and I'm eating it one piece at a time, because its so rich. This is just an idea, and you don’t have to do anything about it if you don't think its worthwhile. I thought that if you kept on the watch for a week or two you might be able to pick up enough [pg 5] good sized pretty shells, bits of coral, native wood or bamboo to make up a box to send Sammy and Ramona to use in their flower arrangements for the show window. Ramona is married and ha children of her own - is tall, rather heavy, and dark - uses good, but strong perfume, and is very pleasant. Sammy is a native of either Mass. or Conn., and has a maple tree planted outside the shop, so that he can watch the leaves change in the Autumn. From there we went to the photographs - George Smith - we stopped in his shop to see about having a picture of the three of us taken, but found he only does portraits - perhaps you remember. We had to leave [pg 6] the buggy and drive to the studio with George in a jalopy, that was much worse than [Uwasa?] but Wendy was delighted with the noise and bumps. The studio is quite large, very sparsely furnished, but with a very springy couch which was perfect for Wendy. Darling, she was perfect - interested in all the going on, and full of smiles and pep - George was enchanted with her, and kept on snapping pictures til I thought he would never stop. I'm sure he got her in every conceivable position, and didn't pose her once. They should be excellent - George himself is eager to see the proofs, and is going to have them ready for [pg 7] me tomorrow afternoon - I can hardly wait. You would like George - he's a character - middle aged - half his front teeth out, in need of a shave, and dressed in plaid wool shirt and dungarees, he knows his work, and has a good if slightly queer head on his shoulders. I'm sure if both of us had him there we would have spent several hours bull-sessioning with him. He's a must for you to meet when you get back to Carmel. This afternoon we drove over to the Presidio with Helen and Bobbie - While they were off getting B's hair cut, Wendy and I waited in the car. Little sweetie went immediately to the steering wheel, [pg 8]screeching with delight - so loved that a group of Officer's about fifty yards away were highly amused. Shortly afterwards a paunchy, sour-pussed, heavily braided Navy Officer walked by and Wendy shouted right in his ear “Da-da!” The poor guy nearly lost his wits, and I folded up convulsed while he stalked away, fast, and with a very red face. She is learning tricks so fast I can hardly keep up with her. Today she popped her sixth tooth, and learned not only to shake her head, but to say “No, No” very distinctly. She has a darling voice. This afternoon I put her here in the chair - she climbed up on [pg 9] the arm, using the bookshelves as a brace, and turned on the lamp - something I had no idea she was capable of. She is perfect sweety, intelligent and very good to look at, to say nothing of being exceptionally happy-natured - that last, I'm most of all thankful for. These next few years are going to be lots of fun for us with her, and after that there will be younger brothers and sisters, I hope. On second thought, I bet its all going to be fun, as far as watching the children grow is concerned. Now I have some mending to do, a bit of reading, and then to bed, and I'm sure I'll sleep better tonight. I love you darling, I love you very much - Bobby
