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#85 Wednesday 27 December 7:30 pm Hi, darling- I've just got your last ten letters neatly booked (which reminds me that I can get along without the extra notebooks, if you haven't sent them, as your letters just fit in one of the tin boxes you sent. When I get fifty in my notebook I take out the first 25. If you have bought any, we can use them here - for one thing, any of the civilians would be crazy to have one.) Back to your #88: Enjoyed the snapshots, as ever - the one of Wendy sitting on the floor with sunlight on her forehead was particularly good. Was glad to see a picture of Paula and Keeo - Paula is just as I imagined her from your descriptions of her personality. - I do love getting snapshots, darling. Curious (and tantalizing), your speaking of what good physical [trim?] you’re in. I've been feeling the same way lately, despite occasional loss of sleep: much more on the ball than at Boulder, and at the same time more relaxed about it than then or formerly. As I look back now on Boulder, though, I grow more and more appreciative of the year we spent there, of the friends we made and of the place itself. Some rather wonderful things happened to us there. Sweetie, I did feel sheepish when you spoke my valPack's arriving and your looking thru it to see if I sent home any liquor. To tell the truth, I didn't think of it, and probably wouldn't have taken it seriously if I had, assuming it to be too much of a risk. I think customs opens all baggage going in that direction, even if it's carried. I know they are much more particular there than they are about the trip out here. But I'll inquire about it next time I'm [pg 2] in Hawaii. There's no sign that that will be as soon as was indicated when I left there. But be patient, sweetie; if I am here for another few months and can't telephone you, it means that I'll probably go on only one new operation, rather than two, before my 18 or 20 months are up. That in turn means less confusion as far as mail is concerned. In some ways I’d like to be moving on in others am content to stay on her awhile. I'm glad the decision is not in my own hands. Or am I? (It makes no difference one way or the other.) #90- Don't ever worry about little things like your “breaking down” when Marge Mulligan started talking to you about me. You are not one who will ever be over-included to weep on somebody's else shoulder - more likely vice versa - and it's good for you now and then to give yourself away a little - It's better, of course, with somebody with whom you have a relationship of mutual respect, liking and intimacy, but one can't always dictate circumstances and it's better to be human that to pride yourself, in a hard fashion, on being able to take it. Had to laugh about your confronting the druggist who asked if you were 21 with a daughter outside in the buggy. (#91) It was swell of M and F to send Wendy such a big bond, and us a $50 anniversary present - makes a nice backlog for you. Do try to clear that $25 [pg 3] a month from now on, Sweetie - just keep a month's end checking acct balance of $75 or so (or a hundred if there's a minimum - I forget) and see if you can build up our savings account a little - I won't keep talking about it, but I’d like to know whether you can do so. Another allotment check? Swell - Put it either in the savings account or buy a bond with it - the latter is a better investment but do as you like. Is Jan. 1-5 definite on Doug's arrival in SF? If you see this before you see or hear from him by phone, tell him I was glad to get his last letter (with the snapshots of them snappy dames) and wanted to answer in time to reach him going thru, but just haven't been able. I’d hoped to get a typed letter off before now in order to catch the New Year's Day gathering at Orange Street, Brooklyn, but Friday night is the earliest I can expect to write the next one. Sweetie- no matter what you see in the papers, the war in the Pacific is a whole year ahead of schedule. More fireworks recently. Exciting (though very boring, during those periods of an alert when nothing's happening and I simply have to continue patrolling my camp area until the all clear, wishing that I was either in bed or writing to you); to us here, not at all [pg 4] dangerous. To date I have definitely seen two planes explode in midair, and several bombs exploding on the ground - impressive, but way in the distance. Ouch, mosquitos. I'm back to wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts again, having decided that they are more comfortable after all. When there's mud, they don't trail in it. The mosquitos and the batty June bugs (Squat little things about the size of your index fingernail - harmless, but annoying because they fly smack into things including your face) will be no problem at the office here soon - we’re really getting civilized, and having both the living quarters and the half of the office that our desks are in screened around tomorrow. The oh-la-la negligee at the Silver Thimbel sounds rather luscious! #92-I doubt if there's much chance of Henry May's coming out here - I’d love to know what his assignment is, though. So Wendy got her first shot without whooping and yelling! That's your daughter, darling. I'm going to bed, fervently hoping that I get to sleep thru the night for a change. All my love, darling Warren
