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299 June 13 - 1:15 P.M. Wednesday My Dearest Darling: Last night I stayed up til 12:00 rereading and savoring your wonderful letters. Wendy and I didn't get up til 10:00 this morning, and as soon as little sweetie finished her breakfast I shoved her outside in her pen dressed in pants and bonnet and well covered with baby oil. I cleaned house, washed, sunbathed, and just came in a few minutes ago when it got too hot for comfort. Helen brought me a letter from grandfather when she came back from town, which you will be interested in. Its about MacQuarrie, and I'm mailing it in a separate envelope this afternoon. [pg 2] 242 Was glad to get more detail about your ear, and to hear that it is all better. Don't like to have you in Sick Bay, but must confess I love getting all the long letters. The shells I saw were both small and about the size of a hen's egg. Yes, they were mottled dark brown and very glossy- I think when you get home, we'll let Wendy into bed with us only on special occasions. I don't think it too awfully good a practice, and is one of those things which should be reserved for special times. I only do it now, because I want to sleep late, and the only way I'm sure Wendy is not in any mischief is to keep her right with me. Unless she's still sleepy, she's apt to get bored, in which case I put her in the pen, where I can watched her from the bed in between cat naps. [pg 3] Those bamboo gadgets- at first I thought they might be candle holders. With the right shape and color candles, I think they might make an effective centerpiece on either side of an appropriate bowl (low and shallow) of flowers. I keep the lighter in its little flannel case, and it hasn't been scratched at all yet, tho I do use it continuously. Shells for a comb - white or colored if you can get them. The actual size of the comb is about like this [drawing] - shells (should be quite tiny). The current fad is good sized pearls - about the size of the center one in my string. Something for Mother - what do you think of this idea. Have two mats nicely woven, and heavy enough to use as the covers of a snapshot album for their collection of Wendy's [pg 4] pictures. I'm sure I could get the paper for the inside, and have it cut to the right size. If you don't think that is a good idea - I’d go ahead and order the tablemats - six I'm sure would be enough. I don't know whether Ruth Ebling ever did come west - if she did, I'm pretty sure they’re not living here in Carmel. Will, of course, is still here, as well as the rest of the Boulder men, but I never see them. 243 The new C.O. sounds like a good man for the job. Pearson had quite a bit to say about the last regime. Laughed about you not getting at first, my crack about the screws. I think we will keep Wendy's carriage. The market out here isn't any good, and I've grown very attached to it. With a little fixing up [pg 5] it should do nicely for our next baby. No, having a child hasn't clarified (don't know as that is such a good word) my sense of property rights - there was a high hedge in this particular garden - and even so I couldn't very well go picking off hibiscus blossoms in broad day light Bud, expects to get back in September, and not have to go out again. He certainly has had the breaks. I love all the matching geta- and think the shade of blue is lovely. Wendy stands alone now without any trouble, and seems to be very close to walking alone - its hard to say how much longer it will take. [pg 6] 245 Fun hearing about Arthur Kruckeberg - I remember him and his wife well. 246- Hope you don't get “reduced” along with the rest of the staff. I'm still hoping you will get a crack at running the school yourself. The dream - it was really quite simple, but the circumstances amusing. When Wendy gets into bed with me in the morning I usually hold on to her while I'm asleep so that she won't roll off the bed. This particular morning I curled my hand around her foot - evidently in her sleep, she kept wiggling that foot, and in my sleep I dreamt about Pierre at his liveliest and when I woke up couldn't quite understand what had happened for a moment. Will see about getting you a copy of “Double Ten” - Still [pg 7] no word on “God, Mammon and the Japanese.” I think the Pearsons said their little girl was four - they have several older children. Yes, pull out one of the top leaves of a pineapple to test its ripeness. No, I don't really mean to compare gray hair with baldness - just like to tease a little. That inlay - but once you’re home again, I promise not to say another word about it. 8:15 Have just now finished supper, glanced quickly thru this weeks copy of Life, and washed the dishes. Wendy didn't wake up til 2:00 this afternoon, and it was after three before I got us both fed, dressed and ready to go to town. [pg 8] Just as I walked out the door, Dana drove up to see if I wanted to go over to Del Monte, but I thanked her and said no, because I had my marketing to do, and enough cigarets anyway. I told her that you had seen Arthur [Kruckeberg?], and she said that Steve had seen Henry, and that she thought Jean might be coming west soon. Wouldn't it be wonderful if by chance they were both in SF when you got home, so that they could really show us the city! If Jean is in Berkeley next Fall, I may go up with Wendy to visit Mrs. Conrad, and perhaps persuade Jean to come back to Carmel with me for a week or so. [pg 9] Steve wants to stay with his ship if possible, because he believes his chances are good for getting home on leave by the end of the year, are better than if he has to return to Hawaii. Dana says that most of the men are optimistic about the war's end, but that Steve is pessimistic. I ordered “Double Ten” for you - its rather light reading but I think you will enjoy it. Also got the two boxes of stationery you asked for, and will try to get them off to you tomorrow. Stopped by at Mel-o-dee and bought some more plants for our garden -a dozen and a half mixed giant and regular size marigolds, half dozen snapdragons, and a dozen white petunias. We got back about 4:30 [pg 10] and Wendy and I went over to pay Mrs. Price a visit, taking some salad and a bunch of pansies. I was just getting ready to give Wendy her bath, when Helen popped in, bringing a rum and coke for me and one for herself. Walter is still on Guam - wrote about an MG fellow named Doherty who got bit in a vital place, and has half of his fixtures gone - that's a hell of a thing to have happen. MG certainly has had it rough on Okinawa - wonder if being under the Army has anything to do with it. The button-nose has been just precious all day. She's really awfully good and full of cute tricks. She's very happy, and has [pg 11] an even disposition. I have a hunch she's going to look like (I can see a strong resemblance) Muz, and perhaps favor her personality. This afternoon, after much thought, I decided that I’d rather have you see Wendy next spring when she's just beginning to really talk, than to miss that stage, and see her as she is now. I'm glad the choice isn't really mine. I do wish you could be home for Christmas, but not if you had to go out again, and miss the next one, which will be Wendy's first real one - when she's old enough to believe in Santa Claus - Now I want to reread your letters once more, bend the hair, take a bath, and go to bed and dream of you sleeping in pajamas which I'll soon be wearing. I love you terribly much- Bobby
