Description
169 Navy #3247 (Mil. Govt) FPO San Francisco Sunday 18 March 10 pm My dearest darling, I'm in the midst of drawing up an organizational plan of the Education Office, a weekly schedule of the various duties of Tel and me, the office yeoman and the seven Nisei (including Shin), and a similar daily schedule - Both Tel and I have shied away from any such formalization until now, with the result that administration has grown increasingly unwieldy and that this morning - Sunday being usually a relatively quiet day - just about everything got fucked up [I'm so used to that expression by now that its every day application no longer seems a kind of sacrilege against the original meaning of the word - it has just come to have two entirely separate usages.] Now we’re trying to work it out so that all the Nisei are directly [pg 2] responsible to me except in the case of the English program - that leaves Tel free for general planning (he's got a new advanced school, a separate organization, on his hands, among other things) and for “outside liaison and procurement” - i.e. scrounging - the latter is highly important - we get everything from crayons and paper to candy and discarded food rations simply by being alert and persistent. And it leaves me with direct supervision of the suiji (school kitchen) and forthcoming student - cared-for sweet potato farm; the natural science course and related field trips; Kōsaken (manual training, etc.); the athletic program, and the as yet unborn geography course which we plan to start teaching when the new school year begins April 1. Just to relate general categories doesn't begin to suggest what goes on in a day up there, and I wish [pg 3] so much that you could be with me for awhile to see it. It would double-triple-the pleasure I already find in it to have you here - (But there will be lots and lots to tell you later on). Believe me, it's a full time job and then some. Hard as it is sometimes to stay organized and functioning smoothly (because administration of this sort, in which everything has to be followed through to make sure that it's done well, to say nothing of done at all, doesn't come easy to me), I chafe at as part of it except the fact that it leaves me so little time to spend directly with you. Nonetheless, darling, you are always with me. 182: Laughed at your first reaction to my mention that Rheinie might get his orders soon: maybe we can get their house! Didn't I acknowledge the cookies? They were delicious. The precious little ‘Just Heard’ St. Patrick's Day card from Wendy reminds me that today (a day late, but presumably in connection with the holiday) we had real - and very delicious - turkey for dinner. Cranberry sauce, pie and [pg 4] ice cream, hard candy. 183: Johnny Kneubuhl does get around, doesn't he? Thought you’d like the idea of looking up songs - I'll enjoy getting them. Keep a copy for us to have at home. Yes, I’d really enjoy another 14 months in Boulder, sweetie; think I could manage my time a whole lot better than before. But it wouldn't be worth the commitment and I understand from that there's now an age limit of 28 anyhow. Don't know what will come of the proposition to have MG men return to CASA for reassignment. If I did I’d act on it. At present it appears as tho all the men returning from this area go to Hawaii, probably to sit around 2 or 3 months and go out again. I’d much rather stay here than have it work that way and consequently I'm not angling for reassignment just now. There's another factor, too - the chance that Tel might be relived (he doesn't want to be, since he’d probably go back to translating) within a few weeks. Whether in that event I’d [pg 5] succeed to his job depends on how Coach's relief works into the pictures - unlike Coach, he might take a direct hand in running the school, and since he is said to be both personable and experienced he could probably do more for it than either Tel or I can. If Tel stays and Coach's relief does take an active part, I might not really be needed there; in that case I would begin to think of requesting a transfer (bearing in mind, of course, the likely consequence); otherwise, staying on here a few months longer looks like the best bet. About [?] leave policy, and whether they have any - I don't know the final answer to that, having merely quoted verbatim. Most Navy MG men seem to get home in about 18-20 months. 184: (tsk, tsk) Gerry has figured quite a lot in your recent letters, and I'm glad - she sounds like a good person to be with. Hope to look up Rhein again before long. [pg 6] 185: Yes, sweetie, I got the napkins - forgive me for not mentioning them. Haven't done anything about them yet because it's hard to get to the shop when it's open - the school is half a mile or so away. Received the green ink. That was a charming sketch of Wendy's new hairdo. Gee, darling. I'm so grateful for your being around people who can get you places - you always seem to be going hither or yon, and that's good. My very best wishes to Janie Robbins. I love to hear of Mummy's buying new things for herself. I'm not sure anymore that I'll like your hair long (I mean like it best that way, honey - gee, but I sure would like it any old way right now) but it's worth trying, and I am interested. Is it good for you to be able to furnish Helen with a certain amount of moral support with Walter's leaving? It certainly must [pg 7] give you fresh perspective. 186: So the 45 bucks came thru - good. 187: Like your liquor - buying plan - to special ideas beyond what you've mentioned, except maybe crème de menthe and other liquers, on somebody's recommendation - also, of course, Benedictine if you ever see any. Awfully relieved to hear about your talk with Gerry concerning that trouble of yours and other matters. Don't you get any ideas about loaded guns! (I trust your own presence of mind, plus a certain physical dexterity, a good deal more) Yes, the phone is probably the best protection. Darling, I can hardly bear being away from Wendy right now. Still no pictures - the guy who develops them has far too many to handle quickly and I just have to be patient. It should be soon now. 188: They peel the potatoes before cooking then. They’re served mashed. Milk! What I wouldn't give for a glass….Sweet dreams precious Warren
