Description
212 (This is Quink, whose drying speed is about halfway between that of 51 and ordinary ink. Also available only in black] Navy #3247 FPO San Francisco Wednesday 2 May 1945 Seven pee em. Dearly Beloved, A package wrapped for you (to be mailed 1st class), a 3 page note to Muz (from whom I've received 2 packages each containing 5 English readers), and now I can get down to business. #238 4/23 (getting near your birthday - I'm anxious to hear what's arrived by then…) Yes, I'm over my cold, darling. In two weeks I am to go to the big hospital (Rein's) to see if I can have that polyp removed. At work we are all striking an evener pace than before, returning to get worried by every little stick of lumber that might get swiped and such things that take time [pg 2] and energy. That's just swell about the $85 dividend check, honey - and the $50 for you. I think I'm even more pleased about the latter. Be sure you spend it on yourself, too! Don't ask me about Father - I've skipped 2 whole months because somehow all these little birthday things and incidentals for various people ordered at the same time have mounted up and used most of my pay. Was going to buy Wendy a bond but have decided that Father comes first and will send him at least $25 on the 15th. That's still my concern, though, Sweetie - as I've said before it may take till the end of the year, but by then or shortly thereafter I should get a promotion and we'll begin to get ahead at something more than the proverbial snail's pace. I'm excited about the nightie, and jealous of time and space! Dotsie Gelatt's bathrobe sounds awfully sweet. The mishap of Wendy with a plant in each hand and leaves in her mouth must have been funny. #239 (4/24) I changed the numbers to correspond with dates Speaking of paddling the little rump - Sweetie, as long as Wendy knows you love [pg 3] her, as I'm sure she can't help but do, I don't think there's any harm in an occasional spanking. Rather the reverse: it can be quieting and reassuring when a child is a little overstimulated and excited, as intelligent children particularly are apt to be with their discoveries and sudden bursts of illumination. Even at Wendy's age! I am sure of that. Gosh, honey, I’d so love to see Wendy when you say “Mornin' little sweetie.” Of course I know better than to mark “Do Not Open…” I love to tease you in ways like that-you bite so easily. I'm glad you saved the little package, tho, because I did want you to have some little thing especially on your birthday. Hell, yes! (Why waste time with dinner…) I'm glad a pair of pajamas is on the way, for two reasons - the more prosaic one being that I still think sleeping in p.j.s is [pg 4] more comfortable than sleeping in shorts or without them, especially in summer time or in climates like this. Just now I'm in shorts, and it doesn't feel as clean or cool. About a third of the officers here wear pjs, a third shorts and a third nothing at all. Most of us parade around our area to and from the shower with towel over arm rather than around the hips, in complete disregard of civilian-orphanage right across from us-woman passing by on the street [pg 5] [Drawing] I teased Kirby Etter about it today because there is something precise or correct in his manner, a product of his upbringing more than of his philosophy - I couldn't get any more than a matter of fact “What the hell is the difference?” out of him. There's a certain satisfaction, of a minor but still comforting sort, in the thought of your getting my letters into convenient form. If I were still subject to compulsions as to uniformity and regularity and neatness I should be annoyed at my own habit of faithfully punching holes and carefully filing your letters. But I'm not - I tend to a certain economy in such matters now; I wrap packages meticulously, but I leave most of my things lying around much more than I used to. My little Japanese [pg 6] school desk forsaken in favor of the table except for a place to put things, is stacked high with books, newspapers (opened and unopened, the latter in rolls), read and [?] magazines, school books, file folders - my shelves likewise. It's only the important things that I take any conscious care of [Drawing] [pg 7] [Drawing] I've worked up a terrific thirst in the course of producing these works of art - first Mac has left for his beer, then Smith for his nightly coke - with the 9:30 civilian camp curfew ringing, it's almost bedtime and I think I'll follow Mac's choice. One is all I can drink without having to get up during the night. Yes, darling, the tone of our letters has changed-I am so much happier, or I should say more nearly happy. Knowing how you feel - you haven't just “repeated a lot of words” darling -those words mean a great deal to me- I love you an awful lot Warren
