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337 July 17 - Tuesday - 2:30 P.M. Hi again Sweety: Indications are that we are going to get plastered again tonight, and just so that I'll be sure and have a letter ready for you, I'm starting right now. The SM brought me #273 just as we got home from town this morning, and it was good to see him after a whole week. I'll be awfully glad to get some more pictures - do you want me to send more 35 mm. film? Yes, Helen is quite optimistic about Walter getting out of the Navy - Did you know that Al Karr and Harold Balkan [pg 2] were getting medical discharges? Yes, the little flowers I sent were honeysuckle. They climb along a fence down at the Plaza Fuel Co. That's another one of the buildings in town with hibiscus climbing over the walls. Before I forget - yesterday afternoon I received the first package of books “The Tempering of Russia” “Monterey Peninsula” and “Sunset Gun”. I don't really care too much whether I have our next baby in a hospital or at home, just as long as you are with me. Ideally, I think as far as a mental attitude is concerned, the best way to have babies is close together. The farther [pg 3] away you get away from the actual delivery, the more you remember, or at least I do, and the more the thought of pain begins to trouble you - Not that I’d ever think it wasn't worth it because I know it damn well is. Yet, I can understand very well how girls like Helen and Toni feel. Part of it of course is due to lack of intelligent handling of the subject by their mothers. I’d never skip telling Wendy or any other of our children anything I felt they should know. Its far better to know the truth, than it is to imagine things, and less painful in the long run. Darling, I miss you terribly much. Now that half of your overseas [pg 4] time is up, and the war seeming to be drawing to a concession. I am more anxious than ever for you to hurry home. Is there anything at all you can do about it? Unless you can, I think you will probably stay on Tinian til your 18 months are up. I guess I feel a little bit desperate about it, because I want you so badly. Right now just about everyone seems to be having the breaks except us, and I'm getting impatient for a change in luck. 8:15 In just ten minutes Helen is to have her phone call. They are trying to get one through each week now - lucky guy - and maybe I'm not jealous as hell. Sweety, I had some bad luck this afternoon - lost my [pg 5] red wallet - about $20, Wendy's ration book, dinner's license, our picture, [cigaret?] card, and ship's service card. I didn't discover that I’d lost it til we got home from the beach. I had to feed Wendy and get her to bed, so Helen retraced our steps all the way, but without any luck - I've phoned both the police station and post office, and will put an ad in tomorrow's paper. I guess that means no raining this month - won't bother about the driver's license, because its been so long since I've driven, that I’d want to take the test over again wherever we are so that I’d be sure of myself. I know I should carry a handbag, and I do sometimes, but its hard when I need both hands to push Wendy's [pg 6] stroller. Well, I've learned my lesson the hard way, and will make it a point to carry a minimum of cash with me from now on, as well as to be more careful about the ration books. I’d like you to get me another wallet when you can, in the meanwhile I'll pick up something big and inexpensive, and horrible looking just as a reminder until I get myself trained. Received #274 this afternoon - just from day which means I probably won't get another for three or four days- The phone just rang, and I have butterflies in my tummy and cold hands just as if it were you calling me. Gosh sweety, you've been gone so damn long, and it isn't really any easier now than it [pg 7] was in the beginning. With the war the way it is, I wish you could get home now, because I'm afraid if it ends and you’re still on Tinian you will get stuck for the full eighteen months, perhaps longer. It seems like such a little thing for a husband and wife to want to be together, and such a damn big thing when they’re forced by circumstances to be separated. God, its hell listening to them on the phone. Surely, something has to break our way soon, darling its just got to. Helen is asking Charley about staying here in Carmel - I think she really wants to find a place here, but I don't know how much of a chance there is. Of course, I think she'll go east if Charles [pg 8] has to stay out past his eighteen months, and I don't blame her, even if travel conditions are lousy. 9:30 There- that's over - not that I begrudge them the call, but t'aint easy to have to sit here and listen. I've been thinking right along that when you finally did get around to call, I wouldn't get more than pleasantly excited, but now I know differently. What the hell, just so long as its soon, damn soon. Helen and I were sitting here reminiscing on Boulder personalities when Millie Adler came up, and Helen remarked that Millie once said “Culture springs from the family seat”. On that happy little note I'll close - your last few letters have been teasers, but I know you will swing around to some long letters soon, and I'm eagerly waiting for them - Goodnight, my darling. I love you with all my heart - Bobby
