Letter # 487 October 3, 1944

New Guinea
Tues. eve.
Oct. 3, 1944
Hello Lovely;
How's my big beautiful lady tonight? Pretty ornery I bet.  So am I.  Too bad we can't get together.  Be fireworks, huh?
No letters again today and I don't have a thing to talk about so I'm going to work on these letters I have.
Too bad Louise hasn't been hearing from Mickey but that's the way it goes at times like that.  She'll probably be hearing one of these days again soon.  That is one lesson you may be called upon to remember some day when you don't hear a word for long periods.  Over here it is apt to be much longer than there.  Most of this area is a long way from civilized as you well know.
Steve has been the supply officer for units of his type.  While in Frisco he assembled all the equipment and supplies and sent them off.  Over here he is doing the same thing.  Seeing that all the equipment for his unit gets to them.  Not at all a bad job, huh?
Gosh, honey, you're sure sending a lot of boxes.  Ten request ones and some Christmas ones as well. That's a lot of them.  I'm not sure but I think I've gotten five of them so far and then the little special boxes beside.  You sure are doing your part toward the upkeep of the postal department.  Ought to get a wholesale rate soon.  I love 'em, sweetheart.
You can return Ida's "Hello" and tell her if the popcorn isn't good she's no friend of mine anymore.  I expect she is still the same old Ida [Cannon].  Hasn't changed a bit as long as I can remember her.  I bet her sale of cigarettes and hot peppers has gone down since all the boys are gone from the Hardware and Berrys.  Have you ever heard any more of Thurston since he went to England?  Is he over in France or not?  Is Boyd still in  La.?
Don't you worry about me getting so much stuff I won't know what to do with it.  It doesn't last long here.  Live good for a day or so after the boxes come and then a dry spell until the next ones.
I'd better be popular with you. That's where I really want to be popular.  It's very nice to have so many friends and they're worth a lot but you come before any or all of them.  I love you.  That's why.  You're the biggest part of my life.
I'm working on a cup of tea from one of the tea balls you sent.  I'm getting to be a regular Englishman.  I like my tea.  It tastes so good down in this climate and in the absence of any other kind of drinks.  I make it in cold water and it works good.
While I'm thinking about it, here is the temperature for today.  4 A.M.-72;  6:30-90;  11:00-98;  and now, 7:30 P.M.- 85.  That's all in the shade, so you see, I wasn't so far wrong on the guesses I made.  I seem to be used to it 'cause I can sit down at 98 or more and never sweat a drop.  Start moving though, and darn slow at that, and I'm dripping in no time.  I surely don't mind it like I did in La. last summer.  I feel cold when it gets in the 70's anymore.  Maybe when I get back home you won't have so much trouble getting me to keep the fire up to 75 or better as you like it.  Might even be easy to talk me into extra covers and a closed bedroom window.  Think it possible?
You hadn't told me about changing gas stations.  Do as you please, honey.  You're running that end and doing a damn good job of it.  One is as good as the other these days anyhow.  That Shell station is very handy to you so why not?  Certainly it's OK by me.  Anything you do is OK by me. honey.
No, honey, you can't help my losing weight.  You can sure put it back on again though.  It's not hurting me a bit.  I feel swell and there are no ribs showing or anything like that.  It's only the belly that is taking much beating.  My waist is the smallest now it has ever been since I've grown up. I just measured 30 1/2 bare.  I have never found a scale but I judge I weigh around 165.  See, you're bigger than I am these days.  I like 'em big and soft like you so don't try to loose too much.  Remember that padding.  You'll need it 'cause I won't stand for any cushion between us.
Yes, Mummy, I guess we can stand a three or four month period of "no nothing" after all this training but I know darn well I won't like it.  I don''t like that kind of vacations, but if we are lucky the results will be worth it, I hope.  Don't you dare be one of these girls that put up a "hands off" sign right away 'cause they feel bad. I know all about the medical viewpoint of the subject.
You devil.  Sure I like your picture.  It's a beautiful picture of the most beautiful girl I know.  I'm proud of it and keep you right here where I can see you and love you.  Very passively though.
I'm inclined to ask like Melvin does.  What have you got that makes people be so nice to you?  I know it can't all be because of things I've done or even to be helpful to a war widow.  It must be just you.  I guess you could be shipwrecked on a savage island and in a few days be queen and have all the natives working for you.  Don't forget though, I love you most.  It really is swell that people do so many things for us.  I say us 'cause when they help you they are helping me as much or more.  Be sure and tell them all how much I appreciate their helping hand.  Carl, inspects and checks the furnace and you can get along all right, I'm sure.  Kindling, from little John to start fires so you are all set there.  Art takes care of the car and repairs appliances.  Some set up huh?  Who's taking care of you personally now?
You are doing a swell job of tying up the boxes, honey.  The knots are all in place like you put them. I have to sharpen my knife to get into them.  I'm sorry about the blister on your fingers.  Send it along and I'll kiss it for you.
You can bet I'm always glad to hear you say you are getting along swell and keeping the old chin well up.  I can always tell from your letters but I like reassuring where you are concerned.  Like having a priceless jewel put away and looking every so often, just to be absolutely sure it's still there and unharmed.  You're the most precious jewel I've got you know.  I loves you.
You may write what you have to say to me on paper, when I'm home again, but you won't get away with it. Especially not some of the parts you write. That will take a lot beside pen and ink to be satisfactory.  You'll talk to me and love me and like it so there too.  Remember the sweet little notes you used to leave when you were running out on me for an evening or something?  I do.  I got a kick out of them.  Usually signed like the bracelet, "Love Babe".  Gosh, how I wish you were only out for the evening now.  I bet I wouldn't be asleep when you came in either.  If you're hurtin so bad, you know how I feel. I'm way past hurtin too. I'm numb from hurtin.  It's a numbness that will pass very easily and quickly when I get the proper cure for it.  I know where and what the cure is too.  When the opportunity presents I'll be looking for a treatment.  Night, sweetheart.  I love you.
Your dough boy.
Norm.