New Guinea
Monday eve.
Oct 16, 1944
Hello Bubbles;
I did very well at mail call last night. Two missing ones from you and one from Vi. Yours were Oct 1st & 2nd. So now I'm all up to the minute on them again. I've got the 1, 2, 3, to answer yet and I guess it's a good thing 'cause I can't think of anything to write about. I could always write a naughty letter but I don't have the nerve and besides it's against the censorship rules. No bad language and such, is supposed to be let through. You'll have to write those kind of letters until things change, if any are written.
I was amused at Vi's letter. She said you often read them parts of my letters only there were lots of places where you just said La-de-da and skipped to more commonplace things. I guess this is telling tales out of school but you don't need to tell on me unless you want to. Vi said she sure didn't begrudge you skipping those parts but she sure was dying of curiosity. Maybe I had better write her a sample of some of the things you skip over. How about it? It would make rather racy reading if anyone ever got into that pile of letters I've written you. Be like sitting down with an armful of that type of books not sold on new stands or in the libraries. You know the kind I mean.
Anyhow I betcha people could gather that I am very much in love with my wife and think she's the best ever made. Of course they could think. Gosh how these G.I. wolves can sling the line and then wonder how far such a line would get a man. How far would it get me, honey? Do you think it's only a line? You better hadn't, you sweet old devil. I've never meant anything I ever said any more than I mean all I say about you. You're the sweetest, bravest, most beautiful, loving and thoughtful wife I've ever heard about or seen. Gee, how I love you honey.
Here's a little more telling tales out of school that I'm requesting you to keep confidential. I never before this army experience realized how a person's character is reflected in letters. I can sure see it now. Even if I am a bit prejudiced in your favor there is still too much difference between your letters and ones I get from other girls to let pass without a compliment to you. I knew them all more or less intimately before. Vi, Betty, Tib, Mrs. Delaney, Garnett, are most of them. There isn't one of them that can write a really intelligent letter. Usually rather shallow and frivolous. I guess they are a bit handicapped by not being able to talk as freely as you do, but, honey, they just don't measure up at all. I got the best of them all and no mistake. You're the sweetest thing.
Otis was just here on a visit and as usual, I didn't pass up the opportunity to show my pictures of you. They all like you, sweetheart. The only fault I've ever heard anyone find, and, darn it all, most of them seem to find it, is - I bet you can't guess can you? Maybe I shouldn't tell you until the end of the letter or, better yet, make you wait until tomorrow to find out that one objection. Aw, honey, I won't be that mean. I'll tell you. They don't like your hair done up. Say you look much better with it down like in the snaps. I never told you that before 'cause I like you that way and can't see why they all don't. To be very honest, I never did like it that way on any other woman. You may remember I wasn't very enthusiastic when you said you were going to do it. I don't care what other men say. They shouldn't like you too well anyhow. I want you for my own always. I love you.
Who said I didn't have anything to write about? I don't know what started me on that track but there it is. Read it 'n weep. Now I'm going to do some answering on Oct 1st letter.
"That woman's here again." Some opening phrase for a letter. Wish it were only true. She would be more than welcome here anytime no matter how persistent she was. Think I'll answer the usual little persistent questions, "Where you goin", "What you doin". At least for a while anyhow. You'd always say, "I want to know." You'd know 'cause I'd take you with me even if I was only going the usual place. You're going to have trouble with me, sweetheart. I can feel it so plain.
This letter tells me about the change in Gus's special rating. It does sound a lot like it might mean active duty before long, but then, it can be changed back again just as quickly. If he does leave the states it will surely be another Medina boy in the South West Pacific. We know how they feel about it, but Jean can take it, I know. It's tough though, to think about. Actually easier to take than anticipate. I think we found it that way. I'm sure you did anyhow. I can clearly remember an evening four years ago in September. The 15th I believe. I was painting the back of the house and you came over all upset because you had just heard the news of the draft law. I can remember being very reassuring, or at least trying to be, and saying it would never affect me. Another time I was very wrong. I know it had a strong effect on me, seeing you so fearful of having me taken away. I wanted to do like the movies and take you in my arms and reassure you, but I didn't. Didn't know how to do things like that. You must have slipped up in your teaching, honey. Think I've grown enough now to make a try at it, honey? Bet I'd at least lay my paint brush down. wasn't I dumb though?
There's another secret out of my closet. You can sure worm into the most remote corners of me, you devil. I love to have you to tell things like that to. Wonder why I didn't do it when I had you by me. That's a lot of words to make the point. I do believe you were more afraid right then than at any other time. Am I right? I do think Jean will be better satisfied if Gus is really where she can't go to see him. If she can be only half as brave as you have been she'll get along all right. I'm proud of you, sweetheart.
I know you wanted me to like your picture to go to all the trouble you did to get it. Your wants should be satisfied don't you think? I love it. I can't think of any more expressive way to tell you how much I like it.
I won't say another word about being sorry I couldn't write to you but I'll still be sorry. I can't imagine me liking to write letters but I do, to you.
I can't explain why the maple sugar melted in the can or the chocolate either. It must be the nature of the critter or else it was because his was air tight. I imagine the dampness causes it. Sugar or salt just bunches up and gets wet very quickly here. His candy was that white fondant or something like that. I don't have any idea how to spell it or what the word looks like. You'll probably know.
While I'm thinking of it, I forgot to put in my weekly request. I'd like to have anything yo can send me to eat. You can also remember to keep me supplied with generators and mantles for the lantern the Berrys are sending. I could use another box of toothpicks too. I really don't know of anything else to ask for. I'll let it up to your discretion. You do swell. Smart girl.
The cookies really were very good. Even licked up all the crumbs that my pet ants didn't beat me to. The boys are all waiting for more too.
It might be that you are particularly smart about ideas for things to send. It can't be telepathy 'cause I surely never even dreamed of these things you are sending and come in so handy. You're plenty smart as well as beautiful and very useful. I mean useful in lots of ways too.
I don't think your picture looks like a devil. You have a very "come hither" look in your eye and are wanting to be kissed badly, probably a gooey one. If that's a devil I have been under the wrong impression about the devil.
You'll just have to keep wondering about Neice. No can talk. You'll have to keep notes of all these things you want to know, 'cause I know we'll never think of them once we're together again if you don't.
I don't have any suggestions on cataloging your stacks of letters. The only way I can see is by the different places I am. Just like writing history in periods. That must be some stack of writing to look through, trying to find any particular thing. In those nearly 19 months you must have at least 1400 to 1500 sheets. That would be quite a dictionary. If I had kept all yours it would be much bigger. We surely should know
how to write.
Honey, you're getting to be a softie. Only three drinks and you have a hangover the next day. I think you lost track of the drinks or else it was something similar to this jungle juice. I remember when you used to say, "Gosh, that's good" and down it went. "Fill 'em up again." We had a nice walk out in the cold one morning didn't we? I don't want to get pissed either. I like to get just feeling good and don't give a damn, like at Put-in-Bay. When I get pissed I want to sleep and that's no fun when there are lots of better things to do. Just pleasantly rosy is right with me. Then I can celebrate and enjoy it.
Well, honey, it's time to quit and I didn't even answer one letter. Ramble all around don't I? No matter where I ramble I'm always loving you and wanting you right by me. Then I'm happy and contented. I'll get fat and sassy again too. Night, darling. I love you.
Your hubby.
Norm.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Letter # 498 October 15, 1944
New Guinea
Sunday morn
Oct 15, '44
Hello sweet and beautiful;
I'm going to write to you this morning instead of at night as is my usual custom. I've been writing my duty letters and have about time enough before dinner to write this one. The packages haven't been sorted yet so you won't know until tomorrow if I got any in this shipment or not.
It's the usual hot, sunny day again today. Ideal to lay around and do nothing much though, wish you were here. Best help I've ever known to do nothing much with. Very nice person to have around at any time. I love you honey.
The boys on guard had a little excitement last night. Killed a baby python. You may think I've got a poor idea of the word baby when I say he was ten feet long and the size of a man's arm. But, after all, baby pythons aren't so small. His momma and poppa were probably thirty feet long and the size of your leg so I guess baby is proper in this case. Dyke got him. He ran over him several times with a peep and it didn't seem to phase him so he drove the peep on him to pin him down and then beat him over the head with a shovel. The boys are having a big time totin' him up and down the camp and taking pictures. I got a couple of Mac holding him. Not me. I don't care much about touching the critters. Anyhow it's the biggest snake I've ever seen outside a zoo up to now. Not many of them around here.
Nothing much else to talk about today so I'll continue on your letters. Yes, sweetheart, you can stop teasing me about the picture and the bracelet. I've got them both and like them an awful lot. I 'm glad you didn't send the larger picture. It would be nice to have but I couldn't carry it without ruining it and I'd hate to do that. This one does very nicely. It's a dandy.
It wasn't the leg picture I took along up the trail with me. It was the one of you squatting under the oak tree in front of the house. I think it's a nice one. Anyhow I had you to look at. If I only could have you with me as much as I have your pictures I'd be a very happy man. I loves you and like to have you by me. You fit there.
I wasn't so dumb was I? I figured pretty well what you had done just to get a nice picture for me. I know my Babe pretty well and know she is sweet enough to go to almost any trouble to do something for me. You're so darn lovable it almost chokes me at times. I want my babe badly. I'm conceited enough to think that no one but me can appreciate you as much or treat you as nice as you deserve. Of course I know you are being very well taken care of but I like to think I can do a much better job of it than anyone else. That's cause I love you so much.
You did a very good job job of keeping your secret surprise so long. I can almost see you popping your buttons. You wanted to tell me about it so badly. You just bubble when you are trying to keep a secret.As you told me, you are still only a kid in lots of ways. Makes you very lovable so don't be trying to change yourself. I love you but when you're just you.
Leckner just came in to show me an identification bracelet his wife sent for his birthday. I had been showing him mine the other night and he wanted to let me know I wasn't so smart, he had one too. It is very nearly like mine only it doesn't have the nice little message on the back. His serial number is there instead. That little message on the back is what makes it so precious to me. Anyhow, mine's best. I like it.
I didn't get any packages in this shipment, darn it. Mac got one small one with some La newspapers in it from his gal. No goodies for us today. They'll probably come in in a few days. The mail clerk says they have stacks of packages at base waiting for someone to get time to sort them. The quantity of packages coming in is unbelievable. I did get one Gazette, Sept 12 and one Colliers Sept 30 and that is all so far. I'm sure glad I get much better service than that on my letters. I'd be hurtin if I didn't.
Now for Oct 3 letter. There wouldn't be anything wrong with the furnace. No need to wait for Carl to check it over. Light her up and let her go. It should be a little easier for you to handle this year. You don't have to leave so soon in the morning. You can run down, fire up and go back to bed until it warms up to your liking. Quite an aristocratic life you're leading these days. Go to work at 11 and don't have any bothersome husband getting you out to get his breakfast at 7 in the morning. No one dirtying up the house all the time or making a lot of dirty clothes to wash and etc. Great life isn't it, honey? Like hell!
Jean should really be getting acquainted with New York soon. I thought it queer a while back when you said Gus wouldn't be home until after Christmas and Jean couldn't go see him. I wondered what was tying her down. I know if it had been us in that situation, I'd have wanted you to come and see me. Make hay while the sun shines is a good motto to follow, honey. When the sun comes out again I'll sure start making plenty hay, or something.
I see that even my girl friends aren't forgetting me even if I am out of sight. You probably don't give them a chance to forget me. My publicity agent. Katy and Dorothy sending me things. Thanks for the warning. I can start to compose some of these thank you notes.
I have the same questions and comments about how I can write you a letter every day and so much too. People just don't understand. I know most of them are much the same as all the rest. Repeat the same things over and over but what's the difference? As you said, we say the same things over and over when we're together and don't seem to mind so why worry about it in a letter? We may be wasting a lot of paper and ink and effort to say the same things but I sure like to read them, even the same ones over and over.
I'm sorry about the books, honey. They are Australian but I never thought they wouldn't be an international publication. If I can find any way to get them over here I'll send them along. Don't know exactly when they were published but I'm under the impression that it's in the past decade.
I'm tickled you can get part of what I was trying to tell you about the trip. I made it rather brief to do a very clear job of description. It would take a volume to even begin to tell it all. Wait until sometime when we have time and the inclination to talk. I'll tell you the rest then.
Well, honey, I'm going to stop now and maybe this afternoon I'll work a little more on my surprises. I'm a tease but all the time I'm teasing, I'm loving you more. I do love you all the time.
Your soldier.
Norm.
Sunday morn
Oct 15, '44
Hello sweet and beautiful;
I'm going to write to you this morning instead of at night as is my usual custom. I've been writing my duty letters and have about time enough before dinner to write this one. The packages haven't been sorted yet so you won't know until tomorrow if I got any in this shipment or not.
It's the usual hot, sunny day again today. Ideal to lay around and do nothing much though, wish you were here. Best help I've ever known to do nothing much with. Very nice person to have around at any time. I love you honey.
The boys on guard had a little excitement last night. Killed a baby python. You may think I've got a poor idea of the word baby when I say he was ten feet long and the size of a man's arm. But, after all, baby pythons aren't so small. His momma and poppa were probably thirty feet long and the size of your leg so I guess baby is proper in this case. Dyke got him. He ran over him several times with a peep and it didn't seem to phase him so he drove the peep on him to pin him down and then beat him over the head with a shovel. The boys are having a big time totin' him up and down the camp and taking pictures. I got a couple of Mac holding him. Not me. I don't care much about touching the critters. Anyhow it's the biggest snake I've ever seen outside a zoo up to now. Not many of them around here.
Nothing much else to talk about today so I'll continue on your letters. Yes, sweetheart, you can stop teasing me about the picture and the bracelet. I've got them both and like them an awful lot. I 'm glad you didn't send the larger picture. It would be nice to have but I couldn't carry it without ruining it and I'd hate to do that. This one does very nicely. It's a dandy.
It wasn't the leg picture I took along up the trail with me. It was the one of you squatting under the oak tree in front of the house. I think it's a nice one. Anyhow I had you to look at. If I only could have you with me as much as I have your pictures I'd be a very happy man. I loves you and like to have you by me. You fit there.
I wasn't so dumb was I? I figured pretty well what you had done just to get a nice picture for me. I know my Babe pretty well and know she is sweet enough to go to almost any trouble to do something for me. You're so darn lovable it almost chokes me at times. I want my babe badly. I'm conceited enough to think that no one but me can appreciate you as much or treat you as nice as you deserve. Of course I know you are being very well taken care of but I like to think I can do a much better job of it than anyone else. That's cause I love you so much.
You did a very good job job of keeping your secret surprise so long. I can almost see you popping your buttons. You wanted to tell me about it so badly. You just bubble when you are trying to keep a secret.As you told me, you are still only a kid in lots of ways. Makes you very lovable so don't be trying to change yourself. I love you but when you're just you.
Leckner just came in to show me an identification bracelet his wife sent for his birthday. I had been showing him mine the other night and he wanted to let me know I wasn't so smart, he had one too. It is very nearly like mine only it doesn't have the nice little message on the back. His serial number is there instead. That little message on the back is what makes it so precious to me. Anyhow, mine's best. I like it.
I didn't get any packages in this shipment, darn it. Mac got one small one with some La newspapers in it from his gal. No goodies for us today. They'll probably come in in a few days. The mail clerk says they have stacks of packages at base waiting for someone to get time to sort them. The quantity of packages coming in is unbelievable. I did get one Gazette, Sept 12 and one Colliers Sept 30 and that is all so far. I'm sure glad I get much better service than that on my letters. I'd be hurtin if I didn't.
Now for Oct 3 letter. There wouldn't be anything wrong with the furnace. No need to wait for Carl to check it over. Light her up and let her go. It should be a little easier for you to handle this year. You don't have to leave so soon in the morning. You can run down, fire up and go back to bed until it warms up to your liking. Quite an aristocratic life you're leading these days. Go to work at 11 and don't have any bothersome husband getting you out to get his breakfast at 7 in the morning. No one dirtying up the house all the time or making a lot of dirty clothes to wash and etc. Great life isn't it, honey? Like hell!
Jean should really be getting acquainted with New York soon. I thought it queer a while back when you said Gus wouldn't be home until after Christmas and Jean couldn't go see him. I wondered what was tying her down. I know if it had been us in that situation, I'd have wanted you to come and see me. Make hay while the sun shines is a good motto to follow, honey. When the sun comes out again I'll sure start making plenty hay, or something.
I see that even my girl friends aren't forgetting me even if I am out of sight. You probably don't give them a chance to forget me. My publicity agent. Katy and Dorothy sending me things. Thanks for the warning. I can start to compose some of these thank you notes.
I have the same questions and comments about how I can write you a letter every day and so much too. People just don't understand. I know most of them are much the same as all the rest. Repeat the same things over and over but what's the difference? As you said, we say the same things over and over when we're together and don't seem to mind so why worry about it in a letter? We may be wasting a lot of paper and ink and effort to say the same things but I sure like to read them, even the same ones over and over.
I'm sorry about the books, honey. They are Australian but I never thought they wouldn't be an international publication. If I can find any way to get them over here I'll send them along. Don't know exactly when they were published but I'm under the impression that it's in the past decade.
I'm tickled you can get part of what I was trying to tell you about the trip. I made it rather brief to do a very clear job of description. It would take a volume to even begin to tell it all. Wait until sometime when we have time and the inclination to talk. I'll tell you the rest then.
Well, honey, I'm going to stop now and maybe this afternoon I'll work a little more on my surprises. I'm a tease but all the time I'm teasing, I'm loving you more. I do love you all the time.
Your soldier.
Norm.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Letter # 497 October 14, 1944
New Guinea
Sat. eve
Oct 14, 1944
My Sweetheart;
Another week gone. They roll right along don't they? Each one is that much closer to that time when I can again show you I love you instead of tell you in writing.
Very pleasant day today. Not much sun and a very nice breeze so it didn't get over 92 degrees all day. Easy day too. Only worked a couple hours and then stood a clothing inspection and were off for the day. Pretty soft huh?
After dinner Oil, Bake, and I got busy and washed all our clothes. There is a regular detail to do it since we have the washing machine in operation but our clothes are so darn dirty that they don't get them very clean. We had plenty of time so we did it ourselves. Boiled them first and then put them in the machine so they came out good and clean. We're quite the experts on washing clothes these days. Big washing too. We each had four uniforms, a half dozen pairs of socks, two or three towels, leggings, caps, and handkerchiefs. How's that for a wash for a bunch of bachelors ?
The rest of the afternoon I spent patching up some more of these salvage uniforms. I'll have seven complete uniforms when I get my sewing done. I ran into difficulties on one pair of trousers today. They had evidently belonged to someone that spent most of his time off his feet. Anyhow they needed a patch on both cheeks so I thought I'd pull a fast one and put one big patch over the entire seat. Sounded like the real idea but I found out later it didn't work too good. I got a few puckers in the seat now but, by gosh, they'll hold me in. I can use a lot of practice and instruction on my sewing yet. Don't worry. I won't expect you to teach me that 'cause when I get back with you I'm going to forget all about sewing and let someone else do it. Will you? Of course I won't object to keeping a needle and thread down at the workbench and putting on a button or two that you've forgotten, but that is as far as I'll go. I'll keep the washer running but when it comes to using it, that's another thing.
Listen at me sounding off at a time when I'd do any darn thing you asked me to do.
I got two more letters from you and one from Mom & Hazel today. Yours were Oct 1st & Oct 3rd. The second one you wrote on Oct 1st and the 2nd are among the missing at present. They have been coming in order so long that I don't like to have them skipping around. There is also a shipment of packages that will be sorted tomorrow. Maybe I'll have a couple more "bundles for Norm". I hope so. I like 'em. If anyone wants to know if the boys appreciate packages you can assure them they do. Anyhow this outfit sure goes for them. The news that packages have come in goes through camp like an electric shock. The poor mail clerk is badgered to death until he gets them sorted and delivered. Even when there is a big bunch of letters, as there was tonight, the news of packages shadows the pleasure of getting letters. Yes, I'm just as crazy about them as anyone. I've got a wife that keeps them coming too. You're swell, honey. Take good care of me don't you? I'm loving you.
The outfit has gone through the change I wrote about a while back settling down to routine again. I still don't know if we are any better off than before. Time will tell.
Now I'm going on with answering your letters.
This Burnett you speak of is one of our regular customers at the store. I knew him quite well. He lives in that new brick house on the corner of E Friendship & Harmony. He runs a big greenhouse up near Cleveland. His wife is a backyard cousin of mine. I think she works in the Court House. Yes, I knew Hobart Johnson too. He was one of Gibb's mechanics.You're really getting acquainted with lots of people I know aren't you? I can see you are going to miss all that when I come home. It is a made to order job for you isn't it? Not too hard work, lots of people to see and talk to and plenty to keep that mind of yours busy. I sure am tickled about you getting that place. Too bad you couldn't have had it all the time. I love to see you happy and contented as much as possible until I come back.
You see I am conceited enough to think that even though you get along so well by yourself that you'd be a little happier if I was there by you. Right? I'm a kind of nice, handy fellow to have around, I think.
I'm sorry I can't send you a nice big picture of me but I can't seem to locate the photo studio. Maybe one of these snaps will be good enough to have enlarged. If not, maybe it won't be so long until you can have the real thing to look at instead of only a likeness. That's what we both want so much. We're too much in love to be very satisfied with pictures of each other. I like your pictures ever so much and keep them where I can see them all the time I'm at my desk. Proud of my good looking wife and show her off all I can.
Oct 1st letter. I've been waiting to hear that you were getting my letters again. I feel better now that I'm sure you know what I'm doing. I was interested in hearing your reactions and comments on the trip too. When you wrote these you hadn't heard much of it yet but I can gather that you think the trip was worthwhile. I'm very sure it was. I wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Another man all captivated and doing special delivery service for you. My gosh. Bringing letters to you that aren't even yours. Ceasar is a rather rough old boy but has a heart of gold. It is nice of all these guys to take care of you like that. You'll be a public and very popular girl by the time I get back. People, men especially, just can't resist that charm, can they?
The account of the bridge game with Ed & Betty & Jean sounds something like the old days. Think I would have enjoyed being there, especially since Jean wanted to go for a wheelbarrow ride. I started something that night that I wasn't quite in shape to complete. I've thought several times that I'd like to try again and now when the opportunity turns up, I'm way off here in New Guinea. She says it isn't good for any other time but I'll still hope to catch her in the wheelbarrow riding mood sometime in the future. Keep the wheelbarrow in good shape, honey.
I think you were in that floating, hand talking stage that night. Gosh, I bet you'd have been fun to retire with. Always a bit more than willing and able when you're in that shape. I sure missed out on plenty, didn't I?
There'll be another time and I'll make it twice as good. Night, sweetheart. I love you.
Your Hubby.
Norm.
Sat. eve
Oct 14, 1944
My Sweetheart;
Another week gone. They roll right along don't they? Each one is that much closer to that time when I can again show you I love you instead of tell you in writing.
Very pleasant day today. Not much sun and a very nice breeze so it didn't get over 92 degrees all day. Easy day too. Only worked a couple hours and then stood a clothing inspection and were off for the day. Pretty soft huh?
After dinner Oil, Bake, and I got busy and washed all our clothes. There is a regular detail to do it since we have the washing machine in operation but our clothes are so darn dirty that they don't get them very clean. We had plenty of time so we did it ourselves. Boiled them first and then put them in the machine so they came out good and clean. We're quite the experts on washing clothes these days. Big washing too. We each had four uniforms, a half dozen pairs of socks, two or three towels, leggings, caps, and handkerchiefs. How's that for a wash for a bunch of bachelors ?
The rest of the afternoon I spent patching up some more of these salvage uniforms. I'll have seven complete uniforms when I get my sewing done. I ran into difficulties on one pair of trousers today. They had evidently belonged to someone that spent most of his time off his feet. Anyhow they needed a patch on both cheeks so I thought I'd pull a fast one and put one big patch over the entire seat. Sounded like the real idea but I found out later it didn't work too good. I got a few puckers in the seat now but, by gosh, they'll hold me in. I can use a lot of practice and instruction on my sewing yet. Don't worry. I won't expect you to teach me that 'cause when I get back with you I'm going to forget all about sewing and let someone else do it. Will you? Of course I won't object to keeping a needle and thread down at the workbench and putting on a button or two that you've forgotten, but that is as far as I'll go. I'll keep the washer running but when it comes to using it, that's another thing.
Listen at me sounding off at a time when I'd do any darn thing you asked me to do.
I got two more letters from you and one from Mom & Hazel today. Yours were Oct 1st & Oct 3rd. The second one you wrote on Oct 1st and the 2nd are among the missing at present. They have been coming in order so long that I don't like to have them skipping around. There is also a shipment of packages that will be sorted tomorrow. Maybe I'll have a couple more "bundles for Norm". I hope so. I like 'em. If anyone wants to know if the boys appreciate packages you can assure them they do. Anyhow this outfit sure goes for them. The news that packages have come in goes through camp like an electric shock. The poor mail clerk is badgered to death until he gets them sorted and delivered. Even when there is a big bunch of letters, as there was tonight, the news of packages shadows the pleasure of getting letters. Yes, I'm just as crazy about them as anyone. I've got a wife that keeps them coming too. You're swell, honey. Take good care of me don't you? I'm loving you.
The outfit has gone through the change I wrote about a while back settling down to routine again. I still don't know if we are any better off than before. Time will tell.
Now I'm going on with answering your letters.
This Burnett you speak of is one of our regular customers at the store. I knew him quite well. He lives in that new brick house on the corner of E Friendship & Harmony. He runs a big greenhouse up near Cleveland. His wife is a backyard cousin of mine. I think she works in the Court House. Yes, I knew Hobart Johnson too. He was one of Gibb's mechanics.You're really getting acquainted with lots of people I know aren't you? I can see you are going to miss all that when I come home. It is a made to order job for you isn't it? Not too hard work, lots of people to see and talk to and plenty to keep that mind of yours busy. I sure am tickled about you getting that place. Too bad you couldn't have had it all the time. I love to see you happy and contented as much as possible until I come back.
You see I am conceited enough to think that even though you get along so well by yourself that you'd be a little happier if I was there by you. Right? I'm a kind of nice, handy fellow to have around, I think.
I'm sorry I can't send you a nice big picture of me but I can't seem to locate the photo studio. Maybe one of these snaps will be good enough to have enlarged. If not, maybe it won't be so long until you can have the real thing to look at instead of only a likeness. That's what we both want so much. We're too much in love to be very satisfied with pictures of each other. I like your pictures ever so much and keep them where I can see them all the time I'm at my desk. Proud of my good looking wife and show her off all I can.
Oct 1st letter. I've been waiting to hear that you were getting my letters again. I feel better now that I'm sure you know what I'm doing. I was interested in hearing your reactions and comments on the trip too. When you wrote these you hadn't heard much of it yet but I can gather that you think the trip was worthwhile. I'm very sure it was. I wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Another man all captivated and doing special delivery service for you. My gosh. Bringing letters to you that aren't even yours. Ceasar is a rather rough old boy but has a heart of gold. It is nice of all these guys to take care of you like that. You'll be a public and very popular girl by the time I get back. People, men especially, just can't resist that charm, can they?
The account of the bridge game with Ed & Betty & Jean sounds something like the old days. Think I would have enjoyed being there, especially since Jean wanted to go for a wheelbarrow ride. I started something that night that I wasn't quite in shape to complete. I've thought several times that I'd like to try again and now when the opportunity turns up, I'm way off here in New Guinea. She says it isn't good for any other time but I'll still hope to catch her in the wheelbarrow riding mood sometime in the future. Keep the wheelbarrow in good shape, honey.
I think you were in that floating, hand talking stage that night. Gosh, I bet you'd have been fun to retire with. Always a bit more than willing and able when you're in that shape. I sure missed out on plenty, didn't I?
There'll be another time and I'll make it twice as good. Night, sweetheart. I love you.
Your Hubby.
Norm.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Letter # 496 October 13, 1944
Friday eve.
Oct 13, 1944
My darling wife;
Hello, sweetheart. How are you? I'm very well thank you. I love you too.
Gosh, honey, here it is. Friday again and the thirteenth too. Nothing bad happened either. In fact, nothing at all happened a bit out of ordinary. I'm going to have to look around for something else like Jungle School so I will have some more material to write on. I can't tell you day by day everything we do like I used to and right now I'm having a hard time getting much but rambling in my letters. Afraid they can't be very interesting when they are like that.
Hold on though, honey, maybe something interesting will happen one of these days that I can tell you all about again. For the present I'll just have to answer your letters and love you a bit.
No use to ask if that was satisfactory to you 'cause even if it wasn't you would tell me they were just perfect. You're so nice that way. Always trying to make me feel good. You do make me feel swell all the time. That's love, I guess, honey.
We did have one unexpected thing happen today. "Oil" had sent some film in the same time I sent mine and, by golly, they came back already today. That would be swell service if it wasn't a freak. Fastest I've ever heard of. Less than three weeks. I'm hoping now that mine will be following very shortly but I'm pessimistic. His must have been the first, of the probably thousands sent in, to get processed. Lucky, and won't happen again, I imagine.
He had taken pictures of the native dance held a while ago near here and they came out pretty good. I'm anxious to see mine. Hope they come out 'cause there are some that could never be gotten again. Should be some good ones of me which you may not recognize because of the beard. There are a couple though taken the first few days and shouldn't show much whisker.
I did have a very devilish desire while I had that beard. Can you guess what the desire was? Well, I just wanted to kiss you and make you like it. Mean aren't I? I can still remember a rather stinging remark you made the first time I kissed you and I don't think I ever got even for it. That would have been a good way to get even, wouldn't it? I think you would even have liked it a little bit. See? I'm still as ornery and devilish as ever. By your letter I see you doubt my ability to even up for your teasing by just walking away when you want to love. Personally, I think that would be an almost impossible threat to carry out but you know me. I do get some devilish streaks. I wasn't thinking about fifty years from now either nor was I referring to the first month or so after I get home. It might be sometime in between. I remember what Ed Ritter said and if he can do it I sure ought to be able to. Fifty years will never be able to make my wife as commonplace and unattractive as his is. I guess it all comes down to an empty statement only made to tease you a bit. Like the ones I always used to make about sending you back to your mother, or trading you for a few new models, or going out and finding me a redhead and lots of others. You knew darn well I didn't mean any of them even if I didn't ever tell you how nice you were and how much I loved you. You seemed to know anyhow. Didn't you, you sweet devil? I can remember how you used to pump me for compliments and now I know you were sure I meant them only wouldn't come right out and say so. Ornery wasn't I? Try me when I get home this time. May be surprising, the results you get. I mean surprising too, 'cause I only think I know how I will act. I've made resolutions too but keeping them is another thing. You can use these written statements of promises I've made to put me on the ball though, if I do forget. I'm consciously in love these days. I woke up after I had to leave you and missed you so much.
I'm having quite a battle writing these letters lately. A colony of small, innocent, little ants, no bigger than fleas have moved into my desk and are trying their best to drive me out. They aren't mean or anything but they keep running back and forth over the paper and getting tangled up with the pen point. A lot of these blurred letters mark [it happened on that "m"] the spot where another of their little clan met its death. From the number I squash every night I should be getting rid of them but instead they seem to gain on me. They have been here for some time now. I get after them with insect repellent and they leave for a while and then move back in again. Getting to be friends like the cockroaches in La. So I guess I'll just charge them rent and let 'em stay. If I can only train them to stay away from the pen point, they won't be any nuisance at all. I'm getting so used to bugs and such that I'll have to bring some home to make me feel natural. The little buggers pay a form of rent too. That may sound like I'm getting a loose screw but I'm not. I've mentioned the fleas that are so bothersome at times. Well, these hard working little fellows do a fair job of taking care of them. As soon as a flea lights two or three ants tackle him and if he isn't very lucky that is the last of Mr. flea. See what I mean? Even fairly large bugs that get singed by the light are disposed of by my clean up squad. I guess they pay their lodging.
I know your chin is up and your head high and a nice smile on your face, honey. You can't realize how much it means to me either. I'm proud of you. I can also assure you I'm doing pretty much the same too. Nothing can get me down as long as I have you, sweetheart.
Did you ever before tell me that Ma Palko had sold out and gone? I don't remember. I did see it in a Gazette recently. Too bad you gals haven't got a hangout any more where you can feel safe to have a beer or two. You'll be all out of practice and float on one or two by the time I come home. Wow! Won't that be fun. You seem to get pleasantly torrid, tempting, and terrific then, don't you?
Jean sure is having a hell of a time with her renters and place. That's something I was afraid of when we were thinking about renting our place. Be constant trouble. It's kind of tough for you to be staying there all by yourself but I do believe that it's a smaller source of worry to us both with you there than if it was rented. You're doing a swell job of keeping things like they were when I left.
When I come back we can just step right in where we stopped and go on without the trouble of getting ourselves settled back in our home and everything. You're really being wonderful about it. As Mom Kelser says you deserve all the help and praise you're getting. I'm not the only one who thinks so either.
Night, sweetheart. I love you so much. Would you like a nice gooey kiss about now? I sure would.
Your hubby.
Norm.
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