28 February 1945

Dearest,

I’m beginning to believe that you’re really very busy doing something, for as yet, I’ve had no letter since receiving the one you wrote on Feb. 7, in answer to the first one of mine you received. However, I’m hoping That one of these days soon, I’ll go into the P.O and find a whole batch of your letters – I’m not really worrying too much, but it does give me an uneasy feeling.

Today is a typical February day in little Washington – it’s overcast, with a freezing rain – really rather nasty, especially for walking, as you can imagine. In fact it’s rather like the last few days of out stay in Norman…. Remember? How about sending some of your weather up here?... I could use it.

This, my sweet, won’t be such a hot letter – for there has been very little mail; and, of course, I’m still spending my free time at the hospital. I talked to Dr. T. yesterday and, since nurses are so very scarce for poor civilians nowadays, he advised putting Nan in a nursing home for a week, upon her release from the Hospital. He wants someone with her professional training, so that, of course, lets me out. I told Nana about it last night – and she seemed perfectly agreeable; though she did say that, of course, she’d prefer to be at home with a nurse. Nurses are being drafter, you know, the single ones – and yesterday the government issued an edict that only “acutely ill” persons should have private nurses – even in hospitals --- so you can see the situation. Doc said he’d talk to nan today – and also make all the necessary arrangements—for, naturally, he would know of the best place for her. Yesterday, she walked from the bed to the chair—and of course, she sits up quite a bit. She takes the last x-ray treatment today – and honest to Pete, at present she looks as though she hasn’t been in the hospital at all. Of course, her incision is quite large, so that it will be slow in healing – and it still has a drainage tube in one place and has to be dressed every day or two. But, according to the doctor, once the incision is completely healed, Nana will be able to resume all of her former activities.

Even though she won’t be in her own apartment this weekend, I’m having it cleaned today, for I had already made all the arrangements. And McKean and Burt are going to bring the things out of storage Friday afternoon – the davenport, breakfast set, overstuffed chair and electric sweeper – so I’ll really have the apt. fixed up quite nicely by the time she gets home.

Didn’t write last night, for after leaving the hospital at 9, I had to go out to Van Kirk Station to get some clean clothes and wash some dirty ones—and by the time I got through, it was kinda’ late. Anyhow, wouldn’t you rather have a typewritten letter than one in longhand?

I finally got the pictures from Harbaugh’s yesterday – and most of them are a fizzle – none of the ones Peach and Dick took even showed up – and quite a few were out of focus. I’m enclosing a few that you might like – they were all contact prints – for the gal at the studio said they decided to let me choose the ones I wanted enlarged – for quite a few weren’t worth enlarging. So, Saturday I’m supposed to get the enlargements and, of course, I’ll send ‘em along.

And that reminds me – as I said, I’ve got your grey hats and covers and hot pilot’s hat – and the khaki covers are on their way out to me – but, to date, I’ve been unable to unearth a washable khaki hat so I’m going to send you the others --- and have one of the kids in Norman send me a couple of hats, for they’re really hard to get. I’ve tried all the department stores, uniform store and sporting stores in Pittsburgh – even uncle mass canvassing ‘em – and it’s no soap. By they way, Ollie Gerrity, the fellow in Schreiners who made your uniforms, now has a place of his own – I called him while searching for a khaki hat – he was able to send me the covers, but no hat. You’re really a hell of a lot of trouble, Brady – but I love it, as you well know!

Penny continues to eat like a pig – she’s slowly gaining weight. Her coat is beautiful now – just a shiny and sleek and it’s getting heavier. She’s so damned peppy you’d hardly know her. I guess playing with Tres really did her a lot of good.

And, I’ve been trying to remember to tell you --- I’ve lost some weight since arriving here – nothing like walking to keep it down – my hips are way down and my skirts are getting kinda’ loose. Isn’t that nice – told you I’d lose once I started walking again. Just wait til you see how streamlined my figure is going to be when you get home.

Another bit of news …. The P.O. has opened a branch office uptown – right next to the W & J tailors on Beau. Oh yes, I ran into Peggy Provost the other day – she looks just the same and is apparently doing the same – she had a soldier on the string now – he’s stationed in Florida and from his pictures looks just the same and is apparently doing the same – she had a soldier on the string now – he’s stationed in Florida and from his pictures looks to be quite a bit older than she. Betty Forsberg got a medical discharge and as yet isn’t well – she’s engaged to somebody – a fellow she met while in the WAVES, but as yet they’ve se no wedding date. Blaine Day’s first wife has started a funeral home across from the P.O… when she and Blaine were divorced there was some sort of deal that, as long as he lived, she couldn’t do business here in Washington. So now, since he’s gone, she’s started up in business and seems to be doing very well. Becke is married to that fellow (remember, we read of her engagement last year) – I think he’s from west Washington – and she’s still going to school in Europe – but then I guess Doc took care of all that sort of news in his letter.

Golly, I’m not doing so badly for not having much to tell you, am I??? 5the pie at the bus station is still good – but the price is now 15¢ -- and Kelly’s still have grilled sandwiches that are pretty good. The juke box there is really terrific, plays all the records too fast – and you can imagine how they sound. The waitresses are all the new ones since we were there. Mrs. Kelly saves Reader’s Digest and Coronet every month for me to send to you – and City News furnishes Esky. You will please note that in your last box (I’ve sent you three so far), I enclosed the dirt sheet – to bring your culture reading up to date!

Jeanette sent me a most abrupt note telling me to write – it was just a sheet of paper which was printed in the upper lefthand corner, “You promised to quote write unquote” – and on it she put her name and address. Kinda cute, no? I’ve written to Aunt Rena about Nana, of course, and gave her your address, telling her to write – in fact everyone I meet that I think you’d like to hear from, I give ‘em your address – so that you’ll have plenty of mail.

Tis time for me to eat – so I’ll quit rambling for now – please take good care of you for me – and Penny – write often – and God keep you for me, my darling.

` Yours always,

Emil