Letter #3

September 6, 1942.

Sunday Evening.

My dearest darling,

Well, in spite of my doubts, I passed my test. My license came in the mail Saturday morning, and was I thrilled to get it! I feel very proud of myself. I will send you a cable along the middle of the week as usual, and will tell you in that message that I passed my test all right. This morning, Roy was over, and I practiced going in and out of the garage. I can get out all right now, but it is sort of hard to get into it. I have my car in the farthest stall with Grandma’s car, and it is sort of difficult. If I don’t get started in just right, I have to back several times instead of just once or twice like Roy does. I’m going to practice on it some more.

This noon, or rather about 12:30, I got the car out all by myself, drove over to your people’s house for dinner, drove back here about 7 o’clock, and after much see-sawing back and forth, got the car in the garage. It was the first I have driven alone, and I can’t say that I particularly like it, but it is very convenient. By the time you get back, I hope to be pretty good. But I wish you would come back soon, before I get good. Saturday afternoon, I gave Roy a box of cigars and a $5.00 bill. He was so surprised and said, “Why, Jeanette, you didn’t have to do this. I have been glad to teach you, and will be glad to help you some more if you ever want me to show you anything about the car.” I told him that I wanted to at least partially repay him for the evenings he had given up to come down here and go out with me, and that it meant a lot to me to be able to drive.

Last night, I went up to Aunt Pearl’s for dinner. I didn’t want to drive up there on Saturday afternoon the first time I went out alone, and I knew it would be after dark when I was ready to come home. So Roy took me up on his way home, and I planned to come back home on the bus. Grandma Cook was up there to dinner, too. We had a very nice dinner as we always do up at Aunt Pearl’s. Grandma Cook, that Miss Bryant who lives there, and I helped with the dishes, and then Aunt Pearl, Uncle Will, Grandma Cook and I played rummy. We played 3 games---500 points to a game, and Aunt Pearl and I beat Grandma Cook and Uncle Will, much to Grandma Cook’s despair. When I was almost ready to leave, my dad called up and said that he would drive up and get me when I was ready, so that I wouldn’t have to bother with a bus. I was glad he called, because Aunt Pearl had said that she and Uncle Will would bring me home, and I knew from a remark that she had made earlier in the evening that their tires on their car are in rather bad shape, and they are trying to conserve them as much as possible. We talked about you a lot, dear, but to my relief, Aunt Pearl didn’t shed any tears. But we all miss you, my dearest, and are hoping for a speedy return. And no one wants you back any more than I do. I surely miss you, darling. And I am worried about you so much now, after the things I have been reading in the paper about the trouble over there where you are.

We had a grand time at your folk’s house today. I thought that your dad and Don were both going to a clambake, but just Don went. So there were 7 of us---Mother and Father Cook, Grandmothers Cook and Clock, Dorothy and Bobby, and I. Yesterday was Dot’s birthday, so they celebrated it today. They had a cake nicely decorated, and a fine dinner. Then she had her presents from dad and mother, and from me. Your mother gave her some stockings and a lovely bag, and your dad gave her some money. Grandma Cook had sent her some money a day or two before. I told you that I got a guest book and some cute coasters for her and Don. She was so pleased with the guest book, as they didn’t have one, and she also liked the coasters. She said all they had were some with a beer ad on them. She is putting on weight, but said that she is going to reduce. She still isn’t fat, and if just about right now, if she would only stay that way.

I think it is too bad that Don had to leave I.B.M., as they are said to be nice to their employees, and carry their insurance, have the club, and do several things that may not seem like so much, but really count up. I hope that Don comes out all right in his running that store, but I don’t know as he knows much about that kind of business. Dorothy says that there is a gift shop in the store, and she expects to help with that on Saturdays. They are going to move to Endicott, if they can find a decent place to live. They were looking at a place, but it has been rented at a lot higher price than they could ever pay. Rents around here now are reminiscent of Alexandria rents, especially in Endicott, and also Johnson City. And now it is hard to find a place in Binghamton unless you pay a pretty good price. But Dorothy says that it will be better for their business if they live in Endicott, as the Endicott people will think better of them. And of course, there is the transportation problem. It will take quite a lot of gas for Don to go to Endicott to work every day, and back at night. I don’t know what their final decision will be. Your mother said that she wrote you all about Don, and I presume she also told you the above---that they were going to probably move.

Grandma Cook just called up a short time ago to see if I got home all right. She said that they all watched me start off, and that I did it very well, and didn’t jerk a bit. Gracious, I wonder what they expected. If I started off jerkily, I doubt if I would have ever gotten my license. I guess that Grandma Cook left your folks house right after I did. I might have stayed longer, but I wanted to be sure to get home before it got dark. I have only dr9iven after dark once, and then it wasn’t very dark, but just dark enough to have headlights on. And then Roy was with me. Someday I will get very brave, and go for a drive after dark by myself, just to get over feeling timid about it, but not until I have had more experience.

I really feel proud to think that I only had to try the test once. Everyone I know who has taken the test during the past year, has had to take it twice. My, I am certainly talking about myself enough in this letter, but I am so relieved to know that I passed. And I have finally kept my promise to you---that I would learn to drive. But I don’t think I will ever do it for just pleasure, but it will prove to be very handy and convenient, and I am surely glad to know how. I will go out for a short drive two or 3 nights a week, to keep in practice. I want to go over and see the neighbors, and make a few Red Cross calls. If I do, I get paid so much a mile. I don’t know how much, but I’m going to find out, and they will also have to get me a gas card for extra gas from the rationing board. Well, I won’t have to see about that right now.

Tomorrow is Labor Day. Remember the joke---Labor Day is nice months after father’s day. Well, anyway, we have a holiday, of course. I guess we are either going to have dinner here or downtown. The girls have the day off, so if we eat here, it will be up to Auntie and I to get our dinner. Then we are going to a movie in the afternoon. I think we’ll see Fred Astaire and someone else in “Holiday Inn” or something like that. I’ll write you about it next time I write.

What do you think Grandma Cook brought over to your folks house today and gave to me? A pillow that your mother gave her years and years ago, with your picture on it when you were about two years old. It is sort of faded, but not as much as you would expect it to be, and it is so cute. I am going to put it in the back of the rocking chair here in my room. I can see it there, and it won’t get worn, as I don’t sit there much.

Your dad had some small silver stars, and put one on the windshield of each of his cars today, and also one on my windshield. I think he put one on Grandma’s car too---Grandma Cook’s car, I mean. She said that she would like one. A silver star means someone in Foreign Service. I am going to get another service flag for us, as I understand that they have them for sale now with silver stars on them as well as blue stars. Our present little flag has two blue stars, and we really should have two silver stars, here.

I haven’t received any letters since the three I got Sept. 1, but I no doubt will receive some Tuesday or Wednesday. Of course, there won’t be any mail deliveries tomorrow, on account of Labor Day. I the near future, we are only going to have one mail delivery a day, instead of two as we do now.

I my last letter, I told you that on Friday, I mailed a small package to you for our anniversary. Just a remembrance. I think it will surely get there by Oct. 8^th, and if it isn’t there then, or doesn’t get there soon thereafter, let me know. I always insure all packages I send to you.

It is getting pretty late, so I guess I won’t take this letter over to the Post Office tonight, but will do so tomorrow.

You father took me aside today, and explained about the money. He said that he had written to you all about it, and your answer about not putting that amount on the house, but in the business.

You dad said he dreamed last night that you were transferred back to this country. I wish it were a reality instead of a dream.

Oh, honey, you don’t know how lonesome I am for you---or do you? Yes, I believe you do. You always could tell how I was feeling, and often what I was thinking.

My dad just told me to tell you the following verse that he saw today.

“At ease,” she said,

“Maneuvers begin

When you get the whiskers

Off your chin.”

BURMA SHAVE

I always think of you, darling. Sometimes it seems as if I couldn’t wait until the time you will return. We will have so many things to do to make up for all this time that we are apart. I want to be with you again so much, and to go back to our former life, as it used to be on Brookfield Road. If we were in a so-called “rut” then, I want to get back into that rut. But I didn’t think we were. However, happiness is one of the major things in life, and we were happy there. As I’ve said before, those were the happiest days of my life. And yet, we had interest outside of our home too. However, I am going to devote all of my time to you chiefly when you return, and secondly to our home. Then thirdly I will place social activities on my list. Just about the same as it was formerly, except that I will give all of my time to you when you are not at work. A selfish life, many, but I feel that I am doing enough now so that I can feel free to do as I please, to a reasonable extent, after this war is over, and I won’t be needed so much in business. I believe I can do more good in our home. And darling, you are the one who is making the greatest contribution, so you are surely entitled to a happy future. It is something to look forward to, dear.

We are all so proud of you, sweetheart. The little that the civilians can do seems very small indeed, but I guess every little bit helps.

All my love to you, dearest, and lots of kisses. I hope soon that I can say that to you instead of writing it.

Most affectionately and lovingly,

Your devoted wife,

Jeanette.