9/23/45

Dear Hic,

Received your letter of September 10 the other day, and although it isn’t funny I couldn’t help laughing at your first furlough in here you asked what you wrote to give me the impression you were homeward bound. Well in one letter which you wrote on the ship you wrote you had been at sea for two weeks and expected to be there another week and then any day after that my phone would ring and it would be you. Honestly you wrote that Hic. It’s not me, and my eyes aren’t that bad.

Ruth did make a hasty decision about getting married, but she has known her husband since they were in Junior High and went with him off and on so it really isn’t so surprising. When I see her I’ll convey your congratulations to her. I think his furlough ended yesterday.

It makes me so angry to think you still have to live under the conditions you wrote me about in your letter. I should think they’d try to better conditions for you if you have to stay there. I never thought you’d be in the A.O. either. I felt sure that after having been over there so long you would be sent home after the end of the war. But whatever comes Hic, you’ll just have to stick it out, and hope for the best. I wish there was something I could do to help you. Remember dear, if there is ever anything I can do please don’t hesitate to ask me.

My brother still is in France and still doesn’t know when he will be home. I’m pretty sure he is part of the A.O. also. He doesn’t seem to mind too much because he is having a good time and he says he is getting paid for it, whereas if he came home he wouldn’t have a job and would have to start all over again. But that’s just delaying it a little longer. I’m sure, in his heart, he would much rather be home.

Friday night I became very ambitious, and pasted all my pictures in my album. All those snaps you sent me. I trimmed them all down and put them all in. I have about 5 pages of pictures which you sent me. All those from the Philippines I grouped together, and all those you took at Manila I put separately. About ten years from now, they should be very interesting to look back on, especially since you were thoughtful enough to put explanations on the back of each one.

It’s Sunday today and for a change it’s raining. Mil and I are going to the University Hospital this afternoon to visit the woman next door to me. For a change she’s in the hospital. That poor girl has more trouble than anyone I know.

The Canteen is closing next week and will reopen at Town Hall October 15 it’s a good thing too because it has been cold. Last Wednesday I danced practically all evening with that dizzy marine I have told you about and I got very overheated and with the wind hitting me at the same time, I sniffled all the next day. But it was good fun. Gosh can that guy jitterbug.

Last week we heard that a girl we graduated with died last year of an impact wisdom tooth which became infected. She was such a swell person. I almost cried when I heard it although she wasn’t a close friend of mine. I told my mother about it and that’s all she needed to hear. She immediately made me go to the dentist, because I am getting a wisdom tooth and it is swollen and has been painful. So the dentist said it was perfectly alright and that the one on the other side is ready to come through. That’s going to be great. I can’t chew on one side now. Soon I won’t be able to eat at all. Woe is me. But I’ll live, I’m afraid.

Well dear, it’s late. Mildred will soon be calling to find out what’s keeping me. I told her I’ll be over about 2 and it’s now 2:30 and I’m not even dressed yet. Oh well, what’s time in my young life.

Take care of yourself and write very soon again.

Love

Fern

My mother sends her regards and wishes you a very happy new year.