October 4, 1944

My Dearest Darling Dolly,

I celebrated your birthday yesterday by getting 3 real sweet and perfect letters. Now if I could have all of those kisses, it would be more than perfect. Do you know it is impossible for my mere pen to tell you how sweet you are? How much I love you has never been compared with; I’ll always love you.

The Jews must run that place you work in, it wouldn’t surprise me. If you said you folded up your desk and decided to go. That would be good. Mrs. McGinty goes to Jewish services. I went to mass this morning. There was a big crowd of us there. It sure surprises you to find some of them are Catholics, some you’d never expect. I wish we had a Catholic chaplain so I could go to church on Sundays. I’ve had a hard time getting used to the way it used to be. In battle zones, you can eat right up till it’s time to go to communications, and any time they have mass.

I’m sorry I can’t help you out on what to send me Dolly. I asked for some heavy wool sox, but that is all I need. Do you know what you can get me honey? After the war is all over, an electric razor. I’ve been using one once in a while and it does a good job. I don’t think Hap’s was any good; his was the only one I tried.

Say those sailors come to see Bev, don’t they? You said in one letter I would have plenty of room, and then you say these sailors come to the house; or they don’t stay there. Bev is a queer one, isn’t she? You would think she would work anyplace. There’s a world of difference between you two. You’re so darn sweet and confident of everyone, and she don’t give a damn about nothing or nobody but herself.

A lot of them are them are trying to learn French. I suppose I’ll be stumbling over it like the little bit of German I know. Most of the German I know isn’t worth repeating. Is it? I love you.

I told you about that shaggy donkey the other day, it’s just down the road from here, and when we went past it this morning, Poppy Sharp said “Hello Giles. Its about the toughest looking animal I’ve ever seen”

Here I am, back again, I started this noon, but I had a lot of work to do this afternoon, and now I am writing this by candlelight, and lying flat on my stomach and I hope you can read this. I was watching Poppy write a while ago and he was on his hands and knees, it looked funny.

I am going to get a job like Buynes after the war. You said Pete told you he had, but I am only going to interview one lady, and that’s the lady of my house. Won’t we have fun though? We have so darn many things to look forward to. I’ll love you always and always.

Do you know what someone had the nerve to ask me today? How I would like to be back in California. You were saying how nice it was there. I’m going to be so darn glad to get back to all that sunshine, but when you are around, a dreamy day seems as bright as the brightest.

You have more darn ways of tempting me first. You tell me about hamburgers and now you ask me how I would like to swim in the pond. You keep that up and you will have me swimming the Atlantic. It’s funny but I watched the moon come up the other night and I was thinking about that time you and I were down at the pond with Virginia and Cal Lenty. Do you remember? That was a long, long time ago, I’ve loved you an awful long time Dolly, and its increased a billion times with each day.

We get plenty of reading material. Colliers, Stars and Stripes, and a bunch of packet size overseas editions. Thanks for asking about sending the magazines though. I’ll be so darn glad when I can pick up a magazine, and start gazing through it, and have you sitting by me, and we look together. We used to do that all the time. Then I could ask you the family quiz to show how smart you were or are or is. You’re really smart too; did I ever tell you that?

That was sure funny about Jacky. I’ll bet Pete raved. I can just see her. How does Mick get along in school this year? You should be a big help to the two of them, or are you saving that for Dennis? Won’t he be smart when he starts to school? His papa will be proud.

That was news about Maxine. Why do some people have all the luck? She is really nice and I would hate to have anything like that happen to her like what happened to Phylis. But it won’t. But as nuts as girl is at times, I don’t see how she can help it. But you used to have the same trouble.

I had a big, long letter from Aunt Nell and Dad. They described the funeral all over again. I guess Aunt Nell is getting to be the lady about town shows to Omaha, etc. I would like to see her and Dad. They must make a good pair. They said Dan bought a car and I imagine he comes up quite often. Bill is working hard on the railroad. I should go home and bump him. That is one thing that I don’t like about railroading. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to hear of Pickles being back.

I should write to Mrs. Brennan, I feel bad because I haven’t, but by the time my daily goes out, I want to go to bed. You wouldn’t want me to miss writing that, would you? I didn’t think so. Have you called Mrs. Brennan lately? I felt like a stranger the last time I was there, I guess it was because Earl left. How is Genny? She should be just about ready.

I have been wondering how you have kept from blowing off steam, the way you write about Mr. Bell and some of them. He must be a real slave driver. He would make a good mom for the fuhrer. I won’t be much longer honey, and you will be the only boss of a nice little white house in the middle of some block of nice little white houses.

Well, Dearest Darling, I have come to the end again, and I love you more than I can even imagine. I will love you always. Millions of kisses.

Your Ever Loving,

Giles