(Post Marked 06 Jan. 1944, Ravenna Ohio)

Tues.

Dear Mildred and all,

It is so foggy out it is awful. Mr. P at 436 S. Walnut is 4 to 12 and so is Bud. She is coming down to stay here until they come home. She is very nice. She got a new book for Xmas by Louise Platt Hawk called “a Sweeter Woman.” She is bringing it for me and I will lend her mine that I got for Xmas. I have to get away from Doake or they’ll drive me nuts. “Bud” washed today. I went in the cellar a while ago and, behold, he had washed those coats that hung down there. The fur collar is no more; it all came apart. I had a letter from Beulah she felt very large when she wrote it. M. S wrote and asked me a lot of very personal questions about the cost of my illness etc. I’m not answering it. Aunt L had a fistula when she was 50. It drained 3 months she wrote me the nicest letter today she ever wrote in her life. So, I’m only draining now 5 wks so I’ll have to put up with it. She wrote to Mary, did she let on? We get mail from John in three days. M. S said they heard from John H in Mass. he received their box but hadn’t heard yet from our John.

Stella came home with orders for 4 fascinators Monday she said she intended to make them all as the girls didn’t like mine (I don’t believe it). Then the bell rang and it was a Mr. M. He is Mgr. of the Oak Rubber Co. he asked me if I could make 5 fascinators for him and he would pay me $1.25 each. I could have howled. He said his wife liked mine because they weren’t pulled too tight. She began to chime in but I didn’t introduce her and she didn’t make any impression ha! ha! He will bring the wool tonight. I could laugh and laugh. Mrs. P got me some market butter in West Virginia over the weekend. It is white and cost 40 cents a lb. Also she got me 2 dz. fresh eggs. @ 45. I like her and she is my age and she is lonely too. John told me not to send him a birthday gift as I sent him enough for Xmas but I am going to send him $2.00. Did K’s come yet? You know. A lady was here today selling stockings. I didn’t take any.

I wonder what ails Mrs. M again. It makes me so darn mad that T. S didn’t pass for the army. Sis.

I feel a great deal better but my heart thumps so if it don’t let up I’ll go to a doctor as mine waddled off to Florida. Mrs. K has a very bad sore throat. Bud went to the store for her today & I will make soup tomorrow for them. She was good to me. How are those panthers- did they catch them? Did you hear how Jimmy H is? I thanked O.E.S. for my plant. I will send Rebecca dues soon. Put 1.00 in for me Sat. nite.

Love to all,

E.P.S