"Returned to Writer" January 20 1952 Good afternoon, It's Sunday 3.55 p.m.--a bright cold beautiful day here in Iowa. How are you today, my sweet Hubby? I received a letter from you yesterday that you'd written on the 15th just before your Sinuiju mission. I hope by now you have reached almost the 90 mark so the next 10 will be less hazardous. When do you think you will get home? How long will you have to stay after finishing your missions? I wish you were all thru & back in the U.S.A. & that you'd be calling any minute for us to come & get you. Thank heaven it won't be long now till that day will be here. I can hardly wait & wouldn't if I didn't have to. Jan is snoozing in her afternoon nap & Jay is dragging himself blearily about trying to keep awake. He hardly even takes a nap anymore & is really ready for the sack at night. He plays cowboy all day long & wears his rubber boots over bare feet. Have an awful time keeping him properly dressed. He sheds shoes, socks & overalls as he goes--too many coverings seem to hamper his wild cavortioris. I think it is high time you are coming home because Jan is beginning to call every man she sees in a magazine "Daddy". She likes to look at books as much as Jay does & loves to be read to. She talks more & more all the time & can sing several songs, really carries the tune, believe me! I think our little "Dummy" is going to be a very brilliant personage. (natch). She can say "Jay" but calls herself "Nannie", says "Mae" for Nellie Mae & "Papa" for Grandpa but when we ask her to say "Grandma" she will say, "Shhhhh"-- I'm so glad you had a good time in Japan--such luxuriant living. Makes me wish I were there with you basking in the lavish surroundings! It's a wonderful thing you do get time to rest in nice places once in awhile. I hope you can get some pictures taken before you come home & can sit & talk for hours about everything you saw. Gee it will be wonderful to have you home again. We will get a nice car & have a nice home fixed just like we want it. And you can come home at night to a nice comfy chair & Jay will bring you your slippers & pipe (?!) & I will bring you a nice tall glass of something cold in one of our new "red bamboo" iced tea glasses. Jan has just charged flat footedly forth sleepy eyed with two enormous dolls under each arm. She's standing up on a chair beside me now yelling for colors and color book. Short pause-- Now both kids are painstakingly drawing & scribbling. Jay nearly sent Nellie Mae & I into incredulous shrieks a moment ago by drawing a very excellent picture of a bird & bringing it over and presenting it to me. I think it's damn good for a 3 yr. old. (Ah such geniuses). Inclosing it for fatherly inspection.
Gloria is coming home from the hospital today. Mrs. Danker is coming along fine & the Doctor is putting a "walking cast" on her leg next week--then she'll get to come home too. Elaine & Log's middle boy has been very ill--ingrown hives & pneumonia--did you ever hear of such a thing? But is coming along fine now after nearly scaring them all to death. He came home last week from [the] hospital. Have you heard from your Mom lately? Joe will soon be on his way home. I wonder where he will be stationed when he gets back. Had a letter from Mrs. Ray which I am enclosing. I wonder if we'll be going back to So. Carolina. The shadows are growing long on the lawn. It's 4:30 & soon will be dark again & your day will be just beginning. I'd like to go to Waterloo tomorrow. Usually go with Annabelle & ride back on the bus. I want to get some material for some shirts and shorts for Jay & Jan & get them made before you come home so they'll have plenty of clothes. Also have to get material for more nighties & diapers for wee new twirp. Just think, Honey, we'll soon have a nice family of five. I'm glad we are having a new baby now. Jan really likes babies, bet she'll smother it with affection. Jay calls her "The Little Mother". I wonder if he'll be like the other two with brown eyes & hair or maybe blond with blue eyes. Wouldn't that be funny! Seems I should have one child that people can tell is mine. Ha! I'll close for now before the kids drive me crazy. They've been unreasonably good up to this point but are now fighting & scraping for attention. Take good good care of yourself, Sweetie. All our love to you always, Lou Jay & Jan |
