Dear Folks:

After that punitive letter I wrote yesterday, and the one I got from you today, I guess you well deserve another one immediately.  For some reason your letter seemed to reflect a low spirit and maybe a little worried.  I also have not heard from Dick for a month or so, but I thought he would write you regularly.  I think it’s more this attitude than anything else.  You know he never concerned himself too much with such matters.  I will write him immediately and see what the score is.  No, I don’t think it would do any good to send smokes to Dick—he never smoked any during our visit and I don’t think he does now.  I know I should write you often to relieve your anxiety and although I don’t realize it as much as I should, I can imagine how you feel when no letters come.  Of course it’s pretty verboten for me to express any opinions as to what may be in store but for the present things look pretty routine.

Only a little while ago I returned from pass but after spending the morning in town, gave it up for a bad job and came back to read and sleep.  I make a daily effort to read at least two hours and I believe the result is definitely beneficial.  The town seems pretty dead and I swim enough on Sunday afternoons.

I hope you don’t go to any great deal of trouble to find something for Christmas because there are so few things that I need or can use.  I do remember one thing that you mentioned—and that was a ring.  You always wished I had a good one.

‘Panama Hattie’ is at the theater tonight so better go.  Our ‘theatre’ looks like an old gay ninety ‘bowery’ with the Hawaiian girls and signs painted on the walls.  Something like the old curtain the Aladdin used to use.

Your letter seemed to touch me quite a bit, I don’t know just how but you all seemed pretty close when I read it.  You are so good about everything, and I often feel that I haven’t done as well by you as I should have.

I can’t figure you out not liking avocadoes, because it seemed that I was always the one to turn down your inventions in the way of salads and new dishes.  I like them very much and usually have some at dinner and supper.  Yes, we use mess kits and I guess I’m like Dick in wanting to sit down at a table with a tablecloth and the food in bowls.  And another pleasing prospect will be to use a tile bathroom again instead of the community stable that puts up a stifling stench to say the least.  And we have chicken, usually on Sundays although the cooks, in my opinion, lack plenty in the way they prepare it.

I wish you (could) see the sunset as I see it now.  The sky is aflame with purple and red setting down on the hills and the ocean.  And to think that on the other side of that body of water is the mainland – ho hum.  From the papers it looks like Duane C is receiving a round of good times on his furlough.  I wonder if Margy is getting any fatter or more ill shaped.  I hate to speculate on what our first reunion will be like, or maybe on the other hand the habits of the Army of sitting around in the evenings and chewing over the day’s business, will prevail, who knows.

Well it’s getting show time and my news line is exhausted so it’s so long until the next one.

Love,