7:30 PM August 16, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well, here it is, the same day closer to you and everything I’m living for.
You are probably wondering at the time this letter was written, well I got dressed for work, when I got my work shirt on, I could hardly move so I decided I better not go, so I didn’t. I took your letter down to the post office. I had dinner downtown and then came home. I’ve been cleaning my room up. I sure hated to miss today but I just couldn’t help.
I will sure be glad when you get here. It will seem like living all over again. Doing things together again. Talking, laughing, smooching and all things we used to do. I will have Herman all washed and polished when I pick you up. I will meet you in Oakland when you get off the train and we will ride the ferry across the Bay. The ferry leaves Oakland and runs right underneath the Bay Bridge. You can see Treasure Island, Alcatraz, The Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco all at the same time.
I received a letter from you today and two more birthday cards. One from Bertha and Art and one from Josie. There are no questions, so I have nothing to answer.
I suppose the time will start to drag now.
Well Sweets, I think I will close for now. I will finish this either after a while or in the morning.
It is now 8 P.M. – – – I love you very, very much.
Hello Darling: The time is 11:00. I have been visiting upstairs, talking to some of the kids from the house here. They said it was sure funny seeing me home on a weeknight. Darling, I have to go downtown in the morning again. I’m getting something done. I don’t know if you will like it or not. I don’t think you will. What it is, is going to be rather short but it bothers me now. I’ll see if you notice it when you meet me at the station. I’ll bet you don’t.
I love you more than you’ll ever know. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: It is a cloudy day again. I sure wish the sun was out and I also wish it was August 28th at about 5 minutes before 9. Oh before I forget, look at your reservation and let me know what number of your car is. Then I can meet you when you get off instead of having to hunt for you after you get off. Okay? Okay!
Well Darling, it is time for me to leave again. I will see you at 8 as always. I love you so very, very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s YFH Harlan
9 more days here
12 more days until I see you
Monday 10:00 P.M. August 16, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well here I am again and I just arrived home from town. I bought two new shirts, a sweater, lingerie, ankle socks and hankies, and Momie bought me a real pretty trench coat. You will see me in it every minute. We sure had fun and oh yes, I bought labels for my luggage. I wish Daddie could have be here to see me now on the way downtown, I took all of my slacks and my blue suit. I’ll be wearing anything and everything to work from now on.
I talked to your Mom today. Opal arrived home Saturday and I guess Max did too. You remember I told you that if I could, I was going to leave from Ames instead of here, so I got to thinking, who could I get to drive Momie and me up and I thought of your Mom. So I asked her today if I furnished the gas and coupons would she and could she do it and she said she would. It sure is a load (The Chesterfield Hour is on “All or Nothing At All” is playing) off my mind. Momie has her reservation for Thursday the 26 for 3:00 in the afternoon. Poor Mommie, I wish she was as happy as I am. I’m going to try and buy her something real nice while I’m out there.
Well Honey, better go to bed. Work all day and downtown for four hours kind of tires me out. I love you so much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
Wednesday 9:30 PM August 17, 1943
Hello Honey:
Jeepers, am I tired. First of all I was so tired that I couldn’t write last night and I was in bed thinking about you just now when I realized I hadn’t written yet. I’m awfully sorry. Please forgive me.
Well there were two letters today. Let’s see, one written Saturday night and Sunday morning, and the other written Sunday night, both mailed Monday, tisk, tisk. Gee, that’s swell Syd came over, I’m awfully glad. By the way, you never told me if you received the card I sent you for our anniversary. That’s too bad about your burn, but like me you’ll never learn. I arrive Saturday the 28th at 10:00 A.M. unless the train is late. Jeepers, a week from tonight I’ll really be going around in circles, only 4 more hours and I will be leaving.
Momie is sitting in the chair next to the desk ironing my shirts. Honey, I hate to ask you again but would you and could you drop Momie a line either Saturday or Sunday so she will get it by the time I leave.
(7 more days here, 10 more days until I see you)
You might tell her that you are sorry you haven’t written and tell her to have a good time on her trip and not to worry about me. Tell her you will be right there to meet me and you will wire her as soon as I arrive and for her not to worry – or something like that. Harlan, I know it’s hard to write your girl’s mother but she likes a little attention too and she likes you so well and likes a little note once in a while. I sure would appreciated it Honey, just so she gets it by Wednesday. Thanks Harlan.
Well Honey, my eyes won’t stay open. I have to get to bed. I love you very much Honey. See you next week.
Thanks & Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
(10 more days until I see you1)
(7 more days till you leave)
2:00 A.M. August 18, 1943, Wednesday.
Hello Darlin’:
Just 10 more days and we will be together again. I just finished taking a shower and I washed my head and I also had a bite to eat. Now I’m all ready for bed.
My back is driving me crazy. It itches like the devil, all over at the same time. It hasn’t started to peel yet, but it is still pretty red.
It’s pretty cold and damp out. Do you know what we could do on a night like this? We could get a couple of bottles of Pepsi-Cola and a couple of magazines and put a blanket on the floor in front of the fire and my radio and read magazines and drink Pepsi-Cola. How does that sound? That is just what I was thinking.
I have a letter from you to answer, so I will do that now. Yes, I can get you a room. If there isn’t any rooms vacant you will have mine and I will be in with the fellow next to my room. I will meet you Saturday and Monday my vacation will start for two weeks. The two weeks will be well spent, I promise you that. I don’t think I will have to work the Saturday you get here. I may, but I’ll try not to.
Well Sweets, I think I had better get some sleep. I have some clothes to pick up at the cleaners and some things to buy at the store. I love you so very, very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling. I got up a little late this morning and I fixed breakfast and I went to the cleaners and then to the store. Now it is almost time to leave for work. I will try to write a longer one tonight when I get home. Okay? Please? Okay? Okay! You will never know how much I love you and adore you. I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s Y. F. H. Harlan
( 9 more days )
1:30 A.M. August 19, 1943
Hello Sweetheart:
Just 9 more days and you will be in my arms again. I can hardly wait. Just think, we’ll be able to talk and laugh and dance and love together and not have a thing to worry about. Just you and I again. Making up over 6 months in one week. Do you remember those cold sores I used to get. Well I got one now. I think it will be all gone by the time you get here. I’m sure glad it didn’t come just before you get here. (The radio is playing “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w5KNm1LQ78) they usually are gone in a week.
Well Darling, I’m kind of tired. Do you mind if I go to bed and dream of you. I love you very, very much.
Good night Sweetheart.
Good Afternoon Darling, the time is 12:30. I got up and fix my breakfast and then worked on Herman and before I knew it, it was 12:00. I had to quit and come in and fix dinner and my lunch to take to work.
Harry James is on one of his programs. He is playing “My Silent Mood (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojzJhfIo4VI)”. It’s a very good program. I didn’t get a letter today. I imagine you are pretty busy getting ready to leave. So I don’t mind (“All or Nothing At All ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO1q7dako_w).
All I can write about is how much I love you and how much I have missed you, but it won’t be long before you are here and I will tell you then or rather try to tell you in my own silent way. (My Lament To Love ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frweuO7RIZg) Only I will try not to make it so silent.
I will see you at 8 as always. I love you very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s Y. F. H. Harlan
(9 more days until I see you)
Thursday 9:45 PM August 19, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well, no letter today so no questions or comments on which to write and I’m sooo tired. I really don’t know what makes me so tired lately, and I think I’m catching rather cold, my head aches and my nose is sniffly.
Little Dickey Jr was over tonight and I was riding in his little scooter (In The Blue of Evening ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz59m9bliak ~ is on the radio). We were both on it when we hit a crack in the sidewalk. Dickie jumped off but I fell trying to miss him and fell on my back, so it is aches more than ever right now. I’m sure a mess.
Gosh Honey, there isn’t any news at all, haven’t talked to your Mom since the day before yesterday. If I can, I’m going to bring some gas coupons when I come out, are you saving yours?
It’s cold out tonight and has been every night this week. Oh shucks Honey, Chuck is leaving, I’m going to close. I will make up for this tomorrow. I love you.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ‘Your’ Darlin & F. W. Janie
3 more working days
5 more days here
8 more days until I see you
Friday 9:30 PM August 20, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well, I’m all ready for bed and it’s only 9:30. There were two letters today. I sure hope your sun burn is definitely better by now. Harlan, oh Harlan please, you didn’t get your hair cut short after waiting almost 8 months to see you and your hair is short? How could you when you know I like it long on top and a neat trim. Please say that isn’t what you were talking about.
Well I had a little setback today, my phone bill came and it was $7.04 including tax. I was stunned at first because all I have is $36, from now until I get there, but I thought & thought and finally thought of someone I can borrow the money from, sooo it’s O.K. Now I made up my mind nothing was going to stop me from going to Frisco. Money or otherwise.
I talked to your Mom tonight. They are moving next Monday or Tuesday but she can still take me up to Ames.
We are going to get a raise out at work but of course I won’t until I arrived home again. I think it will be a raise of a dime an hour and that will make me my check $38 instead of $33. When they get through taking out my check, I have $27 left which isn’t as bad as it was because as I am supporting Momie now. I don’t have as much income tax taken out.
It’s warmer tonight and the stars are very bright but no moon. Do you know what? There will be a new moon the 30th and we will see something together we haven’t seen for a long time. Jeepers, a week from tonight I’ll be getting ready for my last night on the train, looking forward to seeing you in the morning.
Well Honey, better turn in as Marge won’t be at work tomorrow and I will have to work harder, so I will see you in my thoughts at 10:00 and see you in person in a week from tomorrow. I will then show you how much I love you.
Love “Your” Darlin & F.W. Janie
PS Darling don’t forget to write Momie so as she will get it by Wednesday.
9:00 A.M. August 21, 1943
Hello Darlin:
To Begin with, this is going to be a kind of a short Special. I work on the boiler foundation last night, most of the welding had to be done standing on my head. When I got home, I had a terrific headache. I took a shower and went right to bed. The headache is gone now, thank goodness.
It’s a beautiful day out. I hope it is like this next Saturday. Just think, next Saturday we will be together again. I imagine you are really going around in circles. I didn’t get a letter yesterday so I have nothing to answer. I have to go down to the bank this morning and also to some place to see if I can get my aerial fixed or get a new one. Tomorrow I will be spending more time cleaning my room and washing and polishing Herman and washing clothes.
I can hardly wait until I see you. It will be a beautiful trip across the Bay by ferry. We will get off at the Ferry Bridge and walk out to the good old Herman. Then we will drive right up Market Street and have breakfast or we can drive out towards the Golden Gate Bridge and come up home and I will fix breakfast while you take a bath and clean up and rest a bit. We will decide that when I see you, Okay? Okay! The weather will determine what we will do in the evening and afternoon. There is a program of music on now. They are playing “Let’s Get Lost” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pruKV1chnHA) They just aren’t kidding are they. No!
Well Darling, as much as I hate to close, I think I’m must. I will make up for all of the short letters in another week. I love you , very much and I will see you at 8 as always.
Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s Y. F. H. Harlan
(3 more days here)
(6 more days until I see you)
Sunday 5:00 P.M. August 22, 1943
Hello Honey:
Well here it is the last Sunday. Oh Happy Day! Your Special came about 3:30 and a very fine one too. Hope you are feeling better by now. My car is in N.63. That’s what’s on my birth ticket anyway. Jeepers, Number 9 car, N.63.
Well, I got up this morning and washed all of my clothes. In fact, I don’t even know what I’m going to wear to work tomorrow. Then I got everything together in the middle room that I might forget and have my grip all open ready to pack.
(Fun Fact: When you boarded a train, your travel bag would have been called a grip. A grip was not a bag you checked to the baggage car or entrusted to the care of someone else. It was a personal bag kept with you at all times.)
Rosie and Dickie Jr. are here and we are going for a little ride and then to bed for me. I dreamt about you last night. I was there and you took me in your arms and squeezed and squeezed me until I thought my ribs would break, but I liked it just the same and you talked and laughed and talked some more and I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
Well Honey, everyone is ready accept me so I guess I had better close. When you get this, I will be leaving that night, but I’ll write up to the Wednesday night. Remember, the name of the train is The San Francisco Overland Limited 10:00 A.M. Saturday.
Will write again tomorrow. Love & xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin & F. W. Janie
(1 more day here)
(3 more days until I see you again)
Tuesday 9:00 P.M. August 24, 1943
Hello Honey:
Long time no hear yes, well you see it’s just like this
now isn’t that a good excuse. I thought you would agree. How are you?
Well I just talked to your Mom and Mabel insists upon us coming up there tomorrow night for chicken dinner, so we – Johnny, your Mom, Momie and I are going to leave here about 11:00 tomorrow night and have chicken at 12:00 midnight. I tried to talk them out of it, but no go. It is very nice of them though. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you.
Well Honey, I got a 3 week leave, I have be back to work Wednesday, the 14th of September. Okay? Okay!
Well this is only a note because I have to write Dick, Chuck & Nana, so as you are going to see me soon & they aren’t, I’m sure you won’t mind.
I’ll send you a Special Delivery Airmail tomorrow night before I leave.
I love you. “Your” Darlin & F. W. Janie
Johnny & Jane 