September 6, 1942, 10:30 AM
Hi Honey,
Boy do I feel cheap. I just received another Special. I think I better crawl in a hole and pulled it in after me. I am sincerely sorry Honey, why don’t you just tear that other letter up. Please do.
You asked me to tell you what I think about getting engaged in December and married in July. Harlan, when you went to San Francisco we made our plans for the future. They were; in July I would come out and tell you if I will marry you or not, then next Christmas you were coming home with a diamond and the next May we were to be married. By which time you were to save about $2000 and me about $500. Now what has happened: instead of me telling you in July, I’m going to let you know next Wednesday and instead of seeing you in July, you’re coming home Christmas. As far as the last two are concerned that’s O.K. because I think I know now as well as I will ever know and as far as you coming home for Christmas – well if you don’t, this this little gal will be awfully disappointed. But Harlan, as for becoming engaged next December, I just don’t know. I’m afraid I can’t tell you until Christmas when I see you because I’m going to be sure of a lot of things when I see you. And as far as being married in July, Darlin’, what will we live on and what if you don’t get your deferment and what about the house and the backyard for Timmy and Tommy? , who will probably come along the first year? Marriage, I’m afraid is out. And Harlan if you think you are having to wait too long, why don’t you go without go out with someone else, some girl I mean? (Answer) I know it’s not easy for you and I’m sorry. But we will go into more details Wednesday night.
Again I’m sorry for the snotty letter I wrote yesterday but I can assure you I had good reasons.
Well Sweets, think on what I said, and we will see. I must go now as I would like to catch the 1:00 train. You should get this very early tomorrow morning (let me know, will you?) I wish you were home.
All my Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
I L___ You… I’ll tell I tell Wednesday night which it is like or love.
Monday Sept. 7, 1942, 1:00 AM
Hello Darlin’:
Well! Well! I received your Special this afternoon. I think you were being very sarcastic on the whole thing. I thought I would be extra nice and send 2 Specials this week, so you should have been a little patient and waited until Sunday before you wrote a letter like this one. The last letter I wrote was Friday night or rather Saturday morning. I mailed it Saturday morning. You should have gotten it Sunday.
Saturday night at work I got an electric burn on my right hand. My rod holder went on the blink and shorted. Something like fire shot out of it and burned the palm of my hand and burned the hair off the back of it. I couldn’t write until tonight because the doctor told me not to use it until he took the bandage off. He had something on it keep it from blistering. I thought I had better explain so you won’t be mad about not getting a letter Monday.
I finally got a letter from Opal. She wanted me to come up today, but as I burned my hand I couldn’t. We can’t go next Sunday because of the Jewish holiday and Syd has to go to some doings, and I am going with him.
This idea of stopping to write to me is kind of silly, isn’t it? If you stop writing, I think I will stop calling you for a month. My hours are kind of irregular, but I try to write at least every day if at all possible. Sometimes I write a little at night and if I’m not too tired, I try to write more in the morning. I may sleep later on some days and some days may get up a little earlier. I may mail in the morning if I go downtown or may mail them in the afternoon just before I go to work. The mailbox on the corner is so irregular. Sometimes they pick up the letters and then again, they may miss a whole day.
I was only kidding about comparing your job to me. That’s the only way I thought you would take it. I wouldn’t change to the day shift unless the company asked me to. I did choose this road and I’m going to stick to it. If you think I am feeling sorry for myself, you are very badly mistaken. All I was trying to do was to try to express to you the way I feel about you and how I miss you in words, which I guess sounded rather silly to you. I will see that it doesn’t happen again. YES, I do think you are being unreasonable!!! Don’t’ you?
Syd and I got up this morning about 10 and took some pictures of ourselves in our welding equipment. Then we went out to the beach until about 3:30, came home and had dinner. We then cleaned up and went to see a show. Abbott and Castello ‘Pardon My Sarong’ and a Sherlock Holmes adventure. After we went to the show we came home and had supper. About your letter I received, that I have told you about. We then went out to the Shipyard Hospital and the doctor took my bandage off. We then went to a dance at El Patio. I danced quite a few dances and had a swell time. After the dance, we came home, and I am writing you a letter. I also have a letter to write to the folks and one to Opal. After that, I’m going to bed and will mail them all in the morning. I will mail this one Special Delivery, so you won’t have to wait until Tuesday night.
Saturday when I was downtown, I bought something for you. We were going to get one or talked about it but never did. I hope you like it. I will send it with my pictures so you will have it maybe by the first of next week.
This week we have two legal holidays and will get paid double time for them. Monday is Labor Day and Wednesday is Admission Day, when California was admitted to the Union. Then on Saturday, we get time and a-half. I think my check for this week will be about $84. I must close now. I may write tomorrow. (doesn’t that sound nice).
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s “Your’ Honey Harlan
September 7, 1942, Monday 11:45
Hi Honey,
Well Sweets, how are you? I hope this finds you both well and happy. I am well and quite happy. I also hope you have or will forgive me for the uncalled-for letter of Sunday, because again I say I am sincerely sorry. I guess I just jumped into conclusions.
I just arrived home from horseback riding, had lots of fun. We stopped at this steakhouse for breakfast. But oh how I wish it had had of been with you instead of the girls. I had quite a time. My horse’s name was Mickey and was he ever unruly. Eleanor’s horse wouldn’t come down the path, so I went back after her. Then Mickey decided he didn’t want to go down the path no matter what I did, then all of a sudden he reared up, way up Honey, real high and I was skeared, so I decided to take him back and get another and then I saw a boy walking up the path and asked him what was wrong, he said that my horse had just thrown him and had come running for home (you see that was just a minute before I got there to the riding stable I mean). I thought the horse seemed awfully winded, so I went back and got another horse. I’m still kind of shaky.
Well Harlan, only two more days and we talk to each other again. Please don’t talk in front of Syd’s so we can have a little privacy. Gee Honey, I wish you were home. I miss you so, even with the folks and the girls it just isn’t the same. Two whole months and it seems like years. Honestly sometimes I could just scream. If I could only have your arms around me again. Last night coming home from work I saw a little car so much like Herman and there was a couple in it smooching, and when I arrived home, I’m sorry, but I was very low and cried just a little Honey. I’m sorry but sometimes I can’t help but. I’ll sure be glad when Wednesday night is here. And Christmas is all I’m living for, just to see you and talk to you in person would be worth five years of my life. If I don’t get over this lonely feeling pretty soon, I’m afraid I won’t want you to go back without me???? Guess what I mean.
Frank didn’t come home last night, and Donna just found out his folks went out there Saturday. Just think, if she had gotten along with them, she could have been out there with him now. She’s leaving tomorrow for Chicago.
Barbie and Bob are really split up. She is really crazy about this Bill fellow. She hasn’t been out with Bob or talked to him for days and every once in a while, I see him, and he looks like his best friend had stabbed him in the back. Personally if I were him, I would go out with another girl, but all he does is mope around.
Harlan, what about your deferment? I suppose and bet you know right now, and I won’t know until Wednesday night. It’s 12:15 now so that makes it will 10:15 out there, I suppose you were out on the beach or were working on Herman. So sorry to hear about his flat.
Well Sweets, I better close as I am running out of words and news. I will write tomorrow before I go to work
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s (I wish they were red)
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
20 Tuesday, September 8, 1942 12:45
Hi Honey,
Well Sweets, here I am again. I wish you were here in person. How are you? Well I hope and not as lonesome as I am. Do you still think of me every night at 8:00, honestly now do you?
There isn’t much news, just shop talk. Yesterday after I wrote to you, Donna and I went out for a while. We went for a ride and then to Babe’s for a Tom Collins, then out to Riverview and rode the roller coaster and came home. Last night I went to see “Bambi” with Momie and Mary Jane then down to Thompson’s for a late dinner. I miss you terribly.
I’m sorry about the pictures Honey, but the weather has been so gloomy for the last four days that it is impossible to take any maybe tomorrow it will be sunny again.
I received your letters today, that one you wrote Friday afternoon and Harlan again I say if you want to change shifts go ahead because I know it will be hard to keep this working nights up and you have to have some fun. I don’t blame you at all.
Well back to work today and I’m glad. I think I would rather be working anymore then be around with nothing to do. Just four more days and another payday and $8 more into the bank, which would make $22 in three weeks. I hope I can hundred make $150 by Christmas, so we can have one swell time.
Well look I’m probably boring you to death so better close. I will write again tomorrow.
All my Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
September 10, 1942, 12:30 PM
Hi Honey:
Well Sweets, the phone call is over, and I told you what you have been patiently waiting to hear for two years. Yes I said, “I love you”. I love you and want you and I miss you and sometimes don’t like you at all at the same time. The reason for the last part of this is because you made me love you. And I didn’t want to love any boy. But I do and Honey, I’m not sorry I told you. I have had a hard time not telling you the last two weeks, you see I’ve been scared to admit it, not only because of maybe someday of having to break your heart but for the selfish reason of maybe having mine broken someday. Do you think it ever will be?
We are sweethearts now Honey, waiting for the day when we can be married. But we are still too young we are both having our fling – yes you too – knowing what it is to making good money, doing all of the things we wanted to do and buying things for ourselves and other people that never can be done after marriage, having the thrill of seeing the bank account grow and knowing that we – you and me alone – are making them grow. Every time I put money – my little quota – in the bank I get a thrill because I know that I worked for that money and am putting it away for future use. Future use with a certain person.
How did your bowling get a long last night? I hope good.
Oh I forgot, about me going back with you in December. Well I’ll tell you, last night after we hung up, I laid there thinking and I decided that I would wait as we planned and come out in July (by which time I hope to have $300 saved) then if I can find a good job, I will stay. This will all be if you get your deferment and please Harlan, don’t go jump into the Navy before thinking (about coming home) . But we will see about December when it comes.
Harlan, are you sure you want to join Syd in his Jewish holiday celebration? The way I understand it they fast for 24 hours or more then they have their big feast. Are you sure you would enjoy it?
I have to go to the dentist next week and probably the next time you see me I will have a gold filling right in front. Won’t I look cute then?
I’m sure glad you aren’t many mad at me anymore. That letter yesterday telling me off sort of made me feel like a heel and a very low one at that, and if it was meant to make me feel bad it was a success. In fact, I almost sent you a telegram telling you not to call because I didn’t feel I could tell you what you wanted to know and mean it feeling the way I did. By the way have you broken any of your promises? I have broken one – last night you were on my mind constantly while I was at work and I forgot to say ‘Hi’ at 10:00 I was so engulfed in you. That’s kind of confusing but I think you will understand.
Well Sweets, I better go before I bore you further. Remember Harlan, I love you so be careful of my heart. I’m always careful of yours. And please be careful at work and don’t get burned anymore.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
September 11, 1942
Hi Honey:
Look Sweets, this will have to be short because I had so many things to do that there isn’t much time left. How are you? I received your letter this morning telling of the dance. It was a very interesting letter, the kind I like.
Today is pay-day and am I ever glad because I’m broke, in fact have been since Tuesday. I put too much in the bank last Saturday and I was darned if I draw out again. This week, or rather next week to you, I have Tuesday off and I’m going to have something done for you and will send it to you when I get it. Don’t try to guess what it is because you never will. I’m about going crazy trying to think of what you have bought me. But I can’t think unless it’s clothing, so I am patiently waiting until next week.
Sunday we girls are going writing again, then out to Eleanor’s aunts for breakfast. Barbie and Trinkie are getting very thick seeing how they are dating with buddies. I never thought Barbie would get under Twinkies wing.
I am sending the cookies tomorrow so you will probably get them by Tuesday and I’m also sending the pictures in my special. I hope you like them. When will I get more of you, you can never imagine what they mean to me. I showed everyone the last ones.
I will make my letter tomorrow nice and long to make up for this one.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS I saw the big dipper last night for the first time in three weeks.
Saturday, September 12, 1942, 2:10 PM
Hi Honey:
How are you? I hope this finds you both well and happy.
Enclosed are two pictures of the only ones that came out good. Those white round things on my uniform are my identification buttons. One has my picture, height, color eyes and hair, age, and name and the other has primer, loading and tracer wings written on it. You see people with those buttons are the only ones allowed in these wings and the rectangular one has my clock and department number on. Quite a mess isn’t it? The pictures aren’t very good Harlan, I’ll try and do better next time. I’m sending the cookies today and I would like to have you write and tell us when they arrive and if they are all broken up or not. I hope you like them.
There isn’t much news. I haven’t heard from Donna yet, but suppose she is having one swell time.
Honey, don’t you feel bad about those girls wanting to dance with only the sailors and the soldiers because you have a little girl who is waiting to dance with you no matter what you have on and the soldiers and sailors don’t rate with her at all when it comes to you. All they want anyway is the thrill and glamour of the uniform, probably most of those girls don’t care what what’s in them, so don’t you care.
I got my check yesterday and my raise and I’m now making $25 a week. In four weeks I get another raise and I will be making $27, then in two weeks after that I get another raise and I’ll be making $30 a week clear. The union hasn’t done anything for us yet and at the present it looks like it will be a long time before it will.
I just talk to your Mom and she said Opal felt quite blue because of the bawling out she got. Have you heard from her? I guess they are both working now.
I just received your letter and the pictures. I’m sure glad you are feeling so good. You said you put that slip telling about your extra welding in the letter, but it isn’t there or did you forget to put it in, if so please send it as I would like very much to have it. Honey, that was a swell letter. I feel a lot better since I told you too, kind of like I had a big load off of my chest I’m not the least bit mad or sorry I told you that I love you. It’s only been eight weeks ago tonight (July 18, 1942) since you left but it seems like years and it seems like centuries until Christmas will be here. Honey, you will never know how I missed you.
The pictures are good but gosh isn’t that outfit awful hot.
Well Sweets, I must close and wash my hair.
All of my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie PS I love you
Johnny & Jane 