Sunday September 13 through Saturday September 19, 1942

Sunday 2:00  September 13, 1942

Hi Honey:

I just came home from horseback riding. We just got out and it started to rain so we rode in the rain and am I ever wet. Your letter was here waiting for me when I arrived and Oh Honey, the pictures are swell.  Especially that one of you without your helmet on. Yes, I saw the initials J. T & T (the Johnny too)

About that India deal,  I won’t say because if you want to go, O.K.  another few thousand miles isn’t going to make much difference. But Harlan, the fact that they pay so much won’t or isn’t it rather dangerous out there? However if you decide to go you know you will have my love and best wishes and if you can’t afford to come home? Well Darling, you just can’t and that will be all there is to it. But please let me know one way or the other.

I can’t understand why you haven’t received my letters. I am still writing every day and mailing them at 2:00. Did you get my Special?  I had to send Jay B. up with them because I had no way to get to University and how did you like the pictures?  I will take more this week.

Harlan, do you ever clean those outfits you wear to work, or do they ever get clean? That picture of you and Syd without your helmets sure is good but it’s so funny, you’re so light with your blonde hair and Syd is so dark. Honey, I just love that picture of you.

I got your slip and will keep it for you.  Neal called me up today, but I wasn’t home. Thank the Lord.  I hate to go so soon, but I must as it is 2:20 and my rider will be here at 2:45 and I must get dressed.

Be careful Honey and write as you have been. I will write tomorrow

All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s   “Your” Darlin’ Janie

September 14, 1942 Monday 1:30 PM

Hellow Sweetheart:

Well Sweets,  how are you?  I help this finds you both well and happy – and safe.  The past two days I have felt unusually good, I don’t know why – I suppose something will happen to knock me off of my cloud.  Do you know what I think it is that makes me feel so good?? Well I think it’s because I’m in love with the most wonderful boy in the world, when I think of you Honey, I have the most secure feeling, save and warm and nice it’s hard to explain it. But it sure is swell.

There isn’t any news darn it so I don’t know what I will write about, but I will try to make conversation. I received your letter this morning, the one you wrote Friday and the pictures, gee that one of the road and those big trees with the sun streaming through is beautiful.

If you get your deferment and everything runs along as planned won’t we have fun next July? You can show me all those places!  Just you and me and maybe Herman. I can hardly wait but I must, and in the meantime, you will be home for Christmas,  six whole glorious days together. If you can come home, I will take a week off and we will spend every minute together. Harlan I’ve been wondering, do you think you will be able to get passage home at that time of the year?

Harlan, I hope my letters don’t bore you and you asked me not to write that again, but I know I can’t make conversation very well and I don’t have the things and interesting news you have and can’t help but think maybe sometimes they do bore you.

Why are you moving to a larger room? Don’t you like the one you’re in now or what and did you get the cookies and please let us know if they were all broken up or okay.

Daddy has just gone and before he left, he said for me to say how ‘Hello’ and keep your chin up. And Momie sends her love.

I must go get ready for work Honey as I only have a half an hour left. I will write again tomorrow.

All my love and kisses xxxxxxxxxx’s  “Your” Darlin’ Janie

Friday, September 15, 1942 Wednesday 1:30 PM

Hi Honey (My Honey, aren’t you Harlan?):  They are now playing “You Made Me Love You”. Harlan, I love you.   (Harry James, You Made Me Love You..wmv – YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3UxUOXstHc)

Well Sweets, how are you? Do you know you almost made me mad at you last night? When I came home from the show, your letter telling of your deferment was here and I started to read it and at the very first you said you were sure glad to hear about your deferment, then I had to read the whole letter before I knew or not if you got it. After I read the first paragraph I jumped up and was going to send a wire asking you if you got it or not and then I decided I better read the rest. I’m sure glad I did, darn you.

Well Honey, Nana and Aunt Jenny are coming down next Thursday to see us. It’s the last time they will be able to see Dick and probably Chuck too. Gosh, there isn’t going to be any men left, married or not. I sure feel sorry for the married couples who have to be separated. If we think we miss each other now, what would it have been if we had been married.

I just wrote Aunt Jenny telling her how you were getting along, what you were doing and how swell you were about writing every day.

I just tried to get your Mom, but she wasn’t home. It was very nice of you to buy them a present too. I bought more film last night and Momie took some more pictures of me in my new raincoat. I bought it yesterday. I also bought a pair of shoes,  two pairs in fact – and something else but I won’t tell. Ha!Ha!  Last night or rather yesterday, Momie and I went downtown and did shopping then at 5:00, I met Barbie and Trinkie and we went to dinner then to a show “Little Tokyo”.  It was good.  “Yankee Doodle Dandy” is at the Fairmont and I’m going if I have two go alone. (Alone – I hate that word.) We were home by 10:30, then I walked up to Dick’s and collected little Dickie Jr., then home to bed. I’m keeping a diary Honey. I started it the night you left and when I see you next you can read it and I know all of my thoughts and actions while you were gone.

Harlan what is your phone number?

Must go now Honey. I will write again tomorrow.

All my Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie

September 15 1942 11:30

Hi Honey:

Well here I am again.  I’m fine too.  How are you?  Today is my day off and I’m going downtown to buy something??

Harlan, I got two letters yesterday but I’m afraid I won’t get one today.

There isn’t a bit of news, so I don’t know what I’m going to write about. You never ask any questions. I don’t know what I’m going to do tonight but will probably go up Josie’s and mess around with the girls.  Anyway I’m going to put on my rings and deck all out and do something (I can’t wear my rings to work) .

Toots is here and I just showed her your pictures, by the way, you know you didn’t rave enough about my pictures did you? You haven’t learned yet, have you Honey.

The sun is shining here for the first time in four days. And it really is nice. Last night we shut down (the wing) for about an hour because of the electrical storm. We all went into the cafeteria and drank Cokes.

Gee Honey, I wish I had of been there Sunday, we sure would have had fun. Be sure to let me know how you liked Kay Hepa. I’ve never seen him in person and I sure wish you were here today and had the day off.

The letter you wrote Sunday in reply to my Special came yesterday afternoon,  boy that was nice. How is Herman, anymore flats?

Are you going to call me next week? If so, please write and say so immediately. You see as long as I change shifts next Sunday and will be working days, I don’t think you better call at night anymore. As I will have to get up from a sound sleep and I wouldn’t be able to talk and know what I’m talking about. So – I’m leaving it up to you when to call on Sunday or what. You could call on Sunday nights around 6:00 because you have Sundays off, and I’ll be home after 4:30 PM thus getting your rate. But it’s up to you. However you better decide quickly.

Well Sweets, I better go get cleaned up. I still have my pajamas on,  isn’t that terrible?

I will write tomorrow. I hope I get the picture tomorrow.

Bye-bye Honey

All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s   “Your” Darlin’ Janie

PS How do you like my Dad’s stationary and my hotel envelopes?

September 17, 1942 Thursday 12:30 PM

Hi Honey:

Here I am again.  How are you? I’m fine. I just talked to your Mom and now I’m going crazy.  She just got her packages, pictures and presents and mine hasn’t come yet. If it doesn’t come by the time I go to work, I’m not going to want to go. She is crazy about the purse and said the jacket was lovely. It was nice they came today because she’s having her club today and can show the things to the ladies. Honey, she sounded so happy.  Harlan as you probably know, your Mom and I have become quite close friends since you left. She seems like a real person. I’m going over either next Monday or Tuesday night.

Last night I had the sweetest dream.  Want to hear about it? O.K.? O.K.!  Well Trinkie, Barbie and myself were down at the Corona Room eating dinner. I was sitting with my back to the door when suddenly Barbie dropped her fork and looked real funny. I asked what was wrong and she said nothing. Then I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder and then a voice in my ears said “Hello Darlin’” and I turned around and there you were. Honey, I jumped up and you kissed me, and we held it and held it and held it, and all the people were looking at us smiling and saying how sweet because they knew we had been a part of a long time. You had on a pin striped suit, the white shirt I bought you and your overcoat on and your hat in hand. It must have been wintertime. Well, we just stood there and looked at each other and I was so happy I started to cry. Then you said come on and I grabbed my new coat and we went up the stairs. And I woke up.  Darn it! But Honey it was so real and you look so swell and natural.

I feel like I have another load off of my chest with that deferment deal. I told your Mom today, why didn’t you tell her? Well Sweets, I better go. I sure hope my package comes before I go to work. I will write tonight or tomorrow in regard to the things.

All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s  “Your” Darlin’ Janie

September 18th, 1942 1:15 PM Friday

Hi Honey:

Oh Honey, the picture is perfect.  You look so natural and happy and this sweater, Harlan its beautiful and just fits.  The colors are the ones you like, aren’t they Honey. I put it on this morning (oh I tried it on last night too) and Momie took some pictures of me in it. I will send them the minute I get them. 

The package arrived just 10 minutes after I left for work (I called Momie to see) and when I got home, I was so thrilled I tried to call you.   I waited until 2:30 AM (that I thought would just be about right).  I told the operator your name address and city and I could hear the phone ringing in your house, but no one answered, so I told the operator to try again in half an hour and call me back.  She did but no one answered, and I was too tired to stay up any longer. To prove I called your number is Underhill 9049 – prepay right?  I was very disappointed because I was sure you would be home by then. The bracelet is sure swell, so rich looking, but Honey it’s too big and I don’t want to wear it. Do you think if I took it to Plumb’s, they could sort of squeeze it together? I have your picture in front of me right now. I sure do like it. In my opinion, it’s perfect.

Just got your letter of Wednesday. Gee it was kind of brief. But maybe you didn’t have any news, huh? I sure wish I was with you on that beach.

I was going to call you Sunday night but as long as you were going to Sacramento, we will postpone it to some other time. I sure did want to talk to you last night. That will teach you to come home after work instead of going gallivanting around. (Only kidding) I can never thank you enough Harlan for all of these things. You’re so swell, I often wonder if maybe I don’t deserve you. There will never be another boy like you Harlan. And I miss you very much and love you and consider myself the most fortunate person in the world to have a fellow like you love me.

I will write tomorrow.

All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s  “Your” Darlin’ Janie

September 19, 1942

Hellow Honey:

I just received your letter saying you’re going to call me tomorrow night – swell. I tried again last night to call you and a boy answered the phone. You see I called at 10:30 PM your time and thought I would have whoever answered the phone leave a note for you to call the Des Moines operator when you came in. While the operator finally got it through to this fellow’s head that that’s what she wanted, and he said he would find out your room number and leave the note. He kept trying to tell her that it was a great big boardinghouse and most of the fellows were either working or out, but he would leave the note. Well anyway, I went to bed and lay there about an hour and a half waiting for you to call and finally went to sleep. I take it you didn’t get the note.

Harlan, I won’t be able to write or rather get a letter off tomorrow as I get off of work at tonight at 12:00 AM and have to be back to work at 8:00 AM tomorrow morning and won’t be off until 4:00 PM and will wait for your call and if it doesn’t come early enough I won’t be able to catch the night mail or the 11:00 plane, so you probably won’t get a letter until Tuesday, maybe Wednesday. I’m sorry but I can’t help it

How are you? I’m O.K.

I just talk to your Mom and she wanted me to come over tomorrow night and when you call there, we can all talk on one call, but I said I was afraid I would be too tired to get cleaned up.

Harlan, simply disregard the last line.  I just talked to your Mom again and I’m going over to her house at 6:30 PM.  She’s sending you a nice letter tonight and will reach you at Opal’s place at about 8:00.  But anyhow, I will talk to you from your Mother’s house, so don’t call here.  There isn’t any news so I better close. I will converse with you tomorrow night.

All my love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s 

“Your” Darlin’ Janie