Monday 10:30 PM October 13, 1942
Hi Honey:
Please forgive me Darling but I didn’t write you a letter last night. You see I was terribly upset about something which I can’t tell you about until after this war is over, so please please forgive me O.K???
Well how are you Honey? I feel pretty good. I just arrived home from town and shopping. I bought a pair of gloves and a new alligator purse to match my shoes and a screwy little hat, which you will see at Christmas. They are the accessories to the suit you gave me.
Well how’s the work coming along? Not too hard, I hope. Mine is just swell. I didn’t receive a letter today but as long as I get a Special today, I will have no room to complain.
As you know, Neal Ashley has been trying to get me to go out with him for weeks. Well the other day I received a letter from him saying he wanted to ask me once more and if I didn’t go then, that was the last time he would ask me. He said there was no use stringing each other along or wasting each other’s time. Doesn’t take a lot of nerve? You can bet I’m not even going to answer the letter.
I haven’t talked to your Mom since Saturday and Honey every time she calls, I’m afraid she has heard about Opal and when she doesn’t call for a long time, I’m scared too. Have you heard anything further? I’m very proud of you getting the E in school but Honey everything you do, you excellently, Ahem.
Say, why the cross marks for periods now? Something new huh? Talking of back rubs, I sure wish you were here again tonight to rub mine; it’s killing me. Lately I don’t know what’s wrong. I think it’s from being on my feet all day.
Say Harlan did you receive your car ration yet???
Darling, I know that life is very short and like you and I sometimes wonder if this long separation is worth it. I miss you terribly and lots of times Maybe I’ll be getting ready to go someplace with the girls and I’ll stop and think ‘Am I having the fun?’ I think I am, no I’m not, because all the time, no matter what I do, there is something missing and Honey it’s you. Nothing is complete. Like next Saturday night, I’ll be laughing and enjoying myself when suddenly I’ll here a piece and I’ll stop laughing and think I’m not having near the fun I used to have when Harlan was home. Then I’ll think of how I’m wish he was here. Because I love him and when you love a person you want him near you all the time. I better close now Honey before I get to feeling sorry for myself and it’s you, I should feel sorry for. I’ll write again tomorrow.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS Talk to us Sunday night, remember 10 PM our time at your house
Harlan, your Sunday special was perfect. Those are the kind I like. Almost brought tears to my eyes. O.K. it did. I’m sorry.
October 13, 1942 Tuesday 6:30 PM
Hi Honey: I’m just listening to “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQyy8SpDpTY).
Harlan, I would like to know if you are planning to come the home the week of Christmas or the week of New Year’s because I’m going to ask for four or five days (excuse me but I am now listening to “Somewhere Sometime I’ll Come Back to You”) off and I have to ask for it now or I won’t get it. You see, I thought if you could leave Saturday night, December 26, you would arrive here about Monday night the 28th and then you could spend Tuesday or Wednesday with your folks, and I would ask for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. I will be on the swing shift then from 4:00 to midnight. Now I know you won’t know for sure but maybe you could make a guess because I should know and very soon. So please let me know very soon.
How are you darling? I hope everything is going along swell. You see I didn’t get a letter yesterday or today so I’m wondering. I forgot to tell you in my letter last night that your Sunday Special was swell all that I have read it a dozen times. If you are hurt or are ill please have someone write a note telling me so because Harlan, you know how it is not to get a letter when you come home from work and when I don’t get a letter for a couple of days, the thoughts immediately pops into my mind; maybe he’s coming home but I know that’s impossible so the next thing is he’s either ill or something terrible has come up. The last time I didn’t receive a letter for two days, the third day the letter came about Opal, so you see now tomorrow I’m looking for bad news. Harlan, I probably shouldn’t say this, but if Opal comes over to your place, please hide my letters because there are quite a few I wouldn’t want her to read, so please do this for me. Please.
I talked to your Mom a few minutes ago and she said that she hadn’t heard from you since Sunday and she hasn’t heard from Opal since Friday. She received the money O.K. By the way, have I by any chance done or said anything to hurt you or make you mad at me? Is that why I haven’t received any letters?
Honey, it was 38 months and a day ago we met. I wish it was August 12, 1939 again and we were just meeting, just think of the beautiful years we would have together. I’ll never in all of my life forget these special years. Nor will I forget this one 1942, war, separation, trouble, money, everything but each other. I’m sorry we do have each other, don’t we? Excuse me the phone is ringing.
Well Honey, now I know what you already know. It was your Mom, and Marilyn and Ray are home and Opal is in San Francisco with you. Now I know why you haven’t written. Honey, why didn’t you write me and tell me yourself? Well there’s nothing more for me to say so I’ll close, if you’re too busy to write, I don’t mind.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Say, Harlan I wish I could talk you right now, not just because I miss you but because I am all mixed up.
October 14, 1942 Wednesday 7:30 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again well – I received your letter of Sunday and Monday morning. It was a nice letter. A very nice letter in fact but you didn’t say where Opal is staying or anything other than she was there.
There isn’t any news. I talked to Marilyn last night and she said you hadn’t changed much to speak of and that you looked swell and talked about me all the time. AND — you had a crew cut! Now why didn’t you tell me that???? And what about the picture of you and your crew cut which I asked about a month ago. Remember, I asked you if got one please have your picture taken. Come on Honey give in – – I want one very bad and do you think it will be grown out by Christmas? Say did you received my Special Sunday? (Answer please) And you didn’t say whether it was O.K. to call Sunday night or not. You should get this letter by Saturday thus being able to answer in my Sunday Special whether its O.K. or not as I said before I will call at 10 PM our time at your house phone. Will you be there, and will you be alone??? Gee I hope this gets there by Saturday.
Honey, I don’t care what you do. Just so you come home in December. Because that is what I am living and working for and I know you are too.
I haven’t heard from Donna for some time, but Jerry went by Webb’s house the other day and there were two service starts in the window, so Frank must be in some service.
Look Honey Dear, I am very tired, so I think I better go. So I will write again tomorrow. I’m sending all of my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s to you “My Honey”.
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS How are you?
Don’t be alarmed at this Special you will get one Sunday too.
October 15 42 Thursday 30 p.m.
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. How are you? Me? Well this girl is very tired; I ran two machines for over an hour today and it’s a job to keep one going let alone two. You see I had to fill one up then while it was running out I had to run over to the other machine and fill it up and while it ran, run back to the first one and fill it up again and that went on for an hour and 15 min., so as I said before I’m really tired.
I received two letters today, one written Sunday morning at 1:30 AM and the other written Tuesday. What goes on here?
Honey, about that picture I sent, I was only teasing you, I’m sorry it set you so. I won’t do it again. I still have my cold; I can’t seem to shake it at all.
Dick and Rosie want Momie and I to come over tonight so I guess we will walk over because as you know Dick is leaving for the Navy Monday. – I don’t know what we’re going to do without big Dick around. Dick will be here when I call Sunday night and I’m going to have him say hello to you, so please be sure to wish him good luck, won’t you dear? By the way, I will do as you asked and call at 8 PM our time so you can go out afterwards, so please be at the phone and waiting because the only thing that will stop my call is the fact that the lines may be busy but at exactly 8 PM our time I will start calling you.
The girls and I are going to the North / Lincoln game tomorrow Friday night, then up to Boyce’s for a coke. Lincoln has a good team, but I think North can handle them. Ahem—
Harlan they’re playing “Some Body Else is Taking My Place” ( Somebody Else Is Taking My Place – Peggy Lee and the Benny Goodman Orchestra ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht3TuMZeljM) and hit home because somebody else is taking my place right at the present and sometimes I find myself being a little jealous but don’t you dare tell Opal and please don’t let her read my letter because what I write in them is for you and you alone.
Please excuse the handwriting but my arm aches tonight, so that I can hardly hold the pen.
Well Sweets, I better go as Momie is ready to leave. I’m glad you bought some new clothes, after all if you can’t have some things you want now, you never can Honey. So when spend your money on yourself, you’re doing just what I want to do.
Well as I said before I have to go now. I’m sending this Special, so you have no excuse for not being right at the phone at 6 PM Sunday, October 18, 1942. Exactly 3 months from the time you went away and left us all. And Darling, please try to find out about when you can leave to come home Christmas so you can give me some idea Sunday when we talk and that way I can ask right away for my leave in December.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS I love you Harlan very much and want you –—-
October 16, 1942 Friday 5:00 PM
Hello My Honey:
Well here I am again, and do I feel good ? You bet! Just think I’m off for two whole days, Saturday and Sunday. How are you? If you feel just half as good as I do, you’re pretty good. There’s only one thing missing and Harlan it’s you. I have money, new clothes and places to go, but no Harlan. In your letter you said you wonderedhowwe would act when we saw each other at Christmas time and I’ve often thought about that. I’ve often thought about that whether we would just stand and look for a minute or run into each other’s arms. But I’m not going to worry about it because I know no matter what we do, we will end up in each other’s arms and that Dear, is what I’m living for.
I received two letters both which were swell, especially the last one with all of that lovely, glorious, beautiful mushy. Oh how I Love it. But do you know what Harlan, Tuesday I received a letter and you forgot to say, “I love you very much”. Now how could you forget that? I can hardly wait until I get to the end of your letters just to read those five words.
Gosh Honey, I don’t have a bit of news. I miss you terribly. Sometimes I miss you so much I get kind of skeared because I think I am really worth all he is going through. I’m worth the grand guy who is so sweet, honest, sincere and loyal to me. Who loves me so and is my love for him enough, yet I don’t see how it would be any greater? Cause every day it grows more, when I’m sitting at my machine, I think of the things we used to do. Maybe it’s a kiss and I’ll get all warm and nice easy feeling inside me then all of a sudden, a shiver runs up and down my back and I wonder if you feel the same way. When I feel that way, I could scream because I want you near me every minute and you are so far away, but the letters and phone calls help a lot. Don’t they honey?
Well Sweets, I’m getting awfully mushy. I’m afraid. PLEASE be more careful with those fires.
Well Sweets, I better go now as I must wipe the dishes. I will write again tomorrow.
I send all of my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS I will talk to you tonight (Sunday I mean)
Saturday 1:30 October 17, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
Well another day closer to Christmas. I received two letters this morning before I went to work. Darling, I fell at work today and sprained my right wrist. I absolutely can’t write anymore. I love you.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Good morning darling, my wrist is still pretty sore. So I will answer all of your letters when I can. It will be about a book long.
I love you very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Johnny & Jane 