November 1, 42 Sunday 8:30 PM
Hi Honey:
I am sitting at the big desk in the living room waiting for the phone to ring so I can once again hear the voice of the boy I love. I suppose the reason it hasn’t rang yet is because the lines are busy somewhere between here and there.
Well first of all, I want to tell you I didn’t write last night because I was mad and hurt. You see this is the way your letters came this week: Monday no letter, Tuesday no letter, Wednesday one letter, Thursday two letters, Friday no letter and Saturday no letter and I was sure that there would be one waiting for me yesterday. It kind of made me irked. I’m sorry I didn’t write.
Just think Honey, only eight more weeks and we will be together. 56 more days of waiting hoping and praying for you to come home to a girl who finds herself missing and loving you more every day.
Your Special today was sure swell, so crazy and nice. Yes, I will remember those glorious nights. Honey, I am very glad we never did anything bad because then our memories wouldn’t be so sweet, and memories and the thought of Christmas are what I am living by. Someday this war will be over, and we will look back at this year and be glad we waited. I hope so anyway.
Oh why doesn’t that phone ring?
I talked to your Mom last night and she said the last she had heard from you; you were planning on changing your hours so you and Opal could spend more time together. Are you?
As you know next Saturday, we changed shifts. And there is serious talk both by the big shots and the Union that are going to freeze the shifts, which will mean which will leave me on the 12 to 8 shift for the duration, but I don’t mind as it will take up all of my time and that is just what I want.
How are your eyes?
Look Sweets, I’m going to write Dick, so I better go now. I will write again tomorrow. I love, admire, respect and miss you very much.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
I sent you a letter every day last week, did you get them?
November 2, 42 Monday 6:00 PM
Hi Honey:
I received your telegram when I arrived home from work. Mom said they called at 8:30 AM with the message but wouldn’t give it to her as it was personal. Harlan, what I want to know is where were you when the call came through? At 9:45 PM the call came through and they had me hold the line and then they told me the party who had placed the call at Frisco could not be located. Where did you go?
I also received two letters today which makes up somewhat for the days without. But Harlan, I happen to know that you haven’t been writing every day like I have because I was looking at some of the letters, I got what I got last week and you skipped Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
How are you? I hope fine and happy.
There is no news whatsoever and I’m very tired so please may I close? O.K? O.K!
I will write again tomorrow. I love and miss you very much.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “your” Darlin’ Janie
Thank you again for the telegram. I was sort of worried, not much you know, but a little bit. Janie
November 4, 42 Wednesday 6:45 AM
Hi Honey:
I forgot to tell you, that letter you wrote so I would get one on Monday arrived here in the morning delivery Monday.
This is going to be just a note until tonight, then a nice long one will be written. I received your special yesterday at 11:00 AM, it was a day off. I was sure glad to get it and find out what was what. No, I didn’t call you. The phone rang here and when answered the operator said, “San Francisco calling”. I said yes, she said hold the line one moment please, I stood there about 10 min. and then she said “I’m sorry but we can’t seem to get a hold of the party who placed the call. He doesn’t seem to be home.” Well about that time I was mad, but all is well and forgiven now.
About the ring and chain it sounds cute, but it definitely doesn’t sound like you. I’ll do my best, however and let you know when I send it.
Must go now as Don is outside. Good by now.
Love and xxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
November 4, 1942 Wednesday 12 PM
Hello Darlin’:
Well another day closer to Christmas and you. I hope this finds you both well and happy and also as a lonesome for me if I am for you.
I didn’t get a letter today. It’s probably the mail though, unless it is because you didn’t write Saturday night.
Well today is the day my boss is supposed to come back from his vacation, so I hope I will be put back with him on our ship.
There isn’t any news and I have no questions to answer, so I don’t know what I’m going to write about. Herman is just fine, except that he needs a bath very badly. He also has a tire that has gone on the bum. I’m going to give it to the government. That will leave me with five tires. The radio is just as swell, no trouble with it at all.
I haven’t been to a show since a week ago last Sunday. I didn’t go bowling any last week but went last Sunday. I haven’t been out to the beach for some time, so I’m losing my meager tan. By the time I come home for Christmas I will have a good tan though.
I am going to join the Y and go down there about three or four times a week. I think I will try to stop smoking. (Ha!Ha!)
Well Darlin’, I seem to have run out of news and things to say so I will continue with some mush -. Just kidding though.
I do love you Darlin’, more than I ever thought was possible. Each day and night that love seems to grow and grow. I miss you so much. I don’t think I can stand it at times, but I just think that someday you’ll be all mine and we can spend the rest of our lives together. If I was in the Navy it wouldn’t be so bad because even if I was near you, I wouldn’t be able to see you every night. This way, when I have so much time to myself and you’re not by my side to take some of that up, I can’t seem to get used to it. Any way you look at it, it’s all mixed up and I guess I am too.
When I get home Christmas, I think we had better make some plans for the future. That way I’ll know just about where I stand. We’ll talk to your folks and see what they say about it. I had better close now as I have to eat and leave for work. I love you very much.
Love and XXXXXXXX’s Harlan
Wednesday 7:30 PM November 4, 42
Hello My Honey:
Well Sweets, here I am again, as you say, one more day closer to Christmas and you.
How are you? I hope this finds you both well and happy and not as lonesome as I am.
I received your letter of Monday. I’m sure glad you liked my choice of a tie for you.
I’m over to Dick’s now taking care of little Dickie Jr. while Rosie is downtown. Gee, I wish you were here but in seven weeks you will be again. Oh happy day!
How do you like my new stationary? Me too.
As soon as I buy the chain, I will send the ring. But Honey, please don’t lose it as it is one of my best rings.
I’m enclosing closing a picture which I thought you just might be interested in. Isn’t she a droop? (Excuse me but they are playing “Remember” ~ (1942 Hits Archive: I Remember You – Jimmy Dosey, Bob Eberly Vocal ` https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNrg3ZpRXFo) Boy do I ever.
Dickie Jr. says “Hi Harlan, how are you? I’m just awful fine. Harlan will you be with Janie when Santa Claus comes? I hope so Harlan.” Dick will be home next week the 18th for a nine-day furlough. Isn’t that swell.
Well Sweets, here comes a bit of bad news. Hang on to your seat. I was down at the dentist yesterday and it’s going to cost me $85 to get my tooth fixed, which has to be paid in three months. So Harlan I may not be able to meet my quota by Christmas, in the bank I mean. And my glasses were $20. Or did I tell you I had to have new ones? They are rimless, real sharp looking. Please try to understand about my financial position. I will try to make it $100 though. There is the one consolation though. You won’t have to spend any thing on me when we get married.
Well Sweets, I better go now as I must write Dick. Good night my sweetheart. I love and miss you very much.
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s all I have. “Your” Darlin’ Janie
November 5, 1942 Thursday 7 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. How are you? I hope this finds you well, happy and not as lonesome as I am for you. Just think 49 days and you’ll be home and Harlan I can hardly wait. You and me together again just like the old days, good old days. Oh happy old days. My how I wish they were more than memories.
Gee have I ever been working hard, almost as hard as you have been. I’ll that you.
I’ll sure be glad when I get used to standing on my feet all day, but I sure do like my new job, it’s sharp. I don’t think I could go back to the machine operating if I wanted to.
As I said before, I got off work Saturday at 4 PM and go back at 12 o’clock at night and am off again at 8:00 AM Sunday morning. I should be in bed at 9:30 AM and up again at 6 PM, so you can call anytime between 6 PM Sunday and 10 PM but no later than 10:30 as I have to leave at 11 PM for work. So if you start at 6 PM you ought to rack reach me by 9:00.
Honey, why do you get so mad? I mean what happens to make you so mad that you are ready to come home? Please tell me. is something going wrong or just what is it?
I’m going to a party tonight. A party put on by our wing at the plant. It’s for Dick, one of the tool setters who is leaving Monday for the Navy. I’m going with three other girls, so I will be a good girl and no drinks. Dick wanted me to go with him but nuts to that noise. I will be home quite early too, because we all have to go to work tomorrow.
Gosh Honey, I don’t have a bit of news, not one bit. I seem to be taking up space with lots of nothing. So I guess I better close. I will write again tomorrow.
I love you Harlan
Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
November 6, 42 Friday 5:30 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again well, happy and very tired. But as it is my last night, I’m going out a little while any way. I don’t know whether the letter I wrote last night will reach you by Sunday or not, but just in case it didn’t I will repeat. I get off work tomorrow at 4:00 PM and go back to work at 12:00 at night and am off at 8:00 AM Sunday morning and when I get home, I’m going right to bed. I should be in bed by 9:30 and up by 6:00 PM Sunday afternoon, so you can start calling at 6: PM our time and should reach me by 8 or 9 o’clock. Now if that isn’t agreeable with you, well you well you will just have to use your own judgment. But don’t all after 10:30 our time as I leave at 11:00 PM for work.
How are you? I hope this finds you well, happy and good looking as ever.
Harlan, I had a better letter every day this week. Thanks a lot Honey, it’s swell.
There was no questions in your letter today, so I don’t have any to answer. Today I tore down two machines and clean them, all the parts etc., then reassembled them. I started at 9:00 this morning and wasn’t through until 3:00 PM, so I really worked. What do you think? Me too.
We girls are only going up to Boyce’s for about an hour tonight. Joyce is leaving at 2:00 AM tomorrow morning for LA California and will be married in about a month. She is the first one out of our crowd to venture down the path of matrimony. Everyone seems to think I’ll be the next one, but we’ll see.
Last night the party was kind of a flop. At 10:00, Juanita picked us up and we went out to the “Question Mark” but no one was there, so we went over to the “Wooden Shoe” and there they were, but we only stayed about an hour then came home. I’m going to be in bed tonight at 10:00 or die trying.
Dick will be home week after next, my how time flies. Oh guess what? Today was payday and I received a check for $33.08 when it only should have been $30.28. I don’t know what to do. Everyone I have told tells me to keep and not to say a word but gosh I don’t think I should, do to you? It’s a mess though. I have to decide by tomorrow as I’m broke. You see that is my top paid during my training period and I shouldn’t get it for two more weeks understand?
Remember Eleanor, the quiet one? Well her and Don Cunningham are going to be married the first of the year. He is in Baltimore and every week he sends her so much money towards her trip out there at Christmas time. It seems he insists on paying the way. But isn’t that just perfect about them? Eleanor has been burning the torch for him for over a year.
Well Sweets, I better close as it is 6:15 and I’m going to pick up the girls at 6:45. Good night My Honey. I love you and when Christmas comes, I’ll prove it to you. Good night again
All my Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Johnny & Jane 