November 15, 42, Sunday 8:45 PM
“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”, it’s a beautiful song suited for you and me. Please make our dreams come true.
Hi Honey:
First of all I’m sorry I didn’t write last night but I was so tired yesterday, I didn’t get up until 10:15 PM and by the time I got ready to go Don, was here. And Harlan the sweetest thing happened this morning. Your Special came at 9:20 AM, just as I was going up to bed. What time did your you mail it? I’m terribly sorry about you not getting your bonus Honey, don’t feel too bad about it. Sometime, you will have another chance and I know if you put your mind to it you can do almost anything. You said in your letter that I would have been very proud of you because of the large bonus. Yes Harlan I would have been but no more than I ever am. You see, I would show it a little, that’s the only difference. I’m sure glad you told me why you were mad Sunday night because I thought it was something I had done.
Please don’t let Opal get you down. Gosh Honey, if I could only help you more than just by letters. Darling, when you step off that train, it’ll be the biggest thrill of my life. I don’t have a bit of news. Dick is coming home Wednesday for seven days. Oh gosh, guess what? Elmer Gee enlisted in the Navy and went to the Great Lakes training station for four weeks, came home for eight days and is now in Frisco waiting for sailing orders. Could you by any way get a hold of him? I saw Lucy, that’s how I know all of this and I thought you surely would like to get together. You better not bring him to your boarding house if you do find him though. Well Sweets, I better close now as I have to press my pants. Oh I forgot to tell you, my new pants are brown herringbone and Honey they buttoned down the front just like yours. The ring is on the way. Good night Honey, I love you.
Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
November 16, 1942 Monday 12 PM
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is two more days closer to Christmas and you. First of all I will have to apologize for not writing Saturday night or last night. For Saturday night I have no excuse. I received your Special letter when I got home last night. Then this morning – I got your perfect, marvelous, swell letter of November 12. So I have two letters to answer. First of all, I will tell you of my trip. Saturday, I got up at nine 9:00, I went to the bank, grocery store and paid our rent went to work. It started to rain about 10:00, so we didn’t do much after 10:00 as the rain started to come down in torrents. Going up to the car, I just got soaked. I went home and dried off. I took a shower and shaved. Changed into my clean clothes on and started out. The time I left was about 2:00. I drove down and picked John up. I told you about John, he is just a kid, 19, but a lot of fun. We work on the same boat. Then we decided we would go up and bowl a couple of games before we left. By the way the rain had stopped. My scores were 176, 142. We had a milk shake and a hamburger. Then at 4:00 AM we left. We filled the gas tank and asked the station attendant which would be the best way to get there. He looked at a map and told us. We left San Francisco and drove down to San Jose and then we were going to cut across the mountains going east.
We should end right at Patterson. We found out there was no point going through the mountains, so we had to drive back up towards Oakland. We drove about 155 miles out of our way. When we got there, we didn’t do anything special, just visited them. The town is small, so there wasn’t anything to do. I forgot to tell you; we had a flat tire on the way there. My tires aren’t very good. We left about 5:30, we got home about 10:30. We got held up by traffic in Oakland and then again coming across the Bay Bridge. There were several accidents on it and the Highway Patrol was checking speed and give out tickets. When I came home, I was just about dead because I haven’t had any sleep since Saturday morning. Darling, do please do one more favor. Please let me know if what you want is any kind of clothes or jewelry or something you could use after we are married. If it is one of these, please let me know. As for myself, what I want for Christmas, Darling there is only one thing I’m hoping for and that’s you. Just to see you and talk to you, to hold you in my arms and kiss you and tell you how much I love you, is all I am wishing for. I know I’d be mad too, would say, “I don’t know what else I want for Christmas besides you.” Please try to understand, it is very hard for me to say what I want to. Thank you because I don’t know how long it would be until I go into the service or just what is going to happen to me. I will tell you what you can buy for me when we get married. That is a nice Kaywoodie pipe, a smoking jacket, and slippers, but not until then. I don’t have any use for the now but when we get married, I’ll get changed to the day shift and then we’ll have all of our nights together. I love you very much. I can hardly wait until Christmas.
Love and XXXXXXXXXXXX’s Harlan
PS I will write tonight
November 16, 942 Monday 9:30 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. I just slept eight hours but I’m just as tired as I was when I went to bed. Other than that I’m okay. How about you? Swell? Blondie is on now, pretty good. Gosh darn it, I don’t have a bit of news. What will I write about? I don’t know. No news, no news, always the same story. Honey , when you get home if you find me a little slim don’t think the thing about it. You see on this shift everyone loses weight and I am no exception. I’ve lost 2 pounds already and it’s only been a week. On this shift I don’t know why but everyone loses their appetite. (Excuse but is that right?) Every time I even look at food, I get a sick feeling and only eating two meals a day doesn’t help. But I think I can make it O.K. as long as it’s for you.
Well Sweets, I suppose this is very boring. Look, I wasn’t supposed to say that, but when there isn’t any news, I think my letters are a bore. Gee, I miss you so Honey. I sent you a pretty broad hint on what I wanted for Christmas, but now can’t you please help me. If I write out a few suggestions wouldn’t you, please help me.? Okay swell. Here they are Honey, a robe, leather jacket, jewelry, other articles of clothing or wide open? Please if only a hint. Come across.
Look I better go now and get ready for work. I love you honey. You’re so sweet and swell and am I’m in love and am living for Christmas. I will write again tomorrow.
Love all my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s
“Your” Darlin’ Janie
November 17, 1942 Tuesday 8:10 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again, how are you? I hope this finds you well and happy. Does it? Swell. I’m fine but a little lazy though because I just got up, see. There is absolutely no news. Oh you know what, our plant is going to receive the Army Navy E for excellent award. Isn’t that swell? We’re going to have a big ceremony for everything and all of us will get a little pin, or something like that. Which reminds me, I received a bond today. I have 2 of them now. $25.00. How many do you have? Well, Dick will be home tomorrow night and we are all anxious to see him in his uniform. O.K., I’ll take a picture of him and send it to you. O.K? Tomorrow is my night off, but Thursday is really my day off. Understand? Well neither do I, so don’t feel bad.
Boy, I’m sure glad I’m going to sleep for 16 hours. I have to go to the dentist tomorrow for a 2-hour appointment. Boy do I dread it. I didn’t get a letter today and do I ever miss it. But Harlan, I have something to ask you. Are you going to tell your folks if you are coming or not? I mean are you just going to wait until you get here and then go home and surprise them or are you going to wire them just before you leave or what? You see I have a very selfish reason for asking because Harlan, I want to meet you at the train, and I don’t want anyone else to be there. It’s selfish but that’s what I want. You see I want you to wire me from Omaha just when you will arrive in Des Moines. If it’s in the middle of the night, then I simply won’t go to work and I’ll have plenty of gas and everything. So please let me know what you think you want to do.
Fibber McGee and Molly are on, old happy memories. Remember our beautiful Tuesday nights? Sure you do, I know I couldn’t forget them. Well Sweets I better close now as I promised Momie that I would walk up to Rosie’s with her. How can I put into words how much I miss you? The same words all the time don’t seem to hit the spot. But it’s the best I can do. I guess I just plain miss you and just plain love you very much. Good night Honey.
(Fibber McGee & Molly radio show 12/1/42 Gas Rationing ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_G_bnpnoSc
All my Love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS, Darling when you come home, we are going to smooch, and mush and pitch woo. And then smooch some more O.K? O.K.! Oh hurry up Christmas and you.
November 19, 1942 Thursday 3 PM
Hello.
Well here I am again. Where are you? And, how are you? I hope this finds you finds well and happy. I’m O.K. I didn’t get a letter again today Harlan, what’s up? Well Dick is home, and does he ever look swell. He has lost 20 pounds and his uniform really look sharp on him, and he’s simply crazy about his crew, he was the only one of his bunch that is going to school. He goes for 16 weeks but as yet he doesn’t know where and won’t know until he returns to his outfit. When he gets through, he will be an inspector of some kind.
I am an auxiliary patrolmen out at the plant. I have to go to school 20 hours on my own time. They teach me first aid etc. Went to the dentist Wednesday and when I arrived home a nice letter was waiting for me, but I was a little disappointed after reading it. To begin with you covered 2 or 3 pages telling about a nice trip you and John took over the weekend without saying where you went or who you went to see. Then you told me about buying groceries and paying our rent. You know that burns me up, I can’t help it but feel that you are getting more involved than you think.
We are having nice warm days with California sunshine but at night I can’t find the Big Dipper anymore, can you? Thanks for the jacket pipe and slippers idea, I will see that you have them when the time arrives. I get so discouraged at times, seems to be so many things in our way that isn’t our fault. There are so many things I can’t understand and will be glad when we can talk a real talk. I couldn’t live without your letters, but they leave so many loopholes. Well Sweets, I better take a nap as I find myself getting rather sleepy and I must have my beauty sleep if I expect to be beautiful when you come home.
So if I wake up in time I will write again tonight.
All my love and xxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
(keep those letters coming)
November 19, 42 Thursday 8:30 PM
Hi Honey:
Well here I am again. How are you? Fine, I hope. I’m trying too. Gee, do I ever rate! Three letters today. The first one, not so hot, the second one better the last one a swell one!
Harlan, do you think that if you don’t get another deferment or don’t accept one and go into the Armed Forces then when the war is over you will be able to go back to your ship welding job at Frisco or are you a fill-in for the duration? In other words, can you plan to make your life work us a welder in the shipyards at Frisco? I wish you would talk to your boss and find out just where you stand, would you please do this for me? How’s Opal? I hope fine. Your Mom called me again yesterday wondering why you haven’t written, and I told I haven’t heard for two days and that you were probably awfully busy, excuse me but they are playing “Embraceable You“, are you ever! You bet, Oh happy Christmas!
O.K., “Hi Uncle Harlan, I love you very much. Hustle home for Christmas and please bring Santa Claus with you” signed Dickie Jr.
So he really did write it? Did he? You bet. – His little hand under mine.
I can’t get over how swell that Dick looks in his uniform. He’s here now and he has his dress blues on. Harlan, he has a while white stripe on his shoulder, three white stripes around his coat and the Navy emblem and red stripe on his arm.
His title is 3rd Class Petty Officer, isn’t that just perfect? We sure are proud of him but I’m just as proud of you Honey! Just as proud because you are doing your part and making your big sacrifice. We may not see Dick for year. That’s a long time, twice as long as we have been apart. Dickie Jr. will be three years old. By the Way, Dickie calls you Uncle Harlan. All Dick can talk about is the Navy. I know how to tell time by the Navy and everything and Dickie Jr, all he does is follow his Daddy everywhere. He just won’t leave him alone.
I don’t have a lot of news. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you. Honey, that ring was Momie’s’ and she gave it to me. I plan to give it to my little boy or girl when they grow up, so please be careful and don’t lose it or break it because if you did our little child wouldn’t have a ring.
Tomorrow afternoon, Jodie, Barbie and I are going to the stage show about 4:00 PM and will get home about in time to go to work.
Well Sweets, I better go now as it is about time for me to go and get ready for work. I love you very much and miss you more and I am patiently waiting for Christmas to come so I can feel your arms around me and your lips on mine. Sometimes I think I’ll go crazy for the want of man’s arms around me and a man’s love telling me all this swell nothings.
Good night Honey. All my love and xxxxxxxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darling Janie
Please try to write every night from now on and please be careful of your heath.
Dick & Rosie Hare 1942
November 20, 1942 1:30 AM Friday
Just think Darlin’, 12 more months and six days and we will be getting married!
Hello Darlin’:
I guess I sort of jumped the gun that time, didn’t I? Well here it is another day closer to Christmas and you. I’ll bet I don’t do much sleeping the night before we get married. I’ll be so happy and thrilled and anxious that I probably won’t sleep a wink. Won’t it be wonderful to get up in the morning and be together all the time and be with each other all the time? I can hardly wait! Things will be so much better. Tonight is just about like it was last night, except that I miss you more.
I got my boots today. They cost me $12.50 . They are really swell. But I guess they should be for that price. I received your letter just before I left for work. It is the one with a piece of cloth inside. I am going downtown to see if I could find a pair of slacks to match them. I probably will find a pair. If I do, we will have something to match but we will have to wait until Christmas to wear them together.
You are absolutely right about Opal and Max and the baby Darlin’. Max is supposed to have money in the bank for the baby. I wouldn’t blame you a bit, for being mad at me if I paid for the baby or put any money out for it.
Yes, I think I was dreaming of you when you wrote that letter, because I dream of you both night and day, whether I’m asleep or awake. Two weeks have been rolling along pretty fast for me and it won’t be long before I’ll be home and in your arms. Darlin’, we aren’t going to bed at all the first night I’m home, are we? Maybe we could lay on the floor together all night and listen to the radio. (I sure hope).
Well it is getting late, so I had better close.
All the love I have I give to you. Love and XXXXXXXXXX’s Harlan
8:30 AM Saturday, November 21, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
Well here is another Special for a special person and it is also another day closer to Christmas and you. I am very sorry I didn’t write last night but I was kind of tired when I got home, and I guess I had breathed a little too much galvanized. My lungs were pretty sore. Before I forget I will call again Sunday night at 8:00 your time 6:00 our time.
I received two letters yesterday just before I left for work. Your letters have been coming in quite regularly and they have really been swell. I wish I could crawl inside of one of them and come with it. I’ll bet it would be a long time before I let you go back.
Darling, you had that or be careful of your health working that shift. I am working out at the Y so I can carry you up to the door and into the house every night and I will be winded a bit.
About what I want for Christmas, at night a gets pretty chilly going home on the streetcar and I only have a light jacket, I don’t have a robe yet, but I had planned on getting one to wear at home. But as long as I get to see you and hold you in my arms, that is gift enough for me. Let me know if I can wait until I get home to buy your gift. That way I won’t have to carry it with me all the way. You may get it a little late, but will it be satisfactory with you?
I miss you like H – – – and can hardly wait until Christmas. It’s just a little over four weeks and I’ll be leaving for you.
This is the last page in the book so that is why I am writing on both sides. I love you very much Darling and when I get home you will see and feel just how much that it is. I can see you before me always, but I try to talk to you and touch you, but I can’t seem to get you to talk to me and my hands around and arms seemed to go right through you.
All the love I have I give to you. Love and XXXXX’s Harlan
PS Until 6:00 Sunday night. I will start calling it 6:00 our time.
PS I hope you get this in time.
November 21, 1942
Hello Darlin’:
This should be reach you Monday. (I hope.) I have just finished dinner and have to get ready for work after I finish this letter. Sis and I have been down to the bank and to the grocery store. I have $365 in the bank now. I put $40 in this week. Last week I didn’t put any in because I had to pay rent, dentist and my boots, besides groceries.
I wish Christmas was here instead of 4 weeks and 5 days off. When I come home, I will send you a telegram of what time I’m leaving and what time I should be there. When I get to Omaha, I will send a telegram to you and one to the folks. I will have your sent out right away and have them wait until about to the time I get home to send the one to the folks. Either that or I won’t tell them I’m coming and then just walk in on them. I have told them I may come home if I can, but it isn’t definite. The latter is probably the best. I think that is what I’d better do. Don’t you? I thought so!
The pictures are swell Darlin’. I will see if I can’t take some tomorrow and send you. This is the first day this week that I didn’t get a letter but yesterday makes up for it.
I sure do remember those nights we used to have together. Not just a couple of them but every one of them. Nights don’t mean anything to me anymore. Just Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is the end of the week and makes it a week closer to Christmas and you and Sunday is both my night off and maybe a call to you. Yes, it is O.K! O.K! O.K! O.K! O.K! O.K! O.K! for us to smooch and neck and pitch woo and then smooch some more.
Darlin’ it is 2:30 and I’m going to have to leave. I didn’t know it was this late.
All the love I have I give to you. Love and xxxxxxxxxx’s Harlan
Johnny & Jane 