1:30 May 1, 1943 Saturday
Hello Darlin’:
Well, well, here it is another month closer to July and you. I just got home from work to find a Special here waiting for me. I now have two letters to answer. I’ll answer those before I go very far in this Special. I am awfully glad you made cookies for me. I’m looking forward to them. Yes, you are very sweet. I’m fine now. My arm is almost healed up. I will probably have a scar on my hand from the burn. I don’t know if Mrs. Seaman is the motherly type or not but I’m afraid her washing my clothes is out of the question. You see, she works days, besides I kind of like to do it. It doesn’t hurt me any. I went to a Presbyterian Church close to here Sunday. It didn’t seem so funny to have another girl in her met with me as Sis was always with me on Sundays and a lot of mornings. It will really seem nice when you are there. Now for the Special. About my washing, as you know, it is all done. It wasn’t so hard because I can use my fingers on my right hand. That is all the questions in the Special.
There isn’t any news and I am just about dead. I have to go up to the bank in the morning and mail this Special, so I will have to get some sleep. (Harry James is playing “Velvet Moon” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj99A3tOhgY). You never told me whether you had heard the song “I’m So So So In Love With You”, or not.
Well my Darling, I guess I had better get some sleep. I will finish this in the morning. I love you very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darlin:
Well, how is my little girl this fine beautiful morning? Fine I hope the time is 8:45. I have just finished eating breakfast. Very soon I am going downtown to mail this.
I will sure be glad when July gets here. July is such nice weather, Don’t you think? I hope it is as nice as it is now. There isn’t any news to speak of so I guess I had better close. I sure love you a lot. It sure is awful to want to tell you in person and you have to write it on paper. It leaves a sort of helpless feeling, doesn’t it.
I will write again tonight I love you very much. Love & xxxxxxxxxxxs Johnny
Saturday 9:15 AM May 1, 1943.
Hi Honey:
Well here it is another month closer to you. If everything goes as planned, nine weeks from today we will be together. Old happy, happy July.
How are you? I hope this finds you well and happy, and the sun shining nice and warm so as you can get out and have fun this Sunday.
Say Honey, Marian and I were talking last night about coming out to California, you know we might come together, we’ll anyway I struck on an idea. We both keep saying until July, then the first or 15th both of us come out. You could have found for us, then after about a week of fun, we could both find a job. Then I could stay out there and if you and I kept saving, we could come home in November or at Christmas time and get married. That way we could be together the rest of this year, having fun and saving too and then take everyone here happy by coming home to be married. Why I alone could probably save enough money for the trip home. Now what do you think of that idea. By that time, you should how you stand in the war for sure. I could get of a touch of living alone on my own. Marian would be an ideal girl do it. She’s easy to get along with and clean, and has every qualification for the deal. Let me know what you think.
Say Harlan, don’t you have insurance for when you get hurt on the job and have to miss work? It seems to me you wrote about it when you first went to work.
We had a letter from Dick yesterday. He said he tried for almost every day for a week trying to get you on the phone, but always they say were not there. He thought he might have changed shifts. You haven’t, have you? His address is R. C. Hare S C 3/C , Comm. Dept. Barracks Treasure Island. In case you want to drop a card and make a date. Why doesn’t he get you and the phone I wonder. I believe he has next Sunday off.
Did I tell you I got your bond Thursday? And be sure and let me know when the cookies arrive.
Well the shower is today. I hope they have a nice time (for Opal I mean). They said it was a miscellaneous shower. I’m sure I wouldn’t know what to take, and bridal gift or a baby gift.
Yes, we will have lots of fun in July and from there on Honey. (I’m reading yesterday’s letter from you and answering the questions). I know just how you feel when you say you feel like part of you is lost or gone. I have experienced that feeling many times.
Honey, I have tried and tried to call you Johnny, not in your letters but when I speak of you and it just doesn’t work. You see Harlan, I guess I don’t know the boy the boys at the yard do and the friends in Frisco know, the fellow I’m engaged to is Harlan. They don’t really know you like I do, unless you have changed and I hope you haven’t. I guess you will always be just Harlan, my Honey to me. I hope you don’t mind it much. If you like, when I come out there and when we are with your friends, I’ll call you Johnny but when we are alone it will have to be Harlan. O.K? And oh yes, what about this ‘Nan’ stuff?
It’s a swell day here, nice and warm and sunny. I’m going out in the backyard as soon as I finish this and get a little sunshine, while waiting for your letter. Which reminds, me your letters sure have been coming through swell, one every day for exactly 9 days. Thanks a lot Honey.
Well Sweets, I guess I’ve run every thing into the ground, so maybe I better close now. Don’t forget next Sunday is Mother’s Day, May 9th. Say by golly, the 8th is Dick’s birthday. I’ll have to send him something.
Well Darlin’, the time is here, as I said before, again to close. I miss you ever so much Harlan and am thinking of you most of the time, remembering things we used to do and thinking of things we are going to do. Thrilling at the thought of them. I love you so very much, sometimes it hurts.
Love & xxxxxxxxx’s “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS. I just read this over and it sounds like I want you by Mom and Dick something, but Darling, if you got that impression you are all wrong, you have done enough. I merely meant to remind you for your own Mother’s sake. And I was only making conversation about it. O.K1? O.K!
Momie says to tell you she still has one of her lilies. She sure liked them Honey. Well, must go now.
Love always Jane
1 AM Sunday, May 2, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Harry James is playing “I had the Craziest Dream” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CoC3oo_HOA)
Well, here it is another week closer to July and you, Oh happy July! Dick called me this morning but I had left for town. He’s going to call me at 9:00 in the morning. I hope he gets off tomorrow. We may try to play some golf. I have the bandage off of my hand.
There isn’t any news. I don’t know what I’m going to write about. Oh, I have a letter to answer. You talking about your electric storms in the Ankeny plant makes me think you had better come out here. Please be careful. Do you know that we never have thunder and lightning here when it rains, or even think it’s going to rain. I’ve seen lightning just once since I got out here.
Well Darling, I’m very tired and I think I should get to bed. I will finish in the morning. Okay? Okay! I love you very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darlin’, Dick just called me and is coming in about 4:30. I’m going out to play a little golf and then meet him this evening. Well, I guess I had better close. This is kind of short, isn’t it. I will write a long one tonight. I love you very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs Johnny
Sunday 11:30 AM May 2, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well this is merely going to be a note because I’m going to eat then to bed I go. Your Special came about 9:50 AM, I was just eating my breakfast.
Gee Darling, I wish you were here. The sun is shining so bright and it’s 80° out. We could go play golf and get a nice sun burn, then come home later and clean up and go to a dance or a show, then have a hamburger and drive over to Union Park and you know what, until we got ready to come home. Then come home, and put on our PJs, and may be lay around on the floor, wrestling a little, and listing to the radio, talking and laughing, then go to bed.
Oh! I forgot to mention, of course we would be married. And oh yes, you could give me a back rub because after that day I would probably need one. How does that sound? The day I mean. Pretty swell. Well, that is the way I like to think our Sundays will be. O.K? We could go on like that for about a year or so then when T & T, come we will stop a little until they grow up some, then we can teach them how to play golf and bowl and all the things we like to do and then we will all do them together. And T and I will be T and you any old time, just you wait and see.
No Hon, I’ve never heard “I’m so so so in love with you”. I looked on all the juke boxes and have listened but of no avail. And I’ve never heard “Velvet Moon” either, maybe they’re not popular here yet.
Your Special was swell. Thanks a lot and I’m so glad your hand is better. I was kind of worried there for a while. How come you didn’t go to the Episcopal Church that is near your place? You said you were.
Well Sweets, this note is getting kind of long and dinner is ready. Yes Harlan, it does give me kind of a helpless feeling to be able to only write “I love you”. Kind of like something is left out, I guess it’s the kiss to seal it, yes? But that’s impossible, so all I can do is write ‘I love you and you alone, see you at 10:’.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs ‘Your’ Little Darlin’ Janie
PS. I said little because I’m down to 100 pounds, but I’m taking vitamin pills so I’ll get back up before July Love Jane
10 PM Sunday, May 2, 1943
Hello Darling:
Well, here it is the same day closer to July and you. I went out and played 13 holes of golf this morning. I finished about 3:30. I came home and took a shower and shaved. I met Dick at 5:00, we went to the post office first and mailed your letter. We then went to the Golden Gate Theatre and saw Saludos Amigos. It was good, but not as good as I thought it was going to be. There was a stage show with it. It was pretty good.
Dick is leaving Treasure Island tomorrow morning at 6:00. He is being transferred to Alameda. That is across the channel I think. He will write you and tell you all about it. He sure looks swell.
You’re Special was here waiting for me when I got back from playing golf but I didn’t have time to answer it then. Darling, I think you really hit the nail right on the head this time. That idea of yours is perfect, but if you want to do that, why don’t you come out in June? I can readily say that this plan is the only one. It doesn’t seem quite possible, but if we make up our minds to it, it will.
Yes, I have insurance but it only covers doctor bills and not time just at work. I think the people here at the house were just too lazy to come and get me when Dick called. No, I haven’t changed shifts. Yes, he told me you got the bond.
I believe I have changed some but not too much. I think I feel older and I’m undoubtedly more serious. A person gets that way working nights for 9 months and not going out.
I think I told you in one of my letters about calling you Nan.
I’m glad my mail is coming through so nicely.
Yes, I know Sunday is Mother’s Day and Monday is Mom’s birthday. The 10th, I mean.
Well Sweets, I guess that is all to the Special I can answer. I will finish this morning. I love you very very. much. Good night sweetheart.
Good morning Darling: I haven’t any time now as I have to go to work. I will explain tonight. Okay? Okay! I love you very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxs Harlan
Monday 9:13 AM May 3, 1943
Hi Honey:
I have eaten and am now writing to my Honey. Dick called last night and told us about getting his leave papers, and that he had been with you, in fact had just left you. Now you will have a lot to write about. I hope you tell me what all you did. Anyway, I sure hope you had a nice time.
There isn’t any news this morning. Tonight my night off, but I’m not very enthused about it because I don’t feel good. I bought my dinner at work this morning and I don’t think it was very good. Oh I forgot to tell you, Udy and I are going horseback riding Thursday morning after work, about 10:00. It will be the first time this year. I’ll be thinking of you and wishing it was you instead of Udy.
Daddie is going to Davenport at 1:00 today. He is leaving the car home this week so I’m going to try to get over to see your folks some night before I go to work. Momie and I are going downtown tonight and I’m going to try and buy something for Donna Neal. I don’t know just what.
Well Sweets, I guess this is all. There isn’t any more news. I’m writing this out in the backyard and I’m running out of ink. I love you very much and miss you more every day, still I do.
Will write again tonight.
Love & xxxxxxxxxs “Your” Darlin’ Janie
Gee Honey, I’ll be glad when we are together again and won’t have to write what I want to say but can just talk to you. I miss you so much. More than you know I think.
Love as always, Jane
Monday 9:30 PM May 3, 1943
Hi Honey:
I’ll start this letter tonight and finish in the morning. Besides, I am out of ink as you can probably tell. I guess I better run to the store and get some. Be right back.
Well I’m back and this is much better, don’t you think? I tried to get green ink that they didn’t have any.
There isn’t much news I’m afraid. I received a nice letter this morning.
Harlan it’s 10:00, and The Chesterfield Hour is on. Are you there? I hope so. They’re playing “I’ve Heard That Song Before”. This arrangement is really beautiful. Well Honey, as usual I wish you were here or I were there. That is all I think about anymore. After work each morning I say, one more day closer, each week, one more week closer, and etc. I went to the bank this morning I now have $115. How am I doing Honey. By July 1, I should have $205. I asked you a couple of weeks ago what your account was but you never told me.
Gee, I was glad to hear your arm was O.K., by now it should be pretty much O.K. If you catch your boots on your cuffs sewed up on the side, why don’t you sew them or rather tack them on the outside, make cuff on the outside, instead of the inside. See what I mean?
Tonight is my night off as I said this morning but I decided to stay home because I couldn’t afford it, besides I still don’t feel good, so Momie and I took Mary Jane’s allotment over to her and stopped at the drug store, bought a new tablet, some ink, and a magazine. I felt kind of low a little while ago. I sure would have given anything to have talk to you, only having two hours sleep since last night, I was tired. Yet I wanted to go out and do something but I’m kind of tired of going with the girls and didn’t. Sooo, I guess I’m just plain lonesome for you, your voice, your arms, and oh just you. But it won’t be long now, will it Hon. Remember when you left last August? We planned that I would come out July. That we wouldn’t see each other until the. We were right about the July deal but we were sure wrong about staying apart until then. And the way I feel now, if I come back home in July it won’t be for long. I don’t know whether I whether to quit my job here in July or not. What do you say?
Well Sweets, it’s 10:30 and this little girl is getting very sleepy. I better close. I miss choose ever so much and love you more. Will write again tomorrow.
Love & xxxxxxxxs “your” Darlin Janie
PS How do you like the pictures?
12:30 PM May 4, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to July you. I suppose you saw the time this was written. Well, I’ve been doing the same thing today as I did yesterday that I told you in my last letter, I would explain about in this one. Then I was in such a rush to get to work I forgot to mail your letter last night or rather yesterday afternoon and I put it in a box downtown.
I’ve been shopping. I can’t think for the life of me what to get Mom for her birthday, which is next Monday. I’ve also had a tough time with you. I was going to get you a wristwatch but it is hard to get a good one without spending a small fortune. Could you please suggest something? Would you like clothes, jewelry, or something for our hope chest? Please let me know, please.
There isn’t any news, so I don’t know what else to write about.
I have a letter to answer. Yes, I make out once in a while, but the ship has just been started and it is hard to get in any real good welding. That is all the questions in that one. Your cookies were sure swell. I am taking them in my lunch.
Well Sweets, I guess I better get upstairs for dinner. I have to fix lunch and then go to work. I love you very very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxs Johnny
Tuesday 7:00 PM May 4, 1943
Hi Honey, Hello my Sweetheart:
Well how are you this cold day, warm my hope? Received your short but sweet letter this morning at noon. Am so glad you got to see Dick and so anxious to hear all about it. Do you know where he went? Momie is not sure that she heard right. She thought he said Alameda, right?
Well my Honey Bunch, your little girl was downtown this afternoon and opened a charge account. One has to just about sign one’s life away, doesn’t one. They want to know who my mother is, who my father is and if I had any money in the bank. Oh Yes, and if I have a job. But you know Honey, they forget to ask about you. What do you know about that?
Someone has written a whole page in my letter! Right after I wrote ‘Hi Honey’, the phone rang and when I came back Momie had written that first page, it’s cute huh? Well as you know I was downtown, I bought a raincoat, a little added dotted dress for Donna Neal. It’s white and awfully cute. I hope Opal likes it. Then I bought some pens, a couple of nets and some other small things. And so you know, I opened a charge account at Yonkers. Now I can go down any time and buy anything I need. Of course, at the end of the month I’ll have to pay for them, but that’s O.K.
Gosh, when I stop to think about it, I sure have a lot of things to buy before July. I’ve got lots of clothes to buy, shoes, more sport clothes, and I have to have another grip. Because one won’t be enough and not only that, but I have to save $100 between now and then. But I’ll do it or die trying.
It’s much colder here tonight, chili and it looks like rain, bopping it doesn’t. Your letter came early this morning about 10:30. I’m sure glad you and Dick were able to get together before he left. Dick told me when he was home about it never thundering or lightning out there.
Jeepers Honey, now that’s the time is growing near, I sure am anxious to get going. The sooner I get out there the better with me, how about you?
Barbie just called and she hears from Buddy every day. Pegs sent her, Twinkie and me a present. I don’t know what mine is but I’m going over to get it in the little while. By the way, you never mentioned your sweater I bought you. Do you ever wear? And Honey, don’t ever wash it, have it dry cleaned.
I’m looking forward to a long letter, this one was kind of short but as Momie said, it was sweet. Well Darling, I have to go back to work tonight and have to run over to Barbies and then take a little nap so better close now. I hate to, but when you gotta go, you gotta go.
I love you. I think you’re swell and miss you too.
Love & xxxxxxxxs “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS See you at 10. They are playing “Harvest Moon”, I remember, You used to sing that.
PS I almost bought a better jacket today but decided to wait until I get out there and will try to buy one something like yours. O.K? O.K! Love Janie
1 AM Wednesday, May 5, 1943
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to July you. There isn’t any news, so I don’t know exactly what to write about. I have one letter to answer, so I guess I will do that to start with. You sure have a perfect day all set. You and T will have a tough time beating T and I in anything. Those kids sure are good sports aren’t they. The Episcopal Church is by the place where I used to live. I guess that is all about that letter.
I sure wish July would hurry up a little, it seems like years since I held you in my arms and told you I love you and wanted you to marry me. You took the ring and the next day you said yes.
Well Sweets, I guess I had better close for tonight. I want to get to bed as I am pretty tired. I will finish in the morning. Okay? Okay! I love you very, very much. Goodnight Sweetheart.
Good Morning Darlin’, this is sure a beautiful day, I sure wish you were hered I was going to go out and play some golf but I have to go downtown again this morning, so I may go out tomorrow.
Just think, in about eight weeks will be together again. If you stay out here, we will be together from now on, unless I go into the Army. We sure will have a lot of fun. Well Sweets, I hate to but I guess I will have to close. I love you very very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxxxx Johnny
Wednesday 9:30 PM May 5, 1943
Hello Honey:
How are you tonight? I hope just fine. I suppose you’re working hard as usual. It’s raining hard tonight, lightning and thunder too. I suppose if it keeps up long enough we will be shut down again it work. Oh well, I don’t feel much like working anyway.
I just arrived home from your folks. Donna Neal is very cute but she looks like Max instead of you. She sure is big and strong for her age. Your folks are fine. They have to move by the 28th of this month but then you probably know that. I took Momie with me.
I wish it would stop raining. I don’t like it anymore since you aren’t here. I don’t like anything much anymore. I got set back a little bit today. Momie was figuring up her Yonkers bill and gosh I thought I only owed them $5 and I owe them $13 instead and here I thought I would be able to put $15 into the bank this week.
Kay Kaiser is on playing “You’ll Never Know How Much I Miss You” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZtWNlCTc6o). Oh jeepers Harlan, I miss you more every day. Like you say, it doesn’t seem possible that a person can miss one more every day, even after so many months, but it is. There was a while there when it wasn’t so bad, but lately it has been pretty bad. Now they are playing “Let’s Get Lost” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU3QpIhiRWM). I’m sorry Honey, I hope not making you blue, but I have to let my hair down once in a while, don’t I.
There was no letter today, the first time in two weeks and a half. Gosh I was disappointed because I was hoping to hear what you did Sunday. But I will tomorrow, won’t I Hon.
Oh Harlan, I have a confession to make, er, ahem, well you see, I didn’t go to work last night. I was so tired. I laid down on the davenport to sleep a little while before I went to work and I guess I kind of passed out. Anyway, I was so sound asleep that Momie didn’t wake me up and I woke up about 11:30 and it was too late then, so I called the plant and told them that I was ill and went back to bed. Well, about 10:00 this morning I woke up, so that just shows you how tired I was. O.K?
I’m sure glad I bought a raincoat because it sure is pouring. Opal said she’s going to California, LA the 17th of this month. Harlan, if she comes to Frisco and you see her, please don’t tell her when I’m coming and please don’t tell your folks or have you already? Your Dad said that they may go out in three months??? What do you think about it Harlan?
Well Sweets, its 10:15 and I have to go get ready for work, sure wish you were here on or I was there. I love you very much. Oh I forgot, I’m going to finish this when I get home from work in the morning. Good night Honey.
Good morning Hon: It’s 9:15 AM and I have had my breakfast and as soon as I finish this I’m going to bed.
Katherine Linger called last night to tell me Don would be a little late, and we had quite a conversation. Betty Lou left last Monday for Oakland, she had a one-way ticket and $50. Harlan, that was all she had and she didn’t know where she was going to stay when she got there or if she could get a job or anything and she didn’t even know if her husband, Melvin, would be there more than a couple of weeks are not. He’s in the Army. And Gabby is going out to Sacramento some time between the 1st and 15th of July. Russ is there for six months I guess. I’m going to call her, may be we can get together on the trip, yes? I dread the thought of coming out there alone on the train. Would you think about me coming out alone?
Well Sweets, this is all for this morning. My legs are killing me so I must get to bed. I love you much.
Love & xxxxxxxs “Your” Darlin’ Janie
PS Momie accidentally tore the first page in half and I’m too tired to write it over so it’s okay, isn’t it? Please. Thank you. Love Janie
12:45 AM May 6, 1943
Hello Darlin:
Well here it is another day closer to July and you. To begin with there doesn’t seem to be any news as usual so I don’t know exactly what I’m going to write about.
I have a letter to answer so I had better begin with that. I hope Udy and you have a nice time riding. The last time I was riding was with you. There aren’t any questions at all.
It sure was a beautiful night out. It will be nice a nice day in the morning. I think I will go out and play some golf. I sure will be glad when you get here. Have you made up your mind as to whether you are going to stay here or not?
Well Sweets, I guess I had better get to sleep. I’ll finish in the morning. Okay? Okay! I love you very very much. Good night Sweetheart.
The time is 12:20. I just got back from playing golf and found a letter from you. There were three pictures in it I. I took just one look at them and started to shake all over. I just had to call you. So I did. Gee, it was sure nice hearing your voice again. Yes Darlin’, I am there every night at 8:00. Being with you is all I ever think about anymore too. I was just kidding when I said I wanted you to come out in June. I really hope you can stay. As for a place for you to stay, that is very simple. If we can’t find a room for you, we’ll get married and sleep in mine. Only kidding. I want to be married in the Des Moies, just like you do.
Everything is mixed up. Isn’t it. I wish I knew if they would take me in the Army are not. If I knew that they wouldn’t, I’d say for sure you should stay out here. Maybe I will know soon. My account was $394. Then I bought some groceries and paid my board and room for two weeks and paid some telephone bills and now I have $359. I have something to buy pretty soon though. Doggone it, I forgot to ask you what you would like to have for your birthday when I talked to you.
I can’t sew the cuffs on the outside because they would catch sparks and probably set my pants on fire. No, it won’t be long now Darling. The time gets closer and closer, day by day. It is funny how much I’ve fallen in love with you since I left in July and how much more since Christmas.
If you want me to say what I think about you quitting in July or June, I would say yes without giving it a second thought. Then after thinking it over I would still say yes. If you are a little worried about being out here along with me, you won’t have to be. I’ve changed a lot in that way and I’ve learned a lot since Christmas. I love you more than very much Jane and always will. Someday all of your dreams will come true.
Love as Always xxxxxxxxx oooooooooooooo Johnny
See you at 8
12:15 AM May 7, 1943 Friday
Hello Darlin’:
Well here it is another day closer to July and you. The radio is playing ‘The Ferris Wheel”. Do you remember when we rode the Ferris wheel at the fair? That wasn’t very long after we met.
There isn’t any news so I don’t know just what I am going to write about. I had a very busy night. I think I made out pretty good. (Sammy Kaye “There You Are”). I worked in the double bottom and you ought to see my face. I wore a respirator and there is a black streak around where the respirator was. What? Go wash it? Okay! I think I will take a shower and wash my head too. Be back in a jiffy. I sure love you a lot. I have your pictures stuck on my mirror.
Well, I’m back and I feel a lot better but I’m still very tired so if you don’t mind too much I think I’ll hit the hay. Darling, I hope that someday I can really show you how much I love you. Good night Sweetheart.
Good morning Darling. It sure is a beautiful day out. I wish you were here. Boy those pictures in front of me are sure swell. I got a letter from Dick today and he is coming in a week from Sunday. This Sunday I’m going up to the country. John is going with me. We are going to take his car up.
There isn’t any news and I didn’t get a letter today so I have nothing to answer. This is the first day I haven’t gotten a letter for over two weeks I think. Your letters have been coming in swell. Have you any news for me yet? You know what I mean. Have you told your folks about thinking about staying out here? Darling you, know there isn’t anything I want more than to have you here with me, but if you would rather go on as we planned in the first place, that is all right with me. What ever you decide is all right with me.
Well Sweets, I guess I’m running out words so I had better close. I will write again tonight.
Love Forever Johnny xxxxxxxxx
Friday 10:00 AM May 7, 1943
Hi Honey:
Now to start with this is going only going to be a note as I’m awfully tired and I have a date with the girls tonight at 6:00 PM.
Jeepers Honey, it was sure swell of you to call yesterday. I was kind of scared but that was O.K. So you really liked the pictures huh and here I thought they weren’t any good. But I’m sure glad you like them.
Gosh you sure sounded swell, happy and like your old self. Oh gosh, thanks again, I really felt swell after that. I can’t say just yet either I will stay when I come out or not. I won’t know until I get there. I’m going to talk to Daddie about it this week and see what he says. O.K? Daddie usually knows what to do, so we will see. Myself, I would like to, but we’ll see. Please don’t think about it too much.
There were two letters from you yesterday but I’ll answer them in my Special tomorrow, then I’ll have something to write about. Well Darling, I think your grand, and hate to, but must get to bed. I love you very much and thanks again for calling.
Love as Always “Your” Darlin Janie
(Fun fact: Yes Mother always signed her letters “Your” Darlin’ Janie)
1:30 AM Saturday 8, 1943
Hello Sweetheart:
Well here it is another day closer to July and the sweetest and swellest and most wonderful and gorgeous girl in the world.
I have just finished having my shower. I shaved and have had a bite to eat. Now I feel like a good old-fashioned smooching spree. How about you? We sure have a lot of lost time to make up for. Oh Happy July!
I didn’t get a letter so I have nothing to answer. So consequently, I don’t know what I’m going to write about in this Special for a very, very special person. Gosh the pictures are sure swell. You sure are a sharp little girl. I guess I’m just about the luckiest guy in the whole world. The time seems to go so slow. There are 56 days until the 1st July. I will be able to tell you how much I love you and have missed you. I can hold you in my arms again and try to squeeze you right through me.
Tonight is about the warmest night I’ve seen in San Francisco, it is starting to get windy though. I can hear the wind whistling in the trees behind the house and my window is rattling quite a bit. If you were here and we were married, we would open the windows wide open so we would have to cuddle up real close. Oh what fun we are going to have.
Well Darling, it’s getting rather late and I want to get up kind of early so I guess I had better get some sleep. I will finish this in the morning.
I love you more and more every day.
Good night Darlin’, sleep tight and dream of me and I’ll dream of you. I love you and you alone all I sure have it bad, don’t I?
Good morning Darlin’, I just got up and turned the radio and guess what song they are playing. “Three Little Fishies” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-963CTDLy68) It was popular just before we met. The radios now playing “All The Things You Are” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjZo4X9zmLA) .
Well Darling, I guess I better close and get downtown to the post office with this Special. I will write again tonight. I love you very very much.
Love & xxxxxxxxx Johnny
Saturday 9:30 AM May 8, 1943
Hi Honey:
Well, yup here it is, time for another Special. Well to start with, it’s a beautiful morning, simply beautiful. Work went along swell at work last night, had fun but worked hard. As soon as I finish this I’m going down to buy Momie’s present then I’m coming home and I’m going to bed.
I met Eleanor and Joyce last night about 7:00 and we had a coke and went window shopping then had another coke and came home. O.K? I was a good girl and no gin wizzies.
Harlan, about my birthday, I would rather not suggest anything Honey. I would rather have you buy something of your own choice. I will admit, I did want a watch for my birthday but that was before I went out and priced them myself, at that time I thought I would buy one for myself but when I saw the price I stopped right there. You see I had in mind something for about $25-$30. So please don’t go to that expense, it’s too much. Maybe I’ll get one myself next year, but you get whatever you want and what ever it is I’ll love it, just your love will be enough. I simply don’t feel right about telling you what to get me. You understand, don’t you? I just happen to think, this will be my last birthday while single. Well what you know? Gosh and I’m only going to be 19. Remember my 16th birthday?
There isn’t much to write about this morning. Yes, I know Monday is your Mom’s birthday but I simply can’t afford anything Honey. Yesterday was Nana’s and I only sent her a card. I’m trying very hard to save every penny I can and still pay my bills. When I think about it, eight weeks isn’t very long to get ready to go a thousand miles away, especially if I’m going to stay. Please try and understand.
I sent your Mom a card for Mother’s. Momie is going to buy me an overnight bag and did I tell you I’m not going to take it a sleeper. I’m taking a chair car out because I’m too skeared to take a sleeper and I probably wouldn’t sleep anyway and it’s only costs $50 one-way for a chair car. I even know what I’m going to wear on the train.
Honey, I know two months seems like a long time to you but to me it seems like tomorrow. Just because you’re just sitting waiting and I’m getting ready, thinking and planning for it every minute.
Well Darling, I’m sorry but if I’m ever going to bed, I better get going downtown and I have to go to the bank too.
Well Sweets, I’ll write again tomorrow. Have a nice time Sunday, I’ll be thinking of you. I love you so much and miss you too.
Love as Always “Your” Darlin’ Janie
I just read this over, gosh I sure wrote enough about me coming out, didn’t I. Oh well, it’s all I think about so I guess it’s natural I write about it, right? Love Jane.
Johnny & Jane 