Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Feb 11 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Will write my weekly “letter.” Have been using v-mail but about once a week – We were told over the radio and by other means that after Jan 15 not to send air mail letters – but use v-mail so that is the reason you are getting so many v-mail. However Tony told me to continue to use air mail – that it would get to the coast quicker even if it didn’t travel by air the rest of the way. I am sitting by the fireplace with my hair rolled up – and with the idea of getting it dry but the fire seems to be going out. Mark brought in a wet log and it won’t burn. The dryer is in our bedroom but D. is asleep and I was afraid it arouse him before time of his 10 P. M. lunch. He sleeps right thru horn & piano practicing & radio but turn the light on and bang around close to him and he sometimes wakes up – so we stay away from the bedroom after he is tucked in. I looked over your letter again to answer your three questions. The house payments are around 48.33 – sometimes the cents vary. The interest on your pol. Is 14.22 so that makes the loan around $233. Those dividends were taken off when we had the policies changed when you were home – remember?

[page 2] Since paying up the insurances and a few other bills our bank acc’t is getting a little weak. We have a bal of 330⁰⁰ now but I haven’t pd for my coat yet – isn’t due till Mar 10 – and I had more coal put in. Just had the bin filled and what I had put in in Dec. – altogether $60⁰⁰ so when I pay those two will have around 145⁰⁰ Bal. and there will be something turning up all the time. I haven’t been getting any collections in and with all the insurance we have to pay cuts in on the reserve. The house payment takes ¼ of the 200⁰⁰ and groceries are so high – milk can’t be sold for 10¢ qt now so that stepped up our milk bill – but now that the big bills are taken care of for a while maybe we can get enough ahead to buy more bonds. If your uniform money comes I’ll pay the Hancock loan off. Besides the 6 – 37⁵⁰ that took 225⁰⁰ out of the big balance we had last fall. I have the 1943 car license pd for. I had Ellsworth write a policy for D. and it is $22.57 annually. I thought that pretty high but it is a 20 yr endowment and will have a higher pd up value that the ones of J & M. – Well don’t worry about our finances – I can manage on what we get and keep all the bills paid. I am so glad we have our home

[page 3] and can keep our payments up on it. I really should have some painting done on a few places inside this spring but I doubt if I can get a painter. Now don’t be alarmed about my having things done – it is those window sills the sun & rain ruined. If I had the time and energy would give the walls some paint like you had put in the office – but I have about all I can do with David. Mother takes care of the cooking & dish washing and I don’t try to do much but keep D. fed & comfortable. I got some unicaps yesterday and thought I would follow your prescription. I do feel a little low after all that sinus trouble. Now that it is over – that was without question the worse infection I have ever had in my sinus. The drainage was the foulest I have ever had. When Dr. Ade first washed it out there seemed to be about a cup – maybe there wasn’t that much – but it seemed to be – and it was brown. Well that is all over now and I can get along with a box of Kleenex in every room. I feel a little sleepy this morning. D. was sound asleep at 10 – so I didn’t take him up – thought he would sleep through – but he began to fuss

[page 4] about 1:30 – so I got up & fed him – I would have saved myself that if I had fed him at 10 – but he has slept thru several times and I thought he had established the habit – but not last night. It is about time for the mail to come and Mother is looking for the mail man to come. I may get a letter or two myself this morning since I didn’t get any yesterday.

There is Band Mothers’ meeting this afternoon so think I’ll go – just to let them know if nothing else that I am not interested in doing any work. Let the butterflys’ do that sort of thing. I have enough to do (that I can’t get done) at home. I suppose you have heard of “them Gremlins” – in case you haven’t, they are a distant kin of youhedi – well its “them gremlins” that get blamed for everything around here – especially concerning Mark. He doused his hair with kreml last nite and I couldn’t have him near me for a while. His latest is a weighing complex – It is so funny – he gets on the scale and he will say, “I’ve gained” – and he hasn’t. John always checks on him – and you know practical John will say – “You have not” – Then John will explain to me how Mark weighs the same or even less than the last time.

[page 5] John is so logical – he wants things right and of course Mark always get correction if he is wrong about anything – (which happens often). Of course Mark can take care of himself and John doesn’t make much impression on him if Mark doesn’t want to be impressed. So much for family life. They both agree about David – that he is the – well all the adjectives you can think of to describe the perfect baby.

Mrs. Mullen called me to read me your letter. They were so pleased to get it, and thought I would like to hear it. I told her I had 5 this morning – Jan 27-28-31 & Feb 3 & 4. I had two Feb letters before the last of Jan’s. I was glad to get those stragglers because they had some news I would have missed. None of your letters have been lost – I am sure I have every one. The next time I am in Laf. I will talk to Helen. We will have lots to talk about. I see J & M coming up the driveway now – making a beeline for the door – running a race – as they usually do.

Lunch over and trying to get this ready for Mark to take back with him

[page 6] Sorry I haven’t any pictures to put in this time but I sent the Hubertz pictures last week and will have some ready to send in my regular letter next week.

Had a letter from your Mother & one from Ruthie. Your Mother said Ruth M. & Earl have had the flu. I wrote to Ruth M. this week but haven’t had time for an answer. I must write to your Mother today. I get one out to her once a week.

Just glanced at the local paper and saw an item that more winter is ahead. Well we have had winter since Thanksgiving – and are used to it so won’t mind so much if it last till Easter.

Lois Wittenkellar is in the hospital – had a ruptured blood vessel and there was a qt of blood in her abdomen. Mrs. Merrit Wood is in the hospital at Laf. recovering from an abdominal operation.

Mark is waiting so much hurry.

Love
Mother

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