Letter from Bobby Johnston to Warren [Letter 210]

Letter from Bobby Johnston to Warren [Letter 210]

2/4/45

152 I skipped 148 - just found the envelope Feb. 4 Sunday 3:00 P.M. My dearest darling: Wendy and I are both in bed this dreary Sunday afternoon - no not sick - just sleepy. I took some Seconal last night and I don't think I'm quite over the effect yet. Received #121 this morning, together with a letter each from M and F, and Aunt Beth. I'm still missing #'s 116, 117, 118, 119, and 120 of yours - why do you suppose that is - or shouldn't I ask? Tho I doubt it's a military secret. Yesterday was one of the hardest days I've had since you left. Last night I came as near, I think as I ever have to uncontrollable hysterics. I think I must have a guardian angel tho, because Marge, who seldom comes over, just happened to. She heard me, and was able to get me out of it - otherwise I don't know what would have happened. I've been upset all week - not only not getting any mail, but I read in the paper that the husband of one of the girls I knew by sight, [pg 2] had been killed recently in the Philippines leaving her alone with a 2 ½ year old son. It hit particularly hard just because I noticed the picture, before I read about it, and thought immediately that it must be the little boy's father, because they looked so much alike. I met Gerry Hurtzburg downtown yesterday afternoon and she hadn't received any mail either. I was supposed to go up there this afternoon to visit, but the weather is too bad. This morning as I was reading your letter ‘Dearly Beloved’ came over the radio. I just know it was meant especially to be ours. I am mailing Aunt Beth the last 4 x 5 we have left of Wendy. She has so little in life, and I do like her, and want her to love Wendy, and not think her a nuisance when she goes to visit. I think if she feels she has a special interest in Wendy she may feel differently to her than she does to Dan and Marian. Not that I want her to play favorites, but I don't want [pg 3] her to have cause for criticism. I also wrote a note, and sent a snapshot to Aunt Lucy, because Muz asked me to - Think I told you about it. Robert presented Wendy with a Valentine this morning, on which he had written: To Sally Bobbie I asked him why he had written Sally instead of Wendy and he explained that Sally was spelled out in his reader so he could copy it, but that Wendy wasn't! I’d love to hear more about the babies and their shots - Wendy always has a sort of blank expression on her face before she is stuck and her face puckers up. I’d like to be able to cuddle each of those babies afterwards and wipe their tears away. This morning I saw a little girl at the P.O. and my first thought was - I bet Wendy looks like that when she is about 2 ½. The little girl had on the briefest plaid skirt, yellow sweater, white shoes and socks. Her face was similar to Wendy's [pg 4] except that she had large brown eyes instead of blue ones. Her hair was shoulder length and straight, the sides drawn to the top of her head in braids, and bangs across her forehead. Wendy will just be bordering on being a little girl when you get back. Right now she is propped up on a pillow beside me, snug under the puff, and chewing and crinkling a piece of paper - I just gave her a kiss and was rewarded with a two toothed smile. American Troops have just entered Manilla - that sounds encouraging - maybe things will start really moving now. I liked what you had to say about the Russians entering Berlin. I feel exactly the same way, but couldn't get it down on paper. I envy you that facility, and feel rather inhibited because my thoughts are so much better than what I am able to put down in a letter to you. [pg 5] 4:45 You might know I’d just about gotten nicely settled when there was a knock on the door which I pretended not to hear followed by another - so I had to get up. It was Bob Falk, Oliver Benson, and Guy(jg) somebody or other from [Mass?] I looked a sight - bare feet, housecoat, and my hair tied up in a bandana - Wendy looked just about as well. Damn it all - they might have phoned - They are all house-hunting. I think Bob just brings his retinue here to rest when their feet are tired. I don't really mind, but I do mind hearing over and over again how they’re going to be here a long time, and how they’re going to get their wives and families out here right quick. Maybe I'm an escapist - come to think of it I probably am - sure wish I could burrow my way away from this damn casa. [pg 6] It's one thing to have a bunch of wives whose husbands are away - and quite something else when they are here with their husbands. I can understand very well now how Betty felt in Boulder. Time for little sweetie's bath and supper now - 5:45 All bedded down. It's always the same routine - I put Wendy tummy down, fasten the harness - she hunches her fanny - wiggles - sticks her thumb in her mouth - and whisk - she's in the land of nod! I wish sometime when you’re in the mood, you’d devote one of your typewritten letters to the babies on the island. Darling I don't want to go to the doctors without you, and I wouldn't ever have any kind of an operation here alone unless it was an emergency and I couldn't help my self. I've had whatever it is for a long time, and it always hits at the same time - so I don't think it's my appendix. It probably is some sort of [pg 7] ovarian trouble, but if it was anything serious the doctor probably would have discovered it when I was carrying Wendy or during the delivery. Whatever it is can most likely wait another year. I guess I'm sort of a sissy since having the sprout. It's funny - I didn't think it was so bad right after Wendy's birth, but now it sort of troubles me. Not that I’d let it interfere with our having another baby, it's just that knowing what I do now I'm not quite as eager. I will admit that Wendy was worth every minute of it. I think if I knew you were going to be with me the whole time I wouldn't mind at all. It's sort of a ghastly thing to ask you to do, but I don't think you’d mind too much and then you could fill in all the gaps for me. 9:00 There! Now I just have one more sleeve and the ribbing around the neck, and my green sweater will be finished. Next on the list is two 1 [pg 8] year old size sweaters for Wendy - one white and one pink - Then if you approve I should like to knit you a sweater or socks or both if you like - as a coming home presink - you write and tell me what you would like, sleeveless or with sleeves and what color - I've been doing a lot of thinking about your civilian clothes. I’d start getting stuff for you now - shirts, pyjamas etc. but the material is so poor and prices all out of proportion. I guess it would be well for me to work up my wardrobe now, and then have all the money to spend on you. This is along letter for me - no? I'm listening to the news - will have a [cig?] and then to bed (I was glad to hear about the lighter) I just know this war has to end soon, so that we can be together again. I love you with all my heart - I'm all yours darling always - Bobby

Correspondence

World War, 1939-1945

World War, 1939-1945--Women

PA Digital

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