Feb 28, 1945
I Love you.
Sweetheart,
Your letter came this afternoon. I understood what you said and how you felt. You were so very right. You should have stayed, regardless of anything. That feeling was inside and it must have been right. But I also have that same feeling that you'll be back again, so maybe --
I'll never forget our three weeks. I relive them every day and I'll keep on reliving them until we are actually living something better. The world is really a wonderful place and we have a lifetime to discover it's wonders. We'll just wander about aimlessly and see what mischief we can get into. The sun will rise and shine every place we go. If you can be happy with me, I know I'll be happy. Let's not grow old gracefully, let's grow old laughing and loving, doing foolish things in foolish places, having hamburgers at midnight and steaks for breakfast, being thrown off horses and tired from swimming, let's wake up with a hangover and go right out and get a better one, let's fly high and drive fast, let's meet people we like and have them like us, let's go to parties and throw better ones ourselves, let's have peaceful days after exciting weeks --- if you want to do something and I want to do something else, let's do both. Let's live, Honey.
I don't want you to do anything unless you know it's right but once more I wanta mention you're only hours away and we can swing it. I may be here for three more months so if maybe when things straighten up you feel like traveling -- I'll be waiting.
The more I think of it, the more I can understand how rough the trip must have been. I can also close my eyes and picture Dan and Ed and all the rest of them. Things like that are one of the reasons I left home. When you're away and come home every couple of months you enjoy seeing and talking to everyone but after a little while you get that old feeling and wander away again. That makes coming home fun. It's amazing too, how little some of our people change.
School is pretty much the same. It's tough and I don't like it as much s bombing but it's hot stuff so I'll keep pitching. I'll never really feel worth much until I go overseas and do some good. I'll hate it when I go over and count the days until I come back but I still want to go. It's that old inside stuff.
I'm pretty well lost now and the only things I can think of are writing to you, talking to you, looking at you -- just you.
Have you seen Bill yet? Ya know something? I'm glad he's your boss. I hope you get those whiskey sours. Maybe you can talk and laugh and forget a lot of things. I heard Duffy's Tavern one night and it made me think of him. He's quite a guy.
How did your tan look after comparing it with all the pale faces? Better than you thought, wasn't it? Or was it? Have you seen the doctor yet? Are you going back to work right away? Have you seen your father?
Hey, Gloria deHaven was at the show last night but I couldn't be bothered looking at her after you. I should have gotten there earlier - sure were a lot of us turned away.
Darling, you have every right in the world to crack up now. If you did everyone would understand it. I don't think you will though. You wrote me that you weren't strong. You're wrong Darling, You've got more real stuff in you than I'll ever have. You're a real gal. Besides, if you ever did really crack up I'd desert the army, fly to Chicago and carry you back in my arms. People sure would look at us by the time we reached Alabama.
Don't let Florida fade away. Keep remembering. Remember how mad I was when I couldn't get my car keys. Remember how you and Myles carries on in the hospital. Don't ever forget. Remember hard every day and soon you'll be doing everything all over again.
I'm in love with you, I'm proud of you, and I miss you. Remember that too.
Give my love to your Mom and tell her to get well quick or we won't take her to any Night Clubs when I get home. Tell Eddie I have a soldier's hat and I'll try and get a sailor's hat for him. Tell him maybe after payday I might slip him two bit piece. Stay as wonderful as you are Darling and write soon.
All My Love Always,
Ray