June 23, 1945
June 23, 1945
Hi Angel,
Did you ever know that there are two types of heat? One is warm heat and the other is HOT. The heat here is the hottest that there is. When there's a breeze it's like opening the door of a blast furnace. There's never a breeze.
Coming down on the train, the first night I froze and the second night I roasted. Breaks the monotony. Ya know, we stopped at a small town in Kansas for about twenty minutes. I happened into the station lunch room for a cup of coffee. The building was very old and the wall had been painted a dark yellow but they had a layer of dust and grease on them. The whole place looked old and slow. There weren't many people in there but all of them were old. The waitresses were very plain looking and in no hurry. The place was like a jig saw puzzle and all the pieces fit together. Then someone put a nickel in the juke box and played a swing tune. It was like a clash - like rubbing your finger nails along a blackboard - like wearing overalls at a formal party. That music in that particular place really knocked me around. First I got nervous, then I began to get unhappy - not about anything in particular - maybe it was just a mood. The room was so still it seemed to be whirling around like mad. I got out of there but quick. It took me about six hours to quit shaking. The funny part about it is that I like the feeling. I are nuts! Ain't I?
I was chewing the fat with the porter on our car. Troop train porters stay on troop trains only. This fellow left home early in May and thinks he may get back sometime in July. He said that his wife sure ain't akin to such stuff. He also said that he had three children - the last time he was home. A very interesting conversation - we had.
I'm supposed to fly tomorrow so I'll let you know how the B29 is in my next chicken scratching.
Here's part of my crew
Pilot - Capt. James (Daisy) Day
Co Pilot - 2nd LT Buck Benson
Navigator - Flight Officer Earl Stock
Bombardier - 2nd LT Bill Langet
Cook - Me
There are also six enlisted men but I haven't met them yet. I'll betcha we're the roughest, toughest, sharpest crew there is.
Say, you'd like Tucson. It's half modern and half old Mexican. All the territory around here is covered in Dude Ranches and resorts. That probably is why there are classy night clubs, good restaurants, and nice stores. The Spanish section is about the same as San Bernadine. Muchos hot tamale stands, mucho vino, cowboy boots and sombreros , indian squaws, drug store cowboys, too much hair oil, not so good looking gals, shoe shine boys by the million, street corner gatherings, suggestive doorways, strange candy and foods, many pot bellies, pool halls and all stuff like that there. The Spanish theater is nice and they charge more than the others. I saw " Los Hijas de Don Venancia". I think maybe it was a comedy. Twasn't bad but some of the acting was ham. I wasn't able to understand so much of it, but I guess expressions are all the same in any language. I've sent you the program so you can brush up on your South American glamour people. Speaking of glamour - there wasn't a babe even in the whole picture that could hold a candle to you. All of which proves that you are a little on the lovely side.
Supposing that you needed a watch spring - supposing you couldn't get one in Chicago - supposing I could get one here - your birthday is next week - supposing I was going to give you the spring for your birthday - then could sing " Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year". Isn't that clever? (I'm sorry) I really found the thing I was looking for for the last year and a half. I plunked two bucks down so they'd hold it for me until pay day. It'll be a couple of days late, but better late than never to have or not to be - ain't it. Wanta know what it is? It's red.
I gotta get up early tomorrow so I'm a gonna hit the hay now.
Say I'm gonna send Bill a present after pay day too. Wanta know what it is? It's green!
This about throws me at a loss for words so I shall terminate this evenings' epistle with the well known and always popular
All my love
Ray