May 1, 1945
Darling Shirl,
Here I be, a settin and awaitin, just asettin and awaitin. I can't leave until my orders come in and that may take two weeks. Someday the army is going to keep me waiting to long and I'll become violent. The so and sos have put me to work as a Range Officer. All day long I shout "Ready on the left, Ready on the right, Load and lock, Unlock, Fire." Then everybody shoots a gun and I get a headache. Our children will positively not be allowed to have firecrackers on the 4th of July! No arguments!
Say, something must have gone wrong in the mail. I answered your last letter. Either mine or one of your letters didn't go through.
The ring is 100% ours now. I settled with the Jeweler today. I hope I get to put it on your finger pretty soon. I want you to have it right away, but I'd feel better if I gave it to you myself. I want to.
Hey, what say we spend one night thusly - We'll get a room at a nice hotel - with a fireplace and a bottle of champagne - soft chairs and soft lights - you can sit at my feet doing you knitting and I'll spend the whole night reading "Forever Amber". O.K.? I've heard some wild takes about this gal Amber. You know how curious I am.
So you were sick again. What's the matter - those appendics acting up again? I hope I get my leave before another month rolls around. Don't say it!
Bill and I just sort of talk about politics and the stock market. Our letters are very high class stuff. We're plotting a booby trap to get you to pay for the whiskey sours. Of course we do make a few comments about you.
When I do get my leave let's se everyone for a short visit and spend every other second raising cain. I'll bet we'll have a swell time with Mabel and your Dad. Let's take them to the L and L. Doggone it if you can go there I should be allowed to too. Do you think that I'm a fiend? I believe you're right.
Give my love to the inmates of "Bedlam Manor". Gee I'm not going to feel at ease there. Too many people. I don't suppose we could send them all to the show. We'll figure out something. We're going to ride a cloud for s long as we are together. No one or nothing is going to stop us.
I'll be seeing you soon.
all my love
Ray