29 Feb February 29, 1944

Letter
from: Alice Shonkwiler
to: Private George W. Shonkwiler
February 29th, 1944, 9:30 p.m.

Dearest Wes,

Guess I shouldn’t write tonight as I didn’t receive a letter today.  But,
big-hearted me, I will anyway.

Murray and Marge stopped in for a couple minutes tonight.  I had mentioned
not being able to get a rent receipt book in Roseland.  So, Marge bought one
for me in Harney.  Ronnie insisted on going with Marge, even put his own
sweater, snowsuit, and all on (backwards), but nonetheless, he got it on.

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Marge felt sorry for him, so fixed him up and took him for a walk down the
block and back.

I tried to get him to go out in the backyard today to play with his wheel
barrow and so on.  But he was only out five minutes when he started to cry.
I opened the door and asked, "what’s the matter, Ronnie?"  And he said, oh,
too cold, too cold, Mommy".  So, I took him in and asked him if he wanted to
go for a walk with Mommy, which was okay.  But when he got outside, he
insisted on going "bye-bye in car".  So, I took him for a ride to pacify him.

I’ve been ironing all day

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today and finished all of it, thank goodness.  Mrs. Page used the washer
today and insisted on paying me 35 cents for it, so I took it, finally.
(I’m a miser, I guess.)

Wes, is that check for income tax payment in full?  Or do you have to make
another payment in April?  Answer by airmail, (I’ll enclose a stamp).

Murray seems to think he’ll have to go in the Army in six months, as he’ll
have to report for another physical to see if his spots on the lungs are

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any worse, if not, they’ll probably take him.

I got my allotment yesterday, but they enclosed a note saying I won’t get
another one until April.  I guess they send the first one in advance, so the
wife won’t starve in the meantime.  When will I get my next gas bill?  Can’t
wait to see how much it is.  It’s turned so cold here since you left that
it’ll probably be plenty.  It snowed a little today, but turned so cold and
windy it stopped again.

Elinor went to a dance at the Trianon tonight.  A bunch

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of Pullman girls and some married couples, too, were going.  Guess I could
have gone, but knew you wouldn’t like it, so didn’t in spite of how I love
to dance.  I’m sure you could trust me whenever I went, as I’m not as flighty
as you may think.  Guess love slows you down, or something.  Can’t explain it
somehow.

Chicago is now a #1 acute labor shortage area, and all new contracts frozen
until old ones are filled, and so on.  It finally happened as of March 1st.

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I’m all alone tonight again, as the Pages are also out.

Tomorrow I’m gonna wash all doors and woodwork.  Envy me?  I already washed
and waxed the floors Sat.  I also washed the fireplace and mantel.  Sure was
a job with all the smoke and so on from that day you had the draft closed.
It looks nice now tho.  I even washed the bricks.

How do you like the poem I enclosed?  Must have been written about me.
Sure hits the spot.  Let me know if you got the inhaler, hangers, and radio.

Sweet dreams, darling, and we still love you very much, so behave,
Mommy and Ronnie.