18 Jun June 18, 1945

Letter
from: A. Shonkwiler
to PFC. George W. Shonkwiler
June 18, 1945, Monday, 9.05 p.m.

Hello honey,

How is everything?  Did you hear anything new about coming home?
Have you heard that wives and sweethearts will be sent overseas to keep
the men happy?  It’s been in the papers and also broadcast they tell me,
but I, myself, have neither read nor heard it.  Marge was one of those who
said so, so guess it must be true. If you are kept there  would you want
us to join you? Or don’t you think it wise?  If it’s a matter of a few
months, I don’t suppose it is. But if it’s several years I imagine we’d
better get together before we’re too old. (What am I saying?)

Yesterday morning, Ronnie and Bobby went to Sunday School. and as it was
Mothers’s Day, the Mother’s

page two
were there to witness the service. If you’d been home, you’d have had to go
to Sunday School with Ronnie.  Mr. Dixon wouldn’t go, of course, but I think
if you’d been here, you’d have attended, wouldn’t you?

When I went to pick up the boys, guess who was in Sunday School with her
Mommy?  None other than Shirley and Sally Hitchcock. I had looked at her,
but didn’t recognize her and turned away.  Later, she walked over and
talked to me and of course then it dawned on me who she was.  Ray was home
for a 10-day furlough and has already gone back to California, but she’s
not leaving until July 7th. She had a very nice suntan, but seemed thinner,
altho she claims she’s heavier than when she left Chicago.  She said she’d
be over to see me before she leaves, but from past experience, I doubt it.

page 3
I’ve thought of asking her over for lunch, but haven’t decided as yet.

Yesterday at 1pm, Ronnie and I went along with the Pages to her dad’s and
sister’s home to celebrate Mother’s Day.  We met them at a restaurant on
the North Side called Pikes. A very nice place with a large fireplace, and
walls and so on in knotty pine.  We had Waldorf salad, vegetable soup,
stewed chicken, mashed potatoes, scalloped corn, hot rolls, coffee, and
lemon pie. All very good, and Mr. Page insisted on paying our share, so
that made it even better.  (Boy, am I Jewish?)

I just heard a fellow on the radio pull this one, -- Did you know that 35%
of a woman is made of muscle, and the other 65% is made up?  Wasn’t
that corny?

After our dinner, we spent the afternoon at her Dad’s home in

page 4
Roger’s Park, had supper there consisting of potato salad, cold beef slices,
peas, canned cherries, and cake, and tea. We didn’t get home until
11 o’clock. Ronnie had slept at home from 11.30 to 1 o’clock, and at
Roger’s Park from 4.30 to 6.30, so he didn’t lose out on his sleep.  He
enjoyed the ride out so much as there were a lot of boats on the Lake
Michigan and at present he has a mania for boats. He’s forever sneaking
in the bathroom to sail his boats and trains in the sink, and makes just
as much of a mess as you used to when you took a shower.

This morning, I washed and hung clothes all morning, while Ronnie played
with Johnny, Tommy, and Bobby at Bob’s house.  While they were pulling one
another up and down the sidewalk, Mr. Kulton (next door) called to them

to be quiet as his

page 5
wife was ill.  Later (about 3.30 p.m.) while I was digging around the
evergreens on the side next to their house, I heard a terrific shrill
voice, (Mrs. Kultons) talking away and pretty soon he stepped out the
front door and she screamed at him, "if you’re not home for dinner, I
won’t be here when you come back. You better come back from that door."
He had just stepped out, but as he saw me, he hurried back in, and went
out the back door and boy, did he slam both doors. Whew! He came back
about 5:30, but left again in a few minutes.  Poor old fellow with a
wife like that. I hope we never have any scenes like that for the
public. It’s people like that who should be 4,000 miles apart, instead
of folks who want a normal, peaceful life together. (Well, not too
peaceful!)

page 6
I dug up the ground around the evergreens in front of the windows and
also planted a border of -- well, whatever it is. Mrs. Page’s sister gave
me about four dozen plants of this stuff. I don’t know the name of it,
but it has green leaves and yellow flowers in the center.  All I need now
are some stones to put between the plants, and it would be very artistic.
I also planted dahlias at each side of the house, and two geranium plants
flanking the front doorway. Besides this, I planted some Marigolds,
phlox, and so on  and if I’m lucky, we’ll have flowers this Fall. We’ve
had beautiful peonias this year because I loosened the soil around them
early this spring.  Mr. Han gave me a bouquet of a dozen from his peonias

page 7
Sunday morning and I have them in vases on the mantel. Very pretty.

Edith and a friend of hers stopped in this afternoon for a few minutes
and she oked and oked over my garden and geraniums, and so on. She thinks

 I am so ambitious, dear me.  (If she only knew how lazy I can be!), but
never have a chance to do anymore!

Mrs. Dixon said she’d come over and spray my rose bushes and tomatoes
soon as they have "bugs".  Did I tell you what I planted in my garden?
--  beans (green), carrots, beets, radishe, and <? salsify> and tomatoes.
I didn’t plant any corn this year as my garden is too small, so if you
expect corn when you get home, you’re out of luck.

This letter is turning out to

page eight
be a long one, isn’t it? I love to get long letters, so guess that’s why
I write them.

I rec’d three letters from you today, date June 7, 9, and 12th, also one
that I’d sent you in Oct. was returned to me.  I also got the pansies and
be sure and thank your little friend for me.  She gets younger in every
letter. It seems your last letter says she was 11 and in today’s you say
she is nine. You better keep your stories straight, honey.  Did I thank
you for the rose you sent me? It meant to, it still had its

fragrance and although dried smells just like a rose.

The Pages have gone out, and I’m alone, so I think I’ll join Ronnie by going
to bed early.  Good night honey and all my love to you always

Mom and Ronnie.
P.S., the temperature was about 70 degrees, and is now 60 degrees. Summer certainly is slow in

coming.