16 Mar March 16, 1944

Letter
from: Alice Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
March 16, 1944
Thursday, 8:20 p.m.

Darling,

You should be here, I’m witnessing a floor show by Eleanor and Ronnie.  You
should see them jitterbugging.  Every time she stops, he makes her get up and
says, "dance, Eleanor, dance." Now they’re running around the room, "piggy-
back." I’m too old for that stuff, but I’ll let the youth in the house have
its flame.  Even Eleanor’s tired now, but not Ronnie.  He slept late this
afternoon, so I’m letting him stay up later tonite.

After supper last night, I brought Bobby his birthday gift.  Ronnie, of course,
was with me.  Dim’s sister and brother-in-law were there and Mrs. Dixon
insisted

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we stay for a piece of cake,  so we did.  They also took some movies, which we
all got in on.  They’re only about 10 feet left to take now, and they’re
waiting for more snow to take some pictures of Bobby.

Haven’t done much of anything today, except make some blue satin tie-backs for
my peach bedroom curtains.  Look pretty nice.  I also put the first coat on two
of those unpainted chairs.  The wood certainly is rough.  Splinters all over,
and so soft that the paint soaks right in.  I’ll have to put at least three
coats on.  I think I’ll only paint two of them tho, as that’s all I really need.

I received your letter saying you had made reservations for me for April 26th,

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27th and 28th, and also that Ronnie will have to sleep with us.  Why can’t they
move a cot in for him?  Yours, if they have no extras.  Why don’t you ask them
if they have any accommodations for children?  You know you won’t get any rest
that way, and he’ll be so tired from his train trip.  By the way, why can’t I
come in the week-end before the 26th, or will you able to get a pass both
weekends?  Find out and if so, I can see you on Sat. and Sun. and then stay in
town Mon. and Tues. and then go out to your guest house 26th, 27th and 28th
and then you can come in town with me again Sat. and Sun.  That way we could
have two week-ends

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together.  How about it?  Let me know exactly what date you want me to come,
so I can reserve a seat by Mar. 25th.  The streamliner coach car gets there in
24 hours, and they have no berths on the streamliner.  The regular Pullman
train takes about 6 or 8 hrs longer.  I doubt very much whether Ronnie and I
will be able to sleep in one berth and besides he might keep the other
passengers awake crying.  Sure is a problem!  I’d rather take the streamliner
coach, as they have re-clining seats and you get pillows at night.  Let me know
if this is O.K.  I can also put Ronnie on the toilet easier this way.

I bought 12 gallons of gas today and he said the tank is full now.  I thought
it registered

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empty when I drove in the station.  How much does the tank hold?  More than 12
gallons?  I also applied for a driver’s license today.  Next week, I’ll get my
paper showing whether I passed the exam or not.  Then I’ll get my license
later, but can use the application, or rather the paper showing I passed [the]
exam until I get [the] license.  I think I’ll drive to Rockford when and if I
get my license, if I have any gas by then.  When the #10’s expire [ration

stamps], the rest of the "A" book coupons will only be worth 2 gals.

As for going out evenings, you don’t have to worry, as I’ve only been to a show
3 times since you left.  My money doesn’t seem to go far enough to pay June and
go out too.  By the way when are real-

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estate taxes due?  Don’t know how I’ll manage to get to Florida, and pay Real
estate taxes, too, then that $50.00 insurance in June.  Guess I’ll have to draw
money out of the bank to do it.  Be sure and let me know when they’re due.

I just happen to think!!  The 26th may be the wrong day for my visit.  Wouldn’t
that be funny?  Oh, yeah!!  (I can hear you cuss right now.) Maybe it’ll be
alright.  I hope so.

Well, honey, Eleanor is making some cocoa, so guess I’ll get ready for bed,
etc.

Bye, and sweet dreams, always.

All our love,
Mommy and Ronnie

(Is that enough?)
Good nite