23 Mar March 23, 1944

Letter
from: Alice Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
March 23, 1944
Thursday 9:50pm.
Noteworthy: Discussion about whether Mom could have a baby.

Dearest,

Just finished reading a couple romances in a magazine and all of a sudden I
got a bright idea!  Why not write my sweetheart a love letter?  You like the
idea?  I’ll put it all in three words[,] "I love you."  Enough?

Jack Waters came this morning and he cleaned around the plunger I guess and
oiled it and for 6 minutes work it cost me two dollars.  Hiway robbery, isn’t
it?

Ronnie still coughs some at night, but doesn’t seem to be sick otherwise, so
guess he’ll be okay.  Had all kinds of pep.  Can’t keep a good man down, I
guess.

Wonder if Ray came home this morning.  Sally said they’d stop in to see us when
and if he came home.  Can’t imagine him in a job outfit, but imagine he makes a
pretty handsome one at that.  How do you look in uniform?  Pretty nice?

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I meant to tell you that the City of Miami Streamliner[,] all coach[,] takes
24 hrs and the "Seminal" (Pullman train) takes 34 hrs.  So I’d be foolish to
take the Pullman. I’d hate to spend 34 hrs on a train, when I can get there in
24.  Am I right?  Anyway I’ll make reservations on the City of Miami.  There is
also a $27.61 difference in the fare and we can use that money, can’t we?
That’s a winning argument right there!  The coach is $49.01 and the Pullman
plus one lower berth is $76.62 and two berths (one for Ronnie) $86.80 which
would make it $37 more if we each had a berth.

Both my children (Eleanor and Ronnie) are in bed, so I’m sitting up alone to
write this letter.

Edith said she got a letter from you.  She was so thrilled and said it was such
a nice letter.

Marge stopped in tonight for a while. She had the rates etc.  for the trains
also time schedule etc. I’m surprised, but she certainly has been stopping

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in quite often since you left.  Maybe she doesn’t dislike me so much after all.
She’s certainly gone out of her way to do me favors etc.

I got my temporary driver’s license today, good until April 17th, and my
permanent license will be mailed to me before then.  Sure passed my test in a
hurry!  Now I won’t have to feel like a hunted criminal every time I drive.  I
may drive to Rockford next week if the weather’s nice and I get up some courage.
By the way, how did we used to drive there?  How do I get there from here?  Do
I go down Halstead?  And where do I turn off etc?  Also do you remember the
route numbers?  Let me know right away as I like to go early next week if
possible, while I still have gas in the car.

You should hear Ronnie and his book reading now. I read a line and he repeated
and I read another line and he repeated it.  Won’t be long now before he’ll
read all by himself.

Edith was telling me that a friend of hers had said that a child of two is

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exactly one half of what his final height will be.  Ronnie is 34 1/4 inches
which should make him five ft 8 1/2" [Editors note, he turned out to be
exactly that.] which will make him a pretty good sized man.  I wonder if this
is true or logical?  Guess I’ll ask De Young When I see him again.  How tall
was Ronnie when we were there last?  Do you remember?  Seems to me it wasn’t
that tall, but I measured him today and he’s 34 1/4."

Guess Judy isn’t going to have a family as I see no indications so far and it’s
way past time if it’s 6 wks.  Why don’t you make an appt with a gynecologist
while you’re in town sometime and maybe I could go see him while I’m there and
find out if there’s anything wrong as you seem to think.  I could go here, but
would rather have you with me when I go.  A gynecologist is a specialist in
this field, I understand.  The only obstetrics and gynecologist in Roseland is
a Stuart J. McCormick.  Have you ever heard of him?  If you say so I’ll go see
him even if I’m afraid to go alone.

Well honey, guess I’ll go to bed now, as I also have a slight cold now.
Bye darling and all our love,
Mommie and Ronnie

P.S. What if the Dr. say no go ever?  Would you still love me or not.  I’m kind
of worried!  Guess you should have had me see a Dr. before we were married so
you’d have been sure.