12 May May 12, 1945

Letter
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
May 12, 1945
Sat. Nite (late)

Hye, Sweetheart,

  (Like that?) Today has been a very unexciting day.  Spent most of the day
cleaning house, etc.

When Ronnie woke up at 4:30 this afternoon I told him we were going to a
restaurant for dinner.  On our way we stopped at Hayes’ for a couple minutes,
and she asked us to stay there for dinner.  Ronnie kept saying, "Let’s go,
Mommy."  And when they asked him if he didn’t want to stay for dinner, he said,
"No," and pulled me towards the door.  I told them we were going to a
restaurant and when I promised Ronnie that, I have to go.  They insisted we
stop in later.  When we got out to the car, I asked Ronnie, "Why didn’t you
want to stay at Aunt Edie’s" he said, "I want to go to a restaurant to eat!"

page 2
(Maybe he doesn’t like her cooking? - could be!)  He sure likes to eat out,
and isn’t going to be talked out of it.  I know just how he felt, as I can
remember how disappointed I used to be when you and I planned on Sat. night out,
and someone would call and ask us to come over to their home instead.

We ate at the Rose Bowl Coffee Shoppe.  It’s just reopened.  We had stuffed
veal, mashed potatoes, lettuce, soup and pie.  It was prepared "ala Italian
style" with hot seasoning, so I didn’t really enjoy it.  I’d been told how good
their food was, but was sadly disappointed. (Guess I like the Swedish cooking
best.)  Or is it just that I’m getting used to my own cooking?  Come to think
of it[,] there are few Swedish foods

Page 3
that I like.  In fact we very seldom had traditional Swedish foods.  Even when
I lived at home, except perhaps on Christmas Eve while my dad lived, but not
after that.  Guess my mom believed in American foods while in America.  I have
yet to taste fried or roast chicken to compare with hers. Wish I had the knack.

You mentioned my sending you some coffee for your French family.  I bought a
pound of Stuart-Ashley coffee tonite.  You might explain that this particular
brand was served exclusively throughout the 1933-34 Chicago’s World Fair.  If
you notice it only requires one heaping teaspoonful per cup of water, compared
to a heaping tablespoonful required in other brands of coffee.  I’ve used this
brand, and it’s very good.  I’m also sending a ready-made

page 4
fudge preparation that you might give this family.  Tell them to just add milk
as per directions, also butter (if they have it), or margarine.  It’s really
pretty good and delicious if nuts are added.  Besides this I’m sending a devil’s
food (chocolate) prepared cake mix.  It just needs water or milk added.  I know
you don’t care for chocolate cake, but they might, especially if sugar is
scarce as it is here.  I’m going to bake some cookies tomorrow, so we’ll
enclose some if the 5-lb limit hasn’t been reached with the above-mentioned
articles.  If I remember I’ll enclose a cup of powdered sugar to make frosting
for the cake, which can be made by melting butter and adding a little cream or
milk until the powdered sugar, butter and cream is of a consistency to spread
on a cake.  Add a teaspoon vanilla if they have it, or

page 5
a few drops of lemon juice to flavor.

If you don’t give these things to your French friends, perhaps a fellow soldier

can get his French girlfriend to prepare the cake and fudge for him.

After Ronnie and I ate our dinner tonite, we went shopping for groceries, and
found no meat again.  When I got home Mr. Page gave us a steak, (free, and
point-free) which he had gotten through one of the Root Bros.  In fact he got
4 steaks and he gave me one, and his dad one and saved two for himself and
Mrs. Page.  Just goes to show you these Jews always managed to get meat point
free.  I’m having my steak for Ronnie’s and my dinner tomorrow.  I s’pose I’ll
eat it with a guilty conscience, as I don’t approve of black market stuff.  I
guess this is the first I’ve had, however.

Page 6
I had 2 airmail letters (Dated May 1st and May 2nd, plus a Start and Stripes)
and a V-mail dated May 4th, today.  Not bad for one day and brightened an
otherwise dull day.  Certainly it is strange isn’t it, how a letter can do so
much for a person’s morale, but it sure does.

When we finished eating at the Rose Bowl[,] Ronnie insisted on going down to
watch people bowl.  I had a time getting him out of there.  He just loves to
see those balls roll up the alley and go "bang" when they hit the ten pins.  He
sure is all boy and no mistake.

Was glad to see the excerpt from Glady’s letter and to hear she thinks I’m okay
as Ronnie’s mommie.  Did I tell you she called the other day and said she and
Joyce may come in a couple of weeks.  She said Art Hacker had been home on
furlough and got married.

Bye now, we love you,
Mom and Ronnie.

P.S.
Note Elinor’s mentioning my visiting her this summer.  The funny part is
getting this letter that day you mentioned my going there for a vacation.