28 May May 28, 1945

Letter
from: Mrs. G. Shonkwiler
to: Pvt George W. Shonkwiler
May 28, 1945
Monday, 10:50 a.m.
Noteworthy: Mom finds Dad’s high school and college photo album. Mom’s jealousy
flares up again.

Darling,

I’m writing this for last night, as I went to bed early, because I still have
my cold, plus other discomfort.

Yesterday (Sun) morning I had both Ronnie and Billy for breakfast, plus
dressing them both for Sunday school, and dressing myself - some job!  Even at
that they were the first ones in Sunday school.  How that happened, I don’t
know.  After they left I had our Sat. midnight lunch, plus breakfast dishes to
wash and also clean up the house a bit.  By that time it was time to pick the
kids up again.  While on our way home I stopped and bought a doz. tomato plants
and a package of green bean seeds.  These I planted when we got home.

The Pages left for the day, so after Ronnie and I had our dinner (pork cutlets,
potatoes, green beans and ice cream) I went upstairs to find that pressure
cooker after <? waning> every box in the closet,

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I found it in the farthest corner, under everything.  Now, how does it work?
All I need is one of your aluminum demonstrations that I have heard so much
about!  While in the closet I found a "snapshot album" of your high school and
college days, and my oh my, it seems you really preferred the "chubby" gals
in those days!  There are some very affectionate poses, too - I’m terribly
jealous.  I didn’t know you were such a Don Juan.  One girl is quite pretty -
Roberta Elliot and I noticed she rates practically every page in the album.  Am
I digging up painful memories?  Hope not.

I also found a box of toys for Ronnie, including a nice red metal car.  He’s
really having a second Christmas with these toys, plus the wagon.  Now all he
needs is his Daddy - me too.

Just as I was in the midst of

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exploring and cleaning and was all dirty and dusty - the doorbell rang and the
Tostis stopped in.  I knew I’d have company all weekend if I didn’t clean house.
It’s the first Sat. I’ve slipped up on cleaning and sure enough, first the
Holmes Sat. night and the Tostis yesterday.  They had been out to look at their
house and decided to see us on their way back.  I asked them to stay for
sandwiches but they hadn’t eaten dinner yet and were going to that tavern in
Riverdale to eat.  They asked if Ronnie and I wanted to come along, so we did,
altho we only had sandwiches, or at least I did, but Ronnie had spaghetti along
with Toatie and Tommy.  Ronnie gave a floor show of dancing in the middle of
the floor every time the Nickelodeon was played.  In fact every time anyone
went up to put a nickel in, he’d run up and ask them to play
"Rum and Coca-Cola," or "Don’t Fence Me In," his favorites.

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After we had our dinner Ronnie and I went home and got there about 8.30.
The clock struck just as we came in, so Ronnie said, "I’d better hurry and get
my pajamas on, Mommie before the clock sings again."  Did I tell you that I’ve
shown him where the hands are when it’s 8 o’clock and that when it strikes,
he has to rush to put his toys away and get undressed.  Well, that’s how we do
it and it works like a charm - so far!  He will not allow anyone to help him to
put his toys away or to undress.  He does get knots in his shoe strings in

getting them off and requires help, but usually he gets along O.K.  If his
pajamas are right side out, he manages to get into them O.K. and buttons them
too. -- Oh, he’s a smart boy!  Even Bobby makes no attempt to dress himself or
button his buttons.  Of course, I think that

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his Mommie doesn’t put herself out to teach him either.  You’d be surprised how
many lessons it takes for a simple thing like buttoning and unbuttoning clothes.
Now he’s trying very hard to learn to lace and tie his shoe strings.  He can
lace them, (with supervision) but not tie them as yet.  How my mother taught me
to crochet at the age of three is beyond me.  Guess she must have had the
patience of Job.  If it hadn’t been for her patience I s’pose I wouldn’t be able
to sew our clothes now, either.

Almost forgot again!  I[’ve] meant to ask you what I should do with the boxes
of dresses and clothes in the storage closet.  They’re just collecting moths
and Mrs. Page has mentioned getting moths up there.  I’m sure that they’re no
good to me.  And unless you think Edith would want them it would be better to
give them to the Salvation Army or Red Cross for distribution to the needy in
this

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and foreign countries.  There are a lot of relief drives on for Greeks, Poles,
and other war-torn countries.  I don’t relish the job of going through these
clothes but I will if I felt they might help someone who needs them badly.  I
also feel that if at some future date we should have to pick up and leave here,
it would be a good idea to get rid of a lot of excess baggage.  It’s up to you,
however, as you may have other plans of disposing of these things.  I only wish
it had been done before my arrival, but guess that can’t be helped now.  Also
let me know what I should do with all the old suit jackets, etc. which are
still in the back of Page’s kitchen clothes closet.  They are really bringing
moths, as they are wool.  I don’t imagine you’d even miss ’em if I gave them
away, or used them to make suits for Ronnie.

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I just rec’d four letters from you, dated May 14, 16, 17, and 18th.  Thanks,
lots, honey, as I was starting to think you had forgotten us, when I didn’t
get any mail last week.  I also got a letter from Norma, which I’ll enclose
with this.  It seems you and her daughter, Joan, are in the same boat, as far
as the "itching skin" goes.

Thanks for the snapshots, as they are very good and gives me an idea of Paris
crowds on VE Day.  Don’t know as I’m fond of the one with the "Parisian gals,"
however.  Of course, I believe you, as to their passing by at the time, etc.
(Honestly, I do.)  Good thing I’m very broad minded. -- (Or am I?)  I wonder,
however, if I sent you a "snap" of Muriel and I with a couple sailors if you
would be as tolerant.  (I know <?’d> - well, you wouldn’t.)

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I’m only kidding, so don’t let it get you down too much.

Ronnie, at present is on the floor. (it’s raining outside again) trying to make
hills and tunnels out of boards for his cars to go over and under.  He’s sure
having a tough time, cause the hills fall down before the cars get all the way
up.  He says, "Bad boy hill," and spanks it.  Hurry home, pop, he needs someone
to help him.

I talked to Frances yesterday and she mentioned you might get to see her
husband at St. Quentin.  I hope you do meet.  His son is 2 yrs old now and he
and Ronnie have a big time together.  He’s a cute little fellow, too, big brown
eyes and chubby.

Well, honey, guess it sounds as tho you and I won’t see one another for a long

time. - boo! hoo!  Maybe that miracle will still happen - who knows!

Bye now, and lots of love, always,
Mom and Ronnie