31 May May 31, 1945

Card
from: N. Bonniver
to: Pvt George Shonkwiler

(cover page)
To My Brother

  on his
Birthday

(center page)
Here’s hoping this time next year you’ll
be able to do any of these things you wish.

For your Birthday Brother
  I sincerely recommend

Many Happy Birthday Hours,
  The kind it’s grand to spend.

Norma

(back page)
May 31[, 1945]
3631 A.E. Bybee Bvd
Portland, Oregon

Dearest Wes,

Hope this reaches you in time for your birthday - time rather slipped up on me.
[S]eems there is always so much to do.  The last two weeks of school have been
especially hectic - parties - <? premiers> - and all the end of school "helter
skelter."  Thank heaven it’s at last over.  Claudette goes into H.S. next year.
[D]oesn’t seem possible but guess it’s so.  Suppose Wayne passes the 6th, he
gets his report card tomorrow and Carol will be in 1st.

Wayne now has a paper route and thinks he’s sitting on top of the world.  Makes
about $23 a month.  Has to get up at 5:30 on Sun. morning.  So far has done
very well.  The rest of the days he delivers the paper in the afternoon.  We
were able to buy him a fairly good second-hand bike so he delivers them on it.
He pays Carol 5 cents a day to do his dishes and Claudette 5 cents a day to do
his room.  He’s really a man of money - intends to buy a war bond every other
month.  [H]e has it all figured out.  I always figure out how Barney’s pay is
to go, but most of the time it doesn’t cover everything I intended it to.

Your Xmas package came back Sat. and we’ve have [had] 3 V-mails back.  [N]ow
Wes, about your birthday present.  I can’t send you a package over 8 oz.
without you requesting it and what you want or need.  Have been turned down
twice with packages.  An 8 oz package is so small you can scarcely get anything
in it.  Now would you rather write and request (up to 5 pds.)  what you’d like
to have or could I send you a money order?  Have written you before and asked
you to write back asking for what you wanted but you must not have received the
letter.

I have no news of any one - have been so busy have neglected writing everyone
therefore no letters.  Still take Joan to the hospital one and two days a week
for treatment of

eczema.  Did you ever get any relief for yours?  We’ve found wheat to be one
source of irritation.  [D]on’t know how many more there will be.  She has been
on a wheatless, eggless milkless no orange diet for a month.  Then the Dr.
added goat milk with no bad results.  Next wheat and that caused trouble so
when I go tomorrow, suppose he’ll take wheat off again and add milk or oranges.
Hope it’s milk as it’s hard getting much variety into a meal when she can’t
have bread, crackers, cake, pie, ice cream, candy, gravy, noodles, spaghetti,

etc.  If I could always get meat to boil for the broth it wouldn’t be so bad.
[B]ut that isn’t always possible and how she loves food.  The little <? pig>[s]
have been intending to take some more pictures but can’t get them all
<? developed> up at the same time.  Wanted to take some today but Barney broke
his dental plate and wouldn’t have his picture taken without them.  Said he
really looked his age with them out and he didn’t want to give any one any
false impressions.

We’re still working hard on the house and grounds.  We’re getting lettuce,
onions, radishes, spinach, and <? suns> <? chard> <? feour> <? jhere>.

Write us when you have spare time.  We’re so glad to hear from you.  Have you
any idea when you are likely to get home?  Were you able to contact Dick?
Gladys wrote that Dick had written, he was going to Paris and try to get in
touch with you.  She was afraid he was on his way to the Pacific.  May this
horrible war end soon.

Love, Norma